ABSTRACT
Tourism to naval bases in recent years has been induced by manga/anime that features weapons, or anthropomorphisms of weapons, from the Second World War. One example is Kantai Collection. This paper examines how fans, communities and the Japan Self-Defense Force have managed renewed interest in navy sites via such entertainment contents. The behaviours of fans and bereaved relatives can be fundamentally different at memorial sites, and communities and the SDF participate in pop-culture-related events that might be more politically sensitive if done simply as local heritage events. Pop culture acts as a ‘cushion’ that softens the passing down of military heritage.
