Gutspiller
07-12-2004, 01:40 PM
Throughout the world's many cultures, few are quite as devoted to unity and harmony as the Japanese. They get along and work better with one another as a result of years of cultural development and mythology, all beginning with a creation story in which the Japanese people are born from the sun goddess and inherited her marvelous black hair. Of course, any visit to Tokyo's ultra-hip Shibuya district will tell you that they all dye their hair brown now.
So, with all of this supposed cultural unity, what's with their fascination with competition? From fighting games to Pokémon and "tournament-style" anime to Iron Chef, the harmonious Japanese have an amazing knack for turning the most mundane things into competitive sports. While it's hard to say, exactly, perhaps competition is a sort of escapism for their otherwise harmonious selves? More likely is that competitions are strong reasons to train and perfect one's skills -- fighting, especially martial arts, are art forms and skills, just like cooking and, uh, training adorable monsters. Japan is also a hobby-oriented country, but the hobbies of the devoted quickly turn into skills or arts. Like painting Gundam models or case modding, there's an obsession at work here. Becoming the best gamer is just as valid, and competitive games are the best impetus to train and advance them.
Gamespy.com (http://www.gamespy.com/articles/529/529403p1.html)
So, with all of this supposed cultural unity, what's with their fascination with competition? From fighting games to Pokémon and "tournament-style" anime to Iron Chef, the harmonious Japanese have an amazing knack for turning the most mundane things into competitive sports. While it's hard to say, exactly, perhaps competition is a sort of escapism for their otherwise harmonious selves? More likely is that competitions are strong reasons to train and perfect one's skills -- fighting, especially martial arts, are art forms and skills, just like cooking and, uh, training adorable monsters. Japan is also a hobby-oriented country, but the hobbies of the devoted quickly turn into skills or arts. Like painting Gundam models or case modding, there's an obsession at work here. Becoming the best gamer is just as valid, and competitive games are the best impetus to train and advance them.
Gamespy.com (http://www.gamespy.com/articles/529/529403p1.html)