Keio University and Netflix Launch 'Anime Peace Studies' Course

At Keio University, a prestigious institution in Japan, we are embarking on an innovative academic journey with Netflix to launch "Anime Peace Studies: Creating 'Peace' Through Japanese Anime." This course, offered in the spring semester, signifies a profound recognition of anime's global influence, extending far beyond mere entertainment.

We view anime as a powerful "common language" that transcends national, generational, and cultural divides. This initiative, part of Keio's "X Dignity Center" research program, delves into the social values embedded within anime, aiming to redefine "peace" as mutual understanding, empathy, and coexistence. Students will learn to materialize abstract concepts of peace by analyzing depictions of war, cultural heritage, and international connections within anime works, thereby cultivating cross-border dialogue skills.

This 14-session program, running from April to July 2026, will explore the history of Japanese anime, its role in soft power diplomacy, and its application in international relations theory. We will examine its dissemination and acceptance in regions like Asia and Latin America. The curriculum also extends to contemporary content industry policies and macro-level issues such as space policy, analyzing how subcultural events like international Cosplay gatherings foster tangible cross-cultural exchange.

Crucially, this is not just a theoretical course. We are bringing together leading experts from anime production, content distribution, policy-making, and international exchange. Through this industry-academia-government dialogue, we aim to redefine anime's societal value. Students will not only study the globalization and diversification of creators but also learn to articulate the cultural significance behind anime in professional language, transforming its influence into a tangible force for mitigating global social divisions and promoting international dialogue. This unique perspective, rooted in Japan's cultural export, offers a distinct approach to peace studies that differs from conventional Western academic frameworks.