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Experiencing Japan: Mediating Japanese culture in the tourism industry

Meng, Fanya (2025) COSM40 20251
Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
Abstract
This thesis explores how Japanese cultural experience professionals act as cultural intermediaries to mediate Japanese culture for foreign tourists in the context of increasingly popular cultural tourism. This research employs a micro ethnographic methodology and thematic analysis of participant observation notes, semi structured interviews, photographic materials, and online comments to explore how authenticity, accessibility, and commercialization interact in the cultural experience. The findings suggest that professionals as cultural mediators are not simply in the role of cultural transmission. They are strategic cultural performers who negotiate between authenticity, accessibility and the pressures of commercialization. While they are... (More)
This thesis explores how Japanese cultural experience professionals act as cultural intermediaries to mediate Japanese culture for foreign tourists in the context of increasingly popular cultural tourism. This research employs a micro ethnographic methodology and thematic analysis of participant observation notes, semi structured interviews, photographic materials, and online comments to explore how authenticity, accessibility, and commercialization interact in the cultural experience. The findings suggest that professionals as cultural mediators are not simply in the role of cultural transmission. They are strategic cultural performers who negotiate between authenticity, accessibility and the pressures of commercialization. While they are often able to create meaningful and engaging experiences, they are also influenced by time constraints, visitor expectations and financial returns. This thesis focuses on the under explored role of the individual practitioner in cultural promotion, showing how they can balance cultural depth with commercial viability in ways that are both flexible and constrained. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Meng, Fanya
supervisor
organization
course
COSM40 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Cultural tourism, Cultural Intermediaries, Japanese tourism industry, Cultural experience, Authenticity, Commercialization
language
English
id
9207218
date added to LUP
2025-06-30 11:16:00
date last changed
2025-06-30 11:16:00
@misc{9207218,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores how Japanese cultural experience professionals act as cultural intermediaries to mediate Japanese culture for foreign tourists in the context of increasingly popular cultural tourism. This research employs a micro ethnographic methodology and thematic analysis of participant observation notes, semi structured interviews, photographic materials, and online comments to explore how authenticity, accessibility, and commercialization interact in the cultural experience. The findings suggest that professionals as cultural mediators are not simply in the role of cultural transmission. They are strategic cultural performers who negotiate between authenticity, accessibility and the pressures of commercialization. While they are often able to create meaningful and engaging experiences, they are also influenced by time constraints, visitor expectations and financial returns. This thesis focuses on the under explored role of the individual practitioner in cultural promotion, showing how they can balance cultural depth with commercial viability in ways that are both flexible and constrained.}},
  author       = {{Meng, Fanya}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Experiencing Japan: Mediating Japanese culture in the tourism industry}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}