Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

Recently, I’ve been captivated by TAKASHii, a Japanese YouTuber shedding light on how the Japanese view foreigners and vice versa. His insightful interviews have sparked thoughts I want to share here.

In his discussions, I discovered unexpected views. Many Japanese dream of visiting the U.S., with Hawaii and L.A. topping their list. It’s fascinating how Hollywood movies shape their perceptions, and Hip Hop culture leaves a lasting impression. As someone who grew up watching Hollywood flicks and was once a teen breakdancer in Switzerland and the Netherlands, I didn’t share the same glorified image of the U.S.

Conversely, foreigners often get to know Japan through anime, a sentiment I resonate with. My introduction to Japan was through Manga movies, particularly “Hokuto no Ken” (Fist of the Northstar), dubbed in French in Switzerland. Later, in the Netherlands, I watched it in Japanese, leaving a more profound impact. However, it was “Ninja Scroll” that painted my first vivid image of old Japan, with ninjas and samurai in the Kamakura, Muromachi, and Edo periods.

Modern Japan only started to take shape for me after “Lost in Translation.” Yet, when I visited Tokyo in 2017, it felt like stepping into the future—bullet trains, ubiquitous vending machines, robotic servers, and high-paced life. It wasn’t an anime; it was an entirely different experience.

Living in Gifu, surrounded by mountains, rivers, and forests, my life in Japan is far from the anime-fueled image. It’s the antithesis of the bustling Tokyo, offering a low-key and laid-back lifestyle that brings me immense happiness.

In conclusion, Japan isn’t just an anime for me. It’s something else, something uniquely difficult to express in words.

What is your first image of Japan? Care to share or comment?

#JapanPerspectives #TakashiiInterviews #AnimeInfluence #CulturalPerceptions #LifeInJapan #TokyoExperience #LostInTranslation #RuralJapan #GifuLiving #ModernJapan #SwissInJapan #ThaiInJapan #life