Ask a foreigner

[Sideways]

Okay, so we probably don't have too many Japanese members. But could someone please explain Hello Kitty to me. Please. It doesn't make sense.

My late brother was a huge fan. My sister is totally into it.

But it Doesn't. Make. Sense!!!!

ETA Was happily eating my cereal this morning, but when I get to the bottom of the bowl I've got the creepy cat staring back at me. WTF!?

 

[siniang]

It’s cute. It doesn’t have to make sense :D

I had a Hello Kitty phase when in my teens.

 

[somerandomguy]

Hello Kitty is a thing for making money for the people who invented Hello Kitty.

 

[bellbird]

Okay, so we probably don't have too many Japanese members. But could someone please explain Hello Kitty to me. Please. It doesn't make sense.

I'm not Japanese, but I've learnt the language for 8 years, travelled through different areas of Japan, and have a number of close Japanese friends so I'd say I'm relatively familiar with the culture (short of living there for a length of time or being Japanese).

It's very much their aesthetic, that is very loved by a lot of people particularly in the younger generation.

When I travelled to Nara, which has(/had? -- it was over 10 years ago now) the biggest wooden building in the world, very ancient and very beautiful, then there was just a random person dressed up in full cutesy-dolphin mascot style outfit hanging out outside.

That juxtaposition between ancient history, and modern cute-heavy animated characters seems very much present in the Japanese culture

 

[Ronin]

I've got the creepy cat

Its actually a lil girl, not a cat. (cough.)
I know, creepier.

 

[siniang]

Its actually a lil girl, not a cat. (cough.)
I know, creepier.

Hello Kitty actually has a pet cat by the name of Charmmy

 

[siniang]

That juxtaposition between ancient history, and modern cute-heavy animated characters seems very much present in the Japanese culture

I think it's an outlet from an inherently extremely stringent society with shittons of social norms, traditions, expectations, ... Kind of to go into the other extreme. Japanese certainly love both their ancient culture and their modern technology, cute things etc. It's actually a really interesting dichotomy.

Same for Chinese, who love cute shit. In addition to just "swapping over" from Japan, it's after decades of poverty and communist regime.

Not sure why the Koreans, though :laugh: Not too familiar with their culture, to be honest.

 

[Sideways]

Its actually a lil girl, not a cat. (cough.)
I know, creepier.

WTAF??

 

[blackemerald1]

Hello KItty is actually Kitty White and is just a cartoon character - at best. So there is a lots of marketing and commercialisation over a drawing? ...sigh....

I agree - it's creepy but then I guess the Japanese might think Bart Simpson, Fred Flintstone etc., etc., are creepy too?

I'd change your breakfast bowl @Sideways - who needs that staring back at you first thing in the morning??

 

[Sideways]

@blackemerald1 - the Simpson's are intentionally creepy at least. Remember the first season when they had teeth? Eek!

 

[Mee]

I am sort of shocked by the hello kitty revelation; though also amused. And a little upset. I feel prudish that I am kind of panicked about indoctrination to hentai and furries and stuff when it’s surely just an innocent appreciation of the innocent and fantastical. Thanks for the unexpected opportunity to work through something that had a memory attached!

Ok my foreigner question is kind of backwards. What does it feel like to really BE from somewhere? And live there? Support a local sports team? See people around locally who knew you when you were small even possibly if you never left your local community? What does single nationality experience and identity feel like? If someone says ‘where are you from?’ And you have an easy answer are you aware of impact that has on your experience of living?

 

[somerandomguy]

I think that's going to be a slightly different answer depending on if you live in Europe or the United States/Canada.

I've moved around a lot as an adult. When I moved to small town New England, it didn't go so well since everyone there had known each other for generations already. There were people who had lived there since before I was born who were still counted as newcomers.

Living in cities, no problems. Especially the medium-sized city I live in now since a lot of people have moved here the last decade or so. Only the oldest yinzers hate the new people - everyone else is so happy to see the city revitalized and are friendly and welcoming. I practically feel like a native now. My kids ARE natives. I love being able to talk about the local issues and root for the local teams and drink the local beer. I've pretty much been welcomed with open arms.

I'm a white Midwesterner, though. I "fit in." If I didn't, I suspect it would be much more difficult for me and the Welcome Wagon would probably not be waiting for me here. My wife is Jewish and even though there's a sizable Jewish population here, it's not her population of metro Mid-Atlantic Jewish people. She doesn't feel as good about this place as I do.