Like anywhere, it's pretty crap. It's mostly variety shows and dramas, with some animated stuff here and there. I once tuned in to see them playing an episode of the original Fullmetal Alchemist series as well as an episode of Rurouni Kenshin, I didn't think Japan cared about these older series!inu-kun said:How is japanese television?
There's a fair bit of it, especially Hollywood blockbusters. There's a fair number of stores in Akihabara that specialize in American pop-culture merchandise. So if you want Adventure Time, Superman and My Little Pony merch, you can totally buy some.inu-kun said:How much do you see of american pop culture in japan? (comic book heroes for example)
I think things have leveled out since the "Otaku Murderer" frenzy of the 90s. Otaku culture is pretty common now, a lot of my students have merchandise from anime like Kuroko no Basuke and Yowamushi Pedal (two of the girls in my glass have Nichijou bags, which pleases me greatly). There's even a girl in one of my classes who likes Kantai Collection, in particular this character:inu-kun said:Is it true japanese media is extremely antagonistic to otakus?
What there is that a 15 year old girl would find appealing, I have no idea.
Of course, hardcore otaku (the hikikomori type) are still seen as creepy and a probable danger. I don't watch the news, so I can't really say if they do the same sort of thing Western media does with video games.
Hey, no problem! Glad you appreciate it!Caramel Frappe said:Holy crap, this is a GOOD thread. Thanks so much for making it- i'm learning quite a lot from your previous responses to people's questions.
1) Definitely study a bit of Japanese. Learn some basic phrases and a few common Kanji so you can at least distinguish which is "exit" and which is "entrance". Oh, and learning Katakana would be a good idea too, it's easy to learn and the words that use are usually loan words. So as an English speaker, this is a total cheat, since most of these loan words are English words. Also master your chopsticks, many small resturants will only have chopsticks available.Caramel Frappe said:
- - What should you do / look into before going to Japan? (besides speaking Japanese obviously)
- What are their laws there? I don't want to do something innocent that turns out criminal in Japan.
- Do they accept USA currency and if so, how much should I bring for a vacation trip? (One month plan)
- Are there any places I should visit specifically? Like the best tour attractions or exotic sights?
- What animals / pets can you buy there (the ones that are legal to own in the USA also)
- I heard it's a sex-less country. Is it hard to find any girls willing to date you? How is dating there in general?
- What do you love about Japan so far?
2) Pretty much the same as any country, I don't think you'd accidentally do something that turns out to be a criminal misdemeanor. This ain't Singapore after all. A culture faux pas on the other hand, that'll probably happen (i.e it's rude to talk on your phone on the train and walking while drinking the drink you got from the vending machine is seen as a bit classless)!
3) Ah Americans. Of course they don't accept American dollars over here! This is Japan, not America! What is a business expected to do with American dollars? You'll need get some notes with Japanese dudes on them instead of American ones. As to how much, it depends on what you plan to do. I found compared to Australia, Japan was quite cheap, but it might be the opposite for you coming from the US.
4) Kyoto and Nara (which is nearby) has the most history of any place in Japan. If you want lots of temples, these places are your bag. Nara also has an ass-load of deer, who will chase you around if they know you've got any deer senbei.You look like a bit of an otaku, so you should probably get your ass to Akihabara.
5) Lots! Cats, dogs, parrots, hamsters etc. I'm not sure about exotic animals like snakes and spiders though...
6) Sure, if you're not ugly and practice proper hygiene, you'll probably be able to find a girl to date. The problem is if you're only planing to visit. Since most Japanese girls believe you can't get married once you're past 26 years old, they don't want to be wasting their time with someone who won't be staying in the country and marry them.
7) For me, I love the safety, the friendly people and the great food. Oh, and the amazing internet and postal system, leagues above Australia!
There's a fair bit on TV, but you'll really only see mainstream stuff in prime-time. The fanservice shows are all broadcast in the dead hours of the morning. In terms of popularity, most people just like mainstream stuff like Ghibli or One Piece. If you go to Akihabara though, this is where you'll find the most anime fans (and a lot of magazines with anime titties on the cover).Caramel Frappe said:
- - How much anime is presented there? Is it popular all around or just in specific places?