Tokyo Comic Con 2017

It was interesting experiencing my first Comic Con in Japan, while I didn’t expect it to be as busy as the ones that take place in the U.S. it was cool to see celebrities like Stan Lee and Michael Rooker in the flesh. There were some Japanese movies being displayed, and it was evident that this event was mainly catered towards a Japanese audience. I think observing how popular media is marketed towards its audiences and how different Comic Con in Tokyo was in comparison to what I see of Comic Con in the U.S. gave me a better understanding of how a Japanese audience differed from the U.S. market that I was conditioned and grew up in. While I only attended a single day of Comic Con in Tokyo, it didn’t seem too crowded, at least in comparison to the later anime and manga conventions I attended. The distinction between American comics and comics aimed at a Japanese audience was also something I took note of during this convention.   

Because manga caters to much of the audience that I feel American comics would target in Japan, I can understand why the crowd at Comic Con wasn’t as big as Jump Festa. Furthermore, at least from my perception, there were more foreigners at Comic Con than Jump Festa (although foreigners did definitely attend). This brings me to considering the soft power of each of these countries. I’d say the ratio of Americans who enjoy anime, manga, and Japanese media is greater than the ratio of Japanese who enjoy American popular media, but this could be a consequence of my experiences being one of those people who could be labeled as an “otaku”. Anime and manga in the U.S. tend to have niche communities whereas as far as I can tell American popular media is enjoyed by general, wide audiences in Japan (anime and manga also have general audiences although niche communities exist for them as well).  

On subways in Tokyo, often seen are people of all ages (I most often saw men) reading issues of some branch of the Jump magazine. Or they’ll be on their phones reading manga, playing a phone game (very common), or watching anime. Subways are quiet spaces in Japan and the expectation is that any disturbances or noise be kept to a minimum. When I asked some of my friends who had visited Tokyo, some had even said they didn’t notice that was the standard, but if you’re on the subway in Tokyo and just pay attention to the locals around you, you’ll notice that most everyone isn’t speaking. When I was researching what to expect when coming to Tokyo, this was a warning I came across often. In the interest of trying to be as respectful as possible, I tried my best to keep quiet while on the subway as well, even when I visited Tokyo with friends I made at CUHK after my exchange in Tokyo was over. It was conflicting to balance communicating with my friends, who had no idea what kind of social expectations were typical, and trying to maintain respect to the social rules I had by then been used to adhering to when I lived in Tokyo.  

In honor of Stan Lee, who passed away this past year, I’d like to express my condolences. He was an amazing storyteller who gave so many such inspiring art and stories. I’m so grateful to have been able to hear him speak at Tokyo Comic Con 2018 and I will never forget the contributions (that I have definitely taken for granted) he made that have made an impact on my life and the lives of many others. Rest in peace, Stan Lee. 

Halloween in Tokyo

My friend and I went to Shibuya, arguably the most populated area in Tokyo that evening, to walk around and people watch. The variety of costumes revealed the not-so-conservative nature of young adults in such a populous city in Japan. It’s interesting to note the differences between the way youth in the U.S. celebrates Halloween and how youth in Tokyo celebrate. Much of the aspects that are traditionally celebrated in Halloween have been transformed and warped into new “traditions” and practices that are almost nothing like its origins. 

Another aspect of this yearly event that I’d like to bring notice to is the amount of trash that gets discarded on the streets. While it’s great to have fun and celebrate dressing up and dancing on the streets, it’s important to recognize the labor and up-keep in maintaining clean spaces in such a densely populated city such as Tokyo. Trash cans are hard enough to find in Tokyo, but I hope everyone is able to have fun celebrating while also being aware of where they discard their trash.  

The atmosphere on Halloween night was inviting and noisy, great for partying. Whenever I mention that I went to Shibuya on Halloween night to my Japanese friends, they usually question why I’d want to go. This surprises me just because of the sheer amount of (Japanese) people that go. It makes me wonder who goes but pretends to shun attendance of such events in front of others. I know that there’s a label for partyers and clubbers who are Japanese youth, “パリピ”(paripi), a phonetic abbreviation of party people. Although a negative connotation is attached to these people, some self-proclaim themselves as “paripi”. Paripi often skip classes, neglect their studies, and do what you would expect of a delinquent, but in the U.S. clubbing and party-going are relatively standard among university students who even manage 4.0s. Why is it that partying is viewed in such a negative light and why aren’t people who participate in such events stereotyped as bad students? Perhaps I am biased because I know and respect people who are intelligent, thoughtful, and compassionate, but also happen to enjoy nightlife. Something I’ve come to embrace and even strive towards nowadays is blatantly breaking stereotypes. Upon first glance, I have a facial piercing, dyed hair, and tattoos, which are all generally seen as markers for “rebellious” behavior, but I care about my studies. I rarely, if ever, miss a class and I’m dedicated to following through with my commitments. My outward image is an expression of myself, but I would like to think that my choices in this aspect of my life don’t encourage quick judgement without knowing who I am or hearing what I have to say.  

Tokyo Vegefood Festa 2017

This was my first time experiencing a vegan food festival and despite the rain, it was fun. The food was delicious and I had peace of mind that it was vegan. This event marked the introduction to the community of vegans in Tokyo and at this event in particular. It was great to see the concept of veganism and how it was interpreted and practiced in the lives of Japanese people. Even now, veganism is a new concept to most Japanese, but I hope that in the future veganism will continue to become commonplace globally.  

I did buy some products from the stalls at the festival (and might have gone overboard, but I love supporting small businesses). Talking to the people who made the food or ran the stands was quite inspirational and I could really tell they cared about what they made, even when I couldn’t entirely understand what they were saying in Japanese. It was a great experience and the food was amazing. Going to vegan food festivals like this encourages people to think about how food is more than just sustenance for our bodies. Food production, agriculture, and the environment all play a role in getting food from the farm to the table. Being able to go to any supermarket in the states and buy produce, instant foods, and frozen foods makes it easy for us to forget the long and arduous process that it takes to get the vegetables, prepare them for cooking and consumption, etc. The commodity chain is far more complicated than many of us realize. The realization of the amount of energy and people involved in the production of food can be lost in our efficiency-valued, fast-paced, modern day lives. 

At this point I was just starting to compile a list of vegan or vegetarian restaurants in Tokyo and the surrounding area. As a traveler and foodie, I love exploring the veganized cuisines of each place I go to. I did read an article about how healthy food is typically Western and doesn’t make enough of an effort to include other cultures. I found that this realization also can apply to vegan cuisine. A major reason that makes people hesitate when considering adopting veganism into their lives is the anxiety it can cause in social situations where families come together to eat meals. In many cultures, (I’m not that knowledgeable about mealtime practices outside of Chinese culture but I do know that these characteristics are found among cultures across the globe) sharing dishes at the table in a manner that involves participation from all dining members is how meals are eaten. However, being vegan can prevent one from participating, dividing people quite literally by requiring separate dishes or even an individual meal set apart from the others. By veganizing dishes unique to one’s culture, it’s possible not only to extend inclusivity to all, but to introduce this way of living as accessible.