Bolster government support for the booming arts of "manga" and "anime," or lay the groundwork for new cultural exports to emerge.
These were among options being weighed by the Cultural Affairs Agency's advisory panel on strategies for enhancing international appreciation of Japanese culture, which held its fifth meeting Monday.
Established in December, the panel is presided over by agency head Tamotsu Aoki, chaired by University of Tokyo professor Masayuki Yamauchi. Among its 15 other members are luminaries from the arts, including painter Ikuo Hirayama and "kyogen" (comic storytelling) performer Mansai Nomura.