Publication Date
Spring 2019
Subject Area
Section 2: Culture: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Abstract
This paper explores the nature and reception of Japanese imports, both material and cultural, to America in recent history. It puts special focus on elements of popular culture such as film, television, sport, and video games to show how the content of Japanese imports shifted from being predominately hardware based to software based by the end of the 20th century. The paper also explores the degree to which the Japanese identity of various products was hidden or emphasized in their advertisement and presentation. Throughout, the theme and question of quality is discussed. The American perception of the quality of different Japanese goods over time is traced using primary sources such as the major gaming magazine Nintendo Power as well as the contemporary journalism surrounding the careers of famous Japanese baseball players who chose to play in the U.S.
