JAPANESE CULTURAL DIPLOMACY : THE ROLE OF JKT48 IN ATTRACTING PUBLIC OF INDONESIA IN THE YEAR OF 2012-2018

Abstract

Japan has a goal to introduce its culture to the whole world. Through the "Cool Japan" strategy, the Japanese government established a national project aimed at increasing domestic business revenues in the creative industry and also promoting Japanese culture abroad. One of the cultures used in the Cool Japan project is Japanese pop culture, where the emergence of the female idol group AKB48 further enhances Japanese cultural diplomacy throughout the world, including Indonesia, with the emergence of JKT48 as a sister group of AKB48. This thesis thus describes the role of JKT48 in improving Japan's national image in Indonesia starting from 2012 to 2018 to find out how Japan uses its Cultural Diplomacy. This thesis uses soft power and cultural diplomacy as a theoretical framework used to analyze the collected data. This thesis will use a qualitative method with books, journals, reports, and news to analyze in detail the practice of cultural diplomacy by Japan in Indonesia. This thesis concludes that in promoting Japanese culture in Indonesia through JKT48 by carrying out various activities such as regular programs, namely theater appearances, handshake events and general election. Then there are special events such as appearances on television programs, commercials, off-air concerts, films, and tentative programs.