JAPAN: the next America?

Most people living in London would see this stuff on a daily basis.

Its in Marks and Spencers, Pret, Eat, Boots (I dread to think), Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsburys (and most other major supermarkets), as well as the countless number of shops, cafes and restaurants specialising in the stuff.

10 years ago, Londoners would be shocked to see it in supermarkets alongside traditional sandwiches, and would rarely consider eating it.

...why, its not even cooked!

Yup, I’m talking about Sushi.
Yo! Sushi, Wasabi, Itsu, Gili Gulu, Tokyo Diner, Wagamama, The Japanese Canteen, Yoisho... how many more can you name in London alone? And how come all of a sudden Japanese food has become a hit in London? I see people queueing to go into the Wagamama’s at Canary Wharf at lunchtimes (Not surprisingly, no native Japanese people amongst them!!), sitting down munching into their Itsu bought salads or sushi and swigging down the can of cold green tea bought in Waitrose. I see people eating Onigiri rice balls bought in Wasabi on the train... Im sure Japanese tourists are confused. Go into Pret, a sandwich store with a French name, to buy Green Tea and Sushi, food from their native land. I’m sure they are equally confused (maybe disgusted) when they swig that bottle of Pret Cold Green Tea ? eurgh.. its... its.. sweet?! Yup, unfortunately, England has also completely changed the favours of these Japanese food and drinks when they brought it over, supposedly to make it ‘easier on the English tongue.’

So while the authentic stuff is out there, unfortunately British people also taste un-authentic stuff and think its authentic, get to Japan and ‘hate the food in Japan, Japanese food is so much better in England.’ ...freaky!

It doesn’t stop with food. I see people going to Hollywood remade Japanese films such as The Ring and The Grudge. Or, films with a Japanese twist such as Tokyo Drifter (ouch), Memoirs of a Geisha and Lost in Translation. I see a huge poster for a new Japanese anime film just out on TV outside HMV. I see books written by Japanese authors being translated into English and adverts for them on the tube. I see countless fiction and non-fiction books on Geishas and Samurai. Japanese cookery books are ranked in the top 10 in a book shop. People walk past me wearing T-shirts with Japanese on them that don’t make sense, or just Japanese names such as “OSAKA DRAGONS” and “KYOTO 01”. (i.e. the opposite of Japan, where Japanese people walk around with random English on their clothes.)

People go home from work in their Japanese made cars while listening to music on their Japanese made music players and texting on their Japanese made phone. They watch TV on their Japanese made TV and check their email on their Japanese made computer. Then they play Japanese computer games on there Japanese Playstation...(Im speaking hypothetically...) Have you looked in Hotcourses magazine lately to see the number of Japanese language courses available or the number of people on gumtree looking for Japanese language exchange partners or people who can teach them how to cook Japanese food... Americans can even hum along to Japanese popstars on the radio. (courtesy of Hikki and Puffy). Japanese influenced toys and games are available for all ages and sizes (tamagochi, mutant ninja turtles, power rangers)

...(big gasp of breath!)

---

So, lets recap...
we eat Japanese food,
drink Japanese drinks,
use Japanese appliances,
watch Japanese films,
wear clothes with Japanese influences,
buy products with Japanese influence,
read Japanese books,
watch japanese anime,
play Japanese computer games,
give Japanese toys to our kids,
Japanese influenced design surrounds us,
some people learn Japanese (hell, people know Japanese words without knowing it ? Tsunami? Karaoke? Karate? Sumo? Origami? Sushi? Sayonara? Konnichiwa? Katsu Curry?),
Japan is even on the package holiday map now.

...Is Japan becoming the next ‘America’?
...Will sushi overtake McDonalds?

I doubt it, but Im enjoying the boom^^ !!