Yamaguchi Prefecture Tourism Promotion Division

The Yamaguchi Prefecture Tourism Promotion Division is the governmental body tasked with promoting tourism for Yamaguchi Prefecture, located in Japan. Its mandate is to raise the profile of the prefecture as a travel destination. It carries out promotional activities aimed at both domestic and international audiences. The division works within the broader administrative framework of Yamaguchi Prefecture.

In March 2016, the division experienced a significant cybersecurity incident when the hacking group KarmaSec, affiliated with Anonymous, breached its servers. The attackers leaked a database containing personal information such as emails, encrypted passwords, user comments, addresses, and phone numbers. They claimed the action was a protest against alleged animal rights violations at Akiyoshidai Safari Land and threatened further disclosures unless zoo animals were released. The leaked data was verified as previously undisclosed and published on Ghostbin, drawing attention to the group’s broader pattern of targeting Japanese organizations over animal welfare concerns.

As a division within the Yamaguchi Prefecture administration, the organization operates under the authority of the prefectural government and does not have a separate corporate ownership structure. Its role is specifically limited to tourism promotion, distinguishing it from other prefectural departments that handle areas such as education, infrastructure, or public safety. No further details about its size, budget, or staffing are provided in the available sources.