Japanese vs. Western Favorites

Brooker · 31 May 2004

Have you ever noticed that when you ask a Japanese person what their favorite movies, music, etc. are, they usually list movies that are very recent or currently still in theatres? Westerners seem more likely to list movies that have been around for a few years and withstood the test of time. I think this goes along with the Japanese way of thinking that new is good, old is bad. I usually list movies that are at least five or so years old because I know that sometimes you really like something when it first comes out and then your excitement can quickly fade. If I still like it after a number of years, I know that it's actually good.

jolan · 31 May 2004

I noticed one thing: The Japanese girls tends to prefer stupid and awful actor Orlando Bloom rather than Mortenssen, Eric Bana or even Brad Pitt...

Kawaiiiiiiiiiii!!!! effect?

den4 · 2 Jun 2004

group vs individual consensus? Was the question asked in a group or individual environment? I notice with Japanese people, when asked similar questions in a group, I get one answer, and individuallly, I get a different answer. Your responses may vary....

Maciamo · 2 Jun 2004

Very good point, Brooker ! I think this is because lots of Japanese tend not to think very seriously about movies. For them movies are just a way to relax, rarely something to think about deeply.

For this reason, difficult stories like Snatch, Fight Club or Matrix tend not to be as popular in Japan. Well, theaters were all full for Matrix 2, but that is because of commercials (and Japanese are very sensitive to it, so that if someone does something, everybody has to do it). When I asked people about what they thought of Matrix afterward, I haven't been able to find a single Japanese having even tried to think a bit deeply about the story. They just liked the special effets and that was all. They just don't care or don't want t to use their brains and wonder about what Westerners on forums like here usually discussed about.

If you ask the average Japanese about a movie like Schindler's list, they will say it was sad, or long or this kind of shallow and uninteresting comment. Few really care about knowing more about what happened.

This could also be due to their education that discourage personal reflexion and discussion, and their culture that press them to avoid expressing their opinion too vehemently or refrain from creating disharmony through arguments.

Personally, I can't even reply to the question "what is your favourite movie". Instead of telling a new movie, I just say that I have seen too many movies I couldn't make a choice. I can give some examples (let's say 5 to 10) in each film category (comedy, romance, action, historical...), depending on the interests of the person I am talking to. Japanese, again, do not take the trouble to think about so many movies, even if you ask them and if you insist they just claim they do not remember or get annoyed).

Buddha Smoker · 2 Jun 2004

Maciamo said:
Very good point, Brooker ! I think this is because lots of Japanese tend not to think very seriously about movies. For them movies are just a way to relax, rarely something to think about deeply.

I have to agree with this....movies aren't in the same lines like a person who says movies are their hobbies (like me..lol).

On the other hand, I've met quite a few (Japanese) that have similar ideas or like movies just as well as I do. But, maybe on the majority it is true.

I had a point but it slipped my mind so I will stop....oh well, my brain is still asleep this morning I think.

kirei_na_me · 2 Jun 2004

Japanese and movies! Another pet peeve of mine. The two closest Japanese people to me do not like Japanese movies.

My husband is strange. He tries to avoid movies at all costs. I've tried to get him to watch movies that meant something to me, but he just shows no interest at all. That is why I hadn't been to the cinema since Titanic! Going to the cinema was one of my favorite things to do before I got married, but now, I never go. I have to wait until the movies come out on video or HBO, and when they do, I'm always watching them by myself.

I have no idea why he is this way. He has this thing where he thinks movies put negative ideas in people's minds, whether it's dramas causing you to 'think too much' or action movies showing you 'how to kill'.

Gah, it's frustrating... And he's not the only one! All the Japanese people I know are either like him or either they're like Maciamo describes.

Brooker · 2 Jun 2004

I guess it would be a little hard to see the depth in a movie that was poorly translated and had lost its original meaning anyways. But it may also be true that the Japanese don't really see movies as being art with meaning. Some movies are just mindless entertainment, but others go far beyond that.

I think the question of "What movies do you like?" can actually be very relevant because your choices say a lot about your mind and character. I tried to get a Japanese friend to watch some movies that I really like because I thought that understanding why I liked them would help her to know me better. But, considering some of the points that were made here, I can now see why maybe she didn't understand why I thought it was important.

Buddha Smoker · 2 Jun 2004

kirei_na_me said:
Japanese and movies! Another pet peeve of mine. The two closest Japanese people to me do not like Japanese movies.

My husband is strange. He tries to avoid movies at all costs. I've tried to get him to watch movies that meant something to me, but he just shows no interest at all. That is why I hadn't been to the cinema since Titanic! Going to the cinema was one of my favorite things to do before I got married, but now, I never go. I have to wait until the movies come out on video or HBO, and when they do, I'm always watching them by myself.

I have no idea why he is this way. He has this thing where he thinks movies put negative ideas in people's minds, whether it's dramas causing you to 'think too much' or action movies showing you 'how to kill'.

Gah, it's frustrating... And he's not the only one! All the Japanese people I know are either like him or either they're like Maciamo describes.

Slap him once for me....just kidding. I've also, known Japanese people that don't care for movies but I guess that I'm lucky that my wife does and most of her family. In fact, it is a common conversation in the house especially during holidays or get-togethers.

Glenn · 2 Jun 2004

Brooker said:
I guess it would be a little hard to see the depth in a movie that was poorly translated and had lost its original meaning anyways.

Speaking of that, here is a post about movie title translations to Japanese that I found interesting (posted by a Japanese).

Buddha Smoker · 2 Jun 2004

Glenn said:
Speaking of that, here is a post about movie title translations to Japanese that I found interesting (posted by a Japanese).

LOL...I forgot all about that I remember having to explain that to my sister-in-law. I kept saying Lord of the Rings and she was like NO, it's Road of the Rings. It kind so fits if you think about it but that is so true with so many movies...

den4 · 2 Jun 2004

My aunt (a J-person) tried to convince me that the movies that Crinto Eastoudo was in were called "Macaroni Western" and was adamant that that was what it was called in America, too, and "what is the matter with you for not knowing that about your own country?"
Until recently, I think many of the Japanese movies were pretty slow, dark and somewhat depressing, and not as dynamic as movies made in Hollywood, where you have something exploding every few minutes for the ever increasing attention deficit crowd. At least this was one reason I had heard from many of my former students as the reason American movies were more popular...but then, maybe they just didn't like Japanese movies....that reminded them too much of their own situation....

Buddha Smoker · 3 Jun 2004

den4 said:
My aunt (a J-person) tried to convince me that the movies that Crinto Eastoudo was in were called "Macaroni Western" and was adamant that that was what it was called in America, too, and "what is the matter with you for not knowing that about your own country?"
Until recently, I think many of the Japanese movies were pretty slow, dark and somewhat depressing, and not as dynamic as movies made in Hollywood, where you have something exploding every few minutes for the ever increasing attention deficit crowd. At least this was one reason I had heard from many of my former students as the reason American movies were more popular...but then, maybe they just didn't like Japanese movies....that reminded them too much of their own situation....

Don't get me started on the hassle I went through trying to explain that Americans call them Spaghetti Westerns instead of Macaroni....

Brooker · 3 Jun 2004

den4 wrote....

My aunt (a J-person) tried to convince me that the movies that Crinto Eastoudo was in were called "Macaroni Western" and was adamant that that was what it was called in America, too

An Australian friend of mine said....

"Japanese people can't even pronounce their own words correctly. Why do they say "Gojira" when eveyone knows it's "Godzilla"?"

It works both ways.

misa.j · 3 Jun 2004

Ok, Ok, everyone, I guess you have only met Japanese people who were not really into art. Japan's population is huge for such a small country, and they tend to like things that other people like, so I understand that it's hard to meet someone whose opinions stand out to you.

Here is a Japanese side's comment since the thread is titled in a "vs" context.
One of my favorite activities is watching movies. I had to convince my American husband to get into movies which was successful, now we both enjoy movies.
I do like independent movies such as "Stranger than paradice" "Being John Malkovich" "This is spinal tap" etc..., if anybody knows these movies.
I like big movies like "Black Hawk Down" "Das Boot" etc. too. One of my favorites is "Fear and loathing in Las Vegas".

I can go on forever. I think some Japanese movies are fascinating,too like Kurowawa, Itami, Iwai shunji movies. Recently, Kitano'Beat' Takeshi movies are becoming more popular, too.

Ashikarazu.

Brooker · 4 Jun 2004

There seems to be a huge difference in what is acceptable as "cool" between Japanese and Western thinking (and both are a little strange).

In America (for example) it's cool to say that you like something obscure and it's not cool to say that you like something mainstream. Everyone's always trying to say that they love some band or movie that no one else has heard of because it shows that they know something that others don't. It's also an attempt to show how individualistic you are.

I admit, I'm often guilty of this one. For example, I really like Nirvana, but I usually hesitate to tell people that because Nirvana is so popular. I don't want people to think I'm a herd follower. But I'll readily tell people I like some underground band. A lot of my friends will go on and on about how they like some underground band no one has heard of, but the moment that band becomes popular, they say that the band has sold out and they don't like them anymore.

In Japan it seems to be just the opposite. People seem more willing to say that they like something that's mainstream and less likely to say they like something obscure. Proving your individuality seems less important and could even be looked down upon.

It's difficult to do, but people should just try to like what's good regardless of what the masses like. I think the problem is, when something is unknown, it allows you to define it on your own and it feels more yours, when something is popular, it gets defined by many people, it takes on an image that is not your own and maybe an image that you feel doesn't represent you, and it doesn't feel like it's yours anymore.

nekosasori · 4 Jun 2004

While I haven't lived in Japan, it occurs to me that if people aren't interested in something like music or films they'll prefer to give a conformist reply, but those who are "otaku" or "hamatteru" would give an interesting and individualist reply to the question of "what's your favourite...?"

Brooker, interesting how you mention that North Americans may think that esoteric answers are "cool" - that doesn't explain how Hollywood can produce really boring (plot-wise, with expensive and gratuitous special effects) movies that become real blockbusters. To me that's no better than when say a Japanese person gives a shallow and uninsightful opinion concerning an interesting or moving film.

My gut feeling is to agree with Maciamo's observation:

This could also be due to their education that discourage personal reflexion and discussion, and their culture that press them to avoid expressing their opinion too vehemently or refrain from creating disharmony through arguments.

I never thought I would excel in the Japanese education system (insofar as I understand it) due to the emphasis on rote memorization and discouragement of analysis and applying knowledge in other realms.

Personally, I've enjoyed most Japanese films I've seen (most recently the Zatoichi version by Kitano, surreal as the musical sequence was; but mainly early Kurosawa and Ozu...) as well as European works (Almodﾃｳvar, Truffaut, Bergman) and some N. American independents (Solondz). Oh, and I absolutely hated Lost in Translation.

Brooker · 4 Jun 2004

nekosasori wrote....

that doesn't explain how Hollywood can produce really boring (plot-wise, with expensive and gratuitous special effects) movies that become real blockbusters.

That's the mainstram side of things. It's a blockbuster because so many people (from all over the world) watch it. But you probably won't find very many American "hipsters" declaring how much they like movies like that.

den4 · 4 Jun 2004

I found the "making of" Lost in Translation was more entertaining than the actual movie, although I can understand why the average person who knows nothing about Japan would have liked the movie....
I found the deleted scenes, and that crazy Matthew's Best outtake was hilarious....

things I dislike are commercials in the US where they portray all sumo wrestlers as merely fat people in diapers with hardly any balance or grace in their movements....but that's the same stereotype problem of having Chinese actors portraying Japanese people, and vice versa in most Hollywood movies

then there is the voice acting in anime....I've heard some electronic books readings that had more emotional content in them

re: Godzilla, now I'm interested in seeing the original movie without Raymond Burr appearing at opportune times.....I doubt "Gojira" would have inspired terror in the US...

Brooker · 5 Jun 2004

Here's something I've noticed.... If you ask someone what kind of music they like and they say, "I listen to a little bit of everything," that USUALLY means that they're not a very big music fan. They're just giving a broad answer because they haven't really thought about it. A true music fan will have very specific and defined answers to that question. Maybe it's just the elitist in me, but it seems that if you really care about something, you'll have strong opinions about it. No opinions = not much interest.

kirei_na_me · 5 Jun 2004

It's hard for me to answer that question because it really is true that I do have very random taste in music and like different things about different artists. That's a very broad topic and very difficult to answer for me. You can appreciate the art without being an otaku.

For example, I love Jim Morrison and The Doors. I have loved them and have been listening to them since I was 12 years old. I guess I would pick them if I had to pick one favorite band. I can tell you the reason I like them. I can tell you I like the lyrics of Jim Morrison for various reasons, I can tell you I think Robby Krieger is a brilliant guitarist for many reasons, etc. etc. Even though I have this love for The Doors, there are so many other people who are so concerned about being a 'true' fan, that are getting whatever rare album, rare autographed photos, and other so-called rare memoribilia and it makes a person like me feel...well, lowly. But is that a fan or is that a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

den4 · 5 Jun 2004

Everybody in this forum is obsessed
otherwise they wouldn't be here

Buddha Smoker · 5 Jun 2004

den4 said:
Everybody in this forum is obsessed
otherwise they wouldn't be here

You are so right, on so many levels

Japanese vs. Western Favorites

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