World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
How anime tourism is helping breathe new life into Japan’s shrinking towns
Anime tourism is helping some Japanese towns attract visitors, workers and new residents as they face shrinking populations and economic decline. In Numazu, the anime Love Live! Sunshine!! has inspired fans to visit real locations featured in the series, and for some, to move there and build lives beyond their interest in the show.
The series, which began airing in 2016, has brought attention to local businesses, with its characters appearing across the city and a nearby hotel recreating an anime room. Numazu’s population has fallen from a peak of 210,000 to 180,000, and the mayor says hundreds of fans have moved there. Seven fans have relocated to work at Awashima Hotel, while other newcomers include a city government employee and a couple who settled in Numazu in 2022 and now have a young daughter.
In short
- Love Live! Sunshine!! is drawing fans to Numazu.
- Some visitors have moved there and taken local jobs.
- The city’s population has dropped from 210,000 to 180,000.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Anime tourism can give shrinking towns a practical route to renewed activity: visitors spend money locally, raise the profile of businesses and may become long-term residents or workers. Numazu’s reported newcomers suggest that a shared cultural interest can help people form ties to a place and build lives there, supporting both the local economy and community.
The case against
Tourism linked to a popular series may bring attention and some new residents, but it is uncertain whether those gains can offset a sustained population decline or endure if public interest fades. Towns may need broader investment in jobs and services, and relying heavily on one entertainment property could leave local renewal vulnerable to changing tastes.