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Authentic Fake, Diversification of Authenticity in Tourism Culture: The Case of Tomb of Christ in Japan

  • Asia Review
  • Abbr : SNUACAR
  • 2016, 6(1), pp.293~316
  • Publisher : 아시아연구소
  • Research Area : Social Science > Social Science in general

Ryosuke Okamoto 1

1홋카이도 대학

Candidate

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this article is to reflect on the creation of the modern tourism culture from the perspective of authenticity and its defining process. Questions of how authentic the lure of tourist destinations are and on what basis it is defined is a critical issue that is directly linked with the value of the destination. This is because tourists are seeking a certain charm identified with the destination that cannot be found elsewhere. In this regard this paper focuses on the marketing of the obviously inauthentic “Christ’s Tomb” in Shingo Village of Aomori Prefecture. Shingo Village is striving for the promotion of tourism through resources that are not authentic, and the locals fully recognize the fakeness of these tourism resources. However, that does not mean that the local residents see the Christ’s Tomb as merely an economic resource for attracting tourists. Through interviews, this research has found that the residents harbor and share certain subjective authenticity about the Tomb. Revealed through their stories was an existence of a bond that tie themselves to an imagined community of their village and ancestors to which they were deeply attached. This was identified as the true source of their notions of authenticity of the Christ’s Tomb.

Citation status

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