Creative Arts: Perspectives from Japan to Thailand

Abstract

Amid global economic competition, the creative economy—which leverages arts and culture as its foundation—has become a vital tool for economic development. Thailand has embraced this concept through the establishment of the Thailand Creative Economy Agency (TCEA) in 2010 to promote creative industries, including visual arts (e.g., paintings, sculptures, photography) and performing arts (e.g., music, theater, dance). Operating under the Prime Minister’s Office, TCEA formulates policies, fosters innovation, and supports SMEs in the creative sector while linking culture with creative tourism, such as developing Chiang Mai and Phuket as cultural hubs. However, challenges remain in intellectual property protection and infrastructure investment.  In contrast, Japan has leveraged pop culture as an economic driver through its “Cool Japan” campaign, exporting cultural products like anime, manga, and video games, which now surpass traditional industries like automotive in value. The government supports this through the Cool Japan Fund (worth ¥90 billion) to expand cultural influence in global markets, particularly Asia, Europe, and America. While the campaign enhances Japan’s soft power, critics highlight its lack of equitable cultural exchange and rising competition from K-pop.  Another case study is Naoshima, an island transformed from a declining industrial area into a contemporary art hub via the Benesse Art Site and Setouchi Triennale festival. By integrating art, nature, and community participation, it has spurred quality tourism and local economic growth. This success demonstrates art’s potential in regional revitalization, though concerns persist about overtourism and unequal benefit distribution.  For Thailand, Japan’s model highlights the importance of integrated collaboration between government, private sectors, and communities, alongside sustainable funding and policies—such as tax incentives for art sponsors, expanding public access to art (Arts Welfare), and promoting creative tourism. Addressing challenges like intellectual property rights and creative workforce development will be crucial to fully harnessing the creative economy’s potential as a key national growth engine.