Japanese Popular Culture
- Samurai from Outer Space by Antonia Levi
- Manga, Manga by Frederick Schodt
- Dreamland Japan by Frederick Schodt
- What's Japanese in Japanese Animation
- Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
In recent years, a surprising amount of Japanese pop-culture media, mostly anime (animated features) and manga (comic books) has made its way to North America. If you remember Astro Boy, Speed Racer, Starblazers and Macross, or if your son or daughter is watching Sailor Moon, Pokemon, and Dragonball Z, you may want to read about what anime is, and where it comes from.
Samurai from Outer Space, despite the outlandish title, is probably the best single explanation of the anime phenomenon. It's well researched, informative, thoughtful, but also entertaining, and a surprisingly easy read.
Scott McCloud's book Understanding Comics is not about Japanese culture, but is listed here as an excellent overview of what a comic is. Scott also compares American and Japanese styles, which helps point out the differences as well as the similarities between the two methods of visual storytelling.
Manga/anime was a great part of my childhood, beginning with the excellent "Astroboy" (Tetsuan-Atmu, or "Ambassador of the Atom"), continuing on through Kimba the White Lion (Jungle Tatai, or Jungle Emperor), Battle of the Planets, and finally Ghost in the Shell.
What makes good anime great for me is the way that high drama, low humor, action/adventure, poetic beauty, and philosophical points are all wound into each other, rather like in Shakespeare. (If you don't see what I mean, think of Romeo&Juliet, where we have the Nurse telling dirty jokes in between the sword fights and love scenes. ) We don't seem to be able to do that here. Shame.