TOKYO: The Japanese government has named one of Spain’s most recognised sportspersons, Andre Iniesta as the new face of JNTO, the country’s premier tourism organisation.
Agencia Efe reports that the footballer will star in a series of videos which aim to attract more visitors from Europe to visit Japan for two marquee events it is set to host – the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Olympic Games in 2020.
The promotional campaign has the 34-year-old Iniesta exploring the country’s popular gastronomy and culture through the world-famous Nobu chain of restaurants and his ‘adopted’ hometown Kobe, for whom Iniesta plays in the J-League, Japan’s premier football competition.
The tourism portal is a initiative by JNTO and a travel company belonging to electronics giant Rakuten. Rakuten also happens to owns Vissel Kobe, Iniesta’s current team and currently sponsors his former team, FC Barcelona.
The tourism campaign was launched alongside a raffle in which participants can win prizes ranging from hats, signed Barcelona soccer balls, to return trips to Japan.
Japan has made its intent clear of having a ‘clean’ and hospitable image in the eyes of tourists expected to watch these sporting events.
Some of the Asian nation’s top supermarket chains such as 7-Eleven and FamilyMart have decided to phase out the retailing of adult magazines by August 2019, making it more convenient for women and children to shop at their outlets, Kyodo News reports. Those magazines account for less than 1% of their total sales.
