Join Our Newsletter
  • Visit Our Store
  • Come Write for J-List!
J-List Blog
Visit J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
No Result
View All Result

Thoughts on Alternate History and Western Pop Culture in Japan

Peter Payne by Peter Payne
8 years ago
in Your Friend in Japan

Over the past week I’ve been working through Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle, the alternate history drama by Phillip K. Dick that shows a world in which America lost World War II to the Nazis and the Japanese. I’ve been a card-carrying fan of alternate history ever since discovering Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove, so I was happy to find a series as well-done as this. Whenever I watch a Western production with Japanese characters I get a little nervous. Will they cast Koreans to play Japanese, as happened with one character in Heroes, the implication being that Japanese actors don’t have the required English language skills? Or will they go with Japanese actors who are truly bad at English, so bad the audience can’t understand them, which happened in disastrous 47 Ronin? I’m happy to report that the producers got everything right, with the possible exception of making the Japanese characters a little more too ready to commit seppuku at the drop of a hat than is believable.

In the same way pop culture travels from Japan into our lives, Western media is always flowing into Japan, and it’s fun to analyze which shows or films catch on here. One of my first impressions of Japan was that every female seemed to think the 1953 Audrey Hepburn film Roman Holiday was the best film in the world, which. While Dr. Who never caught on with Japanese fans appreciably, the sci-fi shows of Gerry Anderson (especially Thunderbirds) all developed huge followings that continue to this day. Bewitched (shown as Okusama wa Majo or The Lady of the House is a Witch) was a huge hit in Japan, and is directly credited with inspiring the modern magical girl genre in 1967. Horror films seem like a genre that crosses cultural borders easily, and virtually every Japanese is familiar with classic characters like Jason or Freddy Krueger. Other icons the Japanese have embraced include The Graduate (the banging-on-the-glass wedding finale was a staple gag from 80s anime), the painting lessons of Bob Ross (thanks to an Osaka TV station that ran his videos late at night), and Groundhog Day, which gets referenced heavily in Steins;Gate.

J-List has been on a tear adding great new cosplay and apparel items to the site, from sexy socks to authentic shimapan plus the most requested item on the planet, the legendary Cat Keyhole Bra and Panty sets. Browse all the new items!

Tags: AnimeHatsune MikuKantai CollectionVOCALOID

More Posts Like This

Rent A Girlfriend Blog
Your Friend in Japan

5 Reasons I’m Done With Rent-a-Girlfriend!

by Peter Payne
4 weeks ago

If there's one anime guaranteed to bring out strong responses from fans, it's Rent-a-Girifriend. Whether it's debating who is "best...

Who Are The Best Silver Haired Anime Girls
Your Friend in Japan

Why Are Silver-Haired Anime Girls So Mysterious?

by Peter Payne
1 month ago

Whenever I ask a question on Twitter/X and get lots of replies from our followers, I know it's a subject...

How Do You Find Time To Watch Anime?

How Do You Find Time to Watch Anime? J-List Customers Reply!

1 month ago
What Are The Most Depressing Anime? Elfin Lied

Why is “Depressing Anime” Trending on Twitter?

1 month ago
Happy Birthday To Eri Kitamura Blog Post

Happy Birthday to Eri Kitamura? What Are Your Favorite Roles By Her?

1 month ago
What's The Worst Thing That Can Happen To Anime?

What’s the Worst Thing That Can Happen to an Anime?

1 month ago
Next Post

Car Culture in Japan, and my Trip to Higurashi-Land

Trending Today

Tan Fighters List1 6
Featured

Lovely Tanned Fighters Who Need No Protection

2 days ago
Summer Heat Anime Fan Service
Your Friend in Japan

Summer Heat! What Were the Best Fan Service Moments This Season?

1 week ago
Neko Pako Fuck Paradise
Featured

J-List’s Top 11 Hentai Cosplay JAV Works

3 years ago
Bang Dream! It's My Go!!!!! Cgi Anime Blog Post
Your Friend in Japan

Is BanG Dream! Good Enough to Overcome Bad CGI Anime?

3 days ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
Bang Dream! It's My Go!!!!! Cgi Anime Blog Post
Your Friend in Japan

Is BanG Dream! Good Enough to Overcome Bad CGI Anime?

by Peter Payne
September 22, 2023

I Shall Survive Using Potions! Formulates Adventure

Vending Machine Isekai Series Gets Second Season

Rurouni Kenshin, Episode 12: Rurouni vs. Okashira

Goblin Slayer II: Fall Premiere with New Studio

Blue Exorcist Returns With Shimane Illuminati Saga

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Discord
  • YouTube

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.