Japanese national TV channel NHK has reported the recent trend of “otaku tourism” in the evening news program. They introduced the successful cases of Lucky ☆ Star, Hanasaku Iroha and True Tears, which have brought many tourists to the model cities. However, the PR project of Kamogawa city in cooperation with Rinne no Lagrange has not been working well. “Otaku tourism” is supposed to be a spontaneous movement by the fans, who are impressed by the anime. If the producers make conscious efforts to appeal the model cities too much, there will be a repulsion from otaku.
“Don’t fool otaku” comment posted on 2channel
Kamogawa city has now been aware of the unexpected reactions from the audience and they have begun to seek a way to let the fans enjoy the anime without making excessive appeals of the city.
Director Nishikiori Hiroshi criticized that the otaku tourism-oriented way of production ruins the creativity of the art staff because including the scenery of the model city in the anime is given the priority over the quality of the arts.
Sources: Screenshots of the program, Screenshot 2
