And so ends the experiment

This being a blog that I was running as a class assignment, the time has finally come for us to part. Due to that fact, I decided that I'll kick it up a notch for the last post. Having always been a geek at heart, I would like to expose you to the Japanese "otaku". Literally, the term refers to one's own home and is sometimes used to refer to oneself, but it is often used as a term to refer to obsessive fans of various topics. While in the US, those knowledgeable of the term generally use it only in relation to anime, but its usage is most definitely not restricted to that alone. Games, figurines, trains, photography, guns--otaku specialty knows no bounds. I would say that the anime subgroup is the most visible, but the others are there.

Nakagawa Shouko (aka Shoko-tan) is a geek that hit the mainstream. She loves games, anime, manga...yet she managed to make it into the public eye. Here is a video of her in Akihabara, the major electronics district in Tokyo (and Holy Land for many otaku).


For a bit more on female otaku, since most people picture geeky guys when they think "otaku":


A clip from a cute TV series called Densha Otoko (based on a book and movie by the same name), all about an otaku who falls for a real girl:

I highly recommend checking it out, if you are looking for a really funny show to watch, not to mention vaguely educational! For information about gal-games and moe, click the links.

I don't really like foreign specials on otaku (and this is no exception), but this might be a little more helpful to you since it is in English (I cringe every time they pronounce "cosplay" in English):


A really dedicated idol otaku:

Festivus

The Japanese love festivals (matsuri) to death. It is part of the culture really, that all-encompassing culture that I mentioned before. Summer is the big season for festivals and I was fortunate enough to have stayed there on my own after school had finished in the spring, all the way until the end of August. New Years and the blooming of the sakura (cherry blossoms) are also major festival occasions. Basically, there were more festivals than I could go to, and there were so many small ones you could stumble on without even knowing about them beforehand.

Festivals are often held at shrines to celebrate this or that. I could go into detail, but I would still be missing a lot, so I'll just link you to sites that can tell you more.

Honestly I'm pretty burned out this week as I rush to both start and finish a huge paper I have for one of my classes, so if you don't mind, I'm just going to post up some pictures. The exhaustion is causing me to be unable to remember the festivals I actually went to, so I think doing that is probably for the best.

The same random festival shown at the top

Mikoshi (portable shrine)

PL fireworks display (one of the biggest--if not the biggest--fireworks displays in the world)

Daimonji (that's the big flaming "dai" kanji on the side of a mountain as seen from somewhere along the Kamogawa in Kyoto)People playing a pop-gun game at a festival stand. If you like street vendor food (and in Japan, at least, you should), you'll love Japanese festivals. There are TONS of stands.

And I have a thing for posting videos now:
Hey, I remember going to this festival now (except this is the 2006, and I was at the 2007 one)!


And since I had actually wanted to post something unrelated:

Kind of Like Reading

Manga, like anime, is a word that is coming to fairly common use in the English language, despite its Japanese roots. Note that it is pronounced with a soft "a" sound, not a hard one (in English phonetics, mahn-ga). Strangely, I actually knew someone else that was studying in Japan who pronounced it with a hard sound, which for a student of Japanese is kind of embarrassing. Some of you may know, as well, that manga is read from right to left, rather than left to right. Early on, US publishers were mirroring it for Western audiences, but I think they have all switched to the authentic direction now. You might be thinking that is a little awkward, but it comes quite naturally since (most) books and magazines are read in the opposite direction (as in, the binding is opposite side). Anyway, rather than shower you with a continuation of cuteness fixation (which obviously is quite possible), I thought I would talk about its popularity in Japan.

Huge. It really is. I have heard it accounts for 40% of all book and magazine sales in Japan, and I don't find that surprising. It literally cannot be compared to the US comic industry. In the US, comics (and "graphic novels) have long been the domain of the young and a niche group of adults. In Japan, however, it is not uncommon to see grown businessmen reading manga on the train. Not just businessmen either. Young or old, manga is a popular way to pass the time in transit. There are some conservative Japanese who find it distasteful to see businessmen reading racy manga on a crowded train, but I can't help but grin.

There are a great many types of manga, aimed at all manner of audiences. Boys', girls', mens', womens', various fetishes in between...it's all there. They also come in various mediums, such as magazines (of varying frequency: weekly, monthly, etc) as well as books. Actually, oftentimes Japanese bookstores will offer free covers for your books, so you could look like you're reading a book in public, when it actually is manga. There is also a sizable segment of fan-made manga called "doujin". These are infamous for often being pornographic, though there are exceptions. Growing in popularity now are manga (and other books) which you can download to your cellphone. These have the added bonus of only displaying on frame at a time, so you don't have to worry about spoiling a surprise by glancing at the next page. On top of that, some even take advantage of the light and vibration functions.

At least it gets people reading. Sort of.

Since I've gotten into the habit of posting videos now, here's something or other:

Cuteness Obsession

Yes, it's finally here, the topic you've all been waiting for (or dreading). This time, I plan on addressing the Japanese fixation on cuteness, though my own field of specialty would be anime. I guess that, without realizing it, I've begun to appreciate other various forms of cuteness primarily pioneered by the Japanese as well. Call it an infection.

Of course, pretty much everyone is familiar with Hello Kitty, and perhaps even the infamous Hello Kitty vibrator. While I can't say that I saw omnipresence in the latter, the former does pop up quite often. The Sanrio stores are full of all the Hello Kitty goods you could ever want. Surprisingly, when it comes to trinkets like keychains and various mascot accessories, there was a TON of Disney that shows up. I can't say I'm a fan myself, but among schoolgirls, especially, you can see tons of Mickey, Stitch, and others. It's not the first image you get when you think of Japan, but they do fall for "cute" Western things. I guess it's quite logical though, considering their general love of all things cute. All forms...they even have a word for "creepy cute" (kimokawaii).

My specialty, as I mentioned, is anime. I could inundate this post with a billion examples of cuteness as it pertains to anime, but I'll refrain. I wouldn't say that anime is quite as prevalent in Japanese culture as some American fans would have you believe. Sure, there are satellite channels dedicated to it, and it does show up on TV, but it's not like everyone watches it (though manga, graphic novels, are extremely popular among many demographics). In fact, most of the decent anime (read: what I watch) airs late at night, sometimes with creepy adult ads in between, so it is still pretty niche. Don't get me wrong, it's not like there isn't a mainstream prescence--it's just that overall it is a somewhat subdued prescence. There are some cute kids anime series that you'll see more widespread, and there are a few series which really break into more mainstream culture (i.e. Death Note, which got 2 live action movies, as well). I'm getting sidetracked, though, since Death Note isn't exactly sacchirine sweet, as you might have guessed from the name. Overall, anime is more of a subculture than a major part of the society, though it embraces the same love of cuteness. Whether it influenced societal values, or societal values it, I don't think anyone could rightly say. Regardless, cuteness is just a part of life there.

AKB48


You might be wondering, does it really show? Aside from anime and other little trinkets, is it really there? Yes, yes it is. Take a look at the idol side of things. Rather than explain the Japanese use of the word "idol", I'll just direct you to Wikipedia for simplicity's sake. Idols are huge in Japan. I like to use examples like Ogura Yuko or the band AKB48 when talking about cuteness. If you already look at the video and were wondering: yes, there really are that many members in the group. The number fluctuates from time to time, but Wikipedia says it does currently have the namesake 48 members. I know it used to be lower a while back, and some sources actually say a few more than 48. Either way, it's full of a ton of young girls basically being cute. It looks like the youngest member was born on November 22, 1995, so that would make 11-going-on-12, while the oldest current member was born in 85. I won't even try to describe Ogura Yuko, but instead will give you a video. I think you'll find it kind of funny even if you don't understand Japanese at all. On a side note, I just noticed I've been referring to her in Japanese name order this whole time without thinking about it. In English, we would say her name is "Yuko Ogura".


Yes, she has a tendency to act like a small child.

Of course, I could go on further to mention things like cosplay ("costume play", usually dressing as characters from video games and anime) and maid cafes as well. Those are both great indicators of the further influence on culture. Of course, not all cosplay is cute, nor does it always attempt to be, but it is most definitely there. I guess you could look at it as being a slow bleed of cuteness into mainstream culture or, even further, as a whole subculture slowly working it's way into the mainstream. Who knows, even anime may yet become part of mainstream Japanese culture.

Some people might see something wrong with that, but I think it's sweet and, well, cute.

Bonus Ogura Yuko video, because I love her!

And then there was...screaming

I have been feeling a lack of inspiration in terms of writing this blog recently, so I decided that I'll move into various topics that I find interesting, but may or may not be as interesting to everyone else. Yes, the topic of anime is coming, but for today, I plan on covering Japanese music a bit, especially "visual kei", or visual style music. I listen to a few groups quite regularly and, you may notice, that my clothes somewhat reflect that fact. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to take many pictures of visual kei groups, as the venues were generally unfriendly to photography, not to mention that the lighting is pretty prohibitive anyway. You'll have to deal with pictures I gathered from websites instead. Oh, and enjoy the videos!

Visual kei is a niche within the genre of rock and/or metal, characterized often by lots of screaming, both in terms of instrumentation, as well as vocals (and a lot of grunts). There are many, many bands in this field, so how do they differentiate themselves? Looks. There is an incredible range of different styles they go with, sometimes reflecting their music, sometimes not.

Phantasmagoria


These bands are almost exclusively male, though there are times when you honestly can't tell the difference. I can't tell you how funny it is when people comment on Mana (guitarist of Moi dix Mois, better known for his role in Malice Mizer), saying that "she" is hot or some such thing. I hate to break it to you, but...anyway, I figure that's why the fanbase of visual kei is primarily female. I speak from experience, having gone to quite a few concerts while I was in Japan, and it is very true, most concerts had relatively few guys. The only exception I can think of is Onmyouza, but personally, I don't really consider them visual kei. Their style is more of a rock/traditional fusion, and they wear suitably traditional Japanese clothing to go along with it. I know most people would disagree with me, but there are a number of cases where, since the band keeps a look that "suits" the music, I don't really consider them visual kei. Moi dix Mois, for example, has a look that entirely complements the music, so I don't consider them visual, though many would.

As far as I know, the visual kei movement kind of originated with a band by the name of X Japan back in the day, and has grown from there. I don't think X Japan's look would be particularlyJapan shocking to most people these days, but rather would be reminiscent of some strange mix of various glam/hair-metal bands of the 80s. Then again, I doubt they were ever trying to be "shocking" really, but just to really differentiate themselves from all the other bands of the genre. Most bands do that to some extent, but visual kei really ups the ante. Even the worst of bands may gain popularity because they look great.

Kibouya Honpo


I would guess that the most popular visual kei group these days is Dir en Grey. If not, they're at least up there and used to be the top. I'm not really a fan myself, but I definitely still see their influence, judging by the number of bands that I saw violently clawing their chests and pretending to cut themselves on stage. None were brave enough to actually do it, though I hear Dir en Grey, back in the day, used to do so. Recently, they have changed their look a bit and aren't quite as violent, I hear.

Nega

Yeah, this one is pretty creepy.

You might wonder, what do visual kei fans think of the classic American "shock rocker" Marilyn Manson? Well, judging from people I talked to at concerts (as well as the fact that one of clubs I went to was playing a number of his songs as pre-show entertainment), they do enjoy him. Another popular group, surprisingly enough, was Slipknot. I honestly have no idea why, but nearly every girl I talked to at the concerts asked if I was a Slipknot fan. I'm assuming they asked because they were fans, as I see no way my clothes could somehow make people think I was a Slipknot fan. I also haven't heard their music recently, so I couldn't judge how similar they sound or look compared to visual kei bands I'm familiar with. If you're interested in looking into that, I'll leave it to you, as I really have no interest in Slipknot and, well, most American bands. It's not that I just toss them aside outright, but rather that the American music scene has stagnated, so I favor various bands from around the world, specifically Europe and Japan.

Though not visual kei, I really enjoy a Japanese female duo by the name of Kokushoku Sumire, whose genre I couldn't even begin to try and name. Suffice it to say that Yuka plays accordion, piano, and does vocals, while Sachi primarily plays violin, though judging from their latest album, she has also picked up trumpet. I got to see them twice and even had the priviledge of having dinner with them! From these experiences, I can say they are not only are they a great group, but they're really cool, too. I only wish I had been in the Tokyo area so I could have seen them more often.

If you have any questions about my experiences or something that you would like to know in more detail, please let me know! I know about plenty of things, but I tend to take them all for granted (having lived there for a whole year), but outside observers might find something really interesting.

Left to Rot

Now here's something interesting for you. Now, I have said how Japan is amazingly crowded, crammed into big cities as a result of the mountainous terrain. You would assume, then, that no space would be left wasted, right? Wrong!

Abandoned places are a personal interest of mine, as even beautiful places are often just left to decay. The fact that even Japan, where space is at a premium, would just toss aside perfectly usable space is incredible! The above shot is a picture of the so-called "Gunkan Apaato", or "Battleship Apartments". This was a large group of apartment buildings near Nipponbashi in Osaka, nicknamed "battleship" due to the unusual chimney structures on the roof. From what I have heard, they were built in the 30s and were said to be the oldest concrete structures left standing in Japan. I would assume the "left standing" was there to indicate that there had been others, and I am guessing those probably were destroyed by US bombing in World War II. Unfortunately, I can't seem to track down the date of abandonment, but I recall it having been for a rather significant amount of time, which would seem strange considering the lack of available space. You'll notice, however, that I have been using past tense. Yes, as of the spring/summer of 2007, the buildings have been leveled, surely to make space for a more modern structure. I was fortunate enough to have been able to visit there a number of times to take pictures, and just enjoy the atmosphere, but even on my first visit the actual buildings were already barricaded and boarded. A passerby was kind enough to try and help me get to the rooftop of one of the nearby high-rise apartments so that I could see the namesake chimneys, but unfortunately the landlord caught us and made us leave (I blame the camera in the elevator). What was funny, though, was that the guy who tried to help me actually asked me a few questions about the old apartments. I ended up trying to climb the stairs of a nearby shorter building, but unfortunately the rooftop was locked on that one, so I never did get a shot of the top.

I ended up running into a few abandoned houses and shacks elsewhere, which was fun. When I went to Kobe (west of Osaka) to visit a friend of mine who is teaching English there, we stumbled upon one on a walk in the mountains. On our way back down, we went through a small residential area where we found a rusty, unsturdy bridge leading to a small shrine and an abandoned house. It was fairly obviously abandoned, considering the doors were all collapsing, books were left rotting, and there were far too many spiders for comfort. There didn't seem to be any signs of homeless people living there, so aside from mold, various crawling and slithering creatures and collapsed flooring, it seemed pretty safe to go inside. I can't really judge just how long it had been abandoned, but they sure must have left in a hurry. There were a number of little trinkets lying around, a few old New Years decorations, quite a few books and magazines. I would love to have known the story behind it.

I actually went out to the countryside once in order to track down a few abandoned amusement parks, of which there are a surprising number in Japan. Unfortunately, I ended up taking the wrong train and wasted a pretty long time getting there, so I never was able to track them down. Well, that's not entirely true, as taking the wrong train actually led me to one of them, but it was in the middle of the city. I figured that, being a foreigner, trying to sneak into an abandoned amusement park in the middle of a city on a weekend would not be an easy task. Granted, I wasn't that close, so I couldn't really judge, but I didn't want to risk it. Instead, I tried to go for the easy pickings (or what I thought was easy pickings). I had heard of one that was on the edge of a golf course, left to be consumed by nature. When I finally got on the right train and made it, I wandered my way there. Finding the golf course, I didn't see anywhere they could be hiding an amusement park. This is where I made my mistake. Seeing that the map was indicating it was on the far side of the golf course, and not wanting to risk sneaking through the country club, I walked the road, assuming it would go around. Well, it did. Sort of. Only, I forgot to take into account that the world is 3D, and the area was in the mountains. Very big mistake. I wandered the road for a good hour before deciding I should probably make my way back. Interestingly enough, I met an old man who was walking the opposite direction who asked me where the closest station was. I guess I just look knowledgeable.

Upon returning to the entrance of the country club, I decided that, given the effort I had put out to find this place, I wasn't going to give up. Yes, I snuck up the service roads around the golf course, attempting to make sure I wasn't seen. What can I say, it was a lot of fun. I got sidetracked a couple times, as there were a few paths into the forest that had "no trespassing" signs and what choice did I have but to explore? It was unfortunate that I never did find the amusement park (though I have seen pictures), but it was a great experience. I did end up being seen by at least one person as I was leaving, as they were driving out as I was making my way back to the entrance. I just did my best to look clueless, turning around as they drove by and offering a little wave of my hand. Not entirely unsurprisingly, they didn't stop, but I made my way out all the quicker since I had been spotted. I did stumble upon a few abandoned cars, full of various personal effects and now overgrown with plantlife.

Nearby I also found a few piles of abandoned children's backpacks and toys. I tried not to look too deeply into that as I walked back to the train station, sun long since set.

Living History

It seems to me that modernizing is often associated with pushing the past aside. I feel that was the view held by the US until recently. Back when we went for soup over salad, there was a feeling that people had to integrate into society, rather than holding onto their old cultural values and history, instead embracing what it was to be "American". I think that has come back to bite us in recent history. When we are faced challenges and influences from other countries, not to mention the feeling of alienation that can come with ever-advancing technology, we begin to think about what we are, where we came from. Our identity. The problem is, whereas many of the countries in the world have a real national culture and history to cling to, the US does not. I think that is part of the uneasiness that we begin to feel now that America has become the "salad bowl", seeing others now bringing their culture, history, and values into our country, or even as we look overseas to understand either friend or foe, we struggle to find our own. I consider this an inherent weakness to the original "melting pot" and, on top of this, our country is so young in the grand scheme of things.

Japan most definitely has a history behind it. Their history and culture is so ingrained into their society that, by this point, they are inseparable. Wherever you may visit in Japan, you can be fairly certain that there is only a short distance between you and the nearest shrine or temple. In both places that I lived in Japan, it was perhaps a 5 minute walk to the nearest Shinto shrine. Interesting to note, most Japanese people don't consider themselves "religious", but will make occasional visits to shrines. One major time to go to a shrine is for "hatsumode", the first shrine visit of the New Year, which many people do at midnight, much like the Western practice of staying up and partying. There are no major fireworks displays for the New Year, though fireworks are amazingly popular during the summer months. In terms of other religious practices that most Japanese will have, there are also Buddhist funerals. Indeed, Japanese people are not consciously "religious", but there are many religious practices that are so much a part of their culture that they do not even think about it. The cities of Kyoto and Nara are excellent places to see both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, as Kyoto was the capital before Tokyo, and Nara was even before that. Thus, they are both full of culture, and beautiful cities at that. Neither city is nearly so tall as nearby Osaka, and they feel much more relaxed in pace. If your goal is to get a feel for the culture, and you don't have much time in Japan, I would recommend heading to these ancient capitals. Though I never had a chance to live in Kyoto, I visited there quite often. Despite its large size, it just doesn't feel "big".

It is amazing to think about the history that is surrounding you when you are in Japan. From thinking about the fact that you are walking the footsteps of a samurai in Kyoto or exploring the passages of an old castle, it really is awe-inspiring. One of the most famous castles in Japan is Himeji, pictured at the top. West of Osaka, it rises sharply, contrasting with a rather quaint-yet-modern city around it.

I honestly think that our own lack of real culture to cling to is part of the reason that other countries like Japan and China are quickly surging to approach our place in the global economy, as well as overall influence. The solidarity of cultural belief and values brings strength.

A Culture of Convenience

In a way, it's an image of modern Japan that many people do know. The vending machine is something that it seems like the modern Japanese wouldn't know what to do without. Vending machines can carry anything from the usual drinks or food, to books, videos, or even porn (the infamous used panty vending machine, I hear, is long since gone). The omnipresent convenience stores from common ones like Circle K and 7-11 (or technically 7 & I-Holdings), to more Japanese flavors like the Daily Yamazaki, "konbini" (a Japanese abbreviation of "convenience") are an integral part of Japanese life. Unlike convenience stores in the US, their Japanese counterparts carry basically anything you could need for daily living. Granted, they may not have the best quality or price, but you could get by simply shopping at konbini. Above is a picture of a slightly different kind of konbini...the name literally translating as "adult convenience store". I'll leave you to guess what they sell there. Anyway, back to the normal kind, they carry quite a decent selection of food if you happen to be in a rush or the local restaurants happen to be closed.

Even better for quick and cheap food or drink, I would say, are the 100 yen shops. Also fairly common, the majority of the products they carry cost only a hundred yen, which is a bit under a dollar. 100 yen shops, wow, honestly I could devote a post simply to them, if I felt like putting out the effort. You may have visited dollar shops in your own country, but they are something else in Japan. I have been in shops that were 7 floors high, full of practically anything you could need. Granted, there was a bit more there that cost more than 100 yen, but anything that wasn't 100 was more than reasonable. Many of the smaller shops (like the 99 Shop, better known as the kyukyu) stay open 24 hours, much like the convenience stores.

An extension of the ever-so-helpful vending machine, even some restaurants are beginning to streamline the ordering process. Out front or just inside the door, some small restaurants are adding ticket vending machines where you can simply buy a ticket for the meal you would like, the buttons having the price, name, and, not uncommonly, a picture of the meal. Usually, you buy a ticket for the entree, as well as tickets for side dishes or larger portions. What the instigating factor was in the move towards automating this process was, I can only guess. Did they find it to inefficient to have to wait for words? Were too many customers running out without paying? Somehow, I doubt it was just to make ordering easier for gaijin who don't happen to know much in the way of Japanese. Still, if you happen to be in an unsociable mood, it's rather nice to be able to have a fresh-cooked meal without having to say a word. Other places, like some fancy izakaya (Japanese style pubs) will actually have what basically amounts to a tablet PC or other handy touch-screen so you can make your order. Don't ask me about the bones dangling on the chain. I have no idea.

Speaking of interesting ways of ordering, my personal favorite was at a maid cafe. Honestly, maid cafes are another thing that could deserve a post of it's own (plus I find them interesting!), but I'll at least mention them. I only went to one maid cafe during my stay in Japan, and I can say I somewhat regret that fact. What I regret is not having gone more! They're so much fun! In my favorite twist on the ordering process, at the particular maid cafe that I went to, girls dressed up in maid outfits (who refer to you as "master" and speak in extremely formal Japanese) serve your meal. Best part? At least at the cafe I was at, you called them over to you with a tiny hand-bell that was placed on the table. The person who accompanied me to this cafe ordered an omelette and, when it arrived, the maid asked what she would like drawn (in ketchup) on omelette. In the confusion (my colleague hadn't known such a service was available), we simply told her to draw whatever she wanted, which turned out to be a bunny face. Later, when we ordered parfaits, two maids came to serve us and add toppings at our table. As strange as it may seem, I can truly say that this was one of my best experiences in Japan. The atmosphere was so perfect, with a European decor and classical music on top of the maid service.

Speaking of service, if you hate when the clerks in a shop seem like vultures circling ("helping"?) you as you try and look at things, stay clear of clothing shops in Japan. That was probably one of the most annoying things that I encountered in Japan. Basically, the smaller the shop, the more you will get watched. It wasn't even because I was a foreigner, because I saw them doing it for Japanese people as well. Japan, on top of loving convenience, is a service-oriented culture. They love having good service, with someone always at hand to help them if they need it. Look a little confused? There's someone right there, eager to help. Personally, I would rather be left in peace while I look at things, but I guess the Japanese are used to it. There is pretty much a job for everyone because of that. I can't tell you how many times I've laughed at the guys who literally just stand around construction sites making sure the pedestrians nearby are safe or helping those who are lost. Talk about an easy job. Even the koban (police boxes) often serve more of a purpose of giving people directions than keeping the peace. I can say from personal experience that the police are very helpful if you need to figure out where you are going, so if you go to Japan, feel free to ask for help! They usually have a big map, so even if you can't understand, as long as you have a name or address, they can usually point out where you need to be.

Looking for God? God is in the vending machine.

Sidetracked: On Fair Use

This post is a bit different from the primary subject of this blog, so feel free to disregard it if you are not interested. I have my reasons for posting this (laziness, primarily), though, so it will be done.

Note to whom it may concern: I did not receive any feedback in my folder, and I figure it is probably too late at the moment to try and get it back in time for the midnight deadline, so I'm going to post it as-is. If you wish me to revise it later, I can come back and edit.

Copyright has been a sensitive issue in modern times as people become more concerned with protecting their creations within the growing competition. With the advancement of technology within the last century, it has become a relatively simple affair to find obscure (or not-so-obscure) works and plagiarize them, or simply make a copy of them without any compensation to the creator. With the advent of the Internet, this has become as simple as a few mouse clicks. File sharing has been portrayed, especially by the RIAA, as the bane of the music industry. I would say that, rather than destroying the industry, it is a step towards a new type of creative culture.

I strongly agree with Negativland's "Tenets of Free Appropriation" in that provided an artist does not copy another's entire work, sampling should be allowed under "fair use". As long as the person who samples the work credits the original author, there should be no issue, even if it is used in a commercial release. In my opinion, however, if an artist would like to sample someone's entire work and turn it into something different, so long as it is a promotional, non-profit release rather than a commercial release, this should also be acceptable. While I have never heard the "Grey Album", I would assume it is a release that falls along these lines.

It seems to me that this is at odds with the idea proposed in "Technorealism". The author of said article proposes that there is a need for greater protection of works, but I disagree with this. Considering the pervasiveness of the Internet in our culture, it seems that protecting every work is no longer possible. Even the RIAA has admitted that stopping piracy and the spread of copyrighted materials is impossible. There are always ways of subverting copy protection schemes, so rather than trying to stop it, we should try to embrace the use of this technology by artists. The Internet remix culture thrives off of using mp3s to create interesting new works, which may offer a new interpretation of the original that contributes to the musical field, sometimes surpassing the original. These works can not only serve as excellent publicity for the remixer, but also for the original creator, so long as the original track is adequately recognizable or the remixer gives proper credit.

In conclusion, I propose that rather than shun or more heavily regulate the spread of art, there needs to be a deeper, conscious move towards ethical use at the user's end. Rather than simply plagiarizing a work and attempting to pass it off as their own (and possibly get away with it), artists who sample should openly give credit. Along with that, artists need to treat their own works as something that is alive and ever-changing, allowing others to create derivative works that may offer a new and unexpected interpretation of themes. It isn't regulation that is needed, but rather a change in the intrinsic thought processes regarding copyright and fair use. With that, legitimate artists would have nothing to fear, provided they reveal the works from which they have sampled.

Diversity in Fashion

Japan generally gets the reputation of being dull and drab, full of businessmen clothed in conservative attire, a sea of black, grey, and brown. While even modern guidebooks will often give readers the same stereotypical impression, the truth is not so simple. Of course, it is true that the majority of the businessmen are dressed that simply, and their underlings, the lowly shopkeepers and the like, are often trapped in uniforms. Uniforms are another common image of Japan, with it's prominent school uniforms, the most famous (or infamous) being the classic sailor style.

The truth of the matter is, even Japan lets it's proverbial hair down from time to time. Whereas guidebooks may tell you that people in Japan do not wear shorts, I have personally seen quite a number of Japanese people doing just that! Granted, they may not be quite as pervasive as they are in the West, but considering the excessive heat and humidity of the Japanese summer, it is common sense that some people would want a little air flow. Actually, you begin to ask yourself how the more conservative even survive the heat in slacks and long sleeves.

I think there may be no greater example of fashion diversity in the world that rivals that of the Japanese youth. Stuck in school uniforms all week, they have a tendency to go the furthest in turning against the norms. The little critter pictured above (a prairie dog, if you were wondering) I encountered at Himeji Castle, and serves as a perfect example, I think! Walking around a fashionable district like Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Harajuku in Tokyo, or Shinsaibashi and Nanba in Osaka, especially on a weekend, you can take in more different styles than you ever knew existed. The spread of styles among guys is generally wider than it is in the USA, but the gals are the ones who really go all out. Unusual hair colors? Check. Short shorts and massive hair extensions? It's there. Tan-in-a-bottle with brightly colored makeup? Go for it. Victorian dresses covered in ribbons and lace? Yes, even that. Unfortunately I do not have any pictures uploaded, but for a sampling of a few of the looks, check here, here, and here.

And that's only the tip of the iceberg.

Before I finish, I thought I would leave you with one more picture to hammer home the idea of my previous post.

An Urban Jungle?

Having only recently returned from a year abroad in Japan, I'd like to use this blog to communicate my experiences and opinions about the country, as well as dispel some common myths that gaijin (foreigners) tend to have. I don't claim to be some sort of expert who has dedicated their life to the study of everything Japanese, but compared to your average person on the street, I like to think I have some perspective.

Japan. Most people tend to picture the extremes: samurai and geisha in their kimono scurrying about the muddy streets, or high-tech robots, neon lights, and sardine-can trains. While nowadays the tendency is definitely toward the latter vision, it's true that one can find a little bit of both, often even without looking too hard. Honestly, the diversity is staggering. The sheer number of people concentrated in Japan's cities makes for an interesting clash of visions and ideas, but the question that comes to mind, especially to Americans is this: how can they stand living so close together? Well, the thing is, gaijin do tend to picture Japan as an urban landscape, but this is only a part of the truth. The fact of the matter is, a large portion of Japan's roughly California-sized landmass is mountains, which makes sprawling out quite difficult. The result is a country where the majority of it's 120,000,000+ population is forced to live in an urban center of some sort.

Loud, yes, but there is never a dull moment.