If you had to pick one word to describe Japan’s global soft power in 2024, it would be “triumphant.”
Thanks to a weak yen, tourists flocked to the country this year, with October marking a monthly record of 3.31 million visitors, bringing the yearly total to date to 30.2 million (and nearing 2019’s peak of 31.9 million). Sure, the locals didn’t always appreciate the crowds, but interest in Japan was more than just cheap meals and Instagrammable sights.
In a year that included major achievements for Japanese and Japan-oriented film and television, sports milestones and even a Nobel Peace Prize, the country was never really far from international headlines, making it all the more enticing a visit.
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