Sunday, February 8, 2015

Disneyfication of Japan

Disneyfication of Japan


This picture comes from Tokyo Disneyland's Easter parade. I'm immediately struck by how westernized these three performers are. Their costumes are based on turn of the century European fashion, and the blonde wigs serve to remove them further from their Japanese heritage. Of course, it goes without saying that Easter is not a traditional Japanese holiday, but rather an aspect of Western culture that has been transported to their country along with the Disney brand itself. Simply put, Disneyland is a pocket of western, specifically american, culture in the middle of Tokyo. It serves as a familiar setting for american tourists and as a neo-colonialist outpost for the Disney corporation. It should be noted that the Japanese citizens who work here are ultimately stimulating the U.S. economy, rather than that of Japan. For even though they work to support themselves, and much of their wages flow back into the Japanese market, the vast majority of the parks profits are retained by the Disney corporation. This means that Disney has established a system by which american citizens travel to a foreign nation and still bolster the western market. But ultimately, it is an example of the role corporations play in neo-colonialism. Because they are viewed as business without political agendas or national allegiances, they can easily expand their empire beyond the borders of their nation of origin.

2 comments:

  1. Because U.S. economy is being stimulated rather than that of Japan's, it also captures the very capitalist essence of what the U.S. is. In the end, tourism only really benefits those who have been colonize, and although Japan wasn't really colonized by the U.S., it is still being affected by this parasitic entity that has latched itself onto it.

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  2. In relations to Disney, Epcot (in Florida), one of four Disney parks, contains a collection of cultures, and a miniature world of sorts. A compression of the world, or important “landmarks”, are displayed from places around the world which include: Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, and France. Displays such as these are appealing because this allows people to explore the world in their own backyard, in an inexpensive and interesting way, and experience different cultures. As we all know, other cultures are for our entertainment,but the notion that we [Americans] can act inappropriately, rude and offensive, happens when we are on vacation to other countries. Now, when talking about Tokyo Disneyland, I think that Disney does the same thing for Tokyo and offers them a cheap American experience. Disney has been criticized for racist undertones in films and/or toys, which I do not know much about, but if what you say is true, it does not seem right how the park in Tokyo is benefiting the U.S. economy.

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