Japan Group Study

For my topic, I will be exploring the evolution of technology in Japan. I am going to start with the gaming culture in Japan and their influence on the modern development of technology including the impact of technologies such as VR on people’s attitudes towards technology. From there, I will go on to explore other technologies both common and niche and how Japan influences these technologies on a global scale. Included in this section will be Japanese values and how they impact the Japanese people’s attitude towards technology and what drives them to be such a leader in the development of technology. After this, I will explore how these values impacted the Japanese after exiting from isolation during the industrial revolution and how the Japanese managed to completely catch up to and then surpass the rest of the world so quickly despite starting so far behind. Finally, I will be exploring technology during ancient Japan when it was developed as a necessity of war and how it shifted ov...

For my research I want to discuss the start of ‘pop culture’ and how it came to be. Pop cultural involves modern entertainment and mass media such as (in Japan) anime, manga, music, kawaii-culture, and otaku life. First, I would discuss manga and how it evolved into anime. The start of manga and the one known as the ‘father of manga’ is none other than Tezuka Osamu. He was seen as the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney because of his major inspiration to animation today. Tezuka Osamu created classics such as Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, ect. After Astro boy, this began the start and craze for anime in Japan. From here we can discuss how much of an influence Tezuka Osamu really was on the start of manga and anime. This would then bring us to the start of anime and animation companies branching out into making studios of their own for the sole purpose of creating anime. One of the most major contributors to the animation industry in Japan was Hayao Miyazaki. In discussing the influ...

Lachlan’s Personal Research Topic: Group five’s overarching topic is the research of Japan’s culture. This study was initially broken into three different main areas for us, them being Japanese traditional culture, modern culture, and pop culture. Of these topics, each group member chose a subtopic that covered multiple or one of these main areas. I chose the more general subtopic of art. What I am personally focusing on is not just the literal aspects of art, like paintings and drawings, but also the other branches of art. For example being performances (Movies and TV), architecture, music, and literature. I plan to start by looking at art and its historical development from the past to modern times. Looking as far back to the early Japan period of Japan. To do so I will find various modern and historical Japanese artists and observe their unique works. Specifically, I would like to talk about the change from traditional art to the more modern art brought about by the wa...

For my section of the group project I will be going in depth about the traditional celebrations. These include holidays and festivals like the firework festival or events like sakura viewing. I’m interested to see what locals were able to do at these festivals and what they meant in their time. Transitioning into what they mean in today's Japanese society, from a modern cultural perspective, and how 21st century values have changed the traditional practice for better or worse. I also wanted to see the traditional clothing for these festivals like kimonos or yukatas and if they are still used just as much in today's society as they were back then. Also looking at the meaning of the patterns on the traditional wear and what they mean metaphorically. Most of these events took place on or around religious or spiritual grounds. I want to find out the significance to why they are practiced there, and if the traditional practices still hold true in current eras. Some questions I tho...