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SHUSUKE MURAI, THE JAPAN TIMES

Anime and manga are set to play a bigger role in promoting tourism across Japan under an initiative launched Friday to make better use of the nation's pop culture.

Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, vice president of the Anime Tourism Association and the chairman of publisher Kadokawa Corp., said increasing global recognition of both art forms meant they are "what Japan needs to take advantage of to drive its economy."