A geografia dos animes: a paisagem animada e sua influência no soft power japonês

Abstract

This research seeks to examine the extent to which anime contributes to the construction of Japan’s cultural image within the international sphere, with particular emphasis on the animated landscape as an instrument of Soft Power. Adopting a qualitative approach, the study is situated within the domains of Cultural Geography and Audiovisual Geographies, conceiving anime as cultural artifacts that encapsulate and project contemporary Japanese identity. By analyzing spatial representations of both urban and rural settings, as well as the interactions between characters and the environments in which they are situated, the research aims to elucidate how such visual constructions evoke elements of Japanese identity while simultaneously reflecting cultural strategies advanced by the Japanese government, notably through initiatives such as the “Cool Japan” program. Methodologically, the analysis is guided by three interpretive lenses: the authenticity of spatial representations, the reproduction of cultural stereotypes (ethnocentrism), and the subjective imprint of the author. Within this framework, particular attention is devoted to Hyouka, a work by Honobu Yonezawa, as a case study through which anime can be understood as a medium that interweaves cultural symbols, collective memory, and social values. Although animated, these narratives actively reinforce Japan’s cultural presence and influence beyond its borders. Furthermore, the study underscores the role of Japanese popular culture, especially manga and anime, as central emblems of contemporary Japanese soft power. These cultural forms, functioning simultaneously as diplomatic and economic instruments, reveal their potency as symbolic resources capable of shaping global perceptions of Japan.