Famous Faces

During a day trip to any surrounding city, be it Kyoto, Osaka, or Nara, it is quite evident that Japan embraces the outside world. From the moment I leave the Seminar House I lose count on how many times I pass by Tommy Lee Jones. Not literally of course, but if you don’t know what I mean, you need to go out more! Jones is a spokesperson for Boss Coffee and supposedly fits the profile maybe because he looks like the guy on the can. But when I asked the Japanese students at Kansai Gaidai who the guy was, recognizable on all boss coffee vending machine…no one could put a name to the face. There are also a variety of TV commercials where Jones is an alien in disguise and observes the human race making notes on the behaviour and such of the Japanese and after a long days work he rewards himself with a Boss Coffee! I assume this idea is slightly related to M.I.B (Men in Black).

Many Japanese businesses create cute mascots to promote their products. The biggest competitor of this cute phenomenon is that of a foreign face. Many American actors and musical artists advertise for Japanese mass consumer products. This strikes me as odd especially if the products they are endorsing aren’t even use outside of Japan. Take Cameron Diaz for example. She has teamed up with SoftBank. In all of the commercials Diaz is shown talking and walking down the street surrounded by other foreigners. So, she seemingly doesn’t even have to leave the country to shoot a commercial that airs in Japan!

Softbank renamed their company from Vodafone and has introduced a new concept to the cellphone craze—zero yen plan. The article "Cameron Diaz presses all the right buttons for SoftBank" by Asia Media, explains that SoftBank commercials differ from other phone companies because they omit dialogue or a catch phrase. Diaz is simply nothing more than an over paid blond with a pretty smile.

As illustrated in the film The Japanese Version, it is apparent that when walking along any street in Japan, not matter how remote, it is not that difficult to see global influences around you! I often here the claim that everything in Japan is uniquely Japanese, yet the all of the “must have” products are ironically advertised by foreigners. So why are they so fascinated in American culture? I think it goes without saying (but I’ll spell it out anyway)…everyone wants what they can’t have.

Various forms of Art in Japanese Traditional Culture

What is Tradition?

Merriam Webster defines tradition as:

• 1 a: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as
  a religious practice or a social custom)
  b: a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly
  accepted as historical though not verifiable
• 2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction
• 3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
• 4: characteristic manner, method, or style
  

Long-established traditions serve importance by unifying and representing a group of people. Yet as Globalization takes it course, new cotumes and products that are introduced to a culture begin to compete with old traditions. This may eventually push old traditions out of the way to make room for new ones... Does this mean that the definition of tradition is changing as well?

Maiko walking through a gate in Kyoto.

In this sense, Globalization may be seen as a threat to traditional culture. On the contrary, Japan, in particular, is infamous throughout history for holding on to its cultural traditions whilst different costumes and commodities are discovered and embraced.

Tea Ceremony, Sumie (brush painting), Shamisen, Koto (musical instruments) and Enka music, among others are all forms of traditional Japanese culture. However, when an outsider considers traditions in Japanese culture, I am certain Geisha and Sumo will always be near the top.

Geisha are often misrepresented as a form of prostitution and in 2005, Rob Marshall directed Memoirs of a Geisha based on the novel in an attempt to visually illustrate, to a Western auidence, exactly what it meant to be a Geisha. These traditional female entertainers whose skills vary in performing Japanese arts, may be thought of as something in the past, yet hanamachi geisha districts still traditionally house and train Japanese women to become Geisha. Kyoto is probably where the strongest tradition of Geisha remain. It is common to see Maiko (an apprentice Geisha) walking through the streets of Kyoto. And however common it may or may not be, any nearby spectators put their camera skills to the test when Maiko pass by.

Maiko makeover in Kyoto! You can do it too!

Another traditional art form in Japan is Sumo—Japan’s national sport. Sumo wrestling is a traditional sport of Japan and it's history dates back longer than some of the countries it is becoming popular in. Among younger generations in Japan, different forms of combat fighting like martial arts (karate, judo, kendo) and P.R.I.D.E. fighting and UFC are becoming more popular. Although Sumo wrestling in Japan may be seemily less popular than before, fan's are now accumulating internationally. Moreover, foreign competetors have also entered the ring.

This Sumo wrestler was kind enough to pose with my roommates and I
infront of Todaiji Temple in Nara.

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For more information on Sumo visit:

• http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-1_u-57_t-197_c-654/sumo-and-the-martial-arts/nsw/sumo-and-the-martial-arts/study-of-a-cultural-group-japan/leisure

This commercial aired in North America plays on the Japanese traditional stereotype with an edge.
(http://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-america-sees-japan-sumo-car-wash.html)

KAWAII (^^)v

Why is Japanese popular culture so obsessed with being cute?

Kawaii is probably one of the first words a foreigner will learn when s/he comes to Japan. At first, the concept of kawaii might be strange, but like all the new things about Japan it sparks curiosities, which lead me to investigate the “culture of cuteness” in Japan.

Kawaisa (cuteness) often reflects imagery of immaturity, carelessness and weakness—imagery “naturally” tied to women (especially young women). Manga and anime female characters are an epitome of this reflecting in the daily lives of the Japanese, regardless of age and even gender. Kawaisa is, thus a conscious attempt to construct visuals that people could relate to personally. Does this mean then that all Japanese girls act like infants or are immature? I'd like to think otherwise, but if the Japanese are trying to be cute by upholding these images... what else are we to think?

One of the most famous icons of Japanese popular culture that compels the interest of being cute is Hello Kitty! Literally inescapable, Hello Kitty! or Kitty-chan in Japanese has crept her way onto pretty much everything from shoes to guitars, and bento boxes to cell phone straps. Japan's obsession with all things cute propelled this character, which was once merely a picture on a 240 yen coin purse, into a multibillion dollar global franchise.

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The phenomenon of kawaii is not just limited to media, but has ultimately found its way in fashion as well. In the West, it is common for women who dress outside of the “norm” to be ridiculed for it. On the contrary, the youth of Japan are able to express themselves more freely through the clothes and accessories they wear. Unlike Canada, it is virtually acceptable in Japan to dress however you want.

These two girls, who were kind enough to pose for me at the Yodoyabashi train station are a perfect model for cuteness in Japan. There are many different trends in Japan that all belong in the pop culture scene. Regardless, it seems that the majority will always follow the latest trends. In Japan, I believe the concept of cuteness in everyday fashion is vanishing as a mere trend and is evolving into somewhat of a tradition.

Additional info:

Are you a Hello Kitty Junkie too? Then you would know that Sanrio is the company behind Hello Kitty's design, which as slightly changed over the years.

See Prof. Fedorowicz's Visual Anthropology Blog to read more about cuteness in Japan!