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Welcome to the Peanut Gallery!
This blog was created as an assignment for my Visual Anthropology class at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan. In addition to a detailed documentation of my experiences, I will try to provide informed commentary about a variety of topics and subjects during my stay in Japan.
I must admit that my first impression of Japan and Japanese culture came long before I even arrived in the Osaka airport. Instead, I came to Japan with preconceived expectations and assumptions based on what I’d seen in imported Japanese media such as anime and manga. I have found myself basing my observations on whether my stereotypical views of Japan are being confirmed or challenged by reality.
This blog was created as an assignment for my Visual Anthropology class at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan. In addition to a detailed documentation of my experiences, I will try to provide informed commentary about a variety of topics and subjects during my stay in Japan.
I must admit that my first impression of Japan and Japanese culture came long before I even arrived in the Osaka airport. Instead, I came to Japan with preconceived expectations and assumptions based on what I’d seen in imported Japanese media such as anime and manga. I have found myself basing my observations on whether my stereotypical views of Japan are being confirmed or challenged by reality.
For Example:
The “V” fingers my host sister is displaying in the photo are characteristic of Japanese people in photographs. The meaning is somewhat obscure, as I’ve been told by some that they stand for peace and by others that they represent “V” for “victory.”
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Manga have become increasingly popular in the United States, and is where most of my personal understanding of Japanese culture comes from. In Japan, it's practically a way of life. Manga can be found everywhere from the largest bookstore to the nearest 7 Eleven (photo). And it’s cheap! You can buy new and used manga for under 500 yen (about $5.60 US).
3 comments:
Interesting examples.
Did you know about the peace sign being when taking a picture when you were back in the States? How is manga a way of life here in Japan as opposed to what you thought when you were back in the States?
I like that you are challenging yourself to overcome stereotypes of Japan. How are your two examples here doing that? I would like more detailed explanation. In other words, I want to read more of your own thoughts and ideas as they relate to your observations.
You are off to a good start - keep challenging yourself.
The peace sign was something I'd seen in anime and cartoons, but I never really thought of it as an actual practice until I witnessed it here in Japan.
As for manga, readers and followers in the US are a niche group. There are maybe two or three series that are widely read. But in Japan, everyone from young children to retired salarymen read them. I learned in my Popular Culture and Media class that manga make up 40% of all published titles in Japan. That's including newspapers, magazines, books, journals...that's HUGE!
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!
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