Universal Studios Japan General Discussion

[Galactus]

Are any of the restaurants you can make reservations for (Azzurra di Capri, Finnegan's, Park Side Grill or Saido) worth eating at? I have 3.5 days at the park soon and I'm curious whether they're worth the effort of figuring out the Japanese reservation site to eat at

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Not sure if this means anything, but construction walls with some intriguing signage are up near USJ's parking lot.

This particular area has only ever been used for storing and staging apparently.

Perhaps for asking, but can you give a street location? blanking on that xD

 

[Jwhee]

Really interesting-

The park put out an Instagram post and a tweet with a quote from Ron Howard, a picture of Backdraft, and two hashtags, one saying “camera standby completed” and “wait for action”

Perhaps a farewell revival of the attraction? Otherwise, seems like such a random thing to post. I doubt the things these parks put on their social channels are random, everything has to be planned with some sort of strategy (especially the IG posts)

 

[BatCom]

Shrek 4-D and Sesame Street 4-D are scheduled to resume Nov. 21, 2023 for the first time since the pandemic.

 

[ParkExplorer9513]

This might just be me fanboying, but we need character meet & greets of the Pokémon mascots, and I don't mean just Pikachu! After seeing all those Ghost types out and about, there's no excuse not to have them out meeting guests IMO!

 

[BatCom]

Article in Nikkei last month noting how USJ is the third-most visited theme park in the world according to TEA's 2022 attendance report, amid the park's shift from the original Universal films theme to embracing Japanese IP like video games and anime.

USJ、世界3位の集客力　日本のアニメを起爆剤に - 日本経済新聞

【この記事のポイント】・USJの2022年の来園者はコロナ前の85%まで回復・日本を代表する漫画やアニメとのコラボが強みに・変動制を採用しているチケットの価格は上昇傾向ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン（USJ、大阪市）の集客力が高まっている。米テーマエンターテインメント協会（TEA）などの調査では2022年の来園者数が世界のテーマパークで3番目に多いことが分かった。この10年間で1000億円以上

www.nikkei.com

 

[ParkExplorer9513]

We're living in the otaku era! A great time to live in TBH.

 

[Michael S]

Article in Nikkei last month noting how USJ is the third-most visited theme park in the world according to TEA's 2022 attendance report, amid the park's shift from the original Universal films theme to embracing Japanese IP like video games and anime.

USJ、世界3位の集客力　日本のアニメを起爆剤に - 日本経済新聞

【この記事のポイント】・USJの2022年の来園者はコロナ前の85%まで回復・日本を代表する漫画やアニメとのコラボが強みに・変動制を採用しているチケットの価格は上昇傾向ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン（USJ、大阪市）の集客力が高まっている。米テーマエンターテインメント協会（TEA）などの調査では2022年の来園者数が世界のテーマパークで3番目に多いことが分かった。この10年間で1000億円以上

www.nikkei.com

Oh wow they passed TDL & TDS attendance. Good for them. I’m sure doing so many seasonal events helps but I recall reading something recently that might have something to do with that.

TDL & TDS (and in some regards USJ) were incredibly popular and successful because they were unabashedly an American product for the Japanese population. Because of US occupation of Japan after WWII the older Japanese generations grew up with Disney and Hollywood films in the same way people in America would.

Japan’s younger generation, however, is more into the pop culture of their country: Anime, Video Games, etc.

USJ can and is embracing that. Disney only has Disney IP to draw from, really, these days.

Now that’s just a theory based off what I read but I think it has some weight to it.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Oh wow they passed TDL & TDS attendance. Good for them. I’m sure doing so many seasonal events helps but I recall reading something recently that might have something to do with that.

TDL & TDS (and in some regards USJ) were incredibly popular and successful because they were unabashedly an American product for the Japanese population. Because of US occupation of Japan after WWII the older Japanese generations grew up with Disney and Hollywood films in the same way people in America would.

Japan’s younger generation, however, is more into the pop culture of their country: Anime, Video Games, etc.

USJ can and is embracing that. Disney only has Disney IP to draw from, really, these days.

Now that’s just a theory based off what I read but I think it has some weight to it.

I mean

I'm jealous that the culture is into Anime/Video Games. In the West we get a small amount of love in theme parks for these types of media when millions of people love them

I hope with SNW doing so well along with the last of Us house, we get more but it gets boring over in the US when most things in parks are the same IP we've seen for year, when Japan gets all these fresh new things constantly

 

[quinnmac000]

Oh wow they passed TDL & TDS attendance. Good for them. I’m sure doing so many seasonal events helps but I recall reading something recently that might have something to do with that.

TDL & TDS (and in some regards USJ) were incredibly popular and successful because they were unabashedly an American product for the Japanese population. Because of US occupation of Japan after WWII the older Japanese generations grew up with Disney and Hollywood films in the same way people in America would.

Japan’s younger generation, however, is more into the pop culture of their country: Anime, Video Games, etc.

USJ can and is embracing that. Disney only has Disney IP to draw from, really, these days.

Now that’s just a theory based off what I read but I think it has some weight to it.

There is truth to the bold but USJ actually probably brings in a large amount of Chinese/Korean guests into the parks for those events which also part of the reason why it surpassed TDL and TDS with Japan only fully opening up this year. Osaka was the number one travel location for Koreans traveling outside the country and Osaka was the number two location for chinese traveling to Japan. However, why are they going to Osaka and Japan. USJ's reputation is super high due to the seasonal events.

The reason why USJ is doing so well is because the Universal Cool IPs being used are IPs that have had not been utilized properly and are cross generational as well as USJ being the only place in the entire world to experience those IPs.

While they do chose some super popular recent animes/video games like Demon Slayer and JuJu Katsen which attracts those foreign guests, the things that get more than just an overlay are IPs that have been relevant for years like One Piece and Conan are what keeps japanese guests going. Part of the reason why Universal can charge $40 dollars for a one piece show almost every summer.

While TDS and TDL are both really well made parks....they aren't necessarily bringing a large number of foreign guests for IPs that can't experienced anywhere else and the attractions that are unique/not based on IPs in those parks have already been open so long that anyone who really wanted to experience it has already done so.

 

[OrlLover]

There is truth to the bold but USJ actually probably brings in a large amount of Chinese/Korean guests into the parks for those events which also part of the reason why it surpassed TDL and TDS with Japan only fully opening up this year. Osaka was the number one travel location for Koreans traveling outside the country and Osaka was the number two location for chinese traveling to Japan. However, why are they going to Osaka and Japan. USJ's reputation is super high due to the seasonal events.

The reason why USJ is doing so well is because the Universal Cool IPs being used are IPs that have had not been utilized properly and are cross generational as well as USJ being the only place in the entire world to experience those IPs.

While they do chose some super popular recent animes/video games like Demon Slayer and JuJu Katsen which attracts those foreign guests, the things that get more than just an overlay are IPs that have been relevant for years like One Piece and Conan are what keeps japanese guests going. Part of the reason why Universal can charge $40 dollars for a one piece show almost every summer.

While TDS and TDL are both really well made parks....they aren't necessarily bringing a large number of foreign guests for IPs that can't experienced anywhere else and the attractions that are unique/not based on IPs in those parks have already been open so long that anyone who really wanted to experience it has already done so.

I’m guessing Fantasy Springs should help prop up TDS a little with the new additions however the IP’s they chose are not new.

 

[BatCom]

Oh wow they passed TDL & TDS attendance. Good for them. I’m sure doing so many seasonal events helps but I recall reading something recently that might have something to do with that.

TDL & TDS (and in some regards USJ) were incredibly popular and successful because they were unabashedly an American product for the Japanese population. Because of US occupation of Japan after WWII the older Japanese generations grew up with Disney and Hollywood films in the same way people in America would.

Japan’s younger generation, however, is more into the pop culture of their country: Anime, Video Games, etc.

USJ can and is embracing that. Disney only has Disney IP to draw from, really, these days.

Now that’s just a theory based off what I read but I think it has some weight to it.

I would expect TDL and TDS to re-take those spots next year once Fantasy Springs opens.

What you said about Japanese IP trumping American IP among young people is true. American culture was very popular among the "boomer" generation of Japanese (and still is) but is recently becoming displaced among younger generations by Asian pop culture like K-pop and anime. In that regard moving away from the Universal films theme makes sense for USJ.

About Disney: It is important to note that Disney IP is still as popular as it ever has been in Japan, particularly for women. A whopping 77% of TDR guests are female. Where TDR has been suffering post-pandemic is in amenities and seasonal events. The hardcore TDR fan base in Japan has felt burned by radio silence on APs, rising ticket prices and budget-slashed seasonal events and entertainment. Fantasy Springs might be the rejuvenation that TDR needs though.

 

[Blue]

There is truth to the bold but USJ actually probably brings in a large amount of Chinese/Korean guests into the parks for those events which also part of the reason why it surpassed TDL and TDS with Japan only fully opening up this year. Osaka was the number one travel location for Koreans traveling outside the country and Osaka was the number two location for chinese traveling to Japan. However, why are they going to Osaka and Japan. USJ's reputation is super high due to the seasonal events.

The reason why USJ is doing so well is because the Universal Cool IPs being used are IPs that have had not been utilized properly and are cross generational as well as USJ being the only place in the entire world to experience those IPs.

While they do chose some super popular recent animes/video games like Demon Slayer and JuJu Katsen which attracts those foreign guests, the things that get more than just an overlay are IPs that have been relevant for years like One Piece and Conan are what keeps japanese guests going. Part of the reason why Universal can charge $40 dollars for a one piece show almost every summer.

While TDS and TDL are both really well made parks....they aren't necessarily bringing a large number of foreign guests for IPs that can't experienced anywhere else and the attractions that are unique/not based on IPs in those parks have already been open so long that anyone who really wanted to experience it has already done so.

Are the IPs used during Universal Cool owned by Universal? Would be nice to see them in the US parks.

 

[quinnmac000]

Are the IPs used during Universal Cool owned by Universal? Would be nice to see them in the US parks.

Nope....while Universal does have some shared ownership rights to some animes...none they own so far have been used in the parks for cool events.