AKICILJ: Japanese pop culture recommendations for Alex.

[rivka]

Alex is learning about Japan this week. We're going to be doing origami and reading stories and going to the museum to look at classical Japanese art and eating sushi and learning to write a few kanji and so on. But modern Japanese pop culture is so vibrant, and is such a massive international phenomenon, that I'd really like to expose Alex to some of that, rather than just the high and/or folk culture elements that kids' educational materials tend to include.

I know that there are people on my friends list who follow Japanese pop culture, and others whose teenage kids follow it. It would be awesome if you could link me to web-available resources like songs/music videos, cartoons, toys, clothes, etc. which are young-child appropriate (that's the part that makes just Googling this on my own tricky) and which would give Alex an idea of things that might be enjoyed by young Japanese girls.

(No tentacle porn please, kthxbai.)

Comments

[vom-marlowe.livejournal.com]

Bento is really fun, and enjoyed by many schoolkids. There are some great bento sites with cute food, neat recipes, and so on. I don't know any that aren't kid friendly.

http://www.justbento.com/

That's a fun one! I like the Miyazaki movies, too. Kiki's Delivery Service, Totoro, those are fun. Pokemon is Japanese, and pretty easy to find.

For toys, she might like some of the kawaii stationary/toys. My personal absolute favorite is Monokuro Boo!
http://www.shopkawaii.com/San-X-Monokuro-Boo-s/40.htm
Two adorable pigs, one black and one white, with the tag-line Simple is best!