A Consideration of the Manga-Anime Industry in Niigata

Abstract

　The comics market （fanzine exhibition and sale） known as ‘Gataket’ that

started in Niigata in 1983 can be described as a typical local business. Since

1983, various local manga and anime businesses developed, such as the ‘Niigata

Manga Competition’, which is an innovative local government-led business, and

the founding of the ‘JAM Nihon Anime Manga Training School’. Gataket has

deepened its ties with such businesses every time. In 2011, ‘Gatafest’, a manga

and anime festival held by the Niigata-shi, JAM and ‘Gataket’ was established

and in 2013, the ‘Niigata Anime Manga Museum’ and ‘The Niigata City Manga

House’ were established. These undergird the changeover of Niigata’s manga

and anime business, and highlight how the cooperation among the industry, academia,

and the government has become the foothold for business expansion.

This is the fruit of collaboration and wide connection within the anime and

manga industry, which has been fostered through the accumulation of knowledge

and skill seen in Gatakketto’s 34 years of history and cooperation among

local businesses. Therefore, for a business featuring local content originating

from regional areas, a steady and persistent effort like that of Gataket can play

a significant role.