The article is dedicated to the development of the creative sector of Japan’s economy. The author analyzes specific features and key areas of the sector’s growth, as well as mechanisms of government support for creative industries in furtherance of the Cool Japan strategy and the goal of boosting the domestic demand, expanding the country’s capacity for exports, and creation of jobs. The article also analyzes main approaches of international organizations and experts to the creative economy’s phenomenon in the contemporary world, including terms, definitions, and classification of industries.