Re: Do Japanese get all the references

On Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:17:17 GMT, elsie <lcubbison@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Lee Ratner" <LBRatner@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message:


We all know that anime is filled with many references to
Japanese culture, Most of these references are fairly mainstream but
some could get rather obscure. Are there any references in anime that
are so obscure they fly over the heads of most Japanese?

An example might be the references to the student protests that
occurred in Japan during the late 1960s that appear in many Oshii
works.

Another might be references to Japanese folktales. When my
brother taught English in Japan, he tried to get the more advanced
students to tell him or at least summarize a Japanese folktale in
English. Most said they vaugely knew about Kentaro and other folktales
but did not know enough details. I'm sure something similar would
happen if you asked an American to tell you about Johnny Appleseed or
Paul Bunyun or John Henry. They vaguely know who these people are but
do not know enough details.


I remember a story about Miyazaki scolding his younger staff during the
making of Spirited Away for not knowing the little warding gesture that
Komaji teaches Chihiro after she steps on the little slug.

I think that's in the Japanese "making-of" segment that actually ended up
on the R1 DVD. I remember that, after the young folk in the room had
conceded their ignorance on a number of points, Miyazaki shook his head
and pronounced (more in sorrow than in anger): "Japanese culture is
doomed." :-)

Peace,
Liz

--
Liz Broadwell (username-in-header at orphco dot org), Charter Orphan
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
"Our target remains inert, men. Set phasers to chafe."
"But she sleeps like an angel!"
"Point taken. Fluff her pillow a little." -- David Willis, _Roomies_
.

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    (rec.arts.anime.misc)