Known for being an integral part of Japanese culture, the global popularity of anime is reaching ever greater heights. This summer, 81,000 fans gathered for three days at “Ani-melo Summer Live.” Held in Saitama Prefecture, this is one of the world’s largest anison (anime song) music festivals. In addition to this, 26,000 people gathered for two days to watch popular voice actors sing at the “ORE!! SUMMER” open-air festival held in Yamanashi Prefecture. It is said that the appeal of seeing anime songs performed live lies in the electric atmosphere generated by the enthusiasm of both performers and audience. When a voice actor or actress becomes popular they are not only invited to appear at events, but can also release CDs, become radio personalities, or have their image featured in magazines. Voice acting, which was once considered to be a behind-the-scenes job, is now a glamorous occupation for young people. On the other hand, the tourism industry is capitalizing on the popularity of anime. “2.5 Dimensional Musicals,” that is adaptations of 2D anime or manga into theatrical plays, have already become a big draw with foreign tourists. The Japan Anime Tourism Association has launched “Japan’s Anime Tourism 88 for Anime Fans (2018 Edition).” Besides the smash hit “Kimi No Na Wa” (your name), anime locations such as “Girls und Panzer,” “Lucky Star,” “Ultraman” and “Evangelion” were selected. Fans of novels or movies used to visit famous locations featured in their favorite works, but nowadays it’s anime fans that flock to such spots. The fans’ enthusiasm for these works seems to be unaffected by the passage of time.