The OQ Weekly (27 May 2021) - The 'Punk Rock' Edition
The best curated newsletter in the Japanese pop-culture world.
Hello OTAQUESTers!
What does it mean to be ‘punk’?
Going against the status quo one frantic riff at a time?
Having a two-foot high red mohawk that defies the laws of gravity?
Getting a Sega Saturn when all your friends were getting a PlayStation?
Revering decades past while disregarding the present?
Punk is not about anything like that. Punk, contrary to popular belief, is not about revolution… it is about acceptance. It is about liking what you like and saying what you think. Watching the anime you want, reading the manga you want, playing the games you want, and knowing perfectly well WHY you watch and read and play.
And that’s exactly what The Linda Lindas are doing:
If you want to talk more about what is punk, don’t forget to join our Discord! We talk about more than just anime, manga, and games, too.
I am Ura, your guide in this amazing journey into Japanese pop, geek, and sub culture.
Thank you for joining us.
1
What’s in a name?
Over the weekend, a video of a group of LA teenagers playing a pop-punk anthem by the name of ‘Racist, Sexist Boy’ went viral. Who are The Linda Lindas, and where did they come from?
Admittedly, they’re not the no-names that people first assumed them to be. They’ve already appeared in a Netflix movie and played at the Hollywood Palladium as support for Bikini Kill, but their riotous sound and the way that they tapped into the reaction against the rising tide of anti-Asian hate crimes fully justifies their success.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, their name draws inspiration from both the hit song ‘Linda Linda’ by The Blue Hearts and the 2005 movie Linda Linda Linda named after it. To take The Blue Hearts first, it’s hard to name another group that so defined the late 1980s and early 90s: once catapulted into the mainstream, they managed to perfectly capture the feelings of rage and hopelessness that were prevalent in Japanese society at the time.
It’s the sound of The Blue Hearts’ 1987 hit ‘Linda Linda’ that The Linda Lindas aim to replicate, but this isn’t where the group’s name originates from. In fact, it was the 2005 movie that explores the music of The Blue Hearts and centers on a group of high school girls who are unsure if they’ll be able to perform as a band at the upcoming school cultural festival. Looking at the film’s messages about the power of music and the struggles of growing up, it’s no wonder why.
‘As the quartet of girls stand in an LA Public Library playing their instruments and thrashing their feelings into their music, they capture the pop-punk stylings that helped The Blue Hearts before them... If they can repackage this energy into future performances, there’s no reason The Linda Lindas can’t continue to grow from strength to strength.’ (Alicia Haddick)
2
70 years young.
Osamu Tezuka’s iconic manga Astro Boy turns 70 this year, but that doesn’t mean that the series is going into retirement just yet. In fact, these stories hold up perfectly well today.
Interestingly enough, the character of Astro Boy wasn’t always the star of the show. When he first appeared in the pages of Kobunsha’s now-defunct boys’ magazine Shonen in April 1951, he was actually just a supporting figure to the protagonist Kenichi Shikishima in a series known as Ambassador Atom (or Captain Atom, depending on who you ask). The series wasn’t exactly popular at the time, but the editor-in-chief suggested that he rework the idea to make the robot the star.
Nowadays, both Osamu Tezuka and Astro Boy have a reputation that precedes them: as a result, it can feel a bit like homework to go back and revisit them. Jacob Parker-Dalton argues that it’s more than worth doing so, however, purely on the basis of Tezuka’s storytelling.
‘Most manga made in the 1950s don’t hold up today. Although the way that Astro Boy played with post-war nuclear anxieties and re-appropriated them into the form of a hero isn’t likely to resonate with modern audiences, you may just be surprised at how thrilling and well-constructed these narratives are.’ (Jacob)
3
The first Akiba idol.
The life and times of Haruko Momoi perfectly mirrors the birth and development of Akihabara, making her the first idol of a town you can’t visit anymore.
It’s 1997. You’re repeating your last year of college because you spent too much time playing with computers. You’re searching for a used copy of the original Tokimeki Memorial in the Electric Town despite the hysteria surrounding the not-so-distant ‘otaku killings,’ when all of a sudden you come across a girl with a wide smile and a keytar who has drawn a crowd outside Akihabara Station.
Her name is Haruko Momoi. She wields a Power Glove, unashamed of her nerdy obsessions. Unknowingly, she’s laying the foundations for an idol culture that permeates Akihabara today, but that city doesn’t exist anymore: increased commercialization and a budding international reputation meant more incentive to keep the town running smoothly. Unfortunately, that also meant cracking down on the kind of guerilla performances that made Momoi so famous in the first place.
‘We just have to wonder… if Haruko Momoi tried to do her thing 10 years later, would she have been squashed by the very town she helped enrich?’ (Chris Cimi)
This is one piece of otaku history worth remembering.
4
Only a matter of time.
Considering the series’ viral success, it probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise that Dandadan is coming in English very soon.
Penned by Tatsuki Fujimoto and Yuji Kaku protegé Yukinobu Tatsu, Dandadan has been making waves on Jump Plus ever since it debuted back in April. English-speaking fans have also been clamouring for an official release for a while, so series editor Shihei Lin’s recent announcement that it will be heading to both Manga Plus and VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump in ‘August or September’ has gone down like a treat.
To a certain extent, Dandadan has benefited from high-profile support from the likes of Tatsuki Fujimoto and Yuji Kaku, but it’s not just down to good promotion. Even though Jacob said in his initial review that the premise was a little ‘stock’ and that there was a bit of strange sexual content, the series has since gone from strength to strength and is more than likely to keep growing in the future. An international release will only further that.
‘If the series’ wasn’t already Jump Plus’ next big thing, then it definitely will be later on this year when international fans can get their hands on it.’ (Jacob)
5
Anime at Annecy.
Japanese animation is set to enjoy a strong presence at this year’s Annecy Film Festival 2021, with three feature films in competition - the joint most of any country.
First of all, we have Poupelle of Chimney Town: produced by Studio 4C and based on the book by Nishino (one half of the comedy duo King Kong), it might make up for the disappointment that was Children of the Sea. Secondly, there is Josee, The Tiger and the Fish: produced by Studio BONES, it’s a story that has already been adapted into live-action.
The third and final film is a welcome surprise: The Deer King, the latest from Production I.G. What makes this addition particularly exciting is that the film is actually set to open in Japan this September, so it will make its world premiere at Annecy 2021. This is alongside the Japanese-Polish production On Time, graduate short film The Mark of Emi, and even a music video from Maison Book Girl!
‘Comparing the 2021 event to the online-only 2020 showcase sees a greater return to normalcy and the return of some larger films that skipped the 2020 event because of its online-only nature and uncertainty on release dates due to COVID-19. Still, whether you can attend in person or need to take part in the open-to-the-public online event, the event promises something for anyone with an interest in animation and an insight into how everything is made.’ (Alicia)
6
Demon slaying straight out of Japan.
There've been plenty of trailers for the upcoming Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba video game in the past couple of months, but we didn't know if it was coming in English. Until now.
SEGA Asia released a trailer for the Demon Slayer game (called Hinokami Keppuutan in Japanese) with English subtitles on Monday, confirming that it would be making its way to international audiences. Handily, it also now has an English subtitle: The Hinokami Chronicles, which means that we can stop calling it ‘the Demon Slayer game.’
Considering the series’ massive popularity and sword-swinging action, it makes sense that it would be transformed into a video game. It’ll be a 3D arena fighter just like the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm series, which is great news for fans of that kind of thing. They also showed off Tanjiro’s Fire Breathing form in action in the title’s Versus mode.
Still no word on a release date, though. The website says ‘2021,’ but who knows when exactly the release will be. It’s possible that more information might be shared at this year’s E3, so keep your eyes peeled!
7
How to build a giant robot.
When it opened back in December, the Gundam Factory Yokohama became a major attraction for one simple reason: it has a giant, moving Gundam. How did this happen?
A new book published by Premium Bandai and titled GUNDAM GLOBAL CHALLENGE will reveal all when it releases on 22 September, featuring interviews with both members of the production team and Yoshiyuki Tomino. He oversaw the project since its inception, giving it his blessing as the creator of the series.
Fans will also get a bonus book containing sketches, gravure, and production materials surrounding the creation of the colossal high-tech titan. Coming in at just over 125 pages, it might just answer the eternal question: can we actually make giant robots in real life?
As it turns out, the answer is yes, but only in a heavily controlled environment.
8
Running in the 2010s.
Live music in Japan changed a lot in the past decade, even before COVID-19 put a colossal spanner in the works. How might things pan out in the future?
Music Natalie recently sat down with a number of Japanese livehouse owners to discuss how the scene changed over the 2010s and what might happen after the pandemic. One of them, Takahiro Ishida, wasn’t exactly positive: ‘I don’t think the music scene of the 2010s was exciting. Having worked through the highs of the late 90s and 2000s, I feel like the number of people visiting live houses has fallen.’
Arguably, this is because the purpose of these venues has changed: more idols are using them, for one, alongside smaller acts. Reona Komuta, manager of Rinky Dink Love House, noted that the number of ‘working band members’ has increased while the number of bands solely dedicated to live music has decreased. Takeshi Miyazaki, former manager of the now-closed Music.org store in Minami-Ikebukuro, also noted that pretty much anyone could rent the venue without a real audition process as long as they met certain conditions.
‘While many are hurt, or feel the support offered by the government wasn’t enough, those who remain believe they can overcome the hurdles… One thing is certain: live venues won’t be the same coming out of this crisis, but they can learn the lessons from it.’ (Alicia)
9
A pirate fleet… literally.
Almost no one gets taxis in Tokyo because of the steep fares, but what better place to stick a load of manga panels to celebrate the upcoming release of One Piece volumes 99 and 100?
In collaboration with THE TOKYO MOBILITY GALLERY Canvas, 100 famous scenes from 100 volumes of One Piece will be displayed on the rear windows of 100 Tokyo taxis. This is thanks to the Glascene technology used by the company to display dynamic ads: when there is nothing displayed, the window looks invisible to the naked eye. Yet, when a passenger enters, it changes to project an advertisement.
Apparently, the technology uses GPS data and the timing of the taxi request to determine what kind of advert to display, so presumably anyone coming from the otaku hubs of Akihabara and Nakano will get these One Piece Tokyo taxi advertisements. Maybe less so the more ‘sophisticated’ areas of Ginza and Roppongi!
‘It’s a novel way to celebrate the series’ upcoming milestone releases: what better way to tell the entire city that One Piece is hitting volume 100 than putting it on the windows of the vehicles that are the enemy of pedestrians and cyclists alike?’ (Jacob)
10
B’z in your buds.
When it comes to Japanese rock, is there a group more iconic than B’z? Arguably not, meaning that their music coming to streaming services is incredibly good news.
Announced last Friday, the group’s entire back catalog is now available to stream via Spotify and Apple Music both in Japan and internationally. Select tracks had been available before, but never all of them: there’s now over 850 songs for you to rock out to in total.
The duo of Takahiro ‘Tak’ Matsumoto and Koshi Inaba made their debut as B’z in 1988. Across their nearly forty-year career, they have completely molded and shaped the Japanese rock scene in their own image, being touted as one of the most influential Japanese music acts of all time. They were also the first musical act from Asia to have their handprints and signatures engraved in Hollywood's RockWalk. Now that’s history!
‘When you think of Japanese rock, I’m sure there are a few names that come to your mind: GLAY, L’arc~en~ciel, ONE OK ROCK, GACKT,X JAPAN, and maybe a few others. But when I started getting into Japanese music, there was one duo that ruled them all, B’z.’ (Corey Prasek)
Video Corner
‘Belle is a weird case among Hosoda films. Rather than just being made by the sort of people he’s spent the last decade of his career working with, there’s plenty of new faces as well from overseas. And to bring up the Oscars once again, these include an Oscar Award-winning character designer and Oscar-nominated animation studio.’
See you next week!
Ura and the OTAQUEST team.
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