Can Anime, K-Dramas And BTS Revive Shrinking Towns In Japan And South Korea? | CNA Correspondent

Across Japan and South Korea, fans are turning anime, manga, K-pop and K-dramas into real-world journeys. But these pilgrimages can have unexpected consequences – breathing life into struggling communities and aiding post-disaster recovery. In Japan, hit series Love Live! Sunshine!! has drawn fans to Numazu for a decade – and inspired hundreds to move there. Along a railway line, towns are turning to anime to entice visitors beyond Tokyo. In earthquake-hit Kumamoto, One Piece statues are drawing fans across the region, while helping to tell its recovery story. Meanwhile, K-drama fans are recreating what they see on screen, from wearing hanbok to trying temple stays. Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, is betting on BTS to turn concert-goers into repeat visitors, while ageing Ami-dong hopes fandom can revive its emptying streets. CNA’s Michiyo Ishida and Lim Yun Suk find out if pop culture pilgrimages can create lasting change - and take fans beyond the worlds that inspired them. 00:00 Opening title 00:11 The rise of pop culture pilgrimages 00:39 Inside the world of Love Live! Sunshine!! 01:33 An anime comes to life in a Japanese town 03:43 Anime fans are moving to Numazu 07:34 An anime pilgrimage beyond Tokyo 08:42 Anohana: The making of an anime sacred site 10:03 A pirate crew in quake-hit Kumamoto 13:28 Can One Piece change a town’s fortunes? 15:13 From K-dramas to Korean temple stays 17:23 Can BTS keep fans coming back to Busan? 18:52 BTS ARMY: Ami-dong’s unlikely ally 21:21 Beyond imagined worlds: Where fandom leads ================= About CNA Correspondent: They're your eyes and ears around the globe. CNA's network of correspondents shines a light on stories from their corners of the world, from groundbreaking events to up-and-coming trends. ================= #CNAInsider #CNACorrespondent #Anime #Kdrama #Kpop #Japan #SouthKorea #BTS For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER https://cna.asia/insideryoutubesub Follow CNA INSIDER on: Telegram: https://t.me/CNAInsiderSG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnainsider