Japan's missed opportunity The spread of Kdrama to the west

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:12 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the drama scene always been bigger than the movie scene in Japan? That could explain why we don't get so many J-films in the West...

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:29 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:46 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I don't see why it is considered a missed opportunity. Not to sound like a broken record but Japanese TV stations are targeting the Japanese market and it certainly makes no sense why they would need to actively push for jdramas to become popular outside of Japan. Mainstream America is still pretty self-centred (I'm certain there are individuals who are not) and still rather protectionist, whether we're talking about dramas or international trade. And to be fair, other countries are, to certain degrees, protectionist as well to maintain their own cultures and keep their sense of identity. Only countries that seek to actively promote their interests elsewhere or extend their sphere of influence would attempt to export mainstream culture-related material to other places with the USA being the most apparent example in this case but there are others).

As for myself, I'm rather glad that due to the internet and fansubs, people can actively watch shows from other countries and learn more about other cultures and what life is usually like in other countries (taken, of course, with a grain of salt since TV doesn't always portray reality 100% but does give a general idea). This, I think, is the key point since it allows those who choose to expose themselves to different things the opportunity to do so while also allowing those who don't wish to experience genuine cultural exports (as compared to fabricated stereotypical ones) to remain as they were.

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:30 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:08 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Prince of Moles, I will buy your argument that Japanese government has at certain times tried to force its businesses overseas. However, I think the government of Japan doesn't do it now because it doesn't need to, not because it doesn't work (as you have stated). Korea right now needs to for its products to sell. Now the question for the future is whether one day, Korean products will be able to sell without government help...

But back to the main topic, Japanese people in the end don't care whether their television dramas are successful overseas or not. Television producers are not going to actively sell their products overseas because they're already successful enough already domestically and they have grown up to think that other countries hate Japan anyway, so the products will not sell. Japan still doesn't have a true capitalism in the sense that people still think its bad or people still don't have the desire to make too much money. (e.g. horie takafumi).