Improving the World... One Interaction At A Time.
A Performers Guide to Cultural Interactions
By William Draven
As an actor at a major motion picture studio, and theme park in Hollywood, as well as a magician I frequently get the opportunity to entertain for from all over the world. A year ago or so a document was released within our entertainment department that outlined different countries, and some good information you can use to create meaningful, lasting encounters with their people.
I immediately saw the advantage of this information for the magician community because what are we if not entertainers? We can use just about any tool at our disposal to help create that one magic moment with our audience that can make it even that much more memorable. So I got permission to share the information with you. Of course this project will take some time to post up, so I'll be updating this based upon two factors. The first being how well received, and appreciated it is from you the community, and the second how relevant the community feels this information is as applied to their lives. That is to say if not encouraged, I won't keep it up. Otherwise, I'll post new threads titled: "Improving The World: {country name}" that that specific file relates to.
Without any further delay, I bring you our next country: Japan
Country: Japan
Continental Location: Northeastern Asia
What They Call Themselves: Japanese
Primary Language: Japanese
Secondary Language: English and Swedish
Prominent Cities: Tokyo [capital], Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kyoto
Famous/ Historical Sites: Motsuji Temple Jodo Garden (Hiraizumi Town, Iwate prefecture), Taga Castle Ruins (Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture), Shuri Castle (Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture).
Currency: Yen
Starter Phrases:
Good morning: Ohayou gozaimasu (OH-hi-oo go-zie-MAH-soo)
Goodbye: Sayonara (Si-yo-NAR-uh)
Pleased to meet you: Hajimema****e (HAH-zhee-MAH-shee-tay)
Thank you: Arigatou (Arr-ee-GAH-Toe)
You’re welcome: Dou itashi ma****e (Doe ee-TAH-shee MAh-shee-tay)
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Ichiro (Baseball star); Emperor Akihito (current, he is the only world leader whose title translates to “emperor” in English); Sadaharu Oh (Hall of Fame baseball legend); Akira Kurosawa (influential director “Seven Samurai,” “Hidden Fortress”) Toshiro Mifune (Actor, favored by Kurisowa); Yoko Ono (avant-garde artist); George Takei (Japanese-American actor, Sulu on “Star Trek”), Gedde Watanabe (actor, Long Duk Dong in “Sixteen Candles”) Megumi Hayashibara (voice actress, singer, and radio personality), Tomokazu Seki (Voice Actor), Gackt (Singer, songwriter), Morning Musume (Translates to Morning girls or Good Morning Girls is a Japanese idol girl group who sing and dance to upbeat pop tunes.)
-Japan co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup with South Korea, the only time the championship has been held in Asia. Brazil won the tournament.
-The 1998 Winter Olympics were held in Nagano. 1964 Summer Olympics were in Tokyo.
-Japan is the “land of the rising sun.” It is made up of 6,852 islands making it an archipelago. The four largest islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku.
-The country’s highest peak is the volcano, Mt. Fuji.
-The Japanese drive on the left side of the road.
-The Emperor is not referred to by name, simply as His Imperial Majesty or the Emperor.
-Sumo Wrestling is the national sport, while Baseball is the most popular in Japan. Other popular sports are Judo, and Karate. Golf is also growing in popularity as well.
-Honorific name suffixes Chan, San, Bo, Kun, Sama, and Sensei can be added to the end of names in Japan to designate different cultural statuses. Chan is usually reserved for children or girls of personal acquaintance while Bo is used for babies, or young boys. San is gender neutral and is the rough translation for Mr./Mrs. Denoting a reasonable amount of respect to anyone you are not close to. Kun is used when someone of senior status is addressing someone of junior status, such as upper classmen speaking to lower classmen. Sama translates to Lord and is only used to show the highest form of respect to someone of higher social status than you. Sensei can be used to address teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, or anyone of formal title. Unlike the other honorifics Sensei can be used as a standalone title.
-Japanese animation (or Anime) has gained worldwide popularity since its birth in the 1960’s with the film “Astro Boy”. Anime ranges in subject matter from mundane bread baking, to perverse pornographic films called “hentai”. Popular anime shows that have gained western appeal are: “Sailor Moon,” “Yugioh,” “Pokemon,” and “Dragon Ball Z”.
-“J-Pop” refers to Japanese pop music, originally influenced by the Beatles, now heavily influenced by a multitude of genres including bubblegum, girl band, and boy band styles. J-Pop is used widely in anime & video games, too.
-Godzilla, “Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot,” “Kamen Rider,” and “Ultraman” are popular Japanese Sci-Fi exports from the 1960’s.
-Toshiro Mifune was George Lucas’s first choice to play Obi-Wan Kenobi in “Star Wars.” He did appear in Universal Studio’s “1941”, directed by Steven Spielberg.
-Wataru “Wat” Misaka (Japanese-American) broke the NBA color barrier in 1947 when he suited up for the NY Knicks.
-The Himuro Mansion (or Himikyru Mansion) outside the city limits of Tokyo is reputed to be the nations most haunted location. The legend of the Himuro mansion is popular enough that it has been featured in the Fatal Frame video game series by Sony for their Playstation 2 platform.
What To Avoid:
Pearl Harbor. Confusion with other Asian cultures (China, Korea). Prolonged eye contact during conversation is unusual. Japanese will use disposable Kleenex rather than a handkerchief. When you see Asians walking around with a mask, it is to keep others from getting their illness. Avoid using Japanese honorific name suffixes (Chan, San, Sama) when speaking to them unless you know how to use them. Improper use can offend!
A Performers Guide to Cultural Interactions
By William Draven
As an actor at a major motion picture studio, and theme park in Hollywood, as well as a magician I frequently get the opportunity to entertain for from all over the world. A year ago or so a document was released within our entertainment department that outlined different countries, and some good information you can use to create meaningful, lasting encounters with their people.
I immediately saw the advantage of this information for the magician community because what are we if not entertainers? We can use just about any tool at our disposal to help create that one magic moment with our audience that can make it even that much more memorable. So I got permission to share the information with you. Of course this project will take some time to post up, so I'll be updating this based upon two factors. The first being how well received, and appreciated it is from you the community, and the second how relevant the community feels this information is as applied to their lives. That is to say if not encouraged, I won't keep it up. Otherwise, I'll post new threads titled: "Improving The World: {country name}" that that specific file relates to.
Without any further delay, I bring you our next country: Japan
Country: Japan
Continental Location: Northeastern Asia
What They Call Themselves: Japanese
Primary Language: Japanese
Secondary Language: English and Swedish
Prominent Cities: Tokyo [capital], Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kyoto
Famous/ Historical Sites: Motsuji Temple Jodo Garden (Hiraizumi Town, Iwate prefecture), Taga Castle Ruins (Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture), Shuri Castle (Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture).
Currency: Yen
Starter Phrases:
Good morning: Ohayou gozaimasu (OH-hi-oo go-zie-MAH-soo)
Goodbye: Sayonara (Si-yo-NAR-uh)
Pleased to meet you: Hajimema****e (HAH-zhee-MAH-shee-tay)
Thank you: Arigatou (Arr-ee-GAH-Toe)
You’re welcome: Dou itashi ma****e (Doe ee-TAH-shee MAh-shee-tay)
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Ichiro (Baseball star); Emperor Akihito (current, he is the only world leader whose title translates to “emperor” in English); Sadaharu Oh (Hall of Fame baseball legend); Akira Kurosawa (influential director “Seven Samurai,” “Hidden Fortress”) Toshiro Mifune (Actor, favored by Kurisowa); Yoko Ono (avant-garde artist); George Takei (Japanese-American actor, Sulu on “Star Trek”), Gedde Watanabe (actor, Long Duk Dong in “Sixteen Candles”) Megumi Hayashibara (voice actress, singer, and radio personality), Tomokazu Seki (Voice Actor), Gackt (Singer, songwriter), Morning Musume (Translates to Morning girls or Good Morning Girls is a Japanese idol girl group who sing and dance to upbeat pop tunes.)
-Japan co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup with South Korea, the only time the championship has been held in Asia. Brazil won the tournament.
-The 1998 Winter Olympics were held in Nagano. 1964 Summer Olympics were in Tokyo.
-Japan is the “land of the rising sun.” It is made up of 6,852 islands making it an archipelago. The four largest islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku.
-The country’s highest peak is the volcano, Mt. Fuji.
-The Japanese drive on the left side of the road.
-The Emperor is not referred to by name, simply as His Imperial Majesty or the Emperor.
-Sumo Wrestling is the national sport, while Baseball is the most popular in Japan. Other popular sports are Judo, and Karate. Golf is also growing in popularity as well.
-Honorific name suffixes Chan, San, Bo, Kun, Sama, and Sensei can be added to the end of names in Japan to designate different cultural statuses. Chan is usually reserved for children or girls of personal acquaintance while Bo is used for babies, or young boys. San is gender neutral and is the rough translation for Mr./Mrs. Denoting a reasonable amount of respect to anyone you are not close to. Kun is used when someone of senior status is addressing someone of junior status, such as upper classmen speaking to lower classmen. Sama translates to Lord and is only used to show the highest form of respect to someone of higher social status than you. Sensei can be used to address teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, or anyone of formal title. Unlike the other honorifics Sensei can be used as a standalone title.
-Japanese animation (or Anime) has gained worldwide popularity since its birth in the 1960’s with the film “Astro Boy”. Anime ranges in subject matter from mundane bread baking, to perverse pornographic films called “hentai”. Popular anime shows that have gained western appeal are: “Sailor Moon,” “Yugioh,” “Pokemon,” and “Dragon Ball Z”.
-“J-Pop” refers to Japanese pop music, originally influenced by the Beatles, now heavily influenced by a multitude of genres including bubblegum, girl band, and boy band styles. J-Pop is used widely in anime & video games, too.
-Godzilla, “Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot,” “Kamen Rider,” and “Ultraman” are popular Japanese Sci-Fi exports from the 1960’s.
-Toshiro Mifune was George Lucas’s first choice to play Obi-Wan Kenobi in “Star Wars.” He did appear in Universal Studio’s “1941”, directed by Steven Spielberg.
-Wataru “Wat” Misaka (Japanese-American) broke the NBA color barrier in 1947 when he suited up for the NY Knicks.
-The Himuro Mansion (or Himikyru Mansion) outside the city limits of Tokyo is reputed to be the nations most haunted location. The legend of the Himuro mansion is popular enough that it has been featured in the Fatal Frame video game series by Sony for their Playstation 2 platform.
What To Avoid:
Pearl Harbor. Confusion with other Asian cultures (China, Korea). Prolonged eye contact during conversation is unusual. Japanese will use disposable Kleenex rather than a handkerchief. When you see Asians walking around with a mask, it is to keep others from getting their illness. Avoid using Japanese honorific name suffixes (Chan, San, Sama) when speaking to them unless you know how to use them. Improper use can offend!
