Japanese culture & Hanayome to Papa

[winterspel]

Someone on my friends list pointed out last night's Japan Times article, "Manga frenzy proves that we're all kids at heart", which reminded me of a post I really liked at neomarxisme's blog: "Massing, Demographics, and the Beginnings of Japanese Pop Culture". I can't remember if I ever linked to it before, but it's an interesting read on the youth-

Comments

[anyotherknight]

I adore neomarxisme's blog. The latest post on 'Oops, we conceived' marriages raised some great points.

[winterspel]

The latest post on 'Oops, we conceived' marriages raised some great points.

I completely agree!

[anyotherknight]

Whatever the case, the Gov only decided to give the Lesser Gender the Pill once the Feminazis started asking too many questions about the selfless and speedy efforts to legalize Viagra - a harmless recreational drug with mild side-effects like death.

I laughed. :< I do like the way he continually ties bureaucratic policy-making with social trends, though; the one with the Regain commercial and work/life balances made me snicker, too.

I don't know if you'd be interested (or read it already), since it's a little more commercial, but there's also clast, a blog on consumers and media. They've had a few interesting posts about male/female idol culture in the past few months.

[winterspel]

I actually have been reading clast and I find it fascinating. I love reading meta about media and advertising, etc. because they say a lot about how we perceive ourselves, culture, society, or about how we want to be perceived, or what kind of images we want to project.

If you ever have any blog/site recs of a similar nature, feel free to point them out. As you (hopefully) know by now, I'm interested in a little bit of everything, and I welcome recs of all kinds.

[karadin]

Reading that article has reinforced to me the way Japan and the United States are alike in their youth-oriented consumer culture, product is always marketed and driven by the largest segment of society, and in this case it's getting older. Just because it's youth-oriented doesnt mean bad or shlocky, however, I am so annoyed with 'The Most Selfish Generation' ie: the baby boomers, I can't wait until most of them get out of government and into the retirement homes, and yah, I realize that's my parent's generation.

[winterspel]

I've never heard the moniker "The Most Selfish Generation' ie: the baby boomers" - to what does it refer?

I think increasingly, we're going to see both in the U.S. and in Japan (and elsewhere) a consumer culture marketed toward older people. Already Japan is changing in small ways (adapting convenience stores to the needs of elderly) and as older consumers make their voice known, I think the changes will continue to grow.

Which isn't to say that I think that youth-oriented consumer culture will be wiped away or overwhelmed - in Japan, I think it will be interesting to see how the two balance against each other.

[karadin]

They have named the generation that went through WW2 as the Greatest Generation, the generation that came after, went from hippies in the sixites to yuppies in the eighties, by their sheer size, they have tended to overwhelm the populations before and after, I would like to see a balance between younger and older culture, but having been young myself not that long ago, I try not to mock youth culture, after all, it's what my kids will be into.

[winterspel]

I'm familiar with the baby boomers and their evolution, but I've never heard them called "The Most Selfish Generation" before, so I was wondering how that name evolved

[kitsune714]

[winterspel]

Aiko's jewelry is gorgeous! Very eye-catching, and I agree also on the flowers, although I'm not so sure about having flowers on the microphone - whenever I see that, I feel sorry for the flowers. (because I'm strange) ;)

[ginzarhapsody]

I heartily agree with you on Hanayome to Papa, one hundred percent. :) My favorite spring drama, when I was expecting absolutely nothing from it. Totally surpassed everything else.

I also totally agree that this was a great role for Junno to grow in (though I thought he did a decent job when he took over Uchi's role in Ganbatte Ikimasshoi!). Ishihara and Junno absolutely OOZED chemistry. I never for one second doubted that Seiji and Aiko were totally meant to be. :) I particularly loved Junno in the last maybe three episodes and I really felt like he got some good stuff to chomp on and try to work through as Seiji. :)

Hanayome to Papa is totally one of my overall favorite dramas too. It's just got so much silly!heart, it HAS to be! ^_^

[winterspel]

YOU'RE BACK! *glomps you*

And yay, we totally agree on Hanayome to Papa. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised anymore when we like similar dramas. :D

I'd like to see Junno's previous roles to see more of how he's developed.

Golly, it's so good to have you back, my dear! *dances happily*

[maiita]

I STILL haven't seen the last episodes of Hanayome to Papa D:

Just the day after vacation I've managed to download 8 GB so I'm definitely having a huge drama downloading spree soon XDD

[winterspel]

I think you'll like the last episode of HYtP - it's really satisfying. :)