Hey, Answerman!

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I really like anime, but I also have an interest in the Japanese culture. That interest, in fact, started with anime. I have been an anime fan for 9 years, and as I grew up, watching many anime, and choosing the best to add to my collection, I found that I wanted to know what was "behind anime" as I put it. Anime is Japanese animation right? Most anime are about Japanese people, take place in Japan, or a fictional place in Japan, and reflect the cultures and traditions of Japan. I wanted to know what all this was, where the concepts for many of my favorite anime came from, and why characters do things like this or that, things that Americans don't do.

A year ago, I purchased The Anime Companion and The Anime Companion 2 by Gilles Poitras, which is an enclycopedia on anything Japanese. In the two books, there are even references to anime and manga. As I watched anime and read manga after reading the books, I was able to point out some of the things I read. The Anime Companion and The Anime Companion 2 answered many questions I had, but I still have many more questions, and want to find the answers, and the only way to do that, is to read manga and Japanese novels, watching anime, and some of the Japanese dramas, read reference books on Japan, their culture, traditons, history, mythology and even their folktales, and someday, all the questions I have about anime will be answered.

For the remaining fans of Inu Yasha, haven't they ever wondered why there are so many demons, and why they are all animal-like? Why there are dog-demons, cat-demons, fox demons, and so on? Its because the Japanese have demons in their folklore. The demons described are similiar to many demons that appear in Inu Yasha. And what about the four shikigami (animal gods) Seiryu the dragon, Suzaku the phoenix, genbu the turtle, and Byakko the tiger? They appear in many anime. They're in Fushigi Yugi, Beyblade, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Descendants of Darkness, among many others. Doesn't anyone want to know why these four have appeared so much, and why they all look the same, no matter what anime they are in? (Although, in Yu Yu Hakusho, they look different, except for Suzaku, who resembles the Suzaku that is featured in Fushigi Yugi.)

I think its important for otakus to know a few things about the Japanese culture. They will better understand an anime, and even help them choose the best anime.

Yes i do have an interest in the Japanese culture that was the main reason i got into anime.I have always had an interest in different cultures because to me they were unique, in which i like unique things. I immediately was drawn into learning all i could about the Japanese when this japanese woman once came to my hometown and my family housed her for the nite and she told me everythin she could about her culture.I listened intently to her as she told me about all these things in their culture like their religion, their way of living, things they ate, and the celebrations they held. After that young woman's visit to my hometown i have been interested in the culture and keeping tabs on what is happening in Japan. I never knew about the creatino of anime and manga until one day my best friend was talkin about it. I asked here what it was all about and she knew i was into anything Japanese culture related and said " Why i can't believe you don't know about anime and manga and yet you read and study about the Japanese culture!" i was like that is part of the Japanese culture!So instanly i got into. I am into every possible anime under the tuscan sun anymore like Bleach, Serial Experiments Lain, Blood + ( i still like it even though it is over), Naruto ( yes i like this, what i don't get is y everyone gripe over and over on this show, and Pokemon, Bleach, and othr Adult Swim anime, and say that it shouldn't be considered anime well geuss what it is, and u guys r basically giving redicule to the people who like these shows, even though u keep preaching how u don't want to be ridicule! i don't redicule u guys but u ridicule me and my friends who like these shows...what have we done to u guys!), Hikaru no Go,  Prince of Tennis (by the way a note to megan hawkes: i kno ur pain on how u face ridicule for being a woman and yet likin guy based anime! those people who say that r very sexist! we woman can like whatever we want to!), and trust me many more. I think i got my point across.

From James S:

I have something of an interest in Japanese culture.  It was obviously sparked by anime, but it's broader than anime alone nonetheless.

Probably the two things I'm most interested in are the language and the cuisine.  It wasn't until I started studying Japanese that I really got an idea for how different a language can be from English (beyond just the "they use different words than we do!" aspect of the European languages I took in high school).  Kanji may be the worst nightmare of anyone who needs to pass a test, but how can you not love a language that combines the characters for "eye" and "ear" to make a word meaning "attention"?  Brilliant!

As for the cuisine, food is a sensory and aesthetic pleasure, and I like trying new foods anyway.  Unfortunately, I live on the east coast (and pretty far from any major city) so the most Japanese things I can try are imported instant noodles and sushi made by Koreans.  Someday I hope to try takoyaki, okonomiyaki, real Japanese short-grain rice, mochi, and awamori.  And some sort of palak paneer that doesn't come out of a microwave, but that's not Japanese. . .

Of course, real culture is not what you can learn or eat or try, but the ideas, values, and day-to-day lifestyle; and while reading about this sort of thing is a far cry from actually living it, some of it is certainly intriguing.  The seiza style of sitting (shins folded under you, butt resting on the heels) is aesthetically pleasing, and I tend to appreciate people who are pleasantly polite and reserved over people who are overly forward.  Of course, there would be downsides and difficulties (especially for a foreigner like me), but tourists and English teachers aren't there long enough to deal with all that anyway.

I also wonder exactly how true it is that Japanese people freeze up when seeing a foreigner.  It'd be fun to be able to stop a mugging by just stepping in and trying to make friendly conversation with the mugger.  I'd be like a superhero, except helping people would be an endless source of entertainment.

I both have an interest in the vibrant culture of Japan which has created the popularity for animation. Named the "Land of the Rising Sun", Japan is rich with a lengthy historical background that has influenced other nations of the world for centuries. Incidentally I am travelling to Japan for a period of six days in the very near future. It's a culture which can be called 'uniquely unique' by its own right.
 
It works both ways as well - the popularity of baseball is proof enough of that. It's something of a culture shock when Westerners travel overseas and are greeted by something of a backwards culture. They read in the wrong direction, do not wear shoes inside, eat with sticks, and are in general respectful. I believe a great example of this shock is the film "Lost in Translation" by Sofia Coppola. If you haven't already seen, I urge you to - it will change your perception of Japanese culture.
 
More to the point, my own curiosities stem for being exposed to animation for such a lengthy period. The majority of the extravagant plots are set in Japan for the obvious reasons. I have seen Tokyo blown apart more times than any other city and more giant robots battling through the streets on daily occasions. I want to meet the people responsible and see how their culture shaped their ideas! On another note of censorship, I notice a large amount of bloodshed in all their films and indeed animation. I don't think anyone will disagree with me on that front, or that Western films can be equally gratuitous. Our version of slasher films is their version of Zatoichi. Violence, sexaulity, art, cuisine, fashion, language among a large list all differ greatly between Japan and other countries. It's a known fact that where you live influences who you are.
 
I don't believe it's ignorant for people to only be interested in anime and not in the place it originated from. A fan is a fan. However I like to explore the origins. I like blues music, I might one day travel to America and immerse myself in that particular culture. Japan is just very very different to what many of us are used to. The allure of excitement animation movies and TV shows boast is something which is easy to be hooked upon. I half expect there to be ninjas and robots on every corner. Who knows - it's exactly the place where it's possible. There are so many differences I wish to seek out. So yes, I do have an interest in Japan and animation. For the better I believe.


From Renate Moss:

From Mike Stovell:

im replying to your question and frankly, im a japanaholic! i dont just watch anime, and read manga, japan interests me because they are so technologically advanced compared to the rest of the world. not only that they have awesome food, beautiful girls(however some of them are homley) and they have robots! thats right domo arigato mr. roboto. if there is sonething i dont know about japan, i will go out of my way to make sure its carved in my brain. the anime and manga are just one of the few bonuses on the list, some others i have yet to think of. they have great and funny game shows and my teachers at school get a kick out of it. japan is a great place for tourists and people that are going to live there (although they might not have room for you there :'( ) in conclusion i love japan almost as much as i love canada, and anime is just one of the kinds of icing on top of the wonderous cake known as japan.

Finally, from Kyle England:

I would have to say, and I think this may apply to a lot of anime fans out there, that I didn't have that much interest in Japanese culture initially. Sure, everyone thinks ninjas and samurai are cool, which is a little bit of interest in the country. I started out just liking anime, but after a while it turned into me being interested in the whole culture of Japan. The bullet trains, the bathroom slippers, the sushi, the Sakura gardens, the robo-toilets, I just think it's all very interesting and cool. I like how many of the things over in the Land of the Rising Sun are a bit more traditional than here in the states (i.e. Bowing as a greeting, presenting gifts when you visit a friend's house, addressing and treating people according to their seniority). Another aspect I love is the Japanese food, which is awesome. I love the ramen the most, though I haven't had the actual cooked noodles but a few times, I live off the instant noodles. I like to share with others about the culture and history of Japan too, sometimes. I am still first and foremost an anime lover, but it's very neat to look into other cultures than your own to broaden your understanding of people and their customs. I can't wait to plan my trip to Japan!