"Made in Japan" then; "Cool Japan" Now
Japan has swept the world with its top notch technology with a full variety of products proudly branded "Made in Japan". But then, do you know, folks, Japan is introducing a fresh brand name to back it up?
"Cool Japan" as it's called.
Japan under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is right in the middle of a CosPlay. Just in case some of you may not be familiar with the jargon, Cosplay is a portmanteau of the words costume play - a performance where participants put fashionable wears on to represent a certain character. Meaning, PM Abe is taking the cliché costume Made in Japan off Japan and putting a fancy new wear Cool Japan on Japan instead! Ha!
In fact, Mr. Abe is dead serious about playing it cool. This episode will show you Japan in two of such wears prepared for Cool Japan cosplay performance:
First, a popular TV manga "Chibi Maruko" (or Tiny Marco). In November last year through January this year, three major shopping malls in Hong Kong were painted Maruko-way for days on, kids cosplayed Maruko-way dancing to the locally arranged TV theme song "Odoru Ponpokorin" (or Dancing Ponpokorin) and main characters parading in a classy limousine.
Chibi Maruko is popular in Asia ever since it was first televised in 1994 in Taiwan. In China, the son of a rich family Hanawa-kun has lots of fans perhaps craving for wealth.
Second, are you folks familiar with a term KAWAII? What about "KAWAII Culture"? Here's a person who coined the word and practically created a young cultural movement globally known as KAWAII Culture: Masuda Sebastian, 44. He produces Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, the reputed singer/ fashion model. Picture yourself young crispy girls dressed in wears of loud, pop colors of blue, pink, yellow and such, strolling chins up in the streets of Harajuku.
Masuda Sebastian proudly claims KAWAII Culture the whole world pays so much respect to originated in Japan - cool enough phenomenon to draw global attention.
