Abstract

This chapter briefly outlines how Japanese cultural policy has developed in response to changing political and economic circumstances from the early 20th century to the present. It also focuses on contemporary Japanese cultural policy and pays particularly attention to two recent phases. Firstly, the Cool Japan initiative, arguably one of the most prominent nation branding strategies. Secondly, the Tokyo-based new creative city project. Both could be seen as attempts to open up new horizons for cultural policy in Japan.