American Influence

I am further convinced that the U.S. is currently the only true superpower in the world, dominating not only political and commercial realms, but cultural as well. As music and movies arrive here, they bring with them phrases and images of America that become trendy. Due primarily to advertising in films, Starbucks Coffee and Apple Computers have become staples here, driving out most of the competition. Not that this isn’t true in the States as well, but I sort of expect it in the corporate homeland that is America. The Japanese love of Disney is just one example (see photo).

In addition, Japanese people work an average of 50-60 hours a week and have no free time. Evidence of this is the fact that the number two free-time activity is “sleeping,” surpassed only by “shopping” (for both women AND men). Number three is “driving.” You often see them sleeping on trains to and from work, just exhausted from their days. They don’t have time for the simple pleasures and due to this, convenience is paramount. McDonalds and KFC are everywhere, and the traditionally healthy Japanese diet is quickly deteriorating, as cost and convenience are winning out. It’s sad to see that the stereotypical overweight American is becoming increasingly Japanese as well.

Along the same vein, it has become trendy to use English phrases and words as well, slowly replacing the Japanese words. At the drycleaners, if I want less starch, I ask for “softo” and if I don’t want the taxi driver to turn, I ask him to go “straighto.” You can order a “furappuchino” or “remon aisu tii” (lemon iced tea) to go with your “hamburugu” and “poteeto furaizu” (French fries). While it’s made it easier for me to communicate at times, just guessing by using an English word with the Japanese accent, it still makes me sad to know that some younger generations don’t even know the Japanese words for these things and grow up thinking that these words actually ARE Japanese. At this point, that’s slowly becoming the truth.

A sign of the times, I suppose…