Cultural Crash......whyzit? thread

[Feather Kana]

After searching diligently through these pages to make sure there weren't already any posts like this one, I felt compelled to start this thread.

There are a handful of animes I like, and I've gotten the grasp of different aspects of Japanese culture from watching them. However, there are many parts of Japanese culture that are obscure to Americans, including some depicted in Anime and manga. That is what this thread is for, and we'll see how far it goes.

I have questions about the culture, to perhaps understand the shows better or just to expand my knowledge. I might know some answers should you care to ask. But this thread is for both asking and answering questions about scenes in anime/manga that reflect their culture and heritage.

For example: I've seen several times in certain animes the practice of a girl going outside with a pail of water and a ladel, and flinging water out onto the pavement or ground in front of her. I once knew the answer to this ritual in detail but I've forgotten lately; I only recall that it is done as an offering of sorts.

In this thread, you can either ask questions or provide information should you have it (those who can speak Japanese or are from Japan, your help would be greatly appreciated).

Rules:

Obey Gaia's thread rules.
No spamming.
NO, repeat, NO off-color remarks, insults, or slurs about each other's cultures! I hope to expand knowledge for benefit of everyone in this thread, not spread discord. Shame on those who can't keep racism to themselves! domokun scream domokun scream
Try to stay relatively on-topic.
Bump if you care to.
No name-calling or slurring in general. Be polite or be gone.

Update, April 18: Reviving thread after being gone for the weekend.

Instead of putting this down front, today's main topic I want to address is being put here. Part 1 concerns music and pacing.

I have a lot of anime DVD's so I get to compare, oftentimes, the different music styles between dub and sub, especially in ones like DBZ. And, also from listening to commentaries of various animes, I can tell you this:

Americans like loud, in-your-face action. Japanese often use long periods of silence and soft music to great advantage, and they use it *well*. This is a big frustration for any anime purists who complain loud american music added ruins any anime, and that the anime just won't work with rock beating your eardrums out in the background if it wasn't meant to be there. (That goshawful music in DBZ movie 4 is an example.)

The other topic of address: Overtalking, overexplanation. I've come to understand that full explanation for a storyline isn't necessary for many a Japanese anime or manga, or full background given. Some elements to any anime are often left a mystery or gone unexplained, and this is something the Japanese audience doesn't mind.

In America, on the other hand, we seem to NEED explanation, need lots of words, dialogue, be fully informed and have a story close with no loopholes. Making the mistake of putting this format onto an imported anime has often proved disastrous, or at the very least, altered the perception of the anime and outraging purists. (Pokemon movie 1 and 3 follow this example at least some of the way, with overexplaining, such as in movie 1 with the "story of the pokemon tears". While I personally like and accept this story since it makes so much sense, other purists were outraged.)

What do you think?

[Feather Kana]

BUMP

[[ + Aly + ]]

The water deal is done to wish the person leaving good fortune and good luck. My mother does it, but I'm European; nowhere's near Japanese. It's an ancient folk tradition.

[Arukei]

Don't listen to the idiot. He's been going through every thread on here, calling the people in it an idiot then leaving.

So... what're some more good cultural things from anime/manga/Japan?

[Feather Kana]

Thank you. I do expect a few shiftless idiots to pop in now and then.

Don't make me report anybody else who bothers as 'spammers' who need banning.

Yes, I remember more on the water bit now. It was awhile ago that I last asked about it.

The little crosses that appear on people's heads or bodies are stress markes, like veins, because they're angry.

Blood from a guy's nose is based upon an old custom saying that a man who hasn't "had any" in awhile will get nosebleeds.

You see a lot of bodily fluids because that is typical of Japanese animation and regards to the human body.

The large eyes are based off of Disney characters back in the 50's when it started, is my understanding.

Sweat drops mean discomfiture.

Strangely twisted animated faces or postures usually mean "gonk!" like this guy: gonk

Any other additions/questions?

[[ + Aly + ]]

ZeoViolet

Thank you. I do expect a few shiftless idiots to pop in now and then.

Don't make me report anybody else who bothers as 'spammers' who need banning.

Yes, I remember more on the water bit now. It was awhile ago that I last asked about it.

The little crosses that appear on people's heads or bodies are stress markes, like veins, because they're angry.

Blood from a guy's nose is based upon an old custom saying that a man who hasn't "had any" in awhile will get nosebleeds.

You see a lot of bodily fluids because that is typical of Japanese animation and regards to the human body.

The large eyes are based off of Disney characters back in the 50's when it started, is my understanding.

Sweat drops mean discomfiture.

Strangely twisted animated faces or postures usually mean "gonk!" like this guy: gonk

Any other additions/questions?

Ooh, how about the face when it has the blue-ish purple squiggles coming down...it means something is really panicky or they're disgusted or something...

[lyvin]

the water thingy(already forgot what she called it)sounds cool i never heard of it or seen it

[Arukei]

I still like the sneezing when someone is talking about you behind your back, or the cup breaking when someone important to you is in trouble.

[Feather Kana]

There is an old Japanese story about the Monkey King, who had a tail and a Nyoi-bo (sp?), where Dragon Ball and numerous other references comes from!

Another is a fairy tale about a rabbit who lives on the moon and makes candies for children. This was the basis of Sailor Moon. The sailor outfits are because school children wear them in most schools as uniforms--sailor outfits. Serena's Japanese name is Usagi, meaning rabbit, and her "buns" look like rabbit ears.

[Feather Kana]

Exaggerated tears--those white lines coming down the face or fountains gushing--is related to the preoccupation of animes, I've noticed, with bodily fluids. America is a very "dry" culture and doesn't show more than, say, tears.

And blood flowing or spurting on american television's children's programming is a no-no, so this is almost always edited out of any anime brought to US airwaves.

[[ + Aly + ]]

ZeoViolet

Thank you. I do expect a few shiftless idiots to pop in now and then.

Don't make me report anybody else who bothers as 'spammers' who need banning.

Yes, I remember more on the water bit now. It was awhile ago that I last asked about it.

The little crosses that appear on people's heads or bodies are stress markes, like veins, because they're angry.

Blood from a guy's nose is based upon an old custom saying that a man who hasn't "had any" in awhile will get nosebleeds.

You see a lot of bodily fluids because that is typical of Japanese animation and regards to the human body.

The large eyes are based off of Disney characters back in the 50's when it started, is my understanding.

Sweat drops mean discomfiture.

Strangely twisted animated faces or postures usually mean "gonk!" like this guy: gonk

Any other additions/questions?

Ooh, how about the face when it has the blue-ish purple squiggles coming down...it means something is really panicky or they're disgusted or something...

[Feather Kana]

Almost everyone knows the Japanese custom of bowing. I don't know the intricacies of it, as there are finer shades of meaning I'm unfamiliar with, but from reading international etiquette books, I understand that, basically, the higher their rank above you, you bow lower than they and a tad longer.

Elder respect is also strongly stressed. Few children defy their parents.

That strange reedy sound you often hear is a common insect sound heard in Japan and sometimes seen on trees in anime (I do not recall the name).

[PrincessStarr]

What about the student punishment of standing out in the hall with buckets of water?

[Feather Kana]

princessofpgh722

What about the student punishment of standing out in the hall with buckets of water?

I believe scenes like that were edited out of early episodes of Sailor Moon when they aired in the US.....I wish I knew the significance of it.....It's a rather unique punishment....

[PrincessStarr]

I think they edited it to show Usagi just standing out in the hall, with no buckets.

I never knew about it until I started watching Azumanga Daioh.