What is it that this shows about Japan that is actually all that unusual? Not much, I reckon.
The idea that Japan is mired in the past? You only have to look at the Tokyo skyline to realise this isn't really true, and have a brief look around the UK to see other places that are just as stymied by history. A history theme park? Isn't that what somewhere like Ironbridge is all about, only less involving and interesting? I've visited O-Edo Onsen* in O-Daiba and it offers something similar - a fun diversion that is well worth the games it plays with historical accuracy.
How about the assertion that these girls are "escaping the present" in their interest in the past? Well, surely an interest in the past as a displacement activity is an improvement on the broad disengagement with reality around one that obsessions with Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor engender?
I think the unmentioned aspect here is the cosplay that is alluded to in the final part of the clip, and we all know that if you want to have a laugh at Japan, cosplay is a safe trope for which one does not really need to work too hard. And as a final note, how likely is it that this is, as is so often the case, actually a very minor activity with a handful of exponents that is looked upon as much as a novelty by J-media, but which is presented to the world here as a mainstream development? Perhaps I'm cynical in trying to find stories to blog about.
* Wow, do you see on that link that it is open 11am to 9am? Not a misprint, it's open 22 hours, so you can head there overnight if you wish. Cool.
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I've seen a few of Roland Buerks BBC pieces and don't think much of them. It's not what I'd consider news, and with what seems to be a half-arsed shot at trying to bring something 'exotic' to the UK he's just making himself out to sound like a bit of a prat to those who have an actual interest in Japan. Oddly enough when I saw the article you linked to (before reading the rest of the entry) I thought to myself "oh it's a bit like Blists Hill at Ironbridge" (I'm originally from Shropshire).
Darlo, I've gotten to the point where I've restricted my intake of news about Japan to the Economist since it's the only place in all of the UK press that just looks at present realities and not always looking for the "exotic" Japan angle. Your blog suggests that you are in Kobe now, so I would hope that you have avoided the Justin Lee Collins trolling. As annoying as I expected it to be. And not only from Shropshire, but a Shrewsbury boy? I did my time at Sixth Form in Shrewsbury, though from Oswestry actually.
I'm in Leeds right now, just finishing what I hope to be the final stages of my degree (after which I'm hoping to get back out to Japan). I was fully aware of JLCs show, but managed (with a bit of effort, avoiding phone calls to say "it's on") to avoid watching it. Ah another Shropshire lad? I was born in Shrewsbury but grew up in Telford, though I did go to SCAT after working for a few years.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12923699
The lazy reporting keeps continuing as he covers the tsunami. Here he credits a sea wall with protecting Oirase, a town 200km north of the truly affected cities, comparing it to the devastated town of Taro, which is over 100km closer to the tsunami and located in an inlet which significantly increased the force of the tsunami.
Maybe he's never been outside of the Tokyo-Osaka beltway before to understand that every coastal town in Tohoku had sea walls and defences, most larger than the one he stands on in Oirase. Sadly proximity and coastal features meant some could never stand up to the wave.
I wish the BBC had a comments section or some sort of ability to recall failing journalists.
I heard that piece. He did look funny the first day after the quake where he'd not slept for about a day and a half as he'd been kept up all the UK daytime speaking on every news bulletin they had until another reporter touched down. Doesn't excuse slipshod reporting, but he still less irritating than the R4 anchor sent out the first week who "got the very essence" of Japan after a week of touring the most unlike the usual Japan you could have had.
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