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Self-introduction Ian Condry Comparative Media Studies, MIT Email: condry@mit.edu Web: http://iancondry.com More music: iancondry.com/jhh J Society lectures: iancondry.com/js Cool Japan: http://mitcooljapan.com Twitter: @iancondry Samurai Champloo (anime)

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Bowing before the start of class

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The Japanese

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

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Map of the world with Europe at the center.

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Japanese map with Pacific Ocean at center

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Locating Japan in Asia

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

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Postwar Japan and Popular Music Crazy-A Ian CONDRY

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Pops Rock R&B Enka Reggae Many Styles

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

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Growth, 1955 - 1974 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

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Demographic factors for growth abundant supply of young workers Population growth rapid 1940 63 Million 1945 72 Million 1950 83 Million attributes of workers also contribute to growth

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Moving Forward, Looking Up SAKAMOTO Ky Ue o muite aruk 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 Ky

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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"?

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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?

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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)

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

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Shinjuku contradictions M S Cru from Blast (2003)

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Whos more Japanese? (2002)

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Sakuragi-cho, Yokohama Language y = "necessary"

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

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

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Nightclubs as Genba You the Rock

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

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K Dub Shine

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

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For more info: http:// iancondry.com

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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.

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More American? July 2000, free paper cover

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CD jacket Kohei Japan (2000) More Japanese?

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