Japan eyes raising up to 17 tril. yen in 2020 by `Cool Japan` exports

TOKYO, Dec. 22 Kyodo -
The government plans to generate 12 trillion to 17 trillion yen by exporting
Japanese animation, fashion, food and other cultural products in 2020, compared
with the current 4.5 trillion yen, an industry ministry official said
Wednesday.
The numerical goal was unveiled during a meeting of a government panel that is
considering ways to export Japanese cultural products more strategically. The
panel is expected to formulate a ''Cool Japan strategy'' around April or May,
the official said.
The government also estimated that the cultural industry market in major
countries would amount to more than 900 trillion yen in 2020, given the
anticipated increase in consumption in China and other emerging economies.
Under the plan, Japan would seek to generate 8 trillion to 13 trillion yen by
exporting fashion, food and content, and 4 trillion yen through spending by
foreign tourists in Japan.
The government believes that such cultural industries have the potential to
contribute to revitalizing the sluggish Japanese economy.
==Kyodo