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Interest meme installment #3
You know, the bad thing about working like mad for several days in a row is the inevitable fallout of blah. Which I'm trapped in today. Meh.
I thought I'd continue the interest meme with a new installment. Today I will talk about...Japan.
I thought I'd continue the interest meme with a new installment. Today I will talk about...Japan.
I'd had next to no interest in Japan growing up. I barely registered the concept of a foreign country until I was 8 or so, and Japan was just another place that was not Here. Once I became interested in animation and began to learn about it, I completely lost any respect I had for Japan as I began to associate the country with crappy artwork and lame stories. This negative opinion continued for quite some time, until my disdain was shaken by the American indie comic "Elfquest."
EQ began in the late 70s and was pretty much if not the first American comic to have an anime and manga influence. This was because the artist herself was a shoujo manga fan--a feat which was a hell of a lot harder back then!! Anyway, seeing the artwork that I associated with cheapness, and having the creator admit with pride of the influence of Japan on a story and art style that I dearly loved, really shook me. It took some time for me to adapt to the concept that maybe Japan wasn't as shallow and unworthy as I had thought. Then I found Sailormoon--unquestionably and completely Japanese--and the world changed for me.
I'm not sure how my interest in the country now compares to that of other people. I've wanted to visit for years, and almost began making reservations twice. I'm not sure when I'll manage to go, but perhaps in two years, after my move to Portland is sorted out and I have some money saved for the purpose. I definitely want to tour Studio Ghibli, and perhaps Shueisha if I could somehow manage the whole work-related angle. But my main interest lies in historical and cultural Japan, rather than running around Tokyo and going clubbing and all that. (Boring and loud. Have I mentioned I don't like loud?) Honestly, Kyoto and Nara sound much more appealing to me than wandering the Ginza!
I definitely want to stay in a traditional Japanese inn, and try out an onsen. Geisha cosplay would be awesome, if only for photo ops. ^^ Perhaps I could visit one or two people I happen to know over there. ^^V I definitely want to eat in at least one mom-and-pop restaurant, and visit a real ramen stand!! Visit Tokyo Tower yes, please!! It's the focal point in so much anime, I simply must. XD I think I need to save Hokkaido and Okinawa for a later trip or two, though. (On a depressing angle, I know it's best for me to avoid Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as seeing that first-hand would devastate me. *shudders*)
Writing this makes me want to resume my Japanese language studies with a vengeance. I already know a great deal--particularly for someone who's never taken a class--but I'm far from bilingual. Being so has been one of my goals for quite some time. I need to get moving!! Perhaps I should reinstate my kanji-a-day goal....hmmm.
That's it for this meme installment. A short one in comparison, ne??
EQ began in the late 70s and was pretty much if not the first American comic to have an anime and manga influence. This was because the artist herself was a shoujo manga fan--a feat which was a hell of a lot harder back then!! Anyway, seeing the artwork that I associated with cheapness, and having the creator admit with pride of the influence of Japan on a story and art style that I dearly loved, really shook me. It took some time for me to adapt to the concept that maybe Japan wasn't as shallow and unworthy as I had thought. Then I found Sailormoon--unquestionably and completely Japanese--and the world changed for me.
I'm not sure how my interest in the country now compares to that of other people. I've wanted to visit for years, and almost began making reservations twice. I'm not sure when I'll manage to go, but perhaps in two years, after my move to Portland is sorted out and I have some money saved for the purpose. I definitely want to tour Studio Ghibli, and perhaps Shueisha if I could somehow manage the whole work-related angle. But my main interest lies in historical and cultural Japan, rather than running around Tokyo and going clubbing and all that. (Boring and loud. Have I mentioned I don't like loud?) Honestly, Kyoto and Nara sound much more appealing to me than wandering the Ginza!
I definitely want to stay in a traditional Japanese inn, and try out an onsen. Geisha cosplay would be awesome, if only for photo ops. ^^ Perhaps I could visit one or two people I happen to know over there. ^^V I definitely want to eat in at least one mom-and-pop restaurant, and visit a real ramen stand!! Visit Tokyo Tower yes, please!! It's the focal point in so much anime, I simply must. XD I think I need to save Hokkaido and Okinawa for a later trip or two, though. (On a depressing angle, I know it's best for me to avoid Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as seeing that first-hand would devastate me. *shudders*)
Writing this makes me want to resume my Japanese language studies with a vengeance. I already know a great deal--particularly for someone who's never taken a class--but I'm far from bilingual. Being so has been one of my goals for quite some time. I need to get moving!! Perhaps I should reinstate my kanji-a-day goal....hmmm.
That's it for this meme installment. A short one in comparison, ne??