Culture Japan started off as an idea in the back of my mind while watching TV precisely this time last year on Jan 2nd 2010. The vision was to create a TV show which would focus on Japanese culture contents that would be targeted at folks overseas - but created in a way so that folks in Japan would enjoy the show too.
Culture Japan not only features Japanese Pop Culture but also some of the more traditional Japan too. The feedback we've had from many Japanese viewers is that the show enables them to start to appreciate more of their own culture.
Culture Japan Season 1 Final
A year later on the 2nd of January 2011, we broadcast the final episode of Culture Japan season 1. The new years special edition will broadcast tonight in Japan on Tokyo MX TV (channel 9 on your remote) from 21:30 - 22:30. Culture Japan is currently broadcast across the whole of Asia so folks who have Animax will be able to watch this episode too.
But what about folks around the rest of the world? I'm working on the paperwork now to make that happen and everybody should be able to watch starting this month - latest by February.
Have learned a lot about TV production in Japan and met a load of new comrades through the Culture Japan Project. Our translator lives in South Africa, the chap who works on the 3D effects lives in the UK and we will be working with a sound engineer who lives in space. We've also had a load of reader participation on the show too where otaku rooms and cosplay have been featured. Makes me so happy to be able to connect to so many talented folks around the world online ^o^
Its been an incredible experience which has gained much support from industry folks and viewers - thank you all! Going to take a wee little break before starting to film the second season - Culture Japan 2 is just around the corner.
As for tonight's show - we've got the following folks appearing (not in any particular order) :-
Shinichiro Inoue - President of Kadokawa
Ichiro Mizuki - King of Anisong
Aki Takanori - President of Good Smile Company
Takaaki Kidani - President of Bushiroad
Toshihiro Fukuoka - Chief Executive Editor (Weekly ASCII)
Izumi Kitta - Anime seiyuu
Suzuko Mimori - Anime seiyuu
vividblaze - Japanese pop group
Super Sonico - Nitroplus mascot character
Mirai Suenaga - Culture Japan mascot character
Ichiro Mizuki - King of Anisong
Aki Takanori - President of Good Smile Company
Takaaki Kidani - President of Bushiroad
Toshihiro Fukuoka - Chief Executive Editor (Weekly ASCII)
Izumi Kitta - Anime seiyuu
Suzuko Mimori - Anime seiyuu
vividblaze - Japanese pop group
Super Sonico - Nitroplus mascot character
Mirai Suenaga - Culture Japan mascot character
The show focuses on Japanese Pop Culture around the world where we feature some of your submitted content. We visit the offices of Aniki, Kadokawa and take a look at what goes on in the Good Smile Company offices. The big bosses give us their insight into how they see Japanese soft content being consumed worldwide and whats instore for us in 2011. Hope you enjoy the show as much as I enjoyed making it ^o^
