This week, JP (Japesland) facilitates a discussion between Casey (CutsceneAddict),and Kaze, who compare their vastly different anime convention experiences across the Pacific. Many American anime fans know what to expect at an anime convention Stateside, but what differences are there with conventions in the land of their origin: Japan?
As always, every episode of The TangleCast will be covering a different topic, from anime reviews, to discussions on spirituality, to listener mail, and everything in between. Please join the conversation by commenting below or submitting a question at our contact page!
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I remember when I went to Tokyo I told my Japanese friend about how geeky I was with cosplay, anime and conventions. He politely told me that if I were as geeky as I am living in Japan, I would basically be a social outcast. 😛 After that realization, I went to church and was talking with some other friends and randomly one of them invited me to a Sailor Moon convention the next day. I was on a missions trip so I couldn’t just take time out of that to go to a convention (as much as I wanted to) but It would have been neat to see how that Japanese do conventions! What was really special about that night was how that friend and I bonded over cosplay! Her english was pretty good, but I have almost no Japanese speaking ability, and we were still able to fan girl over the fact we both had done a Sakura cosplay. That’s what’s so special about the geeky relm, it can connect two different worlds, different languages in such a loud, colorful, exciting way even late one night at church when you wish you knew how to speak Japanese!
It’s a very interesting but also sad dynamic to be an otaku in Japan. They really are either social outcasts or keep their hobbies in the closet. But then you go to the conventions, and everyone is so excited and friendly, sharing their love of anime. It’s at the conventions that they can finally be themselves without that fear of social judgement. Yet, when the convention ends, everyone jokes-but-not-really-jokes about having to go back to “reality.” The fun times end, and everyone returns to a life of tip-toeing around society, trying not to disturb the status quo. I don’t think we can really fully understand just how tough it is to grow up like that, but conversely, I think we may also underestimate just how much they value friendships. I encourage you to reach out and keep in touch with them if you can or haven’t already done so.
I knew it was going to be this way, but I was still a little shocked by how much everyone conforms so much to the set ways of society. Everything is so orderly and precise and neat. I was thinking, “Are these the same people who make the crazy brightly colored shows I adore and blog about?” But it’s the complexity of their culture that intrests me so much, I want to dance around, hug them and tell them not to be afraid of the nerdy and that Jesus loves them! But that might not exactly be socially acceptable if I went around it in that very American way. 😛 I made a lot of friend on that trip and I’m thankful that Facebook can exist so we can keep in touch.