Japan market sluggish, despite little boosts

Craig T. Kojima / Star-Advertiser Japan ANA passengers pose with Pikachu at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.

Craig T. Kojima / Star-Advertiser Hikaru Kobiyama, left, placed first in Pokemon Japan Championships, and Satomi Nakano with Pikachu at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.

Craig T. Kojima / Star-Advertiser At Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Pikachu greeted contestants for the Pokemon World Championships held in Honolulu. Honolulu had 3,000 competitors from 50 countries arriving with over 300 from Japan.

HONOLULU — Japan returned more than a year ago to its position as Hawai‘i’s top source of international tourists, but the market isn’t expected to attain its pre-COVID-19 level of more than 1.5 million visitor arrivals until 2026 or 2027.

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