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Pop Culture 2009-2010
The Art of Japanese Emoticons
(March 2010)
Emoji (literally "picture characters") is the Japanese word for the faces and other symbols people use to convey their feelings in e-mails and text messages. Here we present a look at how emoji are used and how they differ from Western "emoticons" and "smileys."
The Voices of Japanese Pop Culture
(March 2010)
CDs by seiyu, the actors who provide the voices for characters in anime and video games, routinely appear on Japan's music charts. As seiyu achieve new levels of popularity, more and more people are aspiring to careers in voice acting and trying their hand at dubbing using karaoke-like facilities.
Musical Manga
(February 2010)
Manga that depict the lives of young musicians have recently been capturing the imagination of comic fans, and some are being made into anime and live-action movies. Their success has spurred increasing numbers of young people to take up music and join bands with their friends.
"Visual" Bands Rock the World
(January 2010)
A genre of Japanese rock music known as V-kei ("visual" style), is enjoying growing popularity in the United States, Europe, and the rest of Asia. Visual-style artists are distinguished by their striking appearance, featuring ostentatious makeup, hair styles, clothing, and props.
Thread and Yarn
(December 2009)
Exhibitions themed around sewing and knitting are becoming an "in" thing in the art scene these days in Japan. Each exhibition showcases works that exude the timeless splendor, warmth, and delight of handicrafts, despite being produced in the digital age.
Manga Meets Traditional Culture
(November 2009)
In the past few years, a series of manga about school students enjoying traditional pastimes such as the tea ceremony and calligraphy as part of their extracurricular activities have become bestsellers, and more young people are becoming interested in traditional pursuits as a result.
Location, Location, Location
(October 2009)
An increasing number of mobile phone users are becoming avid players of ichige ("location games"), a type of online game that utilizes location data provided through their phones' GPS function.
Manga Milestones
(October 2009)
Two trailblazers in the world of Japanese manga magazines celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their inaugural issues in March 2009. Weekly Shonen Magazine, published by Kodansha Ltd., and Weekly Shonen Sunday, from Shogakukan Inc., have both produced a vast number of hit manga series.
The Kawaii Ambassadors (Ambassadors of Cuteness)
(August 2009)
To deepen understanding of Japan among young people around the globe, three young Japanese leaders have been appointed as Kawaii Taishi ("Ambassadors of Cuteness"). The role of the three ambassadors, each a leading figure in a particular genre of fashion, is to represent Japan's vibrant popular culture overseas.
"Cool Japan" Takes Hollywood by Storm
(July 2009)
Hollywood is the latest place to experience the worldwide boom in Japanese pop culture. Studio executives in America's movie-making capital cannot get enough of the manga, anime, and video games for which "Cool Japan" is famous.
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