Many believe that animes and mangas present a wrong and distorted view for foreigners and Westerners of what true Japan is like. Is Japan really different from animes? Let’s discuss this in this article.
Of course, in Japan, we do not find battles with powers, supernatural and absurd things as happen in many animes. Aside from that, animes often represent Japan’s view for the Japanese very well.
Table of Contents
Is Japan different from animes?
Animes look quite like real life because producers and creators go to schools or prominent places just to take photos and base their animations on real-life environments and scenarios.
Japanese people also create their works based on their life stories, cities, establishments, shops, festivals, events, singers, idols, and many other things that represent real life in Japan.
Of course, even so, animations are a way for the Japanese to escape their reality. That’s why many are fantastical or do not match real life. We can see this in the hair, body, and eyes of the characters.
I assert! Most animes perfectly represent real life in Japan. Still, Brazilians living in Japan and even Japanese people say that Japan will disappoint those who got to know it through animes. Will it?
Some people only believe in things by seeing them. During my trip to Japan, I encountered several situations that made me feel like I was inside an anime. Unfortunately, many don’t even seek to live experiences.
I personally believe that Brazilian newspapers generalize more than animes. Even though they only present a certain event, they manipulate people much more using emotion than the animes themselves.
It is worth remembering that the fact that animes stop showing certain things does not mean they are causing a wrong view of Japan; they are just focusing on a particular subject or reality that may be different for some.
Are Japanese people like in animes?
In animes, we have hospitable, fun Japanese people who make us fall more in love with the culture and customs of Japan. Unfortunately, some Westerners and Brazilians living in Japan have a different view.
Many cannot get along with most Japanese, who are largely grumpy elderly or annoying teenagers. This does not mean that animes fail to represent these bad characters.
It is obvious to imagine that each human being is different from one another, but those who are passionate about Japan and those who hate living in Japan cannot reach any middle ground.
Animes perfectly represent the personality, culture, and customs of the Japanese. If you disagree with this, you are probably associating with the wrong Japanese people or simply generalizing.
Even the screams, language, clothing, accent, and other characteristics are perfectly represented. Yes, Japanese people really do speak and act that way. Japan is indeed as bizarre as it seems in animes and doramas.
Even the strangest personality you find in some anime, you can be sure that there is probably a similar Japanese person. Japanese people write their stories based on their experiences and their own culture.
Most Japanese do not like animes or only watch one or another. So don’t even try to randomly talk to anyone about your passion for animes. For them, they are just cartoons!
What are the lies presented in animes?
Rarely will you trip and fall onto the breasts or panties of Japanese girls at schools. The school uniform is not short as presented in animes, although Japanese girls do roll their skirts to make them short.
Some schools turn a blind eye, but most do not allow shortening the skirt inside the school. Outside of school, on the way or on trains, you will find Japanese students with extremely short skirts.
Some details in schools are altered in animations. Most schools do not allow students to have lunch on the roof. Many things that happen in animes end up being less intense in real life.
In animes, characters laugh loudly and make faces. In real life, this can happen, but it is not common. They value respect in the environment and laugh quietly. The way they talk and react to things is still identical to animes.
The student council does not have any supreme power over the school like animes show. They only help teachers carry out events and organize things.
Young people in animes use a language different from what should be used in real life. Although some young people do talk that way, animes exaggerate a bit, causing some Westerners to learn Japanese the wrong way.
Below, I will list once again some lies presented in animes:
- They do not grope breasts or pull panties;
- They do not always have lunch on rooftops;
- They are free and do what they want;
- They have no power over the school;
- They do not speak slang all the time;
- They do not have informal language;
What are the truths presented in animes?
Some people are suspicious of the absent parents in animes and that high school children are already independent or even living alone. In reality, I met a Japanese woman whose 15-year-old son was completely independent and even thought about living alone.
I also met a couple of friends, children of Brazilians who were simply abandoned in Japan since childhood. When you find characters in animes with a past like that, don’t think it’s impossible.
All those romantic clichés, shyness, perversion, practically everything is true. In schools, school clubs, festivals, events, and the entire educational system are truly represented in animes.
Many disagree with animes for presenting characters with a life full of adventures, while they suffer working. Many Japanese work like condemned people, but I also noticed that there are many Japanese people doing nothing.
Of course, there are many other truths about Japan that animes represent well.
I will list below once again the truths that animes represent:
- They are independent;
- Tragic past;
- They are shy;
- They talk strangely;
- School events;
- They travel a lot;
- They make faces;
- They shorten their skirts;
Will true Japan disappoint otakus?
Japan only disappoints those who want it to, unfortunately, life is not easy for foreigners or even Japanese who depend on a tight work schedule full of overtime. Life is really not that fun.
Animes mostly choose characters who have a carefree life or are young students. The reality of an adult foreigner is totally different; it is not easy to enter Japanese society.
Even young people have difficulty socializing in school due to certain social exclusion together. You may have seen in animes a student being excluded by the whole class because of an influential person.
It can be difficult to adapt to the customs and norms that the Japanese have. Still, once you do that, you will see that doors will open, and all your negative views of Japan will disappear.
Those who consider themselves otaku and are passionate about animes will need to be cautious, as they are not well regarded by Japanese society. Still, I believe you will feel on cloud nine when you encounter anime traits everywhere.
If you are a tourist and like animes, you will not have disappointments other than the prices of anime products (lol). All of Japan will enchant you; you do not need to be afraid or apprehensive because of some critics.
If you are going to live in Japan, prepare yourself well for the tiring routine and to face embarrassing situations with some idiotic Japanese. But remember, good and bad people exist everywhere.
Do not let animes distort your view
Although animes portray real life well, remember that Japan is much more than what animes show. Even if an animation presents daily life or culture, it focuses only on a small aspect.
Generally, those who are addicted to animes and say they love Japan do not usually take the real steps to get to know the country. Sometimes they don’t even have the true motivation to learn the language.
Do not think you know all of Japan just by watching animes. Most of the time, even Brazilians or the Japanese themselves do not know absolutely everything about the country they live in.
I myself have asked various things about Japan to Japanese people, and they did not know how to answer. Knowledge is something that grows; you will take your whole life, but you will not know everything. So, do not try to seem smarter than anyone.
Some believe they become smarter by watching animes, but in reality, it can trap you in the comfort zone and prevent you from realizing your dreams or taking the first steps toward reality. So, be careful and control to differentiate the world of animes from the real world.
Do I think Japan is different from animes?
When I arrived in Japan for the first time, I found it absolutely identical to animes. Practically everything I saw and experienced is like most Japanese animations that show daily life.
In fact, I even had difficulty writing this article, as I cannot think of things that are lies in animes. I know there are many, but they are kind of obvious or just do not represent the majority.
Animes teach important details of Japanese culture, traditional customs, festivals, temples, shrines, and castles. These are details that many Brazilians living in Japan do not even know or respect.
Japan is the only foreign country where I can walk freely everywhere without fear and without getting lost. I learned everything I needed by watching animes, and they made my trip much more satisfying.
I was not disappointed at all with the Japan I got to know. I made friends with various Japanese and Brazilians, even with strangers I met on the street. I had a view that many Japanese love foreigners.
If you have a depressing view of Japan, do not cling to it. I know it must be annoying to encounter situations of prejudice in schools or at work where the grumpy Japanese uncles are already stressed and take it out on you.
Try to change that negative view of yours! Unfortunately, this negativity only ruins your life, makes you unhappy, and does not help you find happiness in the little things. Try to associate only with positive and cheerful people, which you can find plenty of in Japan.
Animes that represent real life well
Below, I will comment a little on my favorite animes that helped me to know life in Japan. Generally, the seinen animes aimed at adults represent Japan’s reality better.
One of my favorite slice-of-life animes is Uchuu Kyoudai, which depicts a 30-year-old Japanese man trying to become an astronaut, showing the whole process and difficulties of realizing such a dream.
Another very popular anime that most Japanese have watched is called Detective Conan; it seems childish and has some illogical details, but it is one of the best at teaching about Japan’s culture and traditions. A family-friendly anime, very intelligent, reminiscent of CSI, and even my mother watches it.
You can also look for animes of the slice of life genre. This genre shows a slice of Japanese life, realism, and the daily experiences that Japanese people live in schools or at work, usually involving art, romance, music, or sports.
Well, I hope this small article has helped explain that animes do not distort anyone’s view of real Japan. Only if the person is crazy enough to think that Japan has dragons, wizards, flying samurais, etc.
Do you think animes represent real life well in Japan? Do you think they create a distorted view of reality? I hope to see your sharing and comments on the subject!
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