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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/15 18:47:19
Subject: Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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5th God of Chaos! (Yea'rly!)
The Great State of Texas
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20081215/wl_csm/o1japan
TOKYO – Just two decades ago, Japan's image in the world was of an economic juggernaut, challenging America and other industrialized nations with its push for dominance in everything from microchips to supercomputers. Discussion of Japanese culture typically referenced the traditional and offbeat worlds of, say, Kabuki or sumo.
Today, Japan sets the trends in what's cool. Sarah Palin's famous glasses came from a Japanese designer. Tokyo has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, with eight of them earning three stars. Even America's favorite food show, "Iron Chef," is a Japanese import. Japanese women are pushing the limits of literary pop culture with blogs and cellphone novels. Japanese comics occupy ever-greater shelf space in bookstores, and animé-influenced movies like the "The Dark Knight" and "Spider-Man 3" find huge audiences in the West.
What all these media share is a nuanced Japanese aesthetic that has infiltrated global sensibilities – a sort of new "soft power" for Japan. In the process, they're challenging delineations of good and evil from the world's main purveyor of pop culture, Hollywood, as well as American ideals of the lone action-hero.
"The American 20th-century ideal of the individual superhero is wearing thin," says Roland Kelts, professor at the University of Tokyo and author of "Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S." "The Japanese model is of self-denial and the sublimation of selfish desires for the sake of group harmony. This is becoming a multipolar world. The desire to be a part of something harmonious rather than the leader of a pack is growing."
Most weekdays, manga creators Shin Kibayashi and his sister, Yuko, can be found sitting elbow to elbow in their modest studio in a stylish section of Tokyo. She types dialogue while he comments. She does the same as he sketches. They switch roles – effortlessly – as the spirit moves them.
The world they work in is not one of American-style comic strips. Their serial cartoons – which are regularly bound into large volumes – follow sophisticated characters and plots over long periods of time, much like a soap opera.
The team's work spans the spectrum, from the Kindaichi Case Files, a detective series aimed at boys to the soccer manga Shoot! to The Drops of the Gods, a series for adults that focuses on wine and is read weekly by 500,000 Japanese. In France and Korea, the series is so popular that sales of wine brands mentioned in the comic often spike.
Shin says he's noticed a dramatic rise in interest in their work. "It took a long time, but manga's role has developed citizenship everywhere," he says.
In France last year, for example, 1,787 foreign comic books were translated – 64 percent of them Japanese. In the US, total manga sales in 2007 rose about 5 percent, to more than $210 million, according to ICV2.com, a trade website. Otakon, a convention devoted to Japanese pop culture in Baltimore, saw a record-breaking 26,000-plus attendees this past summer.
Shin says a plus for manga is the latitude they give the reader. "A significant characteristic is that there's not good and bad only," he says as he and Yuko sit in the entertainment room of his airy European-style home.
Daily life has many areas of gray, the two artists say – and it's encumbent upon them to explore them. That approach applies to young people as well, though they emphasize their sensitivity to young readers' impressionability.
Shin notes that TV, for example, would skirt showing drug use. But in manga, "I will show it, while at the same time making it clear that something must or could be done," he says. "Manga is an experimental medium, so you can explore how to influence boys not to do drugs."
"To readers, the manga's world is more real than Hollywood movies," Yuko adds. "In spite of the fact that the story is fantasy, the way characters [behave] in manga is more realistic."
Shin says that 50 years ago, people had much sharper delineations of who was good and who was evil in the world. "Now the world has changed. Nobody is sure who is good or who is evil.... The whole world is becoming borderless and unstable. The manga world's ambiguity has become realistic."
That sense of familiarity and ambiguity is key. "There's nothing casual about this form," says Gonzalo Ferreyra, a vice president at VIZ Media, the largest US importer of manga and anime. In the past five years, he says, the company has seen high double-digit increases in sales. "These are stories that … can sustain interest for several dozen volumes."
Indeed, many readers commit to manga over decades. Suzue Miuchi, who is relaunching one of Japan's longest-running girls' manga, Glass Mask, points to letters from fans who say they have overcome weakness by tracking the life of Maya, an actress whose strong will to live helps her overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
"I have always felt that I give readers many things," says Ms. Miuchi, whose gentle demeanor belies an intense schedule of sleeping part of the day and working through the night on the series, which has run for more than 30 years. "But I am not asking them to take a certain message. You can take away what you want."
That's part of the appeal. "It's nice to be reminded that there's no one way of looking at, or surviving in, or laughing at, the world, but we all must, in the end, manage these things," Mr. Ferreyra says.
In true Japanese style, the point is made without fanfare. "I always feel like US culture bashes down doors, while Japanese culture seeps in under the door," says Bruce Rutledge, publisher of Chin Music Press in Seattle.
He points to cartoons that kids watch, but don't specifically associate with Japan. Or take sushi: "It went from being 'Gross! Raw fish!' to the food of beautiful people," he says. Japanese culture became all the rage, he adds, because "it was exotic, but it made sense or it entertained us, or both."
That point is not lost on the Japanese government, which sees the "soft power" possibilities of the country's artistic prowess. Its consular websites tout manga and animé. Government brochures share information via manga-style booklets. And Prime Minister Taro Aso is perhaps the first leader of a major nation to trumpet his credentials as a comic-book geek, though to limited success.
This year, Japan awarded its second International Manga Award to a Hong Kong artist – who beat out submissions from 46 countries, including Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, Britain, Saudi Arabia, and Spain.
"To improve your image in the world, you have to make use of all the tools available," says Kenjiro Monji, Japan's former ambassador to Iraq who recently became director general of public diplomacy, a post that was established three years ago. He is quick to note that pop culture doesn't need government's promotional hand. But, he says, he can play a role as Japan takes note of a three-fold increase since 1990 – to 3 million – in those studying Japanese. The number of Americans studying in Japan rose 13 percent between 2005 and 2007, according to the New-York based Institute of International Education. "We can use the attractive power of popular culture as an introduction," says Mr. Monji.
•Amelia Newcomb reported from Japan as a fellow with the International Reporting Project.
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-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/15 20:38:17
Subject: Re:Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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The Last Chancer Who Survived
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animé-influenced movies like the "The Dark Knight" and "Spider-Man 3"
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/15 21:34:00
Subject: Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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Fireknife Shas'el
A bizarre array of focusing mirrors and lenses turning my phrases into even more accurate clones of
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There's a reason why geeks and nerds want to visit grorious Nippon. (And not just for their perfect asian girlfriends)
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WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS WARHAMS
2009, Year of the Dog
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/15 21:50:41
Subject: Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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Executing Exarch
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How is this news? I am pretty sure I knew this 10 years ago.
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 02:15:00
Subject: Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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Battleship Captain
The Land of the Rising Sun
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Mainstream Media usually are 10 years behind in geekdom trends Clthomps.
M.
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Jenkins: You don't have jurisdiction here!
Smith Jamison: We aren't here, which means when we open up on you and shred your bodies with automatic fire then this will never have happened.
About the Clans: "Those brief outbursts of sense can't hold back the wave of sibko bred, over hormoned sociopaths that they crank out though." |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 02:56:16
Subject: Re:Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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Da Head Honcho Boss Grot
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Necros wrote:animé-influenced movies like the "The Dark Knight" and "Spider-Man 3"
I agree. What are they talking about here?
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Anuvver fing - when they do sumfing, they try to make it look like somfink else to confuse everybody. When one of them wants to lord it over the uvvers, 'e says "I'm very speshul so'z you gotta worship me", or "I know summink wot you lot don't know, so yer better lissen good". Da funny fing is, arf of 'em believe it and da over arf don't, so 'e 'as to hit 'em all anyway or run fer it. |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 07:35:01
Subject: Re:Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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The Dread Evil Lord Varlak
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Does anyone remember when Japan was fretting and worrying about how it was going to lose its personal identity to the US? Turns out the most interesting and vibrant parts of Japanese culture didn't just survive, they thrived and spread to the rest of the world. Just as the US had taken the best of the world and exported its own best (alright, it's own best and McDonalds), Japan managed the same.
It's interesting to see China and India in the early stages of the same process, fretting and worring about national identity, while the rest of us are slowly learning about their cultures piece by piece.
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“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”
Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something. |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 09:06:54
Subject: Re:Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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Nasty Nob on Warbike with Klaw
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WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 09:15:41
Subject: Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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Regular Dakkanaut
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I eagerly await another Beat Takeshi movie
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http://www.military-sf.com/MilitaryScienceFiction.htm
“Attention citizens! Due to the financial irresponsibility and incompetence of your leaders, Cobra has found it necessary to restructure your nation’s economy. We have begun by eliminating the worthless green paper, which your government has deceived you into believing is valuable. Cobra will come to your rescue and, out of the ashes, will arise a NEW ORDER!” |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 09:39:29
Subject: Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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[DCM]
.. .-.. .-.. ..- -- .. -. .- - ..
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America is very good at taking stuff that is good and spewing out its own variant that goes on to rule the world.
But Spiderman and Dark night being anime influenced? Wat?
The manga section at my local Borders is almost as big as the sci-fi section. But I never see anyone reading or buying them. But someone must be buying it.
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2008/12/16 09:39:49
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 12:03:30
Subject: Re:Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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5th God of Chaos! (Yea'rly!)
The Great State of Texas
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Dark Knight being Manga-the reporter doesn't have a brain.
How US rules the world. We took the unrefined awesomeness of Japanese bullet bikes, and added hot blond babes in bikinis.
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-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 12:12:30
Subject: Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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The Dread Evil Lord Varlak
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Waaagh_Gonads wrote:America is very good at taking stuff that is good and spewing out its own variant that goes on to rule the world.
And everyone else is getting better at finding the best parts of everyone else's cultures, and in showing everyone the best bits of their own. It's the very best part of globalisation.
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“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”
Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something. |
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 12:19:09
Subject: Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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Monster-Slaying Daemonhunter
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As has been said before, this is ten years late.
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 13:16:52
Subject: Re:Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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[MOD]
Anti-piracy Officer
Somewhere in south-central England.
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Frazzled wrote:Dark Knight being Manga-the reporter doesn't have a brain.
How US rules the world. We took the unrefined awesomeness of Japanese bullet bikes, and added hot blond babes in bikinis. 
Japan can beat that.
Hot babe in PVC bikini suit and high heel boots, on a superbike, carrying a Digital SLR!
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 13:27:16
Subject: Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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5th God of Chaos! (Yea'rly!)
The Great State of Texas
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Nice bike.
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-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 13:35:04
Subject: Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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Monster-Slaying Daemonhunter
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Nice camera.
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![[Post New]](/s/i/i.gif) 2008/12/16 13:36:16
Subject: Re:Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony?
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[DCM]
Et In Arcadia Ego
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Frazzled wrote:Dark Knight being Manga-the reporter doesn't have a brain.
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I suspect they meant the DVD prequel
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The poor man really has a stake in the country. The rich man hasn't; he can go away to New Guinea in a yacht. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all
We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be.
"the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king, |
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