The number of Japanese visitors to P.E.I. has never returned to the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, but some tourism operators hope a new animated series about Anne of Green Gables — and the attention it’s getting in Japan — will help.
The new Anne Shirley anime series continues the story beyond Anne of Green Gables, into the next two books in the series by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It begins airing in April on the NHK network.
“A lot of travel agent is doing a promotion tying up with the this new anime series,” said Katsue Masuda, who has guided Japanese visitors on the Island for decades with P.E.I. Select Tours. “So hopefully we have more Japanese tourist this year.”
Chie Miyamoto visited Green Gables Heritage Place during a brief visit to the Island in early February. Masuda helped translate her comments from Japanese.
“When her daughter was little, she bought at Anne of Green Gables book for her. So she’s glad to see more people will see the Anne of Green Gables,” Masuda translated.
“She told her friends she’s coming to P.E.I. and see Anne of Green Gables, and a lot of her friends envy her … Maybe with this new animation series, and maybe more interest, they would love to come to see Anne of Green Gables in person.”
Bestseller in Japan
Anne of Green Gables was first translated into Japanese and published in Japan in 1952. It went on to become a bestseller, and a 1979 animated version of Anne was also very popular.
“It was a big impact for children in Japan,” Masuda said. “And so still we have lots of customers that they grew up with that anime series.”
Prince Edward Island was for many decades a popular destination for Japanese visitors. Tourism P.E.I. reports Japan is second only to the U.S. for international visitors to the Island.
