Crunchyroll Expo 2022: Here’s why Japan is a pop culture superpower

What comes to your mind when you think of Japan? Anime hits like Demon Slayer? Great manga classics like dragon ball or video game hits like Pokemon? All of these are wonderful examples of Japan’s position as a pop culture superpower – but how did it actually come about?

We are answering this question together with host Jason Yu at the panel Why is Japan a Pop Culture Superpower on the Crunchyroll Expo 2022 (CRX) in San Jose. What he told us and where he found the island nation in comparison to other pop culture superpowers, you will find out in the following lines.

Japan tried to repair its shattered reputation

About this development and with it the rise of Japanese pop culture To understand it, we need to look back at the history of the Asian country. After the events of Second World War destroyed the nation as well as its international reputation.

In the years that followed, the country therefore endeavored to to slowly restore its global standing and dare a fresh start.

The years after the end of the war played an important role in this pop culture posts such as music or films, such as the works Akira Kurosawawhich years later, among others, George Lucas to a small film called star Wars should inspire.

The project actually worked and the island state experienced, among other things an economic boom. In the 1980s, even they saw it United States the former rival as a threat – but this time not on the battlefield, but much more in economic competition.

1990s and 2000s: The golden years of Japanese pop culture

A development that over the next two decades reach their peak should. Today world famous brands like Hello Kitty, Pokemon or even the first Playstation took the world by storm.

That was it too Japan’s soft power as strong as ever. This special form of exercising power is based, among other things, on attractiveness of their own culture (via bpb).

There J-pop singersJapanese drama TV series or even gaming systems like that PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 met with great interest worldwide, it seemed as if nothing could have stopped this trend. In addition, manga fans have witnessed the rise of the Big 3i.e. those series that were supposed to fill the gap left by “Dragon Ball”: Bleach, Naruto and One Piece.

In the 2010s, however, this development took off increasingly faltering. Other Asian markets, such as South Korea, overtook Japan. Anime, manga and games were still extremely popular, but in other areas of pop culture the island state lost its position as a superpower.

The government tried to counteract this trend Cool Japan Strategy to counteract this, but without significant success. It was a venture aimed at Japan’s increase attractiveness abroad. However, as the country closed itself to some trends, such as uploading music videos to Internet platforms with English titles, this plan was unsuccessful.

Are you now interested in new anime? Maybe the Slice of Life series Hyouka at anime planet something for you:

Where does Japan stand today as a pop culture superpower?

Now we’re in the present and Jason Yu asked the audience of his Crunchyroll Expo 2022 panelwhere they rank Japan in terms of soft power would see today. The answers varied and from 1st place to 5th place and 10th place was pretty much everything.

Yu presented us his top 3which of course we don’t want to withhold from you:

• 1st place: United States
• Place 2: United Kingdom
• Place 3: Japan & South Korea

But why do Japan and South Korea share third place? Well, Japan is like with anime hits Attack on TitanManga high-flyers like Chainsaw Man and of course gaming franchises like final fantasy still one pop culture superpower. Accordingly, the island state has enormous soft power.

In pretty much every other area where Japan used to be ahead of other Asian countries, it has been overtaken or in short: Korea dominates in all other areas. With K-pop bands like bts or series mega hits like Squid Game South Korea has easily drawn level. There are also various enormously popular ones eSports teams and events.

Since the anime sector in particular has been growing steadily for years – worldwide – and the games industry is also getting bigger, Japan could perhaps be in the ranking eventually make up places again. But that would be a topic for a panel at a future Crunchyroll Expo.

Now it’s your turn: Why do you think Japan is a pop culture superpower? Let us know what you think in the comments below.