Japanese Cool

Japanese street
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American children grow up playing Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh.  As adults, they line up for the latest anime movies and hang out in karaoke bars.  In other words -- Japanese culture is serious business.  So serious that Japan's Prime Minister appointed a "Cool Japan" minister to oversee a multi-million-dollar "Cool Japan" campaign.  The goal -- to make Japan one of the world's leading cultural forces.  But wait...Isn't it already?  In this hour, we explore why we crave Japanese pop culture as we delve into Japan's G.N.C. -- Gross National Cool.

Last modified: 
September 11, 2023