Getting to Know Japanese Pop Culture
Popular culture, or pop culture, is generally considered the sum of concepts, ideas, attitudes, icons, and trends that are embedded in the lives of mainstream society. Japanese pop culture has its own distinct characteristics that make it hugely appealing. For one, it celebrates modern trends and perceptions of the general populace while staying connected with traditional art forms. Not only that, but pop culture in Japan is so colorful, eclectic, and unique that it has attracted a global following and has seeped into other countries’ cultural consciousness.
Here are some facets of Japanese pop culture:
JPop (J-Pop) – short for “Japanese Pop,” this refers to a Japanese music genre that reached new heights in the late 1990s. JPop superstars include Ayumi Hamasaki, Ken Hirai, and Utada Ikaru, as well as bands Orange Range and Morning Musume.
Kawaii dog wagashi.
Kawaii – meaning “cute” and “beautiful”, this is a main visual element in Japanese pop culture. Kawaii describes people and animals, and it’s applied to figures or mascots of companies to strengthen public relations. For instance, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has a mascot called “Pipo-kun” that looks like an adorable orange creature with a blue antenna on its head.
Pachinko – this Japanese gaming machine is such a hit that annual earnings are twice as much as Japan’s auto industry.
Cosplay – short for “costume play,” this is a performance art form where people (called “cosplayers”) dress up in costumes that represent anime or manga characters, pop stars, video game characters, and the like. Cosplay has gained so much popularity that events are held in many countries including the United States.
Manga – drawings or comics that remain as popular today as they were centuries ago. Themes greatly vary, from romance to action to horror.
Purikura by KCP student, Shenelle King.
Purikura – Japanese photo booths that go beyond the ordinary by offering various cute designs to decorate the photo.
Anime – Japanese animated cartoons that are generally more detailed in their artwork than Western cartoons. Often influenced by manga, they are much in demand: various related merchandise like action figures, clothing lines, and video games exist.
Japanese TV game shows – these highly entertaining shows vary from hilariously silly to shockingly bizarre. Popular games are the Marshmallow Eating Contest, where the contestants’ faces are held back by bungee cords, and the Bug Game, where everyone is dressed as bugs and contestants have to successfully push a sliding door down a track or else suffer someone’s stinky breath.
Karaoke – who hasn’t heard of karaoke? Whether you can carry a tune or not, singing with karaoke machines can still provide lots of fun and entertainment. Karaoke bars and rooms are booming everywhere.
