>>80220957>So, are American Comics popular in Japan?Not publicly, no. There are people here who like them, yes, but the culture discourages them from expressing it.
Let me see if I can put this in relatable terms for Westerners (of which I am one; I just live and work in Kanazawa).
You know how when it comes to buying cars in the US, there's this "BUY AMERICAN" mentality with a large segment of people? The idea that you need to support your country's auto manufacturing industry and if you buy a foreign car you're doing your art to destroy American business and the economy?
Well, the Japanese have that mentality but cranked up to 11.
It extends past manufactured goods to ALL forms of product, including media. To the point where people don't want to get caught watching foreign movies, television shows or reading books or comics written by foreigners.
>"Why are you reading a foreign book? Why aren't you supporting Japanese authors?">"Why are you watching a foreign movie? Why aren't you supporting Japanese filmmakers?">"Why are you eating at an American franchise restaurant? Why aren't you supporting Japanese ramen shops?"It's the "BUY JAPANESE" attitude, but it extends to EVERY level of goods and services. To so much as enjoy entertainment from another country is considered a betrayal of your culture.
This also extends to socializing,
>"Why are you making friends with foreigners? Why aren't you supporting Japanese natives who need friends?"Their xenophobia is a thing Westerner have a hard time understanding, because as much as we might think building a wall or extinguishing Schengen is "xenophobic", it is dwarfed by the Japanese Isolationist mentality.
>tl;drJapanese don't like foreign media period, and those that express their enjoyment are ostracized with extreme prejudice.
