Foreign Policy Blogs

Consuming foreign: A paradox in modern Japan

Rather than give my take on something in the headlines today, I will take a moment to explain an apparent contradiction that baffles many visitors to Japan.

One paradox in modern Japan that often baffles foreigners is how a country that is decidedly xenophobic so quickly embraces fashion and pop culture from outside. A first-time visitor can be forgiven for thinking Japanese youth love foreigners because of their quick adoption of Western fashion and love of Western pop culture. However, despite this, a lot of Japanese think foreigners are “scary,” and persist in staring at foreigners in public. Most non-Japanese in Japan feel like they are living in a fish bowl–they are constantly on display. I once showed a Japanese woman (who had spent several years overseas herself) a Web site for a free clinic in my home town that had services in English, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Farsi. She said it was scary. I asked her why, and she said it is scary there are so many different types of people in one town. I asked why that is scary, and she said because Japanese people can’t imagine it. In Japan’s homogeneous society, diversity is scary.

While the Japanese readily consume Western culture, they consume it in a distinctly Japanese way. Going to see an American film in Japan is a strange experience. After paying twice as much for the ticket, the theater will also try to sell a booklet about the film you’re about to see. It is a bit like a playbill that introduces the cast and explains key scenes. Popcorn costs $4 or so and comes in those small, striped boxes that some video rentals stores in the U.S. give out for free or $1. Another example is how some youth embrace hip-hop culture. They are familiar with American rappers and don the styles (when they’re not in school–Monday through Friday they are in uniforms). They even mimic the manners and superficially adopt a thug attitude. It gives an impression of being more authentic than the real thing. But then after a Japanese rapper performs on TV, he talks to the show’s host using polite, humble Japanese. Despite the costume, he is still Japanese.

Yes, the Japanese embrace Western pop culture, but only after it is filtered, sanitized and mass-produced for Japanese consumption.

 

Author

Dustin Dye

Dustin Dye is the author of the YAKUZA DYNASTY series, available through the Amazon Kindle.

He lived in Okayama, Japan, where he taught English at a junior high school through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program for three years. He is a graduate from the University of Kansas, where he received a bachelor's degree in anthropology.

His interest in Japan began in elementary school after seeing Godzilla fight Ghidorah, the three-headed monster. But it wasn't until he discovered Akira Kurosawa's films through their spaghetti Western remakes that he truly became fascinated in the people and culture of Japan.

He lives in Kansas with his wife, daughter and guinea pig.

Visit him online at www.dustindye.net.
E-mail him: [email protected]