I got my school books for the year today, and I was flipping through my Japanese book when a section caught my eye. There’s a part of a chapter devoted to popular culture in Japan- music, movies, etc. I found a couple of sections amusing, so here you go, typed directly up from the book:
アイドル歌手(Idol Singers)／ポップミュージック(Pop Music)
Every year, cute, young teenagers or groups of teenagers debut in the world of pop music, singing light, bouncy, upbeat tunes. They are cute and have a sense of innocence, but they are not always able to carry a tune. Looks and personality allow them to make the Top 10 charts. They sing and dance on weekly music television programs, and as their popularity grows, they move over into the world of acting. These singers have the biggest influence on young teenagers in Japan who begin to dress and speak like these stars. Young fans frequent CD and DVD shops to rent, or occasionally purchase music of their favorite artists.
ドラマ dorama (Japanese TV Dramas)
Japanese TV dorama, resemble American soap operas. They air for only 10-12 weeks, however, no matter how popular they are or high the ratings. This short-lived air-time allows the program’s creators to respond quickly to trends, and thus the term “trendy drama” was developed in the 1990’s. These programs reflect the most current stories and issues in contemporary Japan. The appeal lies with the fashionably dressed characters, fancy cars, snazzy hangout scenes, and modern surroundings, whether at the office or the home. The popularity of the dramas also brings many of their theme songs to the Top 10 charts.
JAPANESE POP CULTURE: JAPANESE CARTOONS
Anime, which may be translated as “Japanese cartoons”, has a large cult following in Japan. Even in America, anime ranging from classics such as “My Neighbor Totoro” to the popular “Dragon Ball” or “Sailor Moon” are seen and appreciated by audiences for their entertainment and cultural value. Anime are not necessarily geared toward a young audience as cartoons are in the United States. In fact, many anime contain mature themes that can depict violence and sexual themes. Due to the wide variety of anime available, the cartoons can be seen and enjoyed by people of various ages.
…*dies from the overload of italics*
(I hate it when people put Japanese words in italics all the time, it’s so unecessary. I’ve seen a bunch of fanfics like that, and it’s so annoying to always see “Momo-senpai“, “Echizen-san“, etc…)
The workbook section for this chapter looks incredibly easy. The first section of it is “What do you know about Japanese entertainment? List examples (movies, anime, singers, songs, TV programs, sports players, etc.) for each category. If you are unable to give examples, circle “shiranai”.” The sections are:
-Movies
-Movie stars
-Anime
-Japanese songs
-Japanese singers
-TV shows
-Pro baseball players
XD
