In the age of J-pop, anime, and Vtubers, Japanese culture is influencing the youth culture of the western world more than ever. But with the global exchange taking place, many westerners may ask what influence the West has on Japan? Are there any aspects of American consumer culture that have become just as commonplace in Japanese society?
And where better to see the effects of the exchange than Shibuya and Shinjuku in Tokyo, the main hubs of youth culture and night life in Japan. These districts within Tokyo are known as fashion meccas with world-famous boutiques and an active night life that varies from karaoke bars to dance clubs. It’s also a very attractive tourist destination for its otaku (pop culture nerd) scene.
With the reputation of being the epitome of Japanese pop culture, visitors may be surprised to find how much western influence can be seen, from food seen throughout the districts to American fashion and brands that have gained global popularity. While exploring, tourists can find Nike and Timberland products, two brands which have become popular internationally with strong cultural ties to American rap music, a popular music genre in America.
Disney also has a strong presence here with multiple Disney stores scattered throughout the city and advertisements for the new Lilo and Stitch seen on several buildings. In stores like the Mega Don Quijote in Shibuya, shoppers can buy luxury European brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, which have their own locations within these districts.
Another common sight is merch and advertisement for Major League Baseball, which is having a spike of popularity with the rise of Shohei Ohtani, the L.A. Dodgers star player from Japan. He can be seen front and center on several of the ads to appeal to the Japanese audience. Several stores also throughout these districts can be found selling a large variety of MLB caps and jerseys, from popular teams like the Dodgers and Yankees to less recognizable teams like the Rockies.
Lastly, spread throughout Shibuya and Shinjuku, one can see western style restaurants from fast food to Italian cuisine. It may surprise some tourists that despite the vast array of local Japanese delicacies, places like Burger King, McDonald’s, KFC and Carl’s Junior are still popular with consistent foot traffic.
If you’re looking for something a little upscale, one can find pizza joints or even Hub British Pub, an underground pub modeled after a UK pub that has focused on soccer culture and watch parties.
Keeping all this in mind whenever westerners are enamored with Japanese culture and bored of their own, they should take a step back and remember what seems everyday to them can be just as novel to people from other parts of the world.
And the fact that we live in a world where things can be so easily shared between cultures is a modern blessing.
About The Author
