That conservative Westerners don't get Japanese culture might explain why they and their counterparts in Japan want to ban lolicon and that anime where a 12-yr old boy cross-dresses to please his older sempai.
Yeah, yeah, I know calling the pedophile older man "sempai" is totally unacceptable. The closest I can get to what the old guy might be is by referring to him as Oji-sama (honored uncle), but that's disrespectful of Japanese culture. Even if he added the honorific, -chan, to the boy's name, it's more likely he would also add -kun to his name when doing the ritual master-disciple routine.
Am I suggesting that Japanese society is run like that? No, only the arch conservative parts of Japanese society are run exactly like that. Though a yakuza member would view his boss as "oyabun" and the boss would consider his underlings "kobun", which is a highly ritualized and symbolic master-disciple relationship which younger members of a group (disciples) defer to the leader of their group (the master). Considering their sense of justice, they would deal with pedophiles harshly.
However the oyabun/kobun relationship between a master and his disciples is based on sociopolitical structures common throughout most of East Asia.
Due to the ignorance about Asian culture, the West does not get the master-disciple shtick at all. So when Obama accidentally bowed too low to the Emperor of Japan, the American right wing conservatives went ballistic, crying that "American does not submit to any nation, not even the conquered nation of Japan."
Talk about misreading the situation.
Even though America honestly admits to its economic imperialism before, during and after World War 2, it's never going to submit to Japan, even though some of us in the West love their anime and culture.
As far as nation-states are concerned, all of them are created equal, though some countries are more equal than others. ;)
Even so, otaku of the West who love anime and manga are not traitors of the West. All we are are people who live, breathe and eat Japanese culture.
I should talk though. I sure love me cod and chips.
Originally posted on Jun 19, 2014 at 5:22 PM PDT
Reference:
Otaku: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otaku
Lolicon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolicon
K=Yakuza: organization and activities: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuza#Organization_and_activities
Sociopolitical organization among East Asians: http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/East-Asians-of-Canada-Sociopolitical-Organization.html
Presidential Bows, Revisited: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/presidential-bows-revisited/comment-page-3/?apage=4&_r=0
American imperialism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_imperialism
Showing posts with label manga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label manga. Show all posts
20140616
An Otaku View of Mormon (satire)
At the temple yesterday I remember explaining the difference between -sama and -kun to a fellow Japanese Mormon, who's been a Mormon for over 40 years.
I also kidded him and said he'd be like my sempai since this is my third time at the temple.
Even so, the only thing that "got" me was Mormon cosmology, which is almost like Buddhist cosmology except it skips the Six Realms of Desire and the Pure Lands, and presents this false concept of immortality.
This is why I think of eternity as a finite time period of an exceedingly long length, and immortality as a life of an exceedingly long length that still will end when a person is reborn in a new realm --- because if God was once man in a previous life, then a person who might become a god in the next, might again be reborn in a new realm.
If the above is confusing, it appears being born again might be a part of a long cycle of rebirth.
I'm not sure if not desiring to get into the priesthood as a way to break that cycle is something I'd share with the pair of elders, though.
Sometimes I think my adventures with the Mormons would make a great manga. However, I am more interested in turning the cosmology into manga.
I also kidded him and said he'd be like my sempai since this is my third time at the temple.
Even so, the only thing that "got" me was Mormon cosmology, which is almost like Buddhist cosmology except it skips the Six Realms of Desire and the Pure Lands, and presents this false concept of immortality.
This is why I think of eternity as a finite time period of an exceedingly long length, and immortality as a life of an exceedingly long length that still will end when a person is reborn in a new realm --- because if God was once man in a previous life, then a person who might become a god in the next, might again be reborn in a new realm.
If the above is confusing, it appears being born again might be a part of a long cycle of rebirth.
I'm not sure if not desiring to get into the priesthood as a way to break that cycle is something I'd share with the pair of elders, though.
Sometimes I think my adventures with the Mormons would make a great manga. However, I am more interested in turning the cosmology into manga.
20140128
Confession of a Japanophile (satire)
Genetics does not explain why I am obsessed with martial arts, ninjitsu, yakuza and samurai. For I am a Japanophile not just because I am Japanese, but because I — a Westernized Canadian-born Japanese person — am interested in my ancestors' culture.
Genetics likewise does not fully explain why I am usually heterosexual, and like mostly women and very few men. Being born male is only a part of the reason.
Perhaps society — being mostly heteronormative — subtly favors males who are heterosexual, though the LGBT lobby has a positive cultural, political and social influence on consumerism today. Before modernization, and even today, Japanese culture occasionally discouraged open practice of homosexuality yet condoned the practice, provided two people who are in love keep it discreet.
Indeed, none of the major Japanese religions were openly hostile to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.
Even so, the modern-day Japanese government, being conservative, does not guarantee civil rights to LGBT persons. As a result, in cases of spousal abuse, the victim does not have a refuge into which to flee.
In Japan, gay marriage isn't going to be in the Japanese law books for now.
The occasional admiring of a buff male body isn't genetic as much as physiological and an honest desire on the part of the observer to compare physical attributes, which is similar to a pissing contest.
Like the majority of Japanese males, my libido is repressed, due to cultural, physiological, psychological and religious influences. Being essentially in a culture where shame is used as a tool of social control, the behavior of a Japanese person may range from almost schizoid lack of sexual expression to discreet displays of sexuality tinged with shame and the fear of exposure of sexual deeds and the embarrassment resulting from such exposure.
With respect to animé and manga, which I read from time to time, yaoi and yuri are the same-sex flavor of relationships, along with mecha (robots), magical girl and harem genre. While yaoi and yuri present displays of sexuality for mass consumption by fans, robots may represent the hidden aspect of the libido with less overt sexuality; the magic girl, the fantasy element with humorous depictions of awkward moments involving sexuality; and the harem, the fantasy of a man with a lot of potential girlfriends.
Perhaps animé and manga could end up saving the world from utter boredom and anguish for teens and young adults. So I urge my fellow Japanophiles to help spread the word. 0_o
Returning to my confession of being a Japanophile, it was in my youth that I first discovered Shin Buddhism to be meatier than the teachings offered after Sunday service at the Central Fraser Valley Buddhist temple.
This discovery of the roots of Buddhism inspired me to learn Japanese so that I could recognize the characters. In addition, I developed an admiration for martial arts, particularly ninjitsu, as well as respect for samurai and the Yakuza.
Samurai are of interest to me since there were rumors that my father's ancestors may have been related to samurai. Indeed, this is most likely since my grandmother's maiden name was Tanaka, and my father's eldest sister married into the Nakamura family. For both Tanaka and Nakamura are well-known clans of Yamaguchi Prefecture.
As for Yakuza, it is rather interesting that a bad hand in Gaji — a popular Japanese flower card game — became the slang for Japanese criminal societies. However, mass media representations of Yakuza are often exaggerated for the blood and guts on film and in books — especially in manga, and on TV.
As well, the reports that when the city of Kobe was shaken by an earthquake some years ago, it was the Yakuza who first responded to the crisis before the municipal government did. However, I am not so naïve as to consider them to be the "good guys" as long as overt violence continues to be associated with the Yakuza.
Today, as a Canadian-born Japanese who is also a Japanophile, I do not favor the Japanese culture over the Westernized moderation of that culture which I internalize. While it would be admirable to be a perfect blend of Eastern and Western mores, I prefer the simpleness of the "less is more" philosophy with regard to both aesthetics. Thus, the less I try to be Japanese and Westernized, the more I emphasize the subtle qualities of both cultures.
Indeed, the blend of East and West is imperfect within my psyché yet useful to my life due to its simplicity.
Originally posted on January 25, 2004 at 0137H
Updated on February 12, 2013 at 0415H
Japanophile: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanophile
LGBT rights in Japan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Japan
The Tanaka & Nakamura families of Yamaguchi Japan: http://www.tanakamura.com/
Samurai: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai
Yakuza: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuza
Animé: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime
Manga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga
Genetics likewise does not fully explain why I am usually heterosexual, and like mostly women and very few men. Being born male is only a part of the reason.
Perhaps society — being mostly heteronormative — subtly favors males who are heterosexual, though the LGBT lobby has a positive cultural, political and social influence on consumerism today. Before modernization, and even today, Japanese culture occasionally discouraged open practice of homosexuality yet condoned the practice, provided two people who are in love keep it discreet.
Indeed, none of the major Japanese religions were openly hostile to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.
Even so, the modern-day Japanese government, being conservative, does not guarantee civil rights to LGBT persons. As a result, in cases of spousal abuse, the victim does not have a refuge into which to flee.
In Japan, gay marriage isn't going to be in the Japanese law books for now.
The occasional admiring of a buff male body isn't genetic as much as physiological and an honest desire on the part of the observer to compare physical attributes, which is similar to a pissing contest.
Like the majority of Japanese males, my libido is repressed, due to cultural, physiological, psychological and religious influences. Being essentially in a culture where shame is used as a tool of social control, the behavior of a Japanese person may range from almost schizoid lack of sexual expression to discreet displays of sexuality tinged with shame and the fear of exposure of sexual deeds and the embarrassment resulting from such exposure.
With respect to animé and manga, which I read from time to time, yaoi and yuri are the same-sex flavor of relationships, along with mecha (robots), magical girl and harem genre. While yaoi and yuri present displays of sexuality for mass consumption by fans, robots may represent the hidden aspect of the libido with less overt sexuality; the magic girl, the fantasy element with humorous depictions of awkward moments involving sexuality; and the harem, the fantasy of a man with a lot of potential girlfriends.
Perhaps animé and manga could end up saving the world from utter boredom and anguish for teens and young adults. So I urge my fellow Japanophiles to help spread the word. 0_o
Returning to my confession of being a Japanophile, it was in my youth that I first discovered Shin Buddhism to be meatier than the teachings offered after Sunday service at the Central Fraser Valley Buddhist temple.
This discovery of the roots of Buddhism inspired me to learn Japanese so that I could recognize the characters. In addition, I developed an admiration for martial arts, particularly ninjitsu, as well as respect for samurai and the Yakuza.
Samurai are of interest to me since there were rumors that my father's ancestors may have been related to samurai. Indeed, this is most likely since my grandmother's maiden name was Tanaka, and my father's eldest sister married into the Nakamura family. For both Tanaka and Nakamura are well-known clans of Yamaguchi Prefecture.
As for Yakuza, it is rather interesting that a bad hand in Gaji — a popular Japanese flower card game — became the slang for Japanese criminal societies. However, mass media representations of Yakuza are often exaggerated for the blood and guts on film and in books — especially in manga, and on TV.
As well, the reports that when the city of Kobe was shaken by an earthquake some years ago, it was the Yakuza who first responded to the crisis before the municipal government did. However, I am not so naïve as to consider them to be the "good guys" as long as overt violence continues to be associated with the Yakuza.
Today, as a Canadian-born Japanese who is also a Japanophile, I do not favor the Japanese culture over the Westernized moderation of that culture which I internalize. While it would be admirable to be a perfect blend of Eastern and Western mores, I prefer the simpleness of the "less is more" philosophy with regard to both aesthetics. Thus, the less I try to be Japanese and Westernized, the more I emphasize the subtle qualities of both cultures.
Indeed, the blend of East and West is imperfect within my psyché yet useful to my life due to its simplicity.
Originally posted on January 25, 2004 at 0137H
Updated on February 12, 2013 at 0415H
Japanophile: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanophile
LGBT rights in Japan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Japan
The Tanaka & Nakamura families of Yamaguchi Japan: http://www.tanakamura.com/
Samurai: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai
Yakuza: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuza
Animé: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime
Manga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga
20110125
The Polite Punk of Judy and Mary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_cXKdhMzGo
Judy and Mary are a JPOP group which is the polite version of punk.
Indeed, the lyrics are outrageous and impolite in the ears of genteel Japanese.
I brush a little against
Those hated freckles, and give a single sigh
My heavyweight love splendidly
Dissolved along with a sugar cube
With a "tick", the thorn stuck
in my thin chest hurt more than before
Even a horoscope couldn't have predicted that
If we could have been together
Until we had gotten further, hey
Just that would've made me happy
More of the lyrics at: http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/kenshin/sobakasu.htm
This is the first song in the Samurai X animé music CD called Rurouni Kenshin - The Best Theme Collection.
I found these in their ripped Real Media format on an unnamed animé website. If you have any kids who are punk'd in their fashion statement, then they know about manga and animé.
And no, this is not a deviation from the norm in youth culture worldwide.
Its growing demographic is now so large a fanbase that a successful animé convention happens once a year during the summer (August), originally at UBC and now at the Vancouver Trade Centre near the Waterfront Skytrain terminus.
This is a growing trend, and animé is a great way to meet new friends and do cosplay i.e. dress up as an animé character.
For they rule their own little worlds, all of them, even the Naruto kids and the Pikachu players! ;)
Judy and Mary are a JPOP group which is the polite version of punk.
Indeed, the lyrics are outrageous and impolite in the ears of genteel Japanese.
I brush a little against
Those hated freckles, and give a single sigh
My heavyweight love splendidly
Dissolved along with a sugar cube
With a "tick", the thorn stuck
in my thin chest hurt more than before
Even a horoscope couldn't have predicted that
If we could have been together
Until we had gotten further, hey
Just that would've made me happy
More of the lyrics at: http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/kenshin/sobakasu.htm
This is the first song in the Samurai X animé music CD called Rurouni Kenshin - The Best Theme Collection.
I found these in their ripped Real Media format on an unnamed animé website. If you have any kids who are punk'd in their fashion statement, then they know about manga and animé.
And no, this is not a deviation from the norm in youth culture worldwide.
Its growing demographic is now so large a fanbase that a successful animé convention happens once a year during the summer (August), originally at UBC and now at the Vancouver Trade Centre near the Waterfront Skytrain terminus.
This is a growing trend, and animé is a great way to meet new friends and do cosplay i.e. dress up as an animé character.
For they rule their own little worlds, all of them, even the Naruto kids and the Pikachu players! ;)
20031006
Rose Hip Rose
Here's a violent and bloody seinen manga called Rose Hip Rose.
Rose Hip Rose - Manga - recommendation
ROSE HIP ROSE
� Rose Hip Rose � - two pages from one of the manga
�Rose Hip Rose� - review in Chinese of anime series
Rose Hip Rose review in Korean
ROSE HIP ROSE - price in Yen is 514¥
Rose Hip Rose: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Hip_Rose
Rose Hip Rose - Manga - recommendation
ROSE HIP ROSE
� Rose Hip Rose � - two pages from one of the manga
�Rose Hip Rose� - review in Chinese of anime series
Rose Hip Rose review in Korean
ROSE HIP ROSE - price in Yen is 514¥
Rose Hip Rose: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Hip_Rose
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