Bridging borders: The role of anime in fostering Japanese acceptance in South Korea and China

Ballesteros, Jan; Le, Paulina; Clark, Allistair; Lam, Michael

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132443 Copy

Description

Title

Bridging borders: The role of anime in fostering Japanese acceptance in South Korea and China

Author(s)

• Ballesteros, Jan
• Le, Paulina
• Clark, Allistair
• Lam, Michael

Issue Date

2025-12-16

Keyword(s)

• Anime
• Transcultural Media
• Transnational History
• Cultural Attitudes
• Cultural Dialogue
• Japanese Culture

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between anime consumption and the acceptance of Japanese individuals among South Korean and Chinese populations, given the historical and geopolitical tensions between these countries and Japan. Using data from the 2018 East Asian Social Survey (EASS), we analyzed responses from 1,031 South Koreans and 4,499 Chinese participants, stratified by generational cohorts. The study assessed Japanese acceptance in three social capacities: coworkers, neighbors, and married kin. Logistic regression models were employed to evaluate the impact of anime consumption, alongside sociodemographic factors, on attitudes toward Japanese acceptance. Results showed that younger generational cohorts in both South Korea and China were generally more accepting of Japanese individuals compared to older generations. Anime consumption correlated significantly with increased acceptance among those who watched anime "sometimes" or "seldomly." Higher education levels also positively influenced Japanese acceptance in both groups. These findings suggest that anime, as a distinctly Japanese cultural product, can serve as a bridge for fostering cross-cultural understanding and reducing long-standing historical tensions. The study highlights the potential of shared cultural consumption in promoting regional tolerance and emphasizes the need for further research on the role of media in shaping perceptions of national identity and cross-border relationships. This study underscores the potential of cultural media like anime in fostering mutual understanding and bridging divides in the East Asian region

Series/Report Name or Number

The Journal of Anime and Manga Studies, volume 6 issue 2

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

Articles

Language

eng

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21900/j.jams.v6.1860

Copyright and License Information

• Copyright 2025 Jan Ballesteros, Paulina Le, Allistair Clark, Michael Lam
• This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0).

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