My obsession began in the 90s. At that point I thought samurai were cool but didn't think about Japan any more than that. Then I discovered anime and I loved how not everyone always spoke with a smile on their face, the entire town doesn't join in song every time someone has had 5 seconds of silence in their life... and in the case of Fist Of the North Star, people actually blew up :)
Actually the first anime I ever saw was an episode of Captain Harlock where a young, abused orphan was sent into the forest alone, saved from a wolf by the captain and received a flute from him. Later the flute was thrown onto the roof of the church and while she tried to fetch this prised possession of hers she got blown off the roof and died. Coming from a background where everybody always smiles and sings for no reason at all to see an orphan being abused and dying in a cartoon I just thought "What the heck is this?" ...but I was 8 at the time and only discovered anime for real 9 years later.
Akira gave me respect for the medium and got me interested in having an authentic experience, not the badly dubbed "Sir, he is here, sir. Hmmm? What was that? Is he here? Is that what you said? Well alright then." dialogue. That got me interested in the language and from there I got interested in the religion... then the samurai in detail as I looked into bushido... that got me real interested in the culture back then and now...
Basically, I started looking at Japan because of anime but since then I discovered that I love absolutely everything about the place from their culture, their values, their language, their architecture, Hello Kitty and even Piccachu painted on their airplanes. The more I learn the more I fall in love.
As a child I hated cheese but I loved the Turtles so I started eating pizza and now love cheese. The only thing I don't like about Japan at all (apart from them not wanting me there because my mother gave birth to me in the wrong country) is their love of fish. Bathing naked with strangers outdoors, that I'm okay with. Eating fish... I am trying really hard to condition myself to not hate all fish as much as I do... ;) :P
A country where everyone is taught basically from birth "Don't be a nuisance to other people" and where shop assistants have the motto "Customer is god"... Heck, where we have the habit of saying "Hey" or "Excuse me" to attract attention, in Japan the common say-thing is more along the lines of "Excuse me for causing you effort but...". To quote Sean Connery in Rising Sun: "Their way is better". I apply that to basically everything Japanese...
Anyway, from anime to language to history to religion to culture... the more I learned the more I wish for reincarnation to be true so I can return to this life as a Japanese girl one day so I too can wear that cute sailor suit uniform ;)
THIS, though, is just wrong on so many levels and why I wish for reincarnation to be real! :P
So yeah, it STARTED with anime but my love grew over the course of decades. I have never been, though, and unless I make a fortune with one of my games I doubt I will ever get to go. :(
...but that just gives me motivation to try my best! :D (As they love to say! 😅)
hahahas that video you linked :P Yeahh not the best way to live out your sailor suit uniform fantasy better off being reincarnated.
wow! That's so interesting that your affinity with japan goes wayyyy back, I've haven't had any sort of fascination with a hobby or culture that has surpassed years. I usually get obsessed with something (past obsessions: crocheting, filofaxing, knitting, sticker making, korean/taiwanese/hk the list goes on..) and I usually go really hard out at it for a few months till I burn myself out and I get over it. You must of been japanese in another life time for sure.
I have yet to read your other message because I'm planning on watching Walter Mitty tonight. I've heard the title of that movie ages ago and a few times too but never felt inclined to watch it because I just don't like Ben Stiller :P but I think it's time.
How is your Japanese? Can you speak it enough to get by in japan? I was lucky enough to have learnt a little in high school, it was the only language that was taught at my school but I really enjoyed learning it. Unfortunately I only remember the hiragana now not much else hahas.
I tried to get into anime but I don't think it's my calling. The only ones I watched were Chobits, Fruits Basket, Love Hina, Ichigo Mashimaro and in eng dubbed too (eekkk.) I of course adore all the Studio Ghibli movies but everyone and their mother's do so doesn't really count.
Ahh yeahh I'm not the biggest fan of fish either but I didn't mind salmon sashimi only with a good helping of wasabi and soy sauce. Have you tried natto yet? if so are you a fan of it? Have you been to japan before for a holiday?
I really enjoy your long messages it's like a penpals letters a really good read :D Anyways I'll let you know how I find the movie!