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HOME > Past World Cultural Forum 2009 (7th) > OPENING SESSION /EXPERTS' MEETING I
Past World Cultural Forum
2009 (7th)
2009 (7th)
OPENING SESSION
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・Opening Keynote Speech Acceptance and Assimilation of Culture - The Path Taken by Japan Expo |
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・EXPERTS' MEETING I Media Arts - Assimilation in Contemporary Culture Media art in Japan, represented by manga and anime, including games, now has a very broad audience. Is it a short-lived boom or a deeper interest in the underlying characteristics of Japanese culture, or even something stemming from cultural diversification? The Opening Session will examine the continuity and discontinuity of media art within Japanese culture, and the leading figures involved in activities introducing contemporary Japanese culture in overseas countries will share with the audience cases of acceptance of Japanese culture and its assimilation into and collisions with the national culture on the basis of examples in their own countries. |
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・Working Group I Manga and Animation Japanese manga is not only accepted overseas as a form of art, it also has been working worldwide as a factor in bringing into being a new method of expression – “manga.” Animation, while originating overseas, has been transfigured in Japan into an independent form of expression as “anime,” giving birth to a number of works which have in turn been taken up overseas. International experts on manga and animation will introduce the current situation in their countries and discuss what has been emerging from the methodological exchanges across borders. |
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・Working Group II Contemporary Japanese Culture Going Across Borders The world's leading organizers of events on the theme of contemporary Japanese culture held in different parts of the world will introduce the history and current situation of the events they are involved in from the viewpoint of acceptance of contemporary Japanese culture and its assimilation into the domestic culture. |
Working Group II: Contemporary Japanese Culture Going Across Borders
Friday 13 November, 2009 (16:25 - 18:00)
International Conference Hall, Plaza HEISEI
Following the panel discussion of Experts' Meeting I, Professor HAMANO Yasuki of the Graduate School of The University of Tokyo, who had chaired the preceding panel discussion, coordinated discussion for Working Group II under the title “Contemporary Japanese Culture Going Across Borders.” It began with reports from organizers of events featuring contemporary Japanese culture in different parts of the world, followed by a lively discussion on the acceptance of contemporary Japanese culture and its assimilation into local cultures.
The first speaker, Michael HUANG, Executive Director of the 2009 Taiwan Comic Exhibition, reported on the development and the current state of Taiwanese comics. Geographically and historically speaking, he pointed out, Taiwan has a close relationship with Japan, and so Taiwanese people find Japanese culture quite approachable. Furthermore, the Taiwanese comic artists of the 1930s and 1940s studied Japanese manga through correspondence programs and are, therefore, familiar with the Japanese language. He also noted that Japanese manga has had some social impact in Taiwan, giving examples of non-Chinese expressions from popular computer games based on Japanese manga finding their way into the everyday speech of the people of Taiwan. In addition to these factors, he noted that Taiwanese manga fans have ready access to up-to-date information on Japanese manga on websites.
Responding to a question put by Professor Hamano about people's reactions to the Japan Expo in the light of European criticism of Japanese manga and anime, Jean-François DUFOUR, President of Japan Expo (SEFA Event) commented that in the initial years, in addition to some criticism, there had been a view that Japanese manga and anime were nothing more than a transient fashion that would fade away with the passage of time. However, ten years later the event is still being held.
Mr. Huang noted that in the early years of the Taiwan Comic Exhibition, there had been a misconception, particularly among the media and parents of young people, that Japanese manga represented violence. Such misconceptions have largely been dissolved as a result of the organizers having established a publication ethics committee, to the extent that not only young people but also their parents now visit exhibitions and manga book fairs.
The presenters then answered the questions from experts participating in the meeting.
To the question, “European reactions to Japanese pop-culture seem to differ from country to country. What is the current situation there?,” Mr. Dufour responded that, while some opinion is critical of Japanese anime, Miyazaki Hayao's works in particular are often broadcast on television, which is an indication of the steady penetration of Japanese culture.
One of the participants also commented: “The keynote speech excited me very much. In Japan there are a number of universities that have a manga department, and there is an increasing number of students making a thorough study of manga at university with the intention of making manga their career. There are, furthermore, students coming from Europe, the Americas and Taiwan. This may indicate not only that manga, a form of modern Japanese culture, has indeed gone beyond the national borders but also indicate that a spiral effect may have begun with the overseas students returning to their own countries taking home with them influences from Japanese manga and becoming engaged in manga-associated activities.”
Professor Hamano commented that the Ghibli Museum in Japan exhibits not only Studio Ghibli works but also endeavors to restore old animation films produced overseas and purchases overseas productions to introduce in Japan. He added that Avex has been making efforts to introduce overseas performers in Japan and gain circulation for their music in the Japanese market. Professor Hamano then asked ARAKI Takashi, senior managing director of Avex Group Holdings Inc., if there are any matters he takes into account when engaged in cultural exchange activities with overseas countries. Mr. Araki answered that he concentrates on achieving the best results rather than paying attention to any particular thing. He pointed out that conducting business in the cultural industry is dependent not only on prevailing trends but also on having something that serves as a universal core element; yet, although that element may have historical significance it will not guarantee business success on its own—results come trial and error, and cycles of success and failure.
In his closing remarks, Professor Hamano noted that it had been the first time ever that an international meeting had been held with Japanese media arts as its theme, and expressed the hope that such meetings would continued to be held in future. He then asked each panellist for their opinion on and hopes for future meetings. Mr. Huang pointed out that the Taiwan comics market is still small in scale and is absorbing a large amount of Japanese manga culture. He therefore hopes for an opportunity to conduct a Taiwanese comics exhibition in Japan. Mr. Dufour and Tomas SIRDEY, Vice President of Japan Expo (SEFA Event) referred to their own activities and said that they would like to introduce aspects of Japanese culture that are not yet well known and not necessarily highly dynamic, in order to dispel the mistaken images of Japan that are still held by Europeans. Pointing out that there is a deep connection between technological advancements and the creativity of media arts, Mr. Araki suggested that more specific plans may emerge if specialists in media arts and in the IT industry exchange information.
Professor Hamano concluded the Working Group II meeting by restating his hope that there would continue to be meetings on the theme of Japanese media arts and that there will be an exchange of information.
*Back to the Expert MeetingⅠreport.
*Click here for the Working Group I report.
International Conference Hall, Plaza HEISEI
Following the panel discussion of Experts' Meeting I, Professor HAMANO Yasuki of the Graduate School of The University of Tokyo, who had chaired the preceding panel discussion, coordinated discussion for Working Group II under the title “Contemporary Japanese Culture Going Across Borders.” It began with reports from organizers of events featuring contemporary Japanese culture in different parts of the world, followed by a lively discussion on the acceptance of contemporary Japanese culture and its assimilation into local cultures.
The first speaker, Michael HUANG, Executive Director of the 2009 Taiwan Comic Exhibition, reported on the development and the current state of Taiwanese comics. Geographically and historically speaking, he pointed out, Taiwan has a close relationship with Japan, and so Taiwanese people find Japanese culture quite approachable. Furthermore, the Taiwanese comic artists of the 1930s and 1940s studied Japanese manga through correspondence programs and are, therefore, familiar with the Japanese language. He also noted that Japanese manga has had some social impact in Taiwan, giving examples of non-Chinese expressions from popular computer games based on Japanese manga finding their way into the everyday speech of the people of Taiwan. In addition to these factors, he noted that Taiwanese manga fans have ready access to up-to-date information on Japanese manga on websites.
Responding to a question put by Professor Hamano about people's reactions to the Japan Expo in the light of European criticism of Japanese manga and anime, Jean-François DUFOUR, President of Japan Expo (SEFA Event) commented that in the initial years, in addition to some criticism, there had been a view that Japanese manga and anime were nothing more than a transient fashion that would fade away with the passage of time. However, ten years later the event is still being held.
Mr. Huang noted that in the early years of the Taiwan Comic Exhibition, there had been a misconception, particularly among the media and parents of young people, that Japanese manga represented violence. Such misconceptions have largely been dissolved as a result of the organizers having established a publication ethics committee, to the extent that not only young people but also their parents now visit exhibitions and manga book fairs.
The presenters then answered the questions from experts participating in the meeting.
To the question, “European reactions to Japanese pop-culture seem to differ from country to country. What is the current situation there?,” Mr. Dufour responded that, while some opinion is critical of Japanese anime, Miyazaki Hayao's works in particular are often broadcast on television, which is an indication of the steady penetration of Japanese culture.
One of the participants also commented: “The keynote speech excited me very much. In Japan there are a number of universities that have a manga department, and there is an increasing number of students making a thorough study of manga at university with the intention of making manga their career. There are, furthermore, students coming from Europe, the Americas and Taiwan. This may indicate not only that manga, a form of modern Japanese culture, has indeed gone beyond the national borders but also indicate that a spiral effect may have begun with the overseas students returning to their own countries taking home with them influences from Japanese manga and becoming engaged in manga-associated activities.”
Professor Hamano commented that the Ghibli Museum in Japan exhibits not only Studio Ghibli works but also endeavors to restore old animation films produced overseas and purchases overseas productions to introduce in Japan. He added that Avex has been making efforts to introduce overseas performers in Japan and gain circulation for their music in the Japanese market. Professor Hamano then asked ARAKI Takashi, senior managing director of Avex Group Holdings Inc., if there are any matters he takes into account when engaged in cultural exchange activities with overseas countries. Mr. Araki answered that he concentrates on achieving the best results rather than paying attention to any particular thing. He pointed out that conducting business in the cultural industry is dependent not only on prevailing trends but also on having something that serves as a universal core element; yet, although that element may have historical significance it will not guarantee business success on its own—results come trial and error, and cycles of success and failure.
In his closing remarks, Professor Hamano noted that it had been the first time ever that an international meeting had been held with Japanese media arts as its theme, and expressed the hope that such meetings would continued to be held in future. He then asked each panellist for their opinion on and hopes for future meetings. Mr. Huang pointed out that the Taiwan comics market is still small in scale and is absorbing a large amount of Japanese manga culture. He therefore hopes for an opportunity to conduct a Taiwanese comics exhibition in Japan. Mr. Dufour and Tomas SIRDEY, Vice President of Japan Expo (SEFA Event) referred to their own activities and said that they would like to introduce aspects of Japanese culture that are not yet well known and not necessarily highly dynamic, in order to dispel the mistaken images of Japan that are still held by Europeans. Pointing out that there is a deep connection between technological advancements and the creativity of media arts, Mr. Araki suggested that more specific plans may emerge if specialists in media arts and in the IT industry exchange information.
Professor Hamano concluded the Working Group II meeting by restating his hope that there would continue to be meetings on the theme of Japanese media arts and that there will be an exchange of information.
*Back to the Expert MeetingⅠreport.
*Click here for the Working Group I report.
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| Participants in Working Group II | Prof. HAMANO Yasuki chairing the meeting |
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| [Participants] HAMANO Yasuki (Japan) Professor, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo Michael HUANG (Chinese Taipei) Executive Director, 2009 Taiwan Comic Exhibition / Chairman of Council, Chinese Animation & Comic Publishers Association Jean-François DUFOUR (France) President, Japan Expo (SEFA Event) Thomas SIRDEY (France) Vice President, Japan Expo (SEFA Event) ARAKI Takashi (Japan) Senior Managing Director, Avex Group Holdings Inc. *Positions held at the time of this event |
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