A lot of Japanese pop culture is plain bad. Hell, a lot of pop culture is bad. But it is my biased and amateur, yet frequent, observation that ex-pats who live on an island of online and pirated English-language pop culture cut themselves off from deeper understanding of Japan and, as a result, a chance to learn the language well.
Yes, AKB48 was tired the moment it became a phenomenon and those girls are far from hot and at the most kind of cute, but people learn best when there is context. Sitting down an hour a day studying Japanese grammar and kanji will help but it won't do much for your speaking. Even if it's baffling watch some Japanese variety TV (I recommend the self-styled "Coming Out Variety" program Himitsu no Kenmin Show or the Secret Kenmin Show), 'read' tentacle sex comic books, shit, become an AKB48 fan for all I care.
If a music video full of silly girls pillow fighting in underwear in the technicolor world of director/photographer Ninagawa Mika doesn't do it for you (wait a minute, that sounds awesome! - go here) there are plenty of alternatives. For music an old school indie rock favorite of mine is Eastern Youth. Check out the jam Ukigumo or this one. More mainstream but just as good and even more fun to sing at karaoke as you kick the TV (like my grad school sempai Miichi-san did) is Linda Linda by the Blue Hearts. Edgy Kyoto pop-rock group Quruli is also recommendo.
Mostly music here but there's a lot out there and getting into more matomo (proper) Japanese culture such as classic lit, ikebana, tea ceremony, kabuki, sumo (I mean as a spectator but hey if you've got the bod, give it a go or check out this really baaaad aidoru version), etc. also never hurts.
3 comments:
My recommendation is morning TV. I like watching ZIP every day. It's the perfect combination of ligit news and fluffy BS. Good way to find out about how F-ing AKB48 just went to Korea! or Lady GAGA is once again trouncing around Japan! or that someone caught on fire and died.
I agree, even though I don't always get a chance to watch morning shows because I'm either out the house early or sleeping :-P The afternoon shows (for those of us who work unusual schedules) like Chichinpuipui (in Kansai) are also good.
When the US tires of the GAGA, Japan will probably be her cash cow... the way Tom Cruise works his fan base over here when jumping on couches doesn't fare too well Stateside.
Pop culture is not bad but I'd recommend the variety shows or dramas more for learning Japanese.
Songs are good too.
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