MovieChat Forums > Kikujirô no natsu (2000) Discussion > Is this an accurate representaton of Jap...

Is this an accurate representaton of Japanese culture?

posted 19 years ago by rooprect
12 replies | jump to latest

I thought this film was delightful. I just have 1 question: is it an accurate representation of Japanese culture, or is it deliberately given an unrealistic innocence?

Everyone is so damn polite to Kikujiro even though he's an unmitigated ass. In America, he wouldn't last 5 minutes before getting either (1) a knife in his back, or (2) slapped with a lawsuit.

So, is that really how it is in Japan? Hotel clerks give you a ride if you cuss them out? Harley-riding skinheads give you gifts if you threaten them? Can't be. I'm assuming (much like in "Peewee's Big Adventure") that this movie is essentially a fairytale in contemporary society. It's meant to be unrealistically goofy. If not, man I'm moving to Japan tomorrow! Either way, it's quite refreshing.

[–] beat-takeshi 19 years ago

I'm half-japanese and I've been there a few times.
All I can tell you is that I didn't think the hotel clerk's attitude was weird.

About the bikers I couldn't tell anything (I'm not familiar with japanese bikers ;)

You would be told in any business/cultural conference/lecture about Japan that avoiding any frontal clash is important over there.
It means that the hotel clerk would never dare telling a customer his behaviour is not acceptable.

Blaming someone in a public place would be considered a humiliation most of the time.
And arguing with customers would be shameful for the clerk as well.

No matter how rude you are, nobody will tell you anything bad, especialy to strangers.

The avoiding-confrontation-thing is so important that you will never be told "No"
Typical conversations would be :

Customer : "I would like to have a plane ticket to Osaka for tomorrow at 10pm"
Clerk : "Ah I see that you want a ticket for 10pm" (translation : There is no plane at 10pm)

- I would like to order the boiled fish
- I'm sorry to tell you that I won't be able to meet your request. We're very sorry.

[–] rooprect 19 years ago

That is so freakin cool! I'm going to book a plane ticket to Osaka tomorrow! ;)

[–] sljones44 19 years ago

It's hard to say. It isnt quite an accurate representation. People are polite in Japan, I think its just a comedic thing - like Chris Rock or Chris Tucker. Takashi wants to show an opposite side of "stereotypically polite japanese" perhaps It is deliberate.

[–] gun_slinging_samurai 19 years ago

I'm Japanese and I go back to Japan every year.
The people in that are very much like that of people in Japan. Also, when you said that he cussed the hotel clerk out, you must be referring to the english translation. When Beat Takeshi calls the clerk "baka-yaro" he's just expressing his frustration to him, not trying to piss off or insult the clerk. The culture is well depicted also. A lot of people are much more nice when there's a kid around, even if they seem to be mean people. It's just basic manners or "jyoshiki".

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bawqy 16 years ago

Baka yaro actually is pretty insulting, Baka means stupid and yaro is literally a way of saying "you" or "such a guy/person" but is very informal and would be considered rude or rough talk in most situations.

[–] palehorse864 19 years ago

Does anyone think that the bikers may have been a joke on the expected nature of bikers as tough roughians? It is a common joke in america as well to see a tough looking biker and have him do something the opposite of said image. I imagine in Japan there may be the same image of bikers and our two biker friends followed the same rule of parody as in America.

[–] abaasan 18 years ago

Actually it's the irony that most bikers are regular people. It's a misconception that bikers are badasses or hardcore mofos or whatever. Most people with "regular" lives enjoy biking as a hobby etc...

This is true in Japan as well although there are some biker gangs, the badass image still isn't supported because they operate in other "evil" ways I guess. (Don't buy a bike in Japan, especially around Yokosuka Naval Base.)

However what I would like to know is are there really that many people who can maintain their own personalities and be cool. Sorta like a hippy thing. Because I wouldn't mind hitchiking around Japan to meet people like that! My experiences are only limited to Tokyo and the area around Yokosuka.

"The sleep of reason breeds monsters"

[–] Helicopta 18 years ago

My take on the whole “biker incident” was that because Kikujiro is a tough Yakuza (or at least, he likes portray himself as such) that people are immediately wary of him. So the bikers’ first thoughts are “This guy’s dangerous, got connections, so best do as he says”. In this way he intimidates a number of characters along the way until his bluff is called when he encounters the genuine tough guys at the fairground.
Does this ring any (little angel) bells with anyone? Or am I way off the mark?

[–] Sumerah 18 years ago

Kikujiro does get his ass kicked at the fair.

[–] Sven_Hassel 18 years ago

Four on one isn't fair but oh well.

"Ah storwee wike mine ha ne'er bean towld." - Chiyo.

[–] Kawada_Kira 11 years ago

Yeah, but by yakuza gangsters, not ordinary people.

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