Animation Trip in Japan

Japan occupies 377,873 square kilometres, nearly the equivalent of Germany and Switzerland combined or slightly smaller than California. It has four major islands that are surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller islands. Its topographical features include coastlines with varied scenery, towering mountains, which are very often volcanic, and meandering valleys that entice visitors to enjoy the mysteries of nature. Most famous of those mountains is Mount Fuji, the most important symbol of the country.

Japan has a population of more than 126 million, most of whom reside in densely populated urban areas such as Tokyo, the capital. The population of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, greater Tokyo, including the city, some of its suburbs and surrounding areas is about 12 million.

One of the country’s top attractions is its annual bloom of cherry blossoms, which usually takes place for about a week at the end of every March. The small, round shape flowers flutter to the ground gracefully and the blossoms are said to be at their most beautiful in their final stage. For many Japanese people, the blooming of cherry trees symbolizes human life, transience and nobleness. They celebrate and cherish their beauty while it lasts.

Animation Culture of Japan

A presentation of Japanese culture at the 1867 World Expo in Paris gave rise to “Japonism” in Europe, a kind of boom for all things Japanese. In particular, Japan’s ukiyo-e paintings exerted a great influence on Impressionist painters. Now, in the 21st century, worldwide attention is drawn to Japanese anime and comics, which are sometimes viewed as a contemporary version of ukiyo-e.

Japanese comics, which developed differently from American or French comics, are a form of entertainment enjoyed extensively by children and adults, and both men and women. The comics cover a wide range of themes, from sports, school life, science fiction and fantasy, romance, business, war, and even social issues: the form’s artists now have the same status as other writers. The Japanese animation or “anime” industry has also developed, keeping pace with the comic culture. It has continuously produced more refined stories dealing with profound themes, while improving its presentation and graphic techniques, on a low budget. Candy Candy and UFO Robo Grendizer, which are well known among the Japanese, are also very popular abroad. Some works were a great hit overseas without even being known as “Made in Japan.” But today, works by Studio Ghibli as well as Pocket Monster and Dragon Ball not only earn high praise as “Japanese anime,” but also exert considerable influence on Hollywood movies.

Visiting the Great Masters of Japanese Animation

The work of acknowledged masters Osamu Tezuka—known as the “God of Manga”; Shotaro Ishinomori—called the “King of Manga”; and Hayao Miyazaki—the animation director of Studio Ghibli can be traced at the following spots:

Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

Studio Ghibli enjoys worldwide popularity for Spirited Away, which won an Academy Award, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro and numerous other works. At Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, you will feel as if you have stepped into the very world of these works. Director Hayao Miyazaki’s ideas and images of “an ideal museum” are reflected throughout the museum. In addition to the permanent exhibition that provides some insight into the process of how Ghibli animation is created, there are also some special exhibitions that explore animation from different angles. After you have watched the original short animation films that can only be seen here, why not have a meal in the adjoining cafe and enjoy shopping at the museum’s store that offers lots of original museum goods. Reservations must be made in advance for admission and tickets should be purchased before your visit. For reservations from overseas, you can find the necessary information on their official homepage.

Osamu Tezuka World, Kyoto

Tracing the origins of present-day Japanese anime and comics, we end up at a genius named Osamu Tezuka (1928–1989). He created numerous masterpiece comic works such as Astroboy, Kimba the White Lion, Black Jack, The Phoenix (Hinotori), and he also worked on the production of animation films. His activities influenced a great many creators. Osamu Tezuka World, Kyoto is where you can enjoy the world of Tezuka characters that are still loved by many people.

Osamu Tezuka Memorial Hall in Takarazuka City

Osamu Tezuka spent his youth in Takarazuka City. With the goal of widely diffusing and passing down the great accomplishments of Tezuka to future generations, Takarazuka City founded this Memorial Hall built on the theme of “love of nature and the preciousness of life” in 1994. At the entrance stands a monument to The Phoenix, his life’s work. Inside the Memorial Hall, a page from Tezuka’s works is reproduced, and valuable materials are on display. There is also a Hi-Vision Theater where you can watch original anime films, and areas where you can read manga and experience producing anime. You will be able to see, touch and feel the world of Osamu Tezuka.

Ishinomaki Mangattan Museum

Shotaro Ishinomori (1938–98) who, together with Osamu Tezuka, produced many heroes such as Cyborg 009 and Kamen Rider, is a crucial part of Japanese manga history. Located in his birthplace, the Ishinomaki Mangattan Museum exhibits Ishinomori’s works as a manga artist and displays the many characters that he created. Here, you can look at the original scripts for the hit works, and browse through the variety of original goods sold in the museum shop.

感受日本的浪漫之旅

文/杜秀平

日本位于亚洲东部的太平洋上，地处北纬30—45度，东经123—150度之间，属温带海洋性季风气候。它西隔东海、黄海、朝鲜海峡，日本海与中国、朝鲜、韩国、俄罗斯相望。日本的海岸线全长3万多公里，多海湾和良港。

据《汉书》、《后汉书》记载,中国古代称日本为“倭”或“倭国”。公元五世纪日本统一后，国名定为“大和”。因为古代日本人崇尚太阳神，所以将太阳视为本国的图腾。其含义为“日出之国”，此外，还有“樱花之国”（有超过300多个品种）、“火山地震之邦”（全境有200多座火山，其中活火山约占1/3）的称号。

日本国土由北海道、本州、四国、九州四个岛屿以及南部的琉球群岛、小笠原群岛等3000多个岛屿组成，总面积377800平方千米，相当于中国面积的1/26，与中国云南省面积相近。日本人口12560万，是世界人口密度最大的国家之一。居民多为大和民族，惟一的少数民族是阿伊努族(虾夷人)，重要城市有东京、横滨、大阪、名古屋。

日本是世界经济大国。工业和国民经济生产总值均居世界前列。工业体系完整，工业结构为知识、技术密集型。农业实行机械化商品性生产，产品主要为稻米、小麦。日本的渔业很发达，捕鱼量位居世界前几位。城市的海运、航空、铁路、公路均很发达，铁路线全长47000千米，公路线长117千米。

樱花与富士山

樱花是日本的国花，无疑也被日本人视为精神的象征。樱树通常被日本人视为神树，从最北的北海道到最南的冲绳岛到处都有种植。这种美丽的植物每年春季开放，或绯红或纯白，然而花期却非常短暂，大约一周左右，届时大片樱雨如漫天飞雪洋洋洒洒，一夜之间，花落满地。日本人常以此为喻，认为人生需如樱花一般，只求最华美灿烂的一瞬，短暂亦无妨。这种信念通常会体现在他们的生活、处事之道中，自古如此，久而久之便培养出了日本人特有的不惜一切力求向上、坚忍不拔的民族精神。

日本的樱花节于每年3月底或4月初隆重开幕，从九州到北海道的赏樱活动，依照各地纬度的不同而纷至沓来。日本宴请宾客观赏樱花的仪式起源于公元812年，最早是贵族之间的社交活动，到了江户时代中期，花见（赏樱）活动逐渐流行于民间，并流传到现在。如今，每年春天樱花季来临时，就会看到日本人与家人、亲友或同事聚在各个赏樱名所边野餐边赏花，有时持续到深夜，饮酒、唱歌热闹非凡。

享誉世界的富士山海拔3776米，是座完美对称的火山堆，它以优雅美丽的姿态俯视着全日本。富士五湖区是最受日本人欢迎的疗养胜地，这里也是观赏富士山的最佳场所，芦之湖与河口湖总少不了拿着长镜头摄影师的足迹。

缔造“动漫神话”

可能是因为日本人在持续紧张的压力中，养成了一种习惯，就是通过欣赏漫画来增加愉悦、排解压力。

日本的动漫产业已经在国民生产中占据了很大的比例，就像如今的日本电器、汽车占领世界市场一样，占据着世界市场的大部分份额。这也印证了动漫产业所蕴含的巨大力量。

日本现在有430多家动漫制作公司，每周可生产动漫节目80多期。在出版物中有40%是动漫作品。而每个月出版的漫画杂志则多达350种。目前，日本动漫产业的营业额已达到230万余日元，已经成为日本第三大产业。就连美国《时代周刊》的封面文章中都提出：“日本已经由一个产品制造大国变成了一个文化产业的输出大国。”

用动漫装点生活

动漫元素作为日本文化的重要组成部分，已经完全融入到日本人民生活的方方面面。

在日本的卫生间门后，会贴着一幅保持公共场所卫生环境的宣传告示图。上面画着两个漫画小人，他们的装扮和文字，会让看见的人发出会心的微笑。

走在日本的大街小巷上，发现其动漫产品的衍生品市场，远比想象中的成熟，整个城市中充盈着“全民动漫”的气息。在日本，你不会因为告示牌上的哆啦A梦而吃惊，不会因为大巴身上的Hello Kitty而吃惊，更不会因为门票是宫崎峻的动画电影胶片而吃惊。无论是平面广告还是市政标示，无论是公共设施还是私人物品，都无一例外地与动漫挂上了钩，其衍生品的市场收入也呈现出直线上升的趋势，直逼180亿美元大关……

在城市中如果有施工的地段，都会用十分醒目的围栏标示出来。上面的图案便是一个个卡通形象的建筑工人，非常恰当且善意地告诉路人“此处施工”，看到之后让人心生感叹。

身旁偶尔穿行驶过的搬家公司货车，后面车门上画着两只出汗的蚂蚁在搬运物品的形象，既有趣又切合实际，令人忍俊不禁。

遍布大街小巷的商店中，哆啦A梦、樱桃小丸子、蜡笔小新……各种各样的卡通形象成了绝对的主角，商品只要请来他们做“形象代言人”，那就一定不愁销路了。

日本街头的很多年轻人，细看他们的饰物搭配，大多以卡通徽章为主，别在挎包上或胸前，都是很KAWAYI（中文理解为可爱的意思）的样子。看着这些，让上了一些年纪的人在告别童年岁月后，还可以重新拾起那个依然属于自己的梦幻王国。

当然，出镜率最频繁的，还是那只享誉全球的小猫咪——Hello Kitty，她在一定程度上几乎成为了日本国的象征。这只代表“都市白领”形象的小猫咪，让人们在繁忙之余可以放慢一点节奏，舒缓一下情绪。

不论是街头随处可见的造型别致的卡通设施、时尚橱窗内展示的卡通形象，还是布置得简约精致又充满奇思妙想的店铺入口，都会随时随处为你带来无限的惊奇与赞叹。街头大小店铺中的好玩又实用的小玩意儿数不胜数：挂在手机上的小球，竟然是一个小小的万花筒；一块很普通的粉红色小格子布料，还可以做成一个漂亮的发带；可以随身带着的折叠小化妆镜，也设计得别有洞天……猛然发现，原来动漫形象可以让生活中的一切都变得那么细致与充满情趣，这种细节的完美在动漫领域被发挥到了极致。

每年4、5月间，正是樱花开得最绚烂的时节，漫天飞舞的粉色烟霞，弥漫在城市中的每一个角落。而遍布在街头巷尾中的那些动漫元素，比满城飞舞的繁樱更令人心动。