4.8 Delving Further into Japan's Pop Culture
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4.8 Delving Further into Japan's Pop Culture
Akihabara in Tokyo is an area famous for electronics, games and manga-related items. There
are
many game centres in Akihabara and all around Japan.
Some centres may be full of only UFO catcher games (upper left). These games are filled with stuffed animals of famous characters, plastic collectibles and even candy and chocolate.
The SEGA building on the right is an entire game centre. Usually the floors in big game centres are divided up into types of games/activities like Purikura, UFO catcher games and video games.
In recent years, Akihabara has become famous for AKB48, a girl group with a total of over 120 members.
Some centres may be full of only UFO catcher games (upper left). These games are filled with stuffed animals of famous characters, plastic collectibles and even candy and chocolate.
The SEGA building on the right is an entire game centre. Usually the floors in big game centres are divided up into types of games/activities like Purikura, UFO catcher games and video games.
In recent years, Akihabara has become famous for AKB48, a girl group with a total of over 120 members.
Anime and manga are very popular in Japan and their popularity has spread worldwide.
Comic Market is a very popular manga convention that happens every year in Tokyo and draws crowds of hundreds of thousands of people! Many of the convention participants dress in Cosplay (right).
The purpose of Comic Market is to distribute self-published manga.
Comic Market is a very popular manga convention that happens every year in Tokyo and draws crowds of hundreds of thousands of people! Many of the convention participants dress in Cosplay (right).
The purpose of Comic Market is to distribute self-published manga.
The "Culture of Cute (kawaii)" in Japan represents all the cute objects
that Japanese people love. As we saw in Unit 1, most organizations,
companies and even cities have their own cute or funny mascot
characters.
Kawaii objects are not just for children in Japan. One of the reasons adults like to buy cute things is to offset their high-stress work and life in society. They may be very stressed due to their work responsibilities but by looking at a cute charm on their bag or phone or a cute pen or pencil their stress can be alleviated.
Kawaii objects are not just for children in Japan. One of the reasons adults like to buy cute things is to offset their high-stress work and life in society. They may be very stressed due to their work responsibilities but by looking at a cute charm on their bag or phone or a cute pen or pencil their stress can be alleviated.
Sanrio, the company
that created the world-famous Hello Kitty character, has a motto that
really shows the idea of a small cute object bringing joy to someone's
life: "Small gift, big smile."
There are many kawaii products made for women such as cookware, purses and bags, purse and cellphone charms and home decor.
There are many kawaii products made for women such as cookware, purses and bags, purse and cellphone charms and home decor.