Japenese Cinema - Case Study Example

Global Circulation of Asian Popular Culture Japanese film Name Institution Date Introduction Japan has as a country has adopted many of other countries ideas over the course of history including technology, custom and other forms of cultural expression that has seen it develop into a unique form of cultural expression that integrates all these areas. This can be seen in the way the Japanese films are being made in comparison to the films of the 1940s. The cinemas portray the Japanese lifestyle today that is a blend of Asian influenced traditional culture with the modern influence of the Japanese of today (Yoshimoto, March 31, 2009). For example, classical music has enjoyed a lot of popularity in the Japanese cinema and films despite the fact that it was brought from the west. There are also concerts that are held all over the country. Some of the famous conductors that have emerged in japan of whom enjoy a lot of film play include Ozawa Seiji; pianist, and violinist who performs around the world and his masterpieces have also been featured in a lot of Japanese films (Murakami & Ozawa, 2011). In addition, the Japanese animation industry is also one of the most popular cinema industries in the world. The industry has been entertaining Japanese children since the 1960s. Due to its fusion with the modern culture, the animations have grown a lot of popularity all over the world with series like Astro boy, sailor Moon, Doraemon and DragonBall Z(Brenner, June 30, 2007). These films have become some of the children’s favourites all over the world. In addition, the Japanese film directors have also featured in international film awards; for example, director Miyazaki Hayao’s Spirited Away won the Oscar for the best animated features in 2003. (singh, 2013) The other film to have won an award is Howl’s Moving Castle which was chosen to the osella Award at the 2004 Venice film festival. The Japanese Cinema Industry and cultural trends The cinema industry in Japan has been transformed into social, norms and cultural values of the country. This began since the day Japan began making movies. Its cinema industry is wide spread in the nation though there is one area where most industry is based like Hollywood. The most popular films in japan are like the ones which are popular in the United States. (Ciecko, May 2, 2006) When it comes to the Japanese cinema, it can be said that the industry has always been valued by film theorists as being an alternative filmic expression of the highest quality. However, no matter the growth in the western culture in Japan, most critics still claim that the cinema industry is never as respected as it is with the European and American film. The biggest challenge lies in the opposing of Japanese cinema to the European and the American cinema industry. But by the basis of culture the differences in Japanese cinema has bought so much into the European and the American culture (Tezuka, December 6, 2011). The most popular categories of the Japanese cinema are the period films which are also known as the Jidaigeki and the yakuza based Ninkyoeiga (chivalry films) and the Japanese science fiction. (Ciecko, May 2, 2006) One of the major hit cinema films in the popular culture of the Japanese film are mainly the Jidaigeki films that talks mostly about the samurai culture and their battles during the earlier days of the Japanese culture. There is also the influence of martial arts films that have generated from the Japan cinema industry though they are set in the sengoku and the edo period in Japan. As a matter of fact, most of the media coverage of the Japanese popular culture have been based on Jidaigeki. This has also been reflected in the in most of the modern Japanese video games and other modern pop culture (smilintanner, 2010). Perhaps one of the reason for this could be the fact that all of the traditional stories and the legends that come from the period in ancient writings, the ancient writing and the ancient castles which are spread all over the country and kabuki theatre. The similar phenomenon is also seen in the America films and other revolutionary war films. One will realize that most of the films shown in the cinemas always focus on the spirit of the warrior and the choice of a samurai between his duty as a warrior and his feelings to what is right and what is not in order to take a proper course of action on things. For example, in such films the culture of unity is much expressed that the will of the individual in which most of the popular culture has developed so far. The Japanese film though can be said to embrace the western world, has actually been good in retaining some of the most important virtues that the old Japanese world held very dear in their world. Culture in this sense has tried to be incorporated to the modern world in which we live in. The antagonistic ideas are one of the most important traits of the Japanese character. This means the choice between the individual’s status and the status of the group. It teaches the modern Japanese population on the importance of duty even in the modern world even though at times one may say that the etiquette philosophies of the samurai are rooted deep inside the Japanese ancient culture unlike the modern Japanese world (Yoshimoto, March 31, 2009). As the development of the Japanese cinema industry continues to grow, we also see the traditions of the Japanese people growing into the modern era which clans such as the yakuza struggling to sort out whether their actions and relations with other people should be based on their personal feelings. The samurai for example are seen as leaving their old ways and diverging into different versions that include horrible, noble and at times ever more ruthless and vicious. In the modern Japanese films we see how the samurai and the yakuza are organized groups of crime and drug syndicates in the county and all over the world. The culture of togetherness has been expressed in the organized crime cinemas where we see these groups implementing their traditional cultures of oneness and selfishness and wrath to execute people or fight the government. This type of development of culture in the Japanese cinemas show issues that are based in the real life experiences of the popular Japanese culture that reflects a darker side of the japan culture. The groups seem to portray a power that is attained by any means necessary which side to the Japanese society and also seems to be brought to life in their cut throat business world. When one looks at such films as those of the yakuza hit men, it builds one interesting dynamic and ultimate tension between the behaviors exhibited in these films. When the film begins it show a group of noble characters who struggle between their desires to have themselves identified with a group yet, but as the films of the yakuza hit men became more and more popular around the world, it embraced a culture of men and women who are more blunt, more violent and more fearful that only think for what is best for himself before thinking what is best for the others too (Ciecko, May 2, 2006). This is what comes with the modern culture all over the world. The life of the modern world is about fighting and gaining, selfishness and brutality that is spread all over. Such films have depicted these developments in the Japanese culture to the letter. The films agrees with the fact that there should be a distinction between what defines a modern Japanese and or woman and the way in which one needs to behave or conduct oneself in order to meet the challenges of the modern japan and even to enjoy the fruits of the growing Japanese culture all over the country. A strong, good or successful person in the Japanese world is often defined using various traits as has been portrayed in the modern films such as battles without honour and humility. Other films that have been found to influence the culture in include such films as the Iron monkey, the drunken master, Godzilla and more (smilintanner, 2010). Some of the most influential actors from the country among other Asian countries are Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee and more. These actors and the films they have created or acted have highly influenced the Japanese population as a whole. Cinemas being one of the original sources of media apart from the radio have come about because of the legends and stores that make part of any cultures and cultural background in the Japanese world (Schilling, November 1,2009). Popular culture and the Japanese films Since these developments as mentioned above, the whole world continues to experience the growth of the Japanese films all over the world. Its movie debut has continued to have their fair share in the worlds spotlight and film festival. Among the popular categories are the anime features that express a deception of the marriage bond and the challenges that come with the modern family life. This film continues to express how the day to day life experience can lead to happiness or loss in a modern married life or relationships for that matter. (Brenner, June 30, 2007) The film which is known as Okuribito (Director Takita Yojiro) portrays to the audience the life of a mortician in rural yamagat prefecture His various duties, such as cleaning, clothing, shaving, and applying makeup to corpses before enclosing them in their coffins, provide the subject matter for a moving and beautiful portrayal of traditional Japanese rituals associated with showing respect for the dead. Through their interactions with the families of the deceased, the film's protagonist and his wife are prompted to question the mysteries of life, death, and love. (Trends, 2008) In this film many awards have followed it due to its portrayal of the modern Japanese culture vis a vis the old norms of the Japanese families. It is reported the film scooped off the Grand Prix at the Montreal World Film festival and was also selected for the best foreign Language film in the Academy awards. It also won the best film and best director during the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival and the best actor award at the star Motoki Masahiro award. The popularity of the film is not only expressed in the number of awards that it has bagged but also in the number of request to distribute the film abroad. By the year of its release the film received offer from 50 countries and regions that included the Britain and United states as well as Taiwan. (Trends, 2008) Apart from the anime films, there is a growing in the liking of the Japanese comedy that have quickly adopted the modern western and Japanese culture. Director Lee toshio’s Detroit Metal city for example, is based on the manga of the same name. This comedy was also entered in the Toronto International Film festival’s Midnight madness program. The comedy circles around a group of teenage musical inspirations and had reported to have sold up to 4 million copies by the year 2008. There are also many offers in 25 countries to distribute the film such as the United States, France and Britain. Other companies in Hollywood and Hong Kong were also reported scrambling for the remake of the film (Trends, 2008). Ghost Shell 2 which was directed by Mamoru Oshii in 2004 also portrays the message of innocence by the way he uses imagery in his animated films that are meant to incorporate the culture of human nature. When one watches such film as Ghost shell 2(Oshii, 2004), one is able to dig deeper into the growing nature of human identity. One of his latest productions has been an anime film that is based on one of the five novels in a series of books by Mori Horishi. In the film there is a lot usage of visual effects that mainly create fight scenes in the films. This is important in making of any Japanese film as it is able to portray the legendary culture of fist fighters that grew the popularity of japan to the outer world. Conclusion This paper discussed the development of the circulation of popular Asian culture through production of film. It looked at the older production and modern ones and the way it has been influenced by the modern world. This is from the way the movies are made, the way the script is organized and the setting of the whole shooting. In addition the fact that the film is being made with the popular culture, it as has opened the Japanese film industries to the rest of the world. In concluding this paper, it is agreeable that the Japanese film industry has now matured. However, this maturity has been highly influenced by the western world and the growing pressure to produce films that can be related to all types of culture. Be it western culture or the Asian culture, the film industry in japan has to ensure that all barriers that might lead to the development of the industry falling have been blocked. Issues such as language translations have been popularized in most of the recent films being produced. As a matter of fact some of the films are totally done in English in an effort to lift up the industry and also be able to embrace the growing world of globalization day in and day out. The Japanese films industry must also make sure that the films produced do not in any way tamper with the traditional japan as it is through such inspiration that the modern film production has been nurtured. The young people in the society must also be given a chance to know where their forefathers come from. For this reason it is important that the industry produced film for all times. During the 2008 Cannes film festival it was reported that director Kurosawa Kiyoshi known for his horrors movies, took the festival’s price in the category of uncertain reward for his family drama that is known as Tokyo Sonata. In addition to this, the Japanese films have also received a wide range of prices and honours in the United States of America during the Berlin International Film festival. The presidencies that the Japanese films is setting in the popular culture is one that should be embraced by the world at large. This can be done by total research before film is produced in order to find out what might and what might not appeal to an audience of choice. The Japanese film however it can be concluded that it has come a long way and has actually grown to embrace the native japan people and the world out there that just cannot get enough of the modern Japanese film. So far award that have been given to the Japanese film industry cannot be counted for this reason the industry needs to be supported in all means possible as it is an important part of the modern Japanese child or teenage. References: Brenner, R. E. (June 30, 2007). Understanding Manga and Anime. Libraries Unlimited; annotated edition edition . Ciecko, A. T. (May 2, 2006). Contemporary Asian Cinema: Popular Culture in a Global Frame. Bloomsbury Academic; English Ed edition . Murakami, H., & Ozawa, S. (2011). Talk About Music With Mr. Seiji Ozawa [Japanese Edition]. Shinchosha . Oshii, M. (Director). (2004). Ghost in the Shell 2 - Innocence (2004) [Motion Picture]. Schilling, M. (November 1,2009). Contemporary Japanese Film. Weatherhill; 2st edition . singh, S. (2013, September 19). Oscar 2014 Best Animation Picture: Hayao Miyazaki's 'The Wind rises' Front Running. Retrieved November 7, 2013, from www.au.ibtimes.com: http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/507284/20130919/hayao-miyazaki-s-wind-rises-oscar-2014.htm#.UnwBZCdafN0 smilintanner. (2010, October 5). THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI: How Japanese cinema influences and reinforces Japanese culture. Retrieved November 7, 2013, from www.trinitygames.wordpress.com: http://trinitygames.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/the-way-of-the-samurai-how-japanese-cinema-influences-and-reinforces-japanese-culture/ Tezuka, Y. (December 6, 2011). Japanese Cinema Goes Global: Filmworkers' Journeys (TransAsia: Screen Cultures Series) . Hong Kong University Press . Trends. (2008, December 8). BUMPER YEAR FOR JAPANESE CINEMA-Diverse Range of Film Festiva Plaudits. Retrieved November 7, 2013, from www.web-japan.org: http://web-japan.org/trends/08_culture/pop081205.html Yoshimoto, M. (March 31, 2009). Kurosawa: Film Studies and Japanese Cinema (Asia-Pacific: Culture, Politics, and Society). Duke University Press Books; 2nd Edition . 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