by Japan has a low crime rate, is an economic powerhouse that has grown through manufacturing, and is a country with a declining birthrate and an aging population. This is the image the world has of Japan.
But in the end, it may be the fantasy” such as anime and manga, that has significantly impacted the world’s impression of Japan.” In particular, the British media outlet ” “Unhard” reported on Studio Ghibli’s influence on young people in Europe and America in the 1980s.
Japan was a “dream factory.”
Before the advent of the Internet, American teens had to resort to ” “illegal means” to watch anime. Pirated videocassettes were distributed among fans like a viewing drug. Discovering a new anime was like a small revelation. It was like stepping into an unknown country. What I knew about Japan, a distant country, was limited to the war stories my grandfather told me and the dark stories on the evening news.
The 1980s was a time of trade friction between Japan, Europe, and America. Politicians made provocative statements and engaged in “Japan-bashing.” A member of Congress once performed in front of the White House by smashing Japanese-made home appliances with a hammer. Still, my friends and I were undaunted. He remained fascinated by the fantasy in anime, which was completely different from American culture. And even back then, we knew that some anime artists were somehow different from others.
The author’s name is Hayao Miyazaki. It’s rare to find a creator who has the power to captivate not just the occasional moviegoer but also hardcore film fans and critics. Miyazaki’s latest work, How Do You Live?, will break several records when released in Japan in 2023. In North America, it also became the first original animated film to reach number one in the weekend box office rankings. Celebrities such as Wes Anderson and Guillermo del Toro are among his overseas fans.
The latter even took David Cronenberg to a screening of My Neighbor Totoro. In addition, the stage version of “My Neighbor Totoro”, first performed at London’s Barbican Theater in 2023, received praise and is gaining popularity again. Miyazaki has never tried to appeal to foreign countries, nor has he tried to change the situation overseas. He says he is “perplexed” by the popularity of his work outside of Japan. Nevertheless, his work has captivated audiences for generations, both abroad and abroad. And it has changed the way we view Japan.
Japan has become wealthy by selling various goods, from home appliances to cars. However, Japan has become popular not by selling things” but by selling fantasies” such as anime, manga, and Nintendo. My grandfather’s generation saw Japan as a threat, but for us, Japan was a “dream factory.”
