What is it with your fascination with Japan?

[Cpt_Frank]

For example, while the Me262 Schwalbe flew first, the Gloster Meteor actually entered service first. Thus, the Meteor was the first operational jet fighter in the world, not the 262. Very few people seem to know this.

First operational jet fighter was the HE-280, but it didn't enter service.
The Meteor was the first to enter service, and the Me-262 was the first to enter regular squadron service.

How can an aircraft be deemed operational if it never went on any operations??? The first to fly and operational are not interchangeable terms.
The first to fly was the HE-178, BTW. But that was just what we would call today a technology demonstrator.

Operational as in after a completed test series being able to win a mock battle against a FW-190.
It could have been comissioned by late 1942 but Göring and Hitler didn't like the looks of the plane so the project was canceled.

[Sea Skimmer]

First operational jet fighter was the HE-280, but it didn't enter service.
The Meteor was the first to enter service, and the Me-262 was the first to enter regular squadron service.

The He 280 was never operational. Germany only ever flew prototypes.

[Necro99]

Because Hentai = pwn.
And Zeros are cool too .

[Trytostaydead]

Hmm, Pho is great! There are a couple shops for that in my area.
Why Japanese culture? Well, anime is cool...


Oh, btw, Trytostaydead, you might want to be careful calling people "Japs", because some take offense to that, like my Japanese teacher.

Would Nips be better then?

[Robert Treder]

Hmm, Pho is great! There are a couple shops for that in my area.
Why Japanese culture? Well, anime is cool...


Oh, btw, Trytostaydead, you might want to be careful calling people "Japs", because some take offense to that, like my Japanese teacher.

Would Nips be better then?

No, I don't think it would.

[SAMAS]

Mostly because..

A: It's different

C: Even though, because of the anime and manga we watch and read(reason B), we have a rather large glimpse of it.

An explaination of reason B: That's in reference to the fact that we get something enjoyable about it.

[SAMAS]

I'm sick to death of DBZ.

Same here. That and pokemon. I suppose their the Japanese revenge for the A-bomb. Make us all suffer from the depredations of moron fanboys.

Don't forget Yu-Gi-Oh now........urgh

I was a fan of Pokemon even before the Fad blew up, so I always made it a point to ignore the overexposure.

Again, I first saw most of DBZ as fansubs, and I mostly like it for the often imaginative fighting scenes.

Yu-Gi-Oh, I like the Manga far better. The anime has way too many edits to it, like the guards suddenly pointing fingers at people.

[seanrobertson]

I can look through other forums on this board and find multiple posts and topics on Japan, anime, etc.

Let me tell you, my finace's is Japanese and we go to Japan a few times per year. My children are going to be half Japanese. That being said let me say that I DON'T UNDERSTAND this fascination with this culture. I love to travel and I love Japan, but not for the same reasons.

What is it about anime that fascinates you? What is it about Japan, in general, that fascinates you? What's the big deal about Japan "backing the U.S?"

Please, enlighten me.

Nice looking cat in your avatar.

I dunno about Japan itself, but I know this: I hate most anime with a passion. Sailor Moon? Some masturbatory shit old men might watch when they don't have their glasses and can't make out what's going on in REAL porn.

Dragon Ball, which always seems to focus on some stupid, big-eyed, spike-haired kid shrieking for minutes at a time while he tries to pull off some magical karate move? Oh, and one frame per MINUTE?! Bull SHIT!

Even some of the better ones like a few of the Gundams seem awfully damn dumb. Transformers and G.I.Joe really churned out some junk, but they at least had a few frames of animation going every second, didn't dub like those old kung-fu movies, and usually avoided making some pre-pubescent little pudknocker or some young teenager into the hero. I also don't recall those two ever gender-bending or skipping rocks across Pedophile Pond. Gundam does that, showing about a 12 year old boy wearing tight "Daisy-Duke" style shorts...ugh! (Yeah, I'm putting on a bit. It's NOT pedophilia or child porn in the least, but the artists HAD to know it was a bizarre get-up for the kid. They certainly didn't draw any other boys as if they were some little 2 cent whores.)

I'm sure there are good ones out there that I've simply never seen, but even Cowboy Bebop gets on my nerves: more shit dubbing, loud-ass jazz soundtracks, and contrived dramaticism. Mind you, this is a show I kinda like! Still, its quirks jump out and slap me in the face. A guy with green hair, who mumbles all his words and rarely speaks? Ok, the show wants to have fun with archetypes from American cinema...so "Spike" is the strong, silent type. Borrrrrring. Have fun with the stuff, but *don't* beat me over the heat with it!

Maybe I'm not giving anime as a whole a chance...entirely possible. I hated the first LEXX I saw with a passion, but I gave it a try, and BAM! It quickly became one of my favorites.

Of course, LEXX had Xenia Seeberg. Cartoons ain't got anything on her.

[seanrobertson]

Couple of things before I forget:

One, why is Jap offensive when Brit is not? I realize that it does not matter; if a Japanese person finds it hurtful, that's really what counts...nonetheless, I don't get why Nip from Nippon/ese or Jap from Japan/ese is supposed to be hateful when it's okay to talk about "Brits" from Great Britain.

Two, I forgot to mention another anime show I hate: Yu Yu Hakashu (sp?). Totally stupid...more of the same limited frames/sec. approach, which lends itself to a very jerky presentation, and more of the same bad dubbing, weird insistence on using teenagers as stars, and flat-out WEIRD voices...the red-headed kid's voice sounds like that wrestler that used to sell Slim Jims! (Randy Savage?)

Oops, reminds me of another one: Lupin III. Talk about terrible art. The main character looks like some kind of baboon.

How could anyone get a kick out of those? If I was with a bunch of buddies and we had shit to throw at a dispensable TV, I'd go Elvis on Lupin and Yo Yo's ass. Cock the hammer, and BAM! Adios Lupin.

[HemlockGrey]

Did LEXX ever finish it's run?


On Topic:

Well, I lived there for a bit, and I've always found it a bit fascinating...I might go back for a few weeks next summer, too...but I don't think that, even if I lived there a decade, that I'd ever intergrate into the culture.

I mean, some of is just so completely different from what I like, I'll never accept it. I've had the misfortune to hear what I am told passes for Japanese popular music, and it is utterly different from any of the sort of stuff I listen to. I hate seafood, I could never accept the strict conduct and such of Japanese family life, and I can't possibly understand the appeal of a language that requires a speaker to know around 5,000 characters.

Oh, and I'm also 6' with brown/blondish hair, but that's not the point.

That said, I do like it as a place, and I'd like to spend a few more years living there. Some aspects of the culture are appealing, and Tokyo, whilst it will never be the same sort of place as Philadelphia, is a great and fascinating city.

Plus, the people are really, really nice. That's always good.

[SAMAS]

Couple of things before I forget:

One, why is Jap offensive when Brit is not? I realize that it does not matter; if a Japanese person finds it hurtful, that's really what counts...nonetheless, I don't get why Nip from Nippon/ese or Jap from Japan/ese is supposed to be hateful when it's okay to talk about "Brits" from Great Britain.

Two, I forgot to mention another anime show I hate: Yu Yu Hakashu (sp?). Totally stupid...more of the same limited frames/sec. approach, which lends itself to a very jerky presentation, and more of the same bad dubbing, weird insistence on using teenagers as stars, and flat-out WEIRD voices...the red-headed kid's voice sounds like that wrestler that used to sell Slim Jims! (Randy Savage?)

Oops, reminds me of another one: Lupin III. Talk about terrible art. The main character looks like some kind of baboon.

How could anyone get a kick out of those? If I was with a bunch of buddies and we had shit to throw at a dispensable TV, I'd go Elvis on Lupin and Yo Yo's ass. Cock the hammer, and BAM! Adios Lupin.

Here's a hint: Try talking about a series that came out after 1988. hell, Lupin III and Mobile Suit Gundam are from the '70s. You remember what was coming out in the US back then, right?

Yep, Hanna Barbera. Yogi and the Gang. Scooby Doo.

SPAAAACE... GHOOOOST!!!!

Better animation? WHERE?

[Sokar]

For me I its really kinad indefineable, I've always had a fascination for all things Japanese. From its history and feudal traditions into today and my whole love of anime/manga. I especially love Japanese regular Tv, oh god the cruel and perverted gameshows they have, along with shows like Iron Chef. Im such a IC fan its scary, Im enthralled for some weird reason with a damn cooking show!

Anyhoo, its just a bone deep fascination with Japan.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

I've always wanted to go to Japan, not because any of my ancestors or relatvies came from there or study Japanese culture. I'd like to visit it because there's a lot of stuff I'd like to see, like Tokyo. However, I probably won't be able to go there until I get into college or something.

[seanrobertson]

Here's a hint: Try talking about a series that came out after 1988. hell, Lupin III and Mobile Suit Gundam are from the '70s. You remember what was coming out in the US back then, right?

I was born in '78, so no.

I'm kidding Yes, I know...I didn't realize either were that old.

Yep, Hanna Barbera. Yogi and the Gang. Scooby Doo.

SPAAAACE... GHOOOOST!!!!

Better animation? WHERE?

Not among Yogi and company!

In retrospect, the animation of my two boyhood favorites are pretty crappy, too...not Lupin or the cartoony Gundam bad (I take it the more detailed stuff came out significantly later), but not up to the standards of a Cowboy Bebop either.

The dialogue, especially in the Transformers stuff, was also terrible. A friend of mine had a copy of an old TF episode in which the Constructicons were unveiled...a scene in which they all shout their names in a "roll call" almost had me pissing myself it was so deliciously bad.

That "Yo, Joe!" and "COOOO-BRAAAA!" business was also a bit...hmm...over the top. But for whatever reason, I like them better than a little spiked-haired kid screaming in Dragon Ball, which is similar to a lot of anime I've seen but can't name.

Hey, I said I was dealing with a small sampling The Cartoon Network isn't exactly airing the best stuff..."Superfriends" coughcoughcough.

[XaLEv]

sean: About the framerates; they do the best they can. Last time I checked, the average 30 minute episode in Japan has half the budget as it would have here. They have to save money where they can.

[SAMAS]

In retrospect, the animation of my two boyhood favorites are pretty crappy, too...not Lupin or the cartoony Gundam bad (I take it the more detailed stuff came out significantly later), but not up to the standards of a Cowboy Bebop either.

Then again, you gotta admit, not much can come up to that level without being a movie.

That "Yo, Joe!" and "COOOO-BRAAAA!" business was also a bit...hmm...over the top. But for whatever reason, I like them better than a little spiked-haired kid screaming in Dragon Ball, which is similar to a lot of anime I've seen but can't name.

Hey, you don't knock "Yooooo, JOE!" It just isn't done.

Hey, I said I was dealing with a small sampling The Cartoon Network isn't exactly airing the best stuff..."Superfriends" coughcoughcough.

Eh, sometimes they do (CB, Big O, Inuyasha, and the upcoming Trigun), and sometimes they don't.

[SAMAS]

For me I its really kinad indefineable, I've always had a fascination for all things Japanese. From its history and feudal traditions into today and my whole love of anime/manga. I especially love Japanese regular Tv, oh god the cruel and perverted gameshows they have, along with shows like Iron Chef. Im such a IC fan its scary, Im enthralled for some weird reason with a damn cooking show!

Anyhoo, its just a bone deep fascination with Japan.

After all, it's the place that gave us:

• Anime
• Manga
• Iron Chef
• Samurai
• Ninja
• Nintendo
• Square
• Sega

As well as a few other cool things. You just have to wonder how a place that is so cool in some ways can be so fucked-up in others.

[Ghost Rider]

The same way anywhere is....people.

[Slartibartfast]

I just watched Words Worth a few days ago. It's great hentai, IMO. But most Anime and other japanese stuff, I find very boring and geeky. And "otakus" are the geekiest of geeky! They're even geekier than computer nerds... Anyway, once in a while there's a pearl buried somewhere in all that, like the original Macross or Cowboy Bebop.

[Nathan F]

*shrug*

Japan doesn't interest me in the slightest, if that's any consolation.

Same here...

I always thought anime was somewhat corny...

[Sam Or I]

I like the whole samurai history, and honor thing. when gunpowder was introduced the old ways verses the new ect ect. To me it is a cultural blend of just that. Sushi rocks.

Anime is a different story, it is just like anything else on TV, some of it is good some of it is not. I don't care if it came from Japan or not, if its good its good.

My anti Japanese bone is thier cars and the trend they have taken in the US in the "pop" culture. I cannot stand the fart pipes, they are economic cars for heavens sake, not sports cars.

[Superman]

I do have to say that the Japanese' collective resistance to Christianity is pretty awesome. Less than 1% of their population are Christians, and there is no sign at all of growth.

[Dalton]

I do have to say that the Japanese' collective resistance to Christianity is pretty awesome. Less than 1% of their population are Christians, and there is no sign at all of growth.

Mostly because they don't already have a local belief system based on psychotic invisible deities that'll send you to hell if you're evil, but more like a collective sense of "being in harmony with Nature".

[Superman]

Dalton, I have always thought of the culture as being too practical to have any use for religious bullshit. Sure they have Shintoism and Buddhism, but your average person in Japan only attends religious services once in a great while because of tradition.

[Zoink]

Taking part of my local Canadian culture would require the purchase of a kilt and a set of bagpipes... since that isn't going to happen until Wong is elected pope... I take interest in others.

Japan certainy hold interest, but limited to:

-Samurai movies, and others by Kurosawa (because he made awsome movies)

-Sushi, and other japanese foods, because its fun to make, and nothing feels as satisfing as a stomach full of wholesome sushi. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Also, Japanese/Chinese tea is about the only type I can drink and enjoy.

-Japanese plates/bowls/pottery, because its functional and looks cool.

I don't really see why I should limit myself to WASP Canadian/American culture.