Japan in the British Media (Feedback)

Thank you for all your comments. I think we drifted back onto the topic of TV a bit this week, but that’s fine. Looking at the last few comments, though, I don’t think it is right to just distinguish between “educational” programs and “entertainment” programs.

For me, the problem is not the type of programs, but rather the quality of them. It is quite possible to have bad educational programs, and it is also quite possible to have good entertainment programs.

Anne mentioned “Little Britain,” which is a show that I also love. If you watch it, you will see that it is very, very silly. The reason it was so popular, though, was that it was original. The writers and performers in that show were relatively unknown before, but they were given a chance because they had such a great idea.

If every show on British TV was like “Little Britain,” I would never watch it again. The point is that it is just one type of show among a very wide and varied range. I just took a look at the BBC iPlayer, and the following shows are now available for viewing in the UK at the moment.

1. A show about a team of doctors investigating various health issues look at the effects on health of sitting down.

2. A TV drama about life in a modern British high school. The show deals with issues such as bullying, teenage pregnancy, and drugs.

3. A documentary featuring a well known gay actor / writer visiting Brazil and Russia to find out what life is like for gay people there.

4. A reality show about baking.

5. A comedy / drama about a couple of men who get caught up in a spy conspiracy. (I’ve been watching this one, and it is very original. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It is completely impossible to guess what is going to happen next.)

6. A comedy panel quiz show about music.

7. A movie starring Hugh Grant, and one starring Liam Neeson.

Another thing that Britain does well is investigative journalism. There have been many programmes made over the past few years that have exposed political scandals and criminal acts. In this way, television actually plays a very important role in British society.

At the moment, I do not have a TV in my house, but I will be getting a new one when I move into the new place. When I get the new TV, I will make a point of watching Japanese TV for a few days to see whether my views are overly negative. Maybe things have improved since I moved here in the 1990s.

Anyway, here is some feedback on your comments.

I think Ganguro tribe has already extincted about a decade ago
I think Ganguro disappeared about a decade ago

No! You would get ticked off if you napped on the job even in Japan!
Really? University teachers frequently sleep during meetings, but I have never seen anyone get ticked off for it.

I gave a friend of mine a present at the birth of her baby the other day.
I think you mean “to celebrate the birth of her baby.” I would be very surprised if you were actually “at” the birth! (LOL)

it’s a pity if British people think that we every Japanese like these things
it’s a pity if British people think that all Japanese like these things

I’ve heard that Japanese gift-wrapping has a great reputation in the world.
That is very true.

Japanese will be still regarded as weird or strange people through these stupid programs.
… because of these stupid programs.

The TV show is completely ridiculous for me and I felt nausea.
… and it made me feel nauseous.

However, I believe that there should be some limits to go on the air.
However, I believe there should be some restrictions on what goes on the air.

so actually, my son could go to kindergarten!
so actually, my son was able to go to kindergarten! (A-Z: could)

I’ll cook お好み焼き for our lunch,
“I’m going to” would be more natural here because it is something you are planning, not something you have just decided. (A-Z: future forms)

I’m afraid, but I think you’re a bit exaggerated.
I’m afraid you might be exaggerating a bit.

who on earth in Japan still have such sterotyped images for Britain?
I’m afraid that lots of people still do. When Japanese people offer me coffee and I politely refuse, they often say, “Ah, you are British, so you drink tea!”

I don’t want them(the writer) call people in Miyake Island “weird”.
I wish they wouldn’t call people in Miyake Island “weird.”

if I had two young healthy sons like you, I would shop at COSTCO every weekend!
A new Costco has just opened in Nagoya. I haven’t been there yet, though.

For me they aren’t funny and they are rubbish.
I think I should mention in the interests of fairness that my father thinks most of what my brothers and I watch on British TV is rubbish, so not all British people think British TV is great.

Watching TV is probably the most effective way to get all sorts of information for me because it offers us sounds and moving pictures at once.
That’s true, but it means that the information you receive is carefully controlled by a small group of powerful people. For example, have you ever seen a program investigating corruption in politics in Japan?

Both writers of the links David and you posted use the adjective “weird”, but if “interesting” (興味深い、面白い) was used instead of “weird”, no one would get annoyed.
“Weird” is probably not the right word, because in this article, it basically just means “something that I am not used to.” There are many things that I find “weird” in Britain now because I have been living in Japan for so long. For example, British women do not shave the hair on their arms, but Japanese women do. I feel very strange now when I see a woman with hairy arms!

I don’t want to watch programs which I don’t find interesting.
Nice sentence.

As for TV programs, I guess Japan has a mixed reputation; cool and weird.
That’s very true.

Gunkanjima is now a cool place. It has to do with 007, David, 007.
I’m not sure why you are telling me that. I didn’t write the article!

“wrapped with beautiful paper” “the” is necessary before “beautiful”, right?
No. You don’t need “the.”

The only thing I can’t agree with is that how could someone say British TV airs more educational and creative programs than Japanese TV. Has anyone counted it?
I haven’t counted, but I have watched both British TV and Japanese TV for long periods. I would say there is a world of difference between them in terms of creativity. As I said before, I don’t think this is because there is a shortage of creative people in Japan; it’s because the networks and sponsoring companies are all controlled by very conservative old men. By the way, although I don’t have a TV, I go to the gym three times a week, and there are about 10 TVs in there, all on different channels, so I do see a range of the programs that are on.

I’m not over eighty, but I do hide my thumbs! Ha-ha!
I have lived in Japan for almost 20 years, but I had never heard of this before.

That’s all for today. Have a great weekend, and I’ll try to think of a less controversial topic for next week!