Self-introduction Ian Condry Comparative Media Studies, MIT Web: –More music: iancondry.com/jhh –J Society lectures: iancondry.com/js –Cool Japan: Samurai Champloo (anime)

Bowing before the start of class

“The” Japanese

"Japan" What is culture? –Humanist Arts and letters –Anthropological Meanings and lifeways –Historical Traditions, institutions Bunraku puppet theater

Map of the world with Europe at the center.

Japanese map with Pacific Ocean at center

Locating Japan in Asia

Why study Japan? Japan –3rd largest economy –Popular culture exports Media / technology –Shows alt potentials Cultural differences central to this century Bonsai apricot tree

Postwar Japan and Popular Music Crazy-A Ian CONDRY

Pops Rock R&B Enka Reggae Many Styles

Duke U Press, 2006 Published under Creative Commons license: You can copy, post online, and share without going against copyright law

Growth, era of high speed growth preconditions for growth –occupational and demographic structures –skills and motivations of laborers –experience of war and reconstruction –corporate organizations primed for economic advance Tokyo 1945 and today

Demographic factors for growth abundant supply of young workers – Population growth rapid Million Million Million attributes of workers also contribute to growth

Moving Forward, Looking Up SAKAMOTO Kyû –Ue o muite arukô or "Sukiyaki" Pop song of 1961 becomes #1 Hit on Billboard charts in U.S. Japan on the rebound Japanese goods can make it the U.S. SAKAMOTO Kyû

Pop Music Key points: Sign of era: recovery from devastion Production style –in house writers and studio musicians –cute idol in front What Americans hear may be different from what Japanese hear "Sukiyaki"?

New Middle Class Japan (‘60s-’70s) Urbanization New divisions –rural / urban –generational –salaryman, educationa mama, samurai schoolkids –rise of "educational arms race" What kind of generation is being raised in the new Japan?

Affluence, 1974 – 1989 Bubble bursts, 1992 ~ present Cornerstones of expanding economy crumble in early and mid-1970s. The end of: – access to raw materials – stable currency exchange – free trade, high demand ‘80s bubble economy From 1992 “lost decade” Homeless man in Shinjuku Station (Tokyo)

The Weight of an Era Miyoshi Zenzou (2000) Tekken Gaiden

Shinjuku contradictions M S Cru from Blast (2003)

Who’s more “Japanese”? (2002)

Sakuragi-cho, Yokohama Language yô = "necessary"

Hime (2003) "If the peony stands" Verse: Rap (rhythm and rhyme) Chorus: tanka (31 syllable poem, 8th century) giri (social obligations) / ninjô (human feelings)

tanka poem for chorus Hime (2003) If the peony stands

Nightclubs as Genba You the Rock

King Giddra Sora kara no chikara (1995) ("The Power from the Sky") from L to R: K Dub Shine DJ Oasis Zeebra

K Dub Shine

Fans at "B-Boy Park 2001," Yoyogi Park, Tokyo

For more info: iancondry.com

Extra songs not covered in class to highlight examples that could be thought of as more Japanese or American, but then with example of Hime can be shown to have aspects of both.

More “American”? July 2000, free paper cover

CD jacket Kohei Japan (2000) More “Japanese”?