Now, I am not trying to be rude, but this is a problem I just wanted to talk about, considering this is mainly a J-Pop Blog.
Japanophiles.
Now, I see nothing wrong in enjoying Japanese culture and music, but what I CANNOT stand are the ones that think Japan is all about anime and manga.
No it isn’t. Stop thinking of it like that.
Also, I hate the ones the destroy the Japanese language. I cannot stand people who yell out random words like Kawaii or baka. It’s stupid. It does not make you Japanese, please stop.
I apologize for that, but it’s just a problem I always seem to go through when people find out that I read manga and listen to J-Pop. I always get stereotyped as an idiot.
You may go ahead and read your manga, watch your anime, and listen to your J-Pop, but please oh please do not make yourself look like an idiot.
I definitely agree with you. The same goes with people labeling all J-pop as “anime music”. Blech.
By: Lex on March 19, 2008
at 5:58 pm
YES! >:O take the stand, Goody~ Speak up! *agrees*
By: YouKnowWhoThisIs on March 26, 2008
at 8:16 am
Kimi no iken wa totemo sugoi to omoimasu.
By: Tanis on March 30, 2008
at 7:50 am
I love your site, good job on full and critical reviews. Wanna be affiliated with each other. Gimme a message on my cbox or give me an email, we’ll get in touch.
By: SecondBlossoming on April 10, 2008
at 11:33 am
Seems like i forgot my email and website….here it is lol.
By: SecondBlossoming on April 10, 2008
at 11:34 am
I agree with Tanis. I’m 1/4 Japanese and people always assume I’m a 13-year-old schoolgirl only into anime and manga. They always say “konnichiwa” and “arigatou” inappropiately as well. Learn some Japanese and educate yourself. If you’re going to insult a native Jap, at least have some sense and shout a better phrase at me in Japanese. [I'd shout a better one back >.>]
..anyways, you rock, blackmager.
By: Nao on April 15, 2008
at 3:59 am
^I agree with you there.
Thank you.
I’m currently taking Japanese classes to learn how to properly speak it.
It still drives me crazy though when my friends try to speak Japanese and shit and do it wrong.
><
By: blackmager on April 15, 2008
at 6:59 am
A~ Ganbarimashou, burakkumeja~! I hope all your classes go well. Japanese is so much fun. xD
By: Nao on April 18, 2008
at 10:36 pm
Amen to that. It was shocking to me when I received my first dirty looks after sharing with someone that I listen solely to Jpop. They had a mix between “OMG” and “WTF” look on their face. It was a big downer for me.
Since then, I’ve tried to surround myself with ppl who think alike and appreciate Jpop and Kpop music. I tend to avoid ppl who are very narrow minded- especially about Asia in general. I can’ believe some ppl can be so ignorant, especially when they haven’t even been there!
Haha @ blackmager. Yes, learning Japanese is quite challenging, however, the more I learn the more secretive I become about knowing it. Foolishly tossing Japanese words and phrasing into casual conversation used to amuse me, but now I see how stupid I was acting before.
I recognize the vast amount of random English (and Engrish) present in Japanese Pop Culture and I wonder why can’t we here in America do the same thing? Why can’t we use Japanese words in our own culture? Someday this will be more commonplace. Until then, we’ll all be trapped in our small cliques on and offline. Sadly.
By: Ty_Sylicus on April 18, 2008
at 10:58 pm
kawaiii desu~ baka neko ne.
No, I hate that too, I don’t even learn Japanese or speak it but a few of my friends do this and it annoys the hell out of me, it’s only a few more straws before I snap.
Damn JapTards … Oh, and nice blog, you’ve reviewed some of my favourite artists
By: mazza on April 19, 2008
at 1:34 am
Ah thank you everyone.
@Ty_Sylicus: I’ve always wanted to know why they actually put these english lyrics into their songs, but we don’t put other languages into ours.
I’ll never get it.
By: blackmager on April 20, 2008
at 4:16 am
I think it’s because English is almost universal, and I say almost. And it makes it more appealing, if you use it right.
Someday I want to learn Japanese, but after Mandarin, I need to speak some dialect from my culture (Mandarin because they don’t teach Cantonese).
By: diegwa on April 30, 2008
at 2:13 am
^You know, that is true.
Thank you.
I now have the perfect topic to talk about in my obsessed area.
By: blackmager on April 30, 2008
at 3:40 am
LOL Japan is all about J-pop and onsen ^
By: boamyjewel on May 3, 2008
at 11:04 am
^I don’t know.
Should I actually take that seriously?
By: blackmager on May 3, 2008
at 8:21 pm
Hahah, can’t believe I missed this page…
I totally agree with you, too. I mean, I like anime and manga as well, but that doesn’t mean that’s what I think Japan’s all about… It’s about that AND music.
HAHAH, KIDDING, please don’t hurt me..
By: Selryam on May 19, 2008
at 5:50 am
lol, completely understood. Although I do find myself saying “he’s kawaii” from tym to tym. lol. I rarely do it, but I’ll be sure not to do it here. XD
By: iaimusic on May 26, 2008
at 11:07 pm
I totally agree. My friends do that all the time and i’m like “buuuh… e__e;”
I hardly even watch anime, but I constantly read manga and listen to Japanese music (whether it be J-Pop or J-Rock.) But completely agree with you.
By: radiantdawn on June 16, 2008
at 3:23 am
@Radiant:
So they do all the Kawaii desu and stuff like that right?
><
It is possible for people to enjoy the japanese culture, anime, language, etc, without making yourself look like a freak.
D;
By: blackmager on June 16, 2008
at 3:53 am
THANKYOU!!!
Grr it gets so annoying at school when people are fully into manga and think that the streets of japan have manga printed in them. LEARN MORE ABOUT JAPAN! there’s so much more to it then manga and anime.
Lol thanks for your “little warning” lol. Much appreciated!
By: ironicclown on June 17, 2008
at 8:23 am
Same goes on my country
Since all songs just talked about very shallow thought about LOVE
J-Pop gives me what ordinary english/american pop can offer
(i still love english rock songs)
It’s ok for me of being said as ‘freak’, because japanese music is freaking awesome ^^
(even i hate japanese boybands + cute-wannabe women singers)
By: Bakamono on June 28, 2008
at 1:54 pm
agreed.
By: notebookdarling on July 18, 2008
at 10:02 am
Lol, I sometimes get weird urges to say “arigatou” or “gomen ne”.
Must be watching too many dramas and animes @_@.
By: taelin on August 4, 2008
at 6:19 am
I’m sometimes like that too.
Don’t worry.
Especially when I watch the interviews or dramas.
God, I wish I had a private Japanese teacher.
I’d learn so much faster.
By: blackmager on August 4, 2008
at 6:48 am
Oh it’s fine. O: I actually kinda forgot about it. xD
By: radiantdawn on August 4, 2008
at 11:17 pm
Oh man, I understand what you mean! In school I’m also treated like that. It’s sad. T_T
By: Claudine on August 10, 2008
at 10:59 am
Agh! I totally agree! Nothing irritates me more!
By: Anonymous on September 15, 2008
at 3:06 pm
I introduced my friend to some JPOP of course she was already an anime fan and I got her dangerously hooked on “Want Me Want Me” by Namie Amuro…I was so ecstatic..to be able to spread the joy of good music to the masses ^.^
My sisters are hooked on utada too..I think maybe because out of all the japanese artists she is the easiest to listen to and different. She is definitely a good transition artist then you kinda work your way into the extremes..like Ayumi Hamasaki or Kokia.
I do get somewhat embarassed but I blare my music so loud that people can definitely hear that I’m listening to JPOP lol.
I feel like “Yeah thats rite you bastards! I listen to the sh*t! Your just jealous…cuz your too broke to handle the shipping costs ^.^”
By the way..I lurv your site..and Lex’s too..he introduced me through his blog to practically most of the artists I listen to.
By: utadababy on September 16, 2008
at 1:57 am
Understood. I absolutely agree with you. I hate the ‘Japanese within english language’, yeah pisses me off. I love anime and manga, like most people and Jpop music. It rocks. I’m not like that, and I get what you’re getting at.
I love Japanese history, it fascinates me. Samurai and espionage. Geisha. I love it all.
I love your site. I’ve discovered many good artists and such on your site. I thank you.
By: Suki on October 2, 2008
at 6:42 am
^suki
yeah, japanese history ROCKS! (I prefer modern history though).
I love it so much I’m even writing a friggin book about it (I love writing
)
By: noahfurlani on October 15, 2008
at 3:40 am
btw, blackmager, do you take classes with people your age or with adults. I do the latter, and it’s kind of weird… but fun. At least they treat me like an adult
And Japanese is so easy. Everyone says its hard, but if you’re good at math, it’s actually easy to chop it down to bits and construct based on those bits. Plus, no plural/singular crap and no persons when conjugating! YEAH! Only problem is the whole formality thing. Still have to get used to the different levels of speech.
By: noahfurlani on October 15, 2008
at 3:43 am
@Noah:
Actually, I’m in High school, and taking a Japanese II class.
Honestly, I HATE IT.
I am learning little to nothing.
And what’s really pulling me back is that 3/4 of the class are absolute idiots at this. I seem to be the ONLY person in that class that WANTS to learn Japanese.
But my class feels more like a “cruise” class.
I miss my old Japanese I teacher. He was a bit slow, but he really taught me a lot.
By: blackmager on October 15, 2008
at 4:01 am
I really appreciate your website, giving me insight on albums before I use up my time trying to listen to them.
And …
I TOTALLY agree with you on the over usage of random Japanese words. I hear so many people do that, and it makes me wanna throw a shoe at their faces.
I’m really into Japanese art history as well as general stuff//
So once again, thanks for the site sharing
By: koolikeplastic on November 7, 2008
at 6:56 am
Aww, no problem kool.
<3
By: blackmager on November 8, 2008
at 3:10 am
You Goodie o: <
you should get msn.
D: < LIEK NAO
By: NotebookDarling on November 16, 2008
at 11:53 am
NO.
D:<<<<<
By: blackmager on November 16, 2008
at 7:35 pm
YES. D:<
By: Selryam on November 16, 2008
at 9:17 pm
You cannot blame other people if they associate Japan as the land of Anime or Manga because this is what they became known for around the globe and because of that the people became interested in their culture and music. I understand that your a Japanese enthusiast that shows here in your blog site and it is really RUDE for you to stopped them to speak the Japanese Language just because they do not speak it properly. Many Japanese people could not also speak the English language properly but they are still saying the said language so there is no reason for you to be annoyed at all.
By: Kristy on December 2, 2008
at 11:17 pm
Oh well then.
;P
Besides, at least they’re trying to speak the English language.
When it comes to the people here, it feels like they learn a few words like Kawaii and suddenly they can speak it oh so well.
By: blackmager on December 3, 2008
at 3:00 am
Actually, Kristy, you’re being even more rude than he is by making that post in retaliation. >>
When half the Westerners that use Japanese words randomly use them in the wrong context or in a disrespectful manner, then I don’t think your statement really has much meaning.
But of course, that’s not all the cases.
By: Selryam on December 3, 2008
at 8:36 am
Haha I love this page / topic.
.
I am the 100th person to agree with you, it seems
I am in my second year of college, also my fourth semester of Japanese, and I work in the IT dept at my school. Anyway, my co-workers know that I study some “crazy Asian language” and one day, a Chinese exchange student needed help, so who do they ask to translate? Me… I wanted to slap them. LOL.
And blackmager: Don’t worry about Japanese in high school. You learn so much more in college. My classmate Erika took Japanese for all four years of high school and learned more Japanese in her first semester at college then all of high school. Chin up
By: sushibabyx on December 22, 2008
at 2:11 am
THANK GOD.
<3
Because my current teacher right now is teaching me nothing. She’s a good person. But as a teacher, not so much.
I still miss my old teacher from last year though.
; ;
By: blackmager on December 22, 2008
at 3:27 am
Yes, Yes OHGOD, I hate that.
I’ve been like, in love with Japan since I was 8. And yeah, I started off with Manga, and Anime. And I did those stupid things. But then I started taking it seriously and started learning the language and going to The Durham Uni of Japan to make friends and go to lessons and stuff, I devoted all my free time to Japan. And then My Mum’s friend brings along her kids, and I start talking to the older one and he’s like telling me what he likes and I’m not listening and he asks What books I like? , and then I say, Oh really? Yeah, well, Mostly Manga. And he asks me what Manga is, I show him. Couple months later he’s a total Mangatard. He’s on Gaia telling everyone how much he loves Japan, and guess what? He’s richer. So guess where he can afford to go? Japan. I could kill him, It’s like can you speak anyother Japanese than Dattebayou? Do you deserve to go there? NO. I’m participating in Japanese festivals, doing Kanji practice everyday, crying at Japanese dramas, laughing at their morning shows and he can just read Manga and he calls himself ‘Obsessed’ BASTARD. Oh, and also his little emo friend mangatard mortgaged his house and he went, and where did he go? Tokyo Disney. And what did he buy? Shounen Jump. Aggh, It just makes me mad thinking about it. DD:
By: Waratte! Itsumo Waratte! on December 28, 2008
at 12:20 am
@blackmage; Being taught languages is no good just by itself, you need to back it up with self-teaching, even watching films help.
By: Waratte! Itsumo Waratte! on December 28, 2008
at 12:23 am
SO TRUE OMFG.
By: Bozu on June 14, 2009
at 8:23 pm