I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to the many visitors from both within Japan and overseas who have come to this 17th Asian TV Drama Conference in Matsuyama.

Matsuyama City has a history of 3,000 years and is a compact city packed with diverse locations like Dogo Onsen, which is said to be Japan's oldest hot spring. Moreover, we have Matsuyama Castle which is one of only twelve surviving castle towers from the Edo period, a townscape with trams running through it, and the tranquil natural beauty of the Seto Inland Sea.

The city of Matsuyama is blessed with an abundance of beautiful locations, perfect for the filming industry. This city has been the stage for many great hits, due to its exceptional sites. To give just a few examples, the NHK special drama "Clouds Above the Hill,” and the city's Botchan Literary Award Grand Prize winner  "Ganbatte Ikimasshoi” (Give It All), both received extremely high acclaim. In these beautiful locations in Matsuyama, a setting for the story, films are taken and later adapted into anime and movies.

We offer an environment capable of accommodating a wide range of expressions, from period dramas to contemporary stories, including streaming dramas. Furthermore, the city actively supports production teams by arranging filming permits and suggesting locations in collaboration with relevant organizations.

As a city that cherishes literature, we aim to be a partner that supports the creative activities of all producers.

In closing, I sincerely hope this conference will inspire new stories to be born right here, in this very place.

Mayor of Matsuyama City