Although it got rained off last year this was pretty much the same deal as in 2004. Key differences this year being that I was 'Parks', the British ambassador, hence the bow-tie and lack of bastard heavy flag, and that the guys representing France weren't pissed!Apparently the parade isn't just about Commodore Perry's landing, but just as much about Hijikata Toshizou's last stand fighting for the old regime during the Meiji Restoration. There is a yearly lookalike contest, and the winner takes a key role in the parade. The popularity of this historical figure is difficult to explain, but it mainly comes down to manga, like so much of pop culture in Japan.
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That's worth it just to get to wield a sabre. The authorities over here are cutting down on the use of sabres, especially in schools. Kids these days have to solve their quarrels in the playground with Rock, Paper, Scissors.
It's the nanny state gone mad.
It's true. I hear airlines are going the same way...
I remember the day when a lad could pick up a parang (18" weighted blade) in Indonesia, wrap it in a T-shirt, stick it in a carry-on rucksack and tote it back home without hassle.
These days I reckon that could land you in a spot of bother.
(True story btw: The Indonesian X-ray monitor muttered 'parang' to his colleague and let it pass without further comment)
Speaking of manga (well ok, anime - the only manga I've read rather than anime I've watched is Akira and the odd bits from old UK magazines, and then only a little), I've been watching a lot of Naruto recently. Interesting how it makes for good entertainment in Japanese, but the one time I saw it dubbed in English it was totally unbearable; really brought home how juvenile and plain irritating a lot of the characters are. Japanese and English subtitles acts as an almost entirely effective mask (though the whole plotline of a 'perverted hermit' who spends his days trying to stare at women in sauna is annoying even with the subtitles).
Only up to episode 84 so far, though - am I right in thinking they're up to around 200 in Japan now?
Also, speaking of the popularity of historical figures being enhanced (perhaps even based) on manga, would seem a vaguely related phenomenon happening with the Dynasty Warrior series of computer games; I didn't think the Japanese would be overly keen to celebrate Chinese military history, though then again there appears to be a strong mythical element?
Sorry, have to admit to complete ignorance of both series. I try to be as selective with my japanese reading as I am with just about all my media intake.
English dubbing is never good though eh?
Not normally, though I do like the English voices on Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. Then again, as I understand it that started out with an English soundtrack, rather than being the usual slapdash Americanising dub of an existing Japanese soundtrack. Judging by the extras on the DVD, there was a great deal of involvement by the Japanese director and writer of the original novel too.
But yeah, mostly they suck balls. Especially when its whiny children, as in Naruto. More annoying still, watched up to episode 195 a couple of days ago...and now I have to wait! Blah. Might actually get some work done instead, I suppose. :p
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