POP-CULTURE IN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY: ANIME AND MANGA AS JAPAN’S SOFT POWER IN INDONESIA (2004 – 2013)

Abstract

This research attempts to describe Manga and Anime as the soft power of Japan’s soft power in Indonesia. The research is significant to explore the roles of actors involved in expanding Manga and Anime as Japan’s soft power in Indonesia focusing on public diplomacy from both of governmental institutions and private sectors. Then, it also sees the progress of the actions made by actors from different roles such as television stations, book publishers, Japanese government, and internet. There are actors involved under Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs which are the Embassy of Japan and Japan Foundation. Therefore, from private sectors we have book publishers such as PT. Elex Media Komputindo and Television Broadcasting Stations such as Global TV. The last actors are coming from the Internet because the Internet provides both Anime and Manga both legally and illegally. The internet also provides media which the writer is focusing on Media that exclusively reporting about Japanese culture which Anime and Manga are part of it. The writer put the time frame between 2004-2013, because Japanese first acknowledged their own Manga and Anime as potential cultural diplomacy products as soft power in their diplomatic bluebook. The time frame ended in 2013 because in during that year KPI (Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia) warned and stopped numerous Anime titles to be broadcasted.