Lesson:

Popular Culture and Japan’s Gross National Cool

Japan TIP: Popular Culture and Japan’s National Cool

Overview: From sushi and karaoke to Hello Kitty and Wii, Japanese

cultural goods have skyrocketed in the global marketplace during the past decade. The globalization of Japanese "cool" is led by youth products: video games, manga (comic books), anime (animation) and cute characters that have fostered kid crazes across the globe. Drawing on popular examples from Pokémon to Sailor Moon, scholars speak about the popularity of Japanese goods today and the relationship of these products to the cultural and historical context in which they were both developed and consumed. This lesson explores the varied roots of these cultural trends and their significance in a global context

Standards

I decided to focus on the Illinois State Standards due to the fact that the Common Core standards have not been published for Social Studies. The Common Core has addressed the literacy standards for Social Studies under the English Common Core, subsequently; I will address those standards as well, as our school district will be focusing on the Common Core.

Illinois State Goal 14.D.3: Understanding Political Systems & the roles and influences of individuals and interest groups.Illinois State Goal 14.E.3: Understand foreign policy as it relates to other nations and international issuesIllinois State Goal 16.C.3b: Explain relationships among the American Economy and immigration, industrialization, labor and urbanization, 1700-present.Illinois State Goal 16.D.3 (W) Identify origins and analyze consequences of events that shaped world social history including migrations.Common Core Reading for Social Studies2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.Common Core Writing for Social Studies 4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audienceCommon Core Writing for Social Studies 9: Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis reflection, and research.

Student Learning Objectives: 1. Students will understand the history and

diversity of Japanese popular culture creations. 2. Students will make a connection between

Shinto purification ceremonies and how certain aspects are present in popular manga and anime.

3. Students will understand the concept of “soft power,” particularly in relation to Japan in the twenty-first century.

4. Students will explore some of the reasons for the current global appeal of Japanese popular culture. 

Grade Level: 7-8 Grade Junior High

Lesson Plan: Two 57 minute class periods

HOOK: Ask your students to list all the pop culture forms associated with Japan that they are familiar with and have become popular globally, from movies to video games to animation to television shows to Japanese baseball stars playing in the United States. Be sure to consider some forms that might not be obvious, like Japanese food (sushi). Ask your students why they think these Japanese entertainment products are popular in the United States, and particularly among young people. Discuss what impressions and stereotypes of Japan are conveyed by pop culture products.

“A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine,” by John K. Nelson

• Read the excerpt from this book about Shinto purification ceremonies.

• Act out a Shinto purification ceremony in a group

• Examine examples of manga and anime to discover elements of the Shinto rites.

Examples of Shinto elements in Anime and Manga

Origins & History of

Manga 6th -7th Century Buddhist scrolls

17th-18th Century woodblock prints (ukiyo-e)

17th -18th Century “yellow covers” (kibyoushi)

The Origins & History of Anime

In 1963, Tetsuwan Atomu (the Japanese name for Astroboy, means “Mighty Atom”) came out as a television series. This was the first anime. Astroboy was a robot that wished to be a real boy.

Next hit anime was Speed Racer In 1967.

Hi No Tori (Bird of Fire) was Tezuka’s greatest work, in America known as Phoenix 2772.

1960-1970

Osamu Tezuka: “The Father of Manga and Anime”

(1928-1989)

Post WW II era 1947: New

Treasure Island (Shintakarajima)

1951: Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atomu)

Signature “large teardrop eye”style

Manga & Anime

Genres of Manga/Anime Shojo: manga/anime that are made

with a female audience in mind.– Many deal with romances between

young men and women• Kare First Love (manga)

– More and more shojo are made dealing with problems girls can face in daily life, or activities girls are interested in.

• Shojo Beat magazine

Manga & Anime

Genres of Manga/Anime Shonen: manga/anime that

are made with a male audience in mind.– The main characters often go

through battles to become stronger

• Rurouni Kenshin (manga)

• Dystopian futures• Cyborgs• The relation between humans and technology • The animated body: “The body takes on animal attributes; it merges with plant life and melds with metal.

Ex:Tetsuo,Texhnolyze, “Ghost in the Shell”

Re-occurring Themes of Anime

Apocalyptic Theme

The vision of worldwide destruction, expressed as material, spiritual or pathological catastrophe.

Ex: Akira

Evidence of Spirituality

Sailor Mars (Raye) in Sailor Moon

Li-kun in Card Captor Sakura

It’s Not Easy Being Young…

“In order to get into college, Japanese students have to take

intense comprehensive entrance exams… similar to the SAT, but cover a wider range of subjects, are much harder, and more of a

determining factor in one's admittance to a school…If a

student fails his/her exams, they don't go to college. It's that

simple. Consequently, entrance exams are a stressful part of

student life. The first episodes of Maison Ikkoku follow Godai-san, a ‘ronin’ that has failed his entrance

exams the year preceding the story, and his battle to study for

college entrance exams.”

Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru No Haka)Written and Directed by Isao Takahata

Based on a Novel by Akiyuki Nosaka1988

“Seita and his little sister Setsuko lose their

parents in the war. Seita struggles to keep

Setsuko happy, though it means angering his

paternal aunt, who took them in. When they end up on their own, Seita

thinks all will be well, but how can he take care of

Setsuko when he can barely take care of

himself? “

Manga & Anime

Popular Manga/AnimeDoraemon First appeared on Manga

in 1969, Anime in 1973 Spread throughout Asia 31st most popular Anime

in Japan Robotic cat that travels

back in time

Manga & Anime

Popular Manga/Anime

Dragon Ball First appeared in

Shonen Jump (1984) Manga/Anime/ Games 12th most popular Monkey-tailed boy who

fights many battles

Manga & Anime

Popular Manga/Anime

Pokemon Started off as computer game (1995) 43rd most popular 2nd best selling video game franchise ever Based on insect collecting Anime follows Pokemon

Master Ash

Manga & Anime

Popular Manga/Anime

Full Metal Alchemist Since February 2002 Manga/Anime/Game Most popular Anime in

Japan 2 brothers in fictional

world hoping to become alchemists

Manga & Anime

Commercialization of Manga

Plush toys: Inuyasha Toys: Hamtaro Calendar: Fullmetal Alchemist Key chain: Pokemon Video games: Pokemon Anime from manga: Pokemon and Hellsing

– Pokemon: marketed in the US to children, in Japan popular among teenagers and adult males, 500 episodes in Japan, countless games

Manga & Anime

Exportation of Manga

Changes in American comics, more emphasis on conveying emotions thru illustrations than thru dialogue.– X-Men (1990) vs. X-Men (2007)

Many non-Japanese artists writing manga-like books and illustrations– Manhwa: Korean manga

Manga & Anime

The Simba/Kimba Controversy

Disney’s The Lion King said to have copied Osamu Tezuka’s Kimba the White Lion.

Similar coming-of-age plot Matching characters Very similar visuals Disney never admit Lion King was based on

Kimba; no further action taken

Manga & Anime

The Simba/Kimba Controversy

Manga & Anime

The Simba/Kimba Controversy

Read “Japan’s Gross National Cool” by Douglas McCray

Consider what “soft power” is and why nations consider it important. Discuss what benefits the global popularity of forms like anime (animation) and manga (comics) brings Japan politically, economically, and culturally.

Link to: "Japan's Gross National Cool" Essay

How do these clips reflect thepolitical, social, and cultural

concerns of the time in which it was made?

Akira Trailer Godzilla Trailer Godzilla Documentary Hello Kitty Theme Song Hello Kitty Clip

Resources Allison, Anne Dr. “Japanese Toys & Global Imagination, Film Clips.” PODCAST.

Condry, Ian, Teaching Anime: Exploring a Transnational and Transmedia Movement, February 4, 2009, About Japan: A Teacher’s Resource. web. 15 March. 2012. http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/lessons

Frost, Peter, “Contemporary Japan, 1989-Present”, Journey through Japan. 2003. web. 15Mar. 2012. <http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/lessons>

McGray, Douglas, “Japan’s Gross National Cool,” Foreign Policy 130.May/June 2002, pp.44-54.

McPherson, Mark. "The Evolution of Anime." 5 2004. Anime Bordom. 23 Nov. 2004. web. 15 March. 2012<http://www.animeboredom.co.uk/anime-articles/18/>.

Napier, Susan, Anime from Akira to Princess Mononoke: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2001.

Pink, Dan. “Adventures in Manga Video: Manga in Japan.” PODCAST

Roach, Mary, “Cute, Inc.,” Wired 7:12. December 1999.

Schodt, Frederik L. Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga. Berkeley: Stone Bridge Press, 1996.

Takashi, Murakami, Little Boy: The Arts of Japan’s Exploding Subculture. New York: Japan Society and Yale University Press, 2005.

Tsutsui, William M. Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.

Tsutsiu, William, “Popular Culture and Japan’s Gross National Cool”,(June 2, 2008) web. 15 March. 2012. <http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/lessons>

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