Comments on: BBC’s Japanorama - what the West want to see of Japan? http://soldave.thedeepstop.com/2007/04/02/bbcs-japanorama-what-the-west-want-to-see-of-japan/ Scuba diving in Okinawa, and all things to do with Japan Wed, 7 Jan 2009 16:06:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Big in Japan | A is for apple, B is for ball, C is for… cosplay??? http://soldave.thedeepstop.com/2007/04/02/bbcs-japanorama-what-the-west-want-to-see-of-japan/#comment-2489 Big in Japan | A is for apple, B is for ball, C is for… cosplay??? Mon, 28 May 2007 12:54:06 +0000 http://soldave.thedeepstop.com/2007/04/02/bbcs-japanorama-what-the-west-want-to-see-of-japan/#comment-2489 [...] Sunday was a bit of a lazy day in the morning, and we only left the house in the early afternoon. The plan was to head to Asakusa, where there is a very famous shrine (entrance pictured left). In the New Year it is absolutely packed with people going to pray for good fortune in the year ahead, but even at this time it was really busy with a mixture of Japanese people going to pray, and tourists going for a look. I did a bit of both, and was pleased to get the “best fortune” paper picked out at random. Unfortunately, my friend got the worst possible fortune paper. But we elected to share our good and bad fortunes with each other so they’d even out! The temple has large grounds, although I was a little saddened to see the road going up to the temple was just a myriad of souvenir shops. I suppose these places have got to make money somehow, but it wasn’t great to see. But then as we walked around the temple grounds, we spotted some people who definitely stood out from the norm. These people were in colourful, immaculately-made costumes, and were partaking in something called cosplay (made from the words “costume” and “play”). This is a very Japanese phenomenon and is basically where people dress up, make-up and acquire the mannerisms of their favourite manga (comic book) characters. Note that when I say comic book, I’m not talking about The Beano or Dandy. The comic book industry is huge in Japan not limited to kids; you’ll regularly see businessmen in Tokyo standing on the train and reading the latest manga. One of the most famous people related to manga is Shoko Nakagawa (nicknamed Shokotan - see right). This model/singer/actress/celebrity is a self-confessed big cosplay fan and is regularly seen on her blog in her latest cosplay outfits, that she gets into after a long day at work to relax. The work that the cosplay artists put into their hobby is really admirable, and certainly not to be scoffed at. Whereas in the west, people like this might get ridiculed by members of the public when they go out, in Japan nobody really says anything, and everyone just gets on with their lives. There was some sort of event going on in the Asakusa grounds, with official cosplay cameramen and escorts with the artists. The reason for the latter is that some people get obsessed with taking photos of the cosplay artists and they start to stalk the people, losing touch of where fantasy ends and reality starts. I have to admit I am fascinated by this aspect of Japanese culture, as I am with most of the more alternative parts of Japan. It was something that I had always wanted to see, yet this was the first time in 2 and a half years I had the chance to do so (cosplay in Okinawa would be far, far too hot!). After observing for a little while, I did pluck up the courage to ask a couple for some photos, and I am quite pleased with the results. While there were some photographers getting the artists into all sorts of poses and settings, I was just happy to get snaps of them in any situation. They all seemed really friendly though, and were happy to have photos taken. It is always interesting to imagine who the person is behind the immaculate hair (I have to get manga hair at some point before I leave Japan!) and costume. Is it some university student with lots of time on their hands, a bullied schoolgirl who, like the Ganguro girls, use the make-up and outfits as a form of escapism, or someone just bored with their nondescript life, living in their nondescript home in a Tokyo suburb? [...] […] Sunday was a bit of a lazy day in the morning, and we only left the house in the early afternoon. The plan was to head to Asakusa, where there is a very famous shrine (entrance pictured left). In the New Year it is absolutely packed with people going to pray for good fortune in the year ahead, but even at this time it was really busy with a mixture of Japanese people going to pray, and tourists going for a look. I did a bit of both, and was pleased to get the “best fortune” paper picked out at random. Unfortunately, my friend got the worst possible fortune paper. But we elected to share our good and bad fortunes with each other so they’d even out! The temple has large grounds, although I was a little saddened to see the road going up to the temple was just a myriad of souvenir shops. I suppose these places have got to make money somehow, but it wasn’t great to see. But then as we walked around the temple grounds, we spotted some people who definitely stood out from the norm. These people were in colourful, immaculately-made costumes, and were partaking in something called cosplay (made from the words “costume” and “play”). This is a very Japanese phenomenon and is basically where people dress up, make-up and acquire the mannerisms of their favourite manga (comic book) characters. Note that when I say comic book, I’m not talking about The Beano or Dandy. The comic book industry is huge in Japan not limited to kids; you’ll regularly see businessmen in Tokyo standing on the train and reading the latest manga. One of the most famous people related to manga is Shoko Nakagawa (nicknamed Shokotan - see right). This model/singer/actress/celebrity is a self-confessed big cosplay fan and is regularly seen on her blog in her latest cosplay outfits, that she gets into after a long day at work to relax. The work that the cosplay artists put into their hobby is really admirable, and certainly not to be scoffed at. Whereas in the west, people like this might get ridiculed by members of the public when they go out, in Japan nobody really says anything, and everyone just gets on with their lives. There was some sort of event going on in the Asakusa grounds, with official cosplay cameramen and escorts with the artists. The reason for the latter is that some people get obsessed with taking photos of the cosplay artists and they start to stalk the people, losing touch of where fantasy ends and reality starts. I have to admit I am fascinated by this aspect of Japanese culture, as I am with most of the more alternative parts of Japan. It was something that I had always wanted to see, yet this was the first time in 2 and a half years I had the chance to do so (cosplay in Okinawa would be far, far too hot!). After observing for a little while, I did pluck up the courage to ask a couple for some photos, and I am quite pleased with the results. While there were some photographers getting the artists into all sorts of poses and settings, I was just happy to get snaps of them in any situation. They all seemed really friendly though, and were happy to have photos taken. It is always interesting to imagine who the person is behind the immaculate hair (I have to get manga hair at some point before I leave Japan!) and costume. Is it some university student with lots of time on their hands, a bullied schoolgirl who, like the Ganguro girls, use the make-up and outfits as a form of escapism, or someone just bored with their nondescript life, living in their nondescript home in a Tokyo suburb? […]

]]> By: Bim http://soldave.thedeepstop.com/2007/04/02/bbcs-japanorama-what-the-west-want-to-see-of-japan/#comment-2167 Bim Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:47:58 +0000 http://soldave.thedeepstop.com/2007/04/02/bbcs-japanorama-what-the-west-want-to-see-of-japan/#comment-2167 Hi Dave, I must admit I am not a fan of Jonathan Ross at all. I find his manner and interview style belittling and base. Unfortunately he does get some decent guests on his "chat show" but most tend to sit there with a look that says "what am I doing?" or "I am going to kill my agent for this". That aside, I haven't seen Japanorama, so couldn't comment, but hopefully anyone who does, given its presenter, would take it all with a pinch of salt, realising that it is not a realistic image, only another attempt for the BBC to find something shocking to make Ross's salary package pale into insignificance! But, come on, don't knock Takeshi's Castle. It's great fun and although some of the contestants appear to be a little on the crazy side, it does show they are a very happy people! I think the articles you note and issues you raise give a very positive/fair view of Japan. Certainly the respectful culture is something that could be learned over here. The UK continues to slide into chaos and ruin with a culture of intimidation and people believing the world owes them a favour. It's not good, you're definitely in the better place right now. okay, rant over. Speak soon. Bim x Hi Dave,
I must admit I am not a fan of Jonathan Ross at all. I find his manner and interview style belittling and base. Unfortunately he does get some decent guests on his “chat show” but most tend to sit there with a look that says “what am I doing?” or “I am going to kill my agent for this”.
That aside, I haven’t seen Japanorama, so couldn’t comment, but hopefully anyone who does, given its presenter, would take it all with a pinch of salt, realising that it is not a realistic image, only another attempt for the BBC to find something shocking to make Ross’s salary package pale into insignificance!

But, come on, don’t knock Takeshi’s Castle. It’s great fun and although some of the contestants appear to be a little on the crazy side, it does show they are a very happy people!

I think the articles you note and issues you raise give a very positive/fair view of Japan. Certainly the respectful culture is something that could be learned over here. The UK continues to slide into chaos and ruin with a culture of intimidation and people believing the world owes them a favour. It’s not good, you’re definitely in the better place right now.

okay, rant over. Speak soon.
Bim x

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