Japan airing 156-part series on Green Gables translator

P.E.I. is hoping to draw more tourists from Canada in 2014, but its also relying on a new TV series in Japan to help attract many more fans to Anne of Green Gables.

The province released its TourismPEI and PEI 2014 marketing plan Friday. While most effortswill focus onpotential visitors from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, it also hopes to capitalize ona 156-part Japanese series about Hanako Muraoka, the woman who translated Anne of Green Gables to Japanese.

Its being produced by NHK, Japans national broadcaster, and will be shown in a time slot that draws tens of millions of viewers. Each 15-minute episode will feature P.E.I.

The province is partnering with the CanadianTourism Commission to develop additional promotion to coincide with the series.

We are extremely excited about this opportunityand we look forward to working with NHK as this drama series is rolled out, said Robert Henderson, minister for tourism and culture.

Were already hearing from Japanese tour operators who are expecting a significant increase in interest about Prince Edward Island. Some are already considering charter flights to the island because of an expected increase in demand.

The Japanese series starts in March and runs for six months.

2014 marks the 150th anniversary of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, the meetings that paved the road toward confederation.