[ Sender:JCS ]
What could Japanese media contents benefit from the Latin American market? And what could be the future? Continuing from the previous issue , we welcomed Edgar from Mexico to further talk about the possibilities of Japanese media content from alternate perspectives.
----As one who grew up consuming Japanese media content, would you also let your children watch them?
Edgar: "Our generation grew up watching Japanese anime on TV. So if I have children, I would show Japanese anime to them without a doubt. Now, we are the ones who are grownups and have money, so if my child says he/she wants a figure of 'Saint Seiya', I would buy it because I grew up watching it and know what it is. Maybe I'll get two; one for my child and one for me! A good example is one of my friends in Mexico asked me to get some 'Heidi, Girl of the Alps' goods because his daughter loves watching it, but cannot find any merchandise in Mexico."
----So that means there are business possibilities in merchandise.
Edgar: "Exactly. The content could be a hook to get people interested in other Japanese products as well. Another good example is 'Sake'. It is already widely known all over the world that 'Sake' is a kind of Japanese alcohol. But it is still difficult to find good ones abroad, even though there are so many TV programs and movies which feature Sake or Japanese cuisine. I think it's a good example of how a Japanese media content and other field of business could collaborate. Therefore this strategy of showcasing both media content and other Japanese products could open up new doors."
----How do you compare with other East Asian media contents or cultures like South Korea or China? Or even Hollywood or American cartoons?
Edgar: "People do distinguish between Japanese media content and Chinese or Korean ones, but I think that people who follow Japanese content usually consume both. Not exclusively consuming Korean TV dramas or exclusively Chinese movies. It's more likely that they follow 'Asian media content consumers' in general. Compared to the mainstream Hollywood, Japanese media content still remains a subculture at the moment. But considering its growth, there could be a possibility to become mainstream. "
----On average, how much money do you spend on consuming Japanese media content?
Edgar: "Time wise, I think I spend lot of time watching anime and playing video games. Money-wise, I think 5,000 to 10,000 yen per month. It also includes the expenses for merchandise, joining relevant events and transportation. "
----What is your main source of information?
Edgar: "I usually look up several websites and blogs, such as 'Anime News Network', 'Rocket News' and 'Screw Attack'.
※YouTube channel "World Meets Japan": youtube.com/worldmeetsjapan
※Podcast "Living Japan": search "Living Japan" on iTunes or livingjapanpodcast.wordpress.com
Thank you again Edgar for the informative interview!
Next issue, we will feature a CoFesta Ambassador from a land of smiles... Thailand! We will focus on the situation of Japanese comic publishing in Thailand.
Vol.1 : Interviews with "CoFesta Ambassadors": Vol.1 << USA >>
Vol.2 : Interviews with "CoFesta Ambassadors": Vol.2 << Indonesia (1) >>
Vol.3 : Interviews with "CoFesta Ambassadors": Vol.3 << Indonesia (2) >>
Vol.4 : Interviews with "CoFesta Ambassadors": Vol.4 << Mexico (1) >>
More about "CoFesta"
http://www.cofesta.jp/
What is "CoFesta Ambassadors" program?
Through the voices and observations done by overseas consumers of
Japanese media content, CoFesta administration team aim to provide
beneficial information from 1) marketing and 2) promotional points of
view for the CoFesta events and the exhibitors.
Every year, 150 international students studying abroad in Japan are
certified as "CoFesta Ambassadors" for this program.
