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Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos

Japanese pop culture fandom spreads in Myanmar

AKB48 supplies a dose of kawaii in a public-private export push

Members of J-pop group AKB48 perform at Japan Myanmar Pwe Taw in February.

YANGON -- Japanese pop culture is taking root in Myanmar, with big-name acts like AKB48 wowing crowds and manga styles influencing the comic scene.

This is no accident. Active public-private cooperation is watering those roots. Japan's government and companies have seen the success of South Korean dramas in the Southeast Asian country and are eager to catch up in the soft-power race.

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