Story 2: Speech

CBS freelance reporter Lucy Craft wants to know are you a nerd?
Craft, who is based out of Tokyo, spoke in front of an audience of 100 at WSU on Feb. 11 about Japan spending big money to study nerds.
“Japan is known for its pop culture,” said Craft during her speech titled, "Anime Cool and Manga Chic: How and Why Japan Became a Pop-Culture Oasis.”It’s a Mecca of cool."
The nerds Craft are referring to are those that read, “Manga,” a form of Japanese comics. Japan hopes by studying these nerds it will help improve their economy.
Within the Manga comics are, “Anime,” which are animated distinctive characters. Some well known examples of this are Pokémon and Astro Boy.
Hello Kitty is another version of Anime that Craft said became a “Japanese phenomenon.”
Osamu Tezuka, known as “The ‘god’ of Manga-Anime,” began sketching frames of a film after WWII. Craft said this was where it all began.
According to a press release issued to WSU from Craft, Manga was the fastest growing segment of books in the U.S. in 2005, according to Wikipedia.
Manga and Anime are so popular in Japan that government agencies are getting on-board.
"Every state government has its own character or mascot," Craft said. "Cartoons are used in politics and on public service posters."
Craft uses the term "cutification" in describing how the Japanese display Anime characters and females.
Japan created an all female group called, "AKB48," in hopes to catch the attention of men. Yet the portrayal of these girls is seen as "potential child pornography," Craft said.
"I'm more Americanized so I agree the group is semi pornographic," said Janelle Ohtani, an Asian student at WSU.
“I have a problem with extreme cutification,” Craft said. “In Japan, you see Anime shows, people dressed as Anime, and it’s just everywhere.”
WSU student Paja Xiong associated the word cute with something different than Craft.
"I think cute is more a label associated with Asians, not Japanese," Xiong said.
Craft also discussed Japan's new promotion strategy called, "Cool Japan." Japan is trying to strengthen its economy by using its cultural industries. Some of those industries include robotics and Anime.
“To live in Japan is to be immersed in both fantasy and robots,” Craft said.
The campaign strategy is about “recovery for the 21st century and to rebrand Japan," Craft said.
Japan's budget for the campaign is "$200 million" and Japan has already seen "a bump in tourism," Craft said.
Japan is following in the steps of South Korea and China who wanted to raise their national image. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, in 2008, South Korea spent $116.9 billion (79 percent of total government spending), China $477.5 billion (51 percent), and Japan $101.8 billion (12 percent) on cultural activities.
Craft believes Japan’s money should be invested in something more valuable.
"Japan needs to solve greenhouse gases," Craft said. "That would be really cool!"
David Pietz, director of the WSU Asia Program, thought Craft's presentation was outstanding but needing a little more background information.
“I would have liked to see perhaps a greater attempt to explain the cultural phenomena of Manga and Anime," Pietz said via e-mail.
Craft encourages all nerds and aspiring nerds to visit Japan.


Outline:
I. Lead
II. Manga-Anime
a. Pokémon, Hello Kitty
b. 'god' of Manga
c. background
III. Government
a. Anime mascots/characters
b. Cutification
c. AKB48
IV. Quotes
a. Janelle Ohtani quote
b. Lucy Craft quote
c. Paja Xiong quote
V. “Cool Japan”
a. Campaign
b. South Korea and China figures
c. Final comments

Three Questions for Lucy Craft:
1. You mentioned you wished Japan would use the $200 million budget for the “Cool Japan” campaign to resolve greenhouse gases. What other projects should Japan put that money towards?
2. As a journalist based in Tokyo, what differences do you see in Japanese reporting and news coverage compared to coverage in the U.S.?
3. How did Japan become a “Mecca of cool” in your opinion?