Japan's "schoolgirl" ambassadors (politics)

[Jaydelart]

Pathetic... but effective.

[MMM]

Like the US, Japan is realizing it needs to find money without spending a lot of money...reminding the world of what it already has sitting here, instead of "creating" something new to sell. In the US it is things like Hollywood, dude ranches, Beverly Hills, Hawaiian beaches etc. Japan has "kawaii" and has a veritable monopoly on it in the world. These girls may be as kawaii as Doraemon, but they also have a million times the sex appeal of Doraemon. I think it's probably a smarter strategy...

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

As lame as it sounds - I seriously think they are on to something.

I mean, look around - how many people on this board want to visit or live in Japan for exactly those reasons? You can`t blame them for trying to appeal to people with what is popular about Japan in the west...

It's a very narrow group of people though. And the people who watch anime don't seem to need convincing that Japan is a place rich in culture.

I remember some really talented violinists came to New Zealand once... so did a Taiko drummer performance crew etc. This is the kind of thing that will make a bigger and longer lasting impact in my opinion.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

It's a very narrow group of people though. And the people who watch anime don't seem to need convincing that Japan is a place rich in culture.

I remember some really talented violinists came to New Zealand once... so did a Taiko drummer performance crew etc. This is the kind of thing that will make a bigger and longer lasting impact in my opinion.

I certainly hope those kinds of events are being eliminated to make room for this trio.

And I don't think the appeal is necessarily to anime fans but to all red-blooded NZ men, I suspect.

[Nyororin]

Unfortunately, the "Classic Japanese Culture" tourism plan put in place under Koizumi is considered a massive flop. Tourism actually FELL once they started emphasizing traditional arts and culture...
As sad as it is, what people seem to want to see these days is Akihabara and Harajuku - not some shrine.

Everyone knows what Coca-cola is, but that doesn`t mean that advertising it is meaningless... Same deal with this. It never hurts to advertise what appeals to people.

Originally Posted by MMM

I certainly hope those kinds of events are being eliminated to make room for this trio.

I REALLY hope that`s a typo.

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by MMM

Like the US, Japan is realizing it needs to find money without spending a lot of money...reminding the world of what it already has sitting here, instead of "creating" something new to sell. In the US it is things like Hollywood, dude ranches, Beverly Hills, Hawaiian beaches etc. Japan has "kawaii" and has a veritable monopoly on it in the world. These girls may be as kawaii as Doraemon, but they also have a million times the sex appeal of Doraemon. I think it's probably a smarter strategy...

Forget strategy..

Do you condone this MMM? As a person with respect for various Japanese culture?

I think that the fact they're sexualising it is worse. (Do we really need to perpetuate some of the already ridiculuous stereotypes about Japanese women that I've heard?)

I don't think anyone in the Japanese government has thought this through.

Also I'm unaware of Hollywood being employed as cultural ambassadors by the federal government. At least not in the same blatant nature that these women have been.

[Ronin4hire]

Well whatever the case.

If Japan wants to market itself as the next Thailand then that's their choice.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

Forget strategy..

Do you condone this MMM? As a person with respect for various Japanese culture?

I think that the fact they're sexualising it is worse. (Do we really need to perpetuate some of the already ridiculuous stereotypes about Japanese women that I've heard?)

I don't think anyone in the Japanese government has thought this through.

Also I'm unaware of Hollywood being employed as cultural ambassadors by the federal government. At least not in the same blatant nature that these women have been.

I didn't say I condone it, I said I understood it. Kimono and koto only take the appeal so far.

And if you think government's don't use Hollywood to get tourists (state, not federal, but you get the idea):

[Ronin4hire]

EDIT- I take everything I say back... They will be part of a bigger events promoting Japanese culture overall rather than the emphasis. I should read my own article properly.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

I REALLY hope that`s a typo.

Whoops...it was.

Yeah, Ronin, it sounds like it is one spoke in a multi-spoked plan of attack.