When did Japan stop being the future?

[osopolar]

U.S. science fiction used to be fascinated with Japan, from Blade Runner to Neuromancer. Everything Japanese was cooler, sleeker and shinier than our grubby American aesthetic, and Japan was destined to dominate. And then, Japan's futuristic status waned. What happened?

Via io9

[pheyton]

If I recall correctly the 70-80's saw the biggest transfer in wealth between countries to Japan than any other time in history. So, no doubt this had something to do with the meme that Japan would rule the future. We were also in a time of huge technological transition with the personal computer, walkmans, etc. And Japan was producing a lot of that. Now, even though Japanese brands are everywhere, there isn't that product, technology, or movement of money like there was in the 80s. Or perhaps we are just saturated with Japanese things that we don't see them as the "future" anymore.

But don't count Japan out. I work with a lot of Japanese companies that move to the US, and they are coming in droves right now. Building plants here, buying up American businesses, etc. Japan still has a major role in the future, unless Kim Jong nutfuck decides to start WWwhatever. I mean, look at this fuckin techological marvel:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/japan-machine-turns-office-waste-paper-into-toilet-paper.php

[Coligny]

U.S. science fiction used to be fascinated with Japan

Yeah... sure... I stopped caring here...

Galactica, Star Wars, Star Trek... SO MUCH JAPANESE INFLUENCE in those sagas...

Blade Runner and Necromancer are more dystopian than SciFi... I would rather say "when did japan stop being the posterchild for hell on earth as a future"

[Midwinter]

Yeah... sure... I stopped caring here...

Galactica, Star Wars, Star Trek... SO MUCH JAPANESE INFLUENCE in those sagas...

Indeed, those aren't even popular IN Japan, so WTF does Japan know about Sci-Fi to begin with

[BO-SENSEI]

Indeed, those aren't even popular IN Japan, so WTF does Japan know about Sci-Fi to begin with

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The ball is in your court. But I like the main question: And then, Japan's futuristic status waned. What happened?

I can only imagine that people saw Japan as a leading example to follow, which reminded me the book, Japan is No. 1 by Ezra Vogel, which was accurate until the bubble burst and that can be seen as one of the leading contributers of the idea that Japan is is not seen as the futuristic marvel that it once was. But I have to ask you, what makes a country futuristic? Is it the architecture? Because if you look at a house in Japan built in the past 5 years, try convincing anyone its not futuristic, look at the construction projects in Japan like that massive tower project in Tokyo or the new Shinkansen mag-lev line. Is it the technology? To be honest I have seen more impressive electronics at a Best Buy than Akihabara, and considerably less pornography. Is it is fashion? To me, its very futuristic, not because of the style but because it seems that people can get away with wearing whatever they want. But what about the stuff in Japan that makes it definitly not futuristic, like its treat of women, foreigners, the corruption in national and local governments. I could go on. But I will leave it at this for now.

[Midwinter]

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The ball is in your court.

Whoa there chuckles, I know you're some sort of Gundam freak (meant politely to avoid using the dreaded O word), but don't you dare suggest that MSG has anything on the three examples of Western Sci-Fi already presented. I have been known to enjoy anime myself dude, Gundam however, is bottom of the barrel stuff. It's the Transformers, a series designed to sell toys first, tell a story second. Seriously... wow.

[sublight]

Yeah... sure... I stopped caring here...

Galactica, Star Wars, Star Trek... SO MUCH JAPANESE INFLUENCE in those sagas...

Blade Runner and Necromancer are more dystopian than SciFi... I would rather say "when did japan stop being the posterchild for hell on earth as a future"

BSG: When the BSG guys arrived on Earth, it was 1980. Real future there. Hey, maybe that's why the Cylons were so hard to kill, all the Vipers were running on 8-tracks.

Star Wars: Seems you forgot the very first four words from SW. "A Long Time Ago..."

Star Trek: Put all your female staff in miniskirts and look around for primitive worlds so you can bang their chicks. Kirk may not be Japanese, but he's definitely got the Way of the Chrysanthemum down to a T.

[Zeth3D]

Yeah... sure... I stopped caring here...

Galactica, Star Wars, Star Trek... SO MUCH JAPANESE INFLUENCE in those sagas...

Have you not heard of Jedi?? Cuz im pretty sure those are based on the samurai. As a matter of fact, im pretty sure the big GL says it himself.

[Midwinter]

Have you not heard of Jedi?? Cuz im pretty sure those are based on the samurai. As a matter of fact, im pretty sure the big GL says it himself.

They may be based on samurai, but they're not SF. It would be like calling cowboys SF because of Joss Whedon and Firefly (RIP).

[Iraira]

They may be based on samurai, but they're not SF. It would be like calling cowboys SF because of Joss Whedon and Firefly (RIP).

Light saber = katana
The force = wa
Yoda = all sentences with a verb ended.
C3PO = drunk fem-style salariman
Imperial walkers on Hoth (those slow moving camel like things) = the pace at which Japanese society/business strategy evolves.

[2triky]

Imperial walkers on Hoth (those slow moving camel like things) = the pace at which Japanese society/business strategy evolves.

LOL. Nice.