We like to think that we’re a part of something cutting edge, something noveau in terms of our appreciation and fascination with Japanese pop culture in regards to anime and manga. Weren’t we already there with anime when people referred to it as “Japanimation”? Didn’t we scoff at the kids who read manga the wrong way in Borders? But is it still premature to trumpet our hipness by association to the public?
Granted manga has gotten a lot of press lately thanks in part to Wired magazine and in part to bookstores’ wide acceptance of the medium. Granted Yugi-oh is becoming part of the culture thanks to MacDonald’s Happy Meal toys and series re-runs. Sure, there’s more people aware of anime because of Adult Swim, and yes, the sushi craze has gotten more people educated that sushi doesn’t necessarily equal raw fish.
However, most people still think “Pokemon= Anime” and “Manga= Japanese Language American Comic Books“. Not only does the general public still have no clue as to the scope and variety of anime, and how manga is nothing like American comics, the entire concept of Japanese popular culture, with it’s fashion, food, music, and entertainment, is still aways off from being commonplace.
I believe within the next ten years, Japanese food, culture, terms, and entertainment will be as readily familiar as “tsunami”, but the whole affair still has a long way to go. After thumbing through various food magazines, there still isn’t much mention of the astounding health benefits of Japanese food. Nor do local newspapers or TV stations have any clue as to what anime actually is. Sad? No. It’ll take at least 10 years in my estimation for the Japanese culture to pervade the US the way American culture pervaded the Japanese, but pervade it will.
Do you think Japanese pop culture is starting to take a foothold in the US or is it already prominent in your community? Will Americans begin to toss around phrases like “moe”, “yaoi” and “tsundere” the way newscasters do with “sushi” and “tsunami”? Can you see micro Akihabaras cropping up in the local malls or are they already open? Has Japanese popular culture “arrived” in America? Will it ever?
Did somebody say weeaboo?
In Southern California, where I live, Japanese culture is prevalent – from sushi to my local manga shop (they sell primarily manga and some American comics, as well as rent out anime). But, in the Midwest, where my immediate family now lives, sushi is a foreign concept. Thankfully, my otaku cousin is surviving after finding the Fry’s anime section and the Borders store on the north side of their city where many Asians happen to live. I think the spreading of Japanese culture is still tightly tied to Asian populations, as they are the “ambassadors” of their culture. (BTW, I’m Asian myself.)
Also, one thing you didn’t point out in the above entry is the box office success of Japanese horror films, like “The Ring” or “The Grudge.” Granted, the films released here are adaptations, but it proves that Japanese culture is being absorbed as part of the predominant culture and points to a larger acceptance by Americans.
I can see it being ACCEPTED – but not ‘adopted’, not in any real way. It’ll get incorporated into things the way Italian food, Chinese food, and other things have been meshed into American popular culture. But having it really adopted or being seen as ‘the same’ in terms of importance, and that familiar? Probably not, due to American ethnocentrism… which is a tad ironic, given how much ‘American’ traditions are actually incorporated from other countries.
Still, the way towards it being prevalent is lined with Asians everywhere as Rena suggested – without them there to provide the ‘entry’ for the average Joe, I doubt it’ll be seen as anything but a curious oddity that is completely outside ‘normal things’. Remember that Italian food, Irish traditions (Saint Patrick’s Day), and other things took a large influx of those immigrant populations to most of America to eventually make their way into the mainstream.
I actually think the influx of japanese pop culture will mostly stay the same as it is now. I agree it will be more accepted but never an everyday common thing. It will grow in popularity more than a fad but it wont reach the level here like in japan because its not american.
@Rena, I feel the pain of also living deprived of the culture: I too live in the Midwest T_T. But, I’m doing my best to bring the culture here!
Good point about the Japanese horror flicks!
@ Haesslich, one never knows what’ll become the next big thing in the US, but hopefully, Japanese culture will become mainstream soon!
@Andrew, I actually think the influx of japanese pop culture will mostly stay the same as it is now. Ya think so? I guess I’m a shiny-eyed optimist in that I believe Japanese and Asian cultures will make it big here in the States.
@ Rachel, believe me Im with you. I enjoy my fairshare of all things japanese but I just dont think the majority of people out there will share the same hobbies as us otaku. It might become a fleeting fancy but nothing more than that.
@Andrew, Hold on, hold on. I don’t think it’ll be a fleeting fancy -.^/. I get shaken down quite a bit when I say I write this site, especially when I mention Japanese food- by adults. I think, if anything, the food will come home to roost some day. Americans aren’t ready for the Rising Sun Culture Invasion just yet, but I can hear them stirring and wanting something different, something new.
I think Haesslich summed up my thoughts on this.
Writing an anime blog, following the otaku culture and so on perhaps makes Japan’s cultural pervasion seem bigger and more likely than it is, or will be. Globalisation is making the world much smaller and obviously this is going to encourage cultural exchange, but not so much that it will cause a distinct sythesise between two fairly different kinds of culture. The West might dip into Japanese culture, see a Miyazaki film, go to Wagamama for sushi, but beyond that I doubt it will be any more ingrained.
Short of another World War and a Japanese invasion of America, of course. Because the sole reason Japan is so Americanised is because they were occupied for seven years after suffering a couple of nuclear attacks. A kind of extreme lead up to embracing new cultures, eh.
I never want news casters to throw around words…much less “yaoi”…sorry…no..wait..i’m not.
@Marie, I think we’re safe from Ted Koppel dropping the “y” word; at least for now…