If there was need for proof that commercialisation of culture has truly gone awry in this day and age, then Japan and Halloween would probably constitute the perfect example. If you think that the commercialisation of christmas was bad, then trust me you need to witness Halloween in Tokyo. I remember about 6 weeks or so ago I was walking along the street and noticed some Halloween decorations in a shop window. To which I thought, ‘hold on a minute it’s mid September… you what?’. I can’t really say I’ve ever cared for Halloween, what with it being a primarily American celebration, but the sight of Halloween decorations 6 weeks or so ahead of the time left me feeling a little weird.
Turns out that was just the beginning. Halloween’s about 10 mins away my time, and I’ve been subjected to more Halloween related merchandise and decorations in 6 weeks than I ever have in 27 years previous to that. Surely that must rank as some sort of record. Even though the overkill commercialisation of something like Halloween is quite ‘normal’ today, it’s still a pretty mental experience. Considering that Japan is as far removed from Halloween as I could have imagined, seeing the place covered in decorations for the best part of 6 weeks and the insane amount of commercial tie-ins has actually left me wondering wtf for the best part of that time. From Halloween flavouring of all sweets and chocolates and drinks and ice creams imaginable (Baskin Robbins takes the crown on that one with something like 10 Halloween related flavourings) to Halloween Kitty, I’ve had the colour orange burned into my retina and sub-conscious, and will be glad to see the back of all these pumpkins.
Ok so there is the logical explanation: American occupation following WW2 has left a massive footprint across parts of Japan, especially the big cities, with the country being pretty much Americanized (see the z there? :lol: ) in any way possible which makes the Halloween celebrations not so surprising. But still the total overkill is quite a shock to the system the first time round. There is cultural imperialism and then there is this - hyper-imperialism/commercialism which is quite fitting, in a land full where compound names using hyper can be deployed for a lot of things.
According to one of my students today this situation wasn’t always the case, and has only got worst in recent years. What’s more while there is all this Halloween related business for 6 weeks, most of the people don’t actually seem to celebrate it. There’s no massive trick or treat about to happen as far as I know, and by all accounts it’ll all be over as fast as it started come thursday morning, with nothing much to show for it apart from a whole bunch of discarded orange paraphernalia. I’ve spent the last 3 days doing Halloween lessons for kids, most of which know pumpkins, ghosts and the usual related figures, but haven’t really got a clue about the rest of the associated ‘traditions’ (and I use that word loosely).
If Halloween’s that bad I dread to think of what christmas might throw up. Yet another celebration which has really no relation to the country or culture, apart from commercial and imperialistic ties, ready to flood the streets and shelves of shops. Ho ho ho…
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November 11th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
I must’ve been here too long or have had a particularly good book and selection of music on my MP3 player, because I hardly noticed this year…
Not sure there is an American connection, it’s just the Japanese companies seeing a great new way to make cash plus the Japanese traditional love of anything that is seasonal (you’ve got to love the plastic branches of autumn leaves on shopping streets next to the real trees that have been butchered so that no leaves inconvenience anyone). You might have heard the story of how girls give boys chocolates on Valentine’s because the chocolate companies decided they’d make more cash that way- and boy were they right!
As impossible as it is for me, I can kind of see the logic of giving yourself up to commercialism or cuteness- it does, after all, make you feel good for a bit if your culture hasn’t taught you to feel guilty about it. The Japanese tried living and dying for a higher cause only 60 years ago, and it didn’t work out too well for them or anyone else…
TEFLtastic blog- “All the truth that’s fit to teach”- http://www.tefl.net/alexcase
November 11th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Yeah tbh the American connection was more just a thought, likely due to the presence of so many american related things, it just seemed to make sense to me as to why Halloween would be such a big deal, tho i did wonder because i know halloween isn’t that big everywhere in the states.
I’ve heard of the valentines day thing, which sounds like the mother of all capitalist tie ins, ha ha.
You’re right about it making you feel good, i just found the overbearing capitalist nature of it all a bit hard to swallow. Im a lot easier on the whole sakura thing for example.
November 12th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Come to think of it, the fact that it is Christmas, Halloween and Valentines rather than Ramadan and Diwali that are catching on all over the world might have something to with the Americans… Again, one of those things I’ve got so used to I hardly notice anymore.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
or it could have to do with fundamentalist christians… lol