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Japan's fascination with cowboy outfits and the American flag
- Thread starter NotMSRP
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ImNotLikeThem
Member
Wait... you mean... they aren't? They don't? Damnit, how could I have missed that!belgurdo said:
Error Macro
Member
Don't forget the best:
No the Japanese are fascinated with Americans AND they seem to believe that all Americans are either cowboys or hippies. A stroll through Stars USA at Lalaport in Funabashi illustrates that well. My camera is out of power so I can't post pictures, but the store has a 2-story American flag hanging outside of it and inside you can find a wide collection of bongs, patches, cowboy paraphenalia (spurs, hats, belts, saddles, outfits), and all kinds of other American goods and clothing, like a full US Postal Worker's uniform. They even have a statue of a cowboy draped in the Confederate flag.
It's one damn hilarious store.
It's one damn hilarious store.
why does "how americans are portrayed in highly unrealistic games" equate to "what japanese people think all americans are like"?
i mean, let's look at how they portray chinese people in video games? it's similarly oversimplified and cariactured. hell, let's look at how americans portray japanese in video games. wait, do we? =P
i mean, let's look at how they portray chinese people in video games? it's similarly oversimplified and cariactured. hell, let's look at how americans portray japanese in video games. wait, do we? =P
ferricide said:
In American games, if the Japanese aren't WWII soldiers then they're always yakuza members, samurai/geisha, or a bizzare Blade Runner-ish combination of both, usually with laser swords or some shit. Plus the whole of Japan is usually reduced to a "Neo-Tokyo" wonderland where the streets are made of aluminum and the stop lights say hello to you
The Chinese are stereotyped everywhere, though
As far as what I was saying, what I really meant by it is that that is the near universal portrayal of Americans in Japan. Obviously individuals have their own ideas about what Americans are like but "the Japanese," as an entity (referring to the national culture/consciousness), sees "America" in that manner.Blackace said:
Japanese also thinks Asians, Native Americans, Hispanics, Indians, etc. don't exist in the US; nearly everyone is white or black in video games that are to portray Americans.
And the original post still hasn't really been answered yet. I was hoping journalists had asked developers about questions like this.
And the original post still hasn't really been answered yet. I was hoping journalists had asked developers about questions like this.
Well, it's not like they have conversations with you or anything. Most intersections make noise and/or play music when you can walk across, but sometimes it will actually tell you that you may walk.Draff said:
Train ticket machines, however, always talk to you and even bow when you leave (well, at least the girl on the screen does).
Well, I'm making statements about the way "Japanese" think in much the same way I would say that Americans think all British people are ugly, effeminite, have bad teeth, and can't cook. Or that Americans think all Russians are big boisterous people with funny accents who wear funny hats and drink vodka all day. I know practically nobody who REALLY belives all that, but that's the national perception.DSN2K said:
There's a difference between Americans and "Americans" just as there is a difference between Japanese and "Japanese." There is Japan, the reality, and then there is "Japan," the myth. I'm talking about "Japan" the myth, which, by the way, is a myth that is encouraged and reinforced within Japan's own system and by its own leaders and culture. It's not just some false Western perception. And more specifically, I'm speaking predominantly of the "Japanese" outlook of Americans, and the fact of the matter is that the "Japanese" perception is the one that is the public view, the one reenforced by commercialism and the media. And video games happen to be media, which is why you always see cowboys and flags thrown around to signify American characters, etc.
Well, I mean I've been at intersections where it actually speaks to you in Japanese instead of making those bird calls or playing that music or whatever other noises they can conjure for intersections.Draff said:
I can't remember where though. I don't think it was in Kyoto, so I guess it must have been somewhere in Tokyo that I saw/heard it.
RevenantKioku
PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS oh god i am drowning in them
MASB said:
Sakura Taisen V, I don't know her name.
BugCatcher
Member
So, when you say:MetatronM said:
You weren't talking about real Japanese, but some mythical Japanese? Which is fine I guess, if you were aiming for sarcasm, but that's not how it comes across in your post.MetatronM said:
this thread makes white baby jesus cry.
i know it's not a thread about how americans see the rest of the world, but dammit, the urge to point that shit out is overwhelming.
----
http://chespace.1up.com
i know it's not a thread about how americans see the rest of the world, but dammit, the urge to point that shit out is overwhelming.
----
http://chespace.1up.com
I saw an old documentary from the late 80s last week in my Japanese Culture class that featured a "cowboy bar" in Tokyo, where all the people dressed up in cowboy outfits, listened to country music, and even SANG country music is English...and it sounded really close to the real thing. 
Pretty funny watching these guys/girls leave the bar and go out into the city though...talk about looking incredibly out of place!
All I see around here though are lots of younger people doing the hip-hop thing and dressing like people I see back home in Atlanta.
Pretty funny watching these guys/girls leave the bar and go out into the city though...talk about looking incredibly out of place!All I see around here though are lots of younger people doing the hip-hop thing and dressing like people I see back home in Atlanta.
Brofist
Member
Jonny said:
I live in Japan, I'm not even at all overweight..yet people always ask if I've eaten enough since I should be used to eating much larger portions in the US, or point out how much they think Americans eat. You know they do get world news here Jonny, they see more average Americans on TV than movie stars.
SolidSnakex
Member
CVXFREAK said:
Heh they really did remake her to look like a duplicate of Ayu,
FortNinety
Member
It all seems fairly obvious to me.
For the cowboy thing, people have always been fascinated with the past, not only with their own, but that of foreign cultures. Just as much we love seeing stuff related to Japan's past (samurais and ninjas), as well as Europe (knight in armor and other medieval stuff), Japan's use of cowboy and old west themes is basically the same thing.
As for the American flag, its easily one of the most recognizable symbols in the world and when other nation think of America, the flag is on the top of the list in terms of associated symbols.
For the cowboy thing, people have always been fascinated with the past, not only with their own, but that of foreign cultures. Just as much we love seeing stuff related to Japan's past (samurais and ninjas), as well as Europe (knight in armor and other medieval stuff), Japan's use of cowboy and old west themes is basically the same thing.
As for the American flag, its easily one of the most recognizable symbols in the world and when other nation think of America, the flag is on the top of the list in terms of associated symbols.
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