Cool Japan, Creative Industries and Diversity

Abstract

This paper critically considers the operation and objective of Japan’s creative industry policy and suggests how to redesign it to align it with recent attention to cultural diversity . But the paper’s scope goes beyond business and extends to defining creativity as a means to enhance civic dialogue, sympathy and inclusion to imagine a better society The creative industry can include independent and non-profit cultural projects that promote diversity by involving artists, museums, non governmental and non-profit organisations, public service corporations, local communities, volunteers and researchers. Such a redesign is compatible with the creative industry policy’ s aim to advance social inclusion and democratisation by promoting grassroots creativity.