Hoy!
Just a couple small things.
Seem to have hit some kind of stride in my writing (who knows how long it'll
actually last...,) so I've been updating my webpage every night (well,
morning for you people.) If you're interested in seeing the latest
(somewhat raw) version of Choices: Decision, you can find it at
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Subway/9701. I dunno, I've been finally able
to make progress every night this week - weekends, of course, being a
different matter.
Also, by the end of the week I should have the 'Japan' link on my page
working - albeit in a rough form. I'll be popping up my 'Japan Updates'
here - little journal-format things I send home to keep family and friends
updated as to what's being going on here. They contain little observations
and insights I've had about what's going on about me (although to date
they've also largely been a litany of my nights of drinking and karaoke.)
Finally, if anyone's still reading... I've been lightly abusing my power as
a Junior High teacher to poll the students and figure out what anime is
actually popular here among the young teen population - lets admit it, the
real power behind any pop culture. I should get results back soon.
Early observations: Dragonball's still popular enough that some of the guys
like it. Heck, recent Jeopardy-style game I ran in class:
"Alright, for 30 points, an anime character who likes to eat a lot?"
"Son-Goku!"
How'd he know? Disappointed me, since i didn't get to yell Kame Hame Ha in
class (hint #2).
When I mention Ranma, it's a bit of a stretch but they can recall it - it
seems with a certain fondness. Although in the same game, for fifty points,
when I'd ask, "A shonen sunday manga written by Takahashi Rumiko," I'd get
Inu-Yasha amd a bunch of other's I haven't even heard of, and they'd only
get Ranma after I'd mention the curse (hint #3); one kid got it when I ran
off Ranma's attacks (Hiryu Shoten Ha, hint #2).
Mention Sailor Moon and they laugh. Same when I tell them I watched
Gatchaman when I was young - I'm guessing 'cus its such an old show. Only
one kid recognized Grandizer (Goldorak to you Frenchies, like me, out there)
- maybe my pronounciation is terrible, the Japanese tend to fairly
unforgiving about that - althoug the kid did think it was too cool I knew
who the big robot with horns was. Astro Boy (Little Atom) is known for
purely nostalgic reasons. Gundam is closer associated with the models than
the show, I think. I just get confusion when I say 'Macross': either its
too old, or I'm just saying it wrong.
The ones that seem most popular: Doraemon, for sure. Pokemon is still big,
although mainly with my first graders; my third grader know it but have
outgrown it, mostly. Detective Konan seems big enough, as do a few others
(chibi maruchan, I think its called.) I'm waiting for the homework to come
back with their favorites (yes, I gave it to them as homework. Aren't I
nasty?)
Anyway, if anyone's interested, I post the results here; otherwise, I'll
just stick 'em on my webpage within a few weeks. I'm thinking this isn't
too far off topic for the ML, but if it is, I'll just let people know when
they can find it on my webpage - or I'll stick it at the end of a fic or
something.
And that's my mini Japan Update, a la anime.
Later!
Mike Noakes
noakes_m@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Subway/9701
(Is it just me, or has the list been really quite lately?)
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