The first thing that I'm going to post a link to is Doshisha University. One of my Japanese friends was recommending this university to me for grad school after we discussed my "Little Red Riding Hood" paper. He didn't go to college himself, but he wanted to recommend it to me because he thought that it had a program similar to what we had been discussing. This university, among others, is one of many that I'm considering for grad school because of the difficulty of my subject area of interest.
Then, another Japanese friend recommended that I read METI, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan. She said that it was a great place to read up on current financial affairs of Japan and Japan's interactions with other countries. She recommended this website to me because she had read that Japan was trying to export anime and manga, and more, overseas to help boost exports and the decrease in trade. The reason I posted this here is because I think it is important to focus on what Japan is doing and why this is important. There is an increase of anime culture in other countries and this influence needs to be studied and watched closely to see its effects currently and where it could lead to for both the the importer country and Japan as the exporter. Not to mention how it will influence pop culture for both parties.
I also learned about "Rasen" or Spiral in the same conversation with this same friend. She and I had been discussing movie preferences with another and she mentioned how "Rasen" was a terrifying movie to her and she why she avoided horror films. I really want to watch this film because of the other stories this author had written.
We three had also discussed "Jojo's Bizarre Adventure" and how her son had converted her to a fan of it. We both like Jyotaro the most. She also spoke of a "Jojo's Bizarre Adventure" Store and that it was influenced by the manga. I really want to visit this place and to learn more about it. From the way she had described it, it was really cool!
While I was talking with my Japanese friend and another, an "American Dad" episode was playing on my TV in the background. This episode stopped me in my tracks because it was playing a Japanese song. I had to immediately Youtube it because I didn't know why the creators had used this song. I think it should be highlighted that this song is definitely new, as it is Perfume's "Monochrome Effect."
This song is just one of many that are sneaking or stumbling into American Pop culture and becoming treasured pieces, too incorporated to ever be separated.
When I looked up this video, I found on the sidebar of suggestions a movie clip from the film "Funky Forest." This film has a surprising number of reviews on Youtube and doesn't seem to have any direct connection to the above film. In fact, I don't even know why it was suggested with this video, but now I must watch it and commentate on my findings.
I think that is it for now, as I should probably head to bed now.
Thank you for reading.
