HISTORY OF POPULAR CULTURE IN JAPAN

Discover a fascinating journey through the history of popular culture in Japan, from the 17th century to the present. This book is an invaluable source of knowledge for anyone interested in the phenomenon of Cool Japan and its impact on global culture. Learn about the roots of manga, anime, J-pop, and other elements that have captured the hearts of millions of people around the world.

• In-depth analysis of the development of popular culture in Japan over the centuries
• Detailed descriptions of art forms such as kabuki theater and puppet theater
• Insightful look at the impact of pop culture on society, economy, and politics
• Explanation of how the mass production of cultural goods became a driving force for nationalism and imperialism
• Accessible language and wealth of detail that both students and lecturers will appreciate
• Invaluable aid in learning about the history and culture of Japan

E. Taylor Atkins' book is a comprehensive and concise overview of Japanese popular culture that allows for a better understanding of a key element of the national identity of the Japanese. The author examines the development of popular culture in Japan, starting from art forms such as kabuki theater and puppet theater in the Edo period, through street songs and satirical magazines of the Meiji era, to contemporary manga, anime, and J-pop. He complements the analyses of the commercial, aesthetic, transcultural, and identity dimensions of pop culture with descriptions of its impact on society, economy, and politics over the centuries. He also shows how the mass production of cultural goods, intended for the middle and working classes, can become a driving force for nationalism or imperialism.

The author thoroughly analyzes the commercial, aesthetic, transcultural, and identity dimensions of pop culture, complementing them with descriptions of its impact on society, economy, and politics over the centuries. He shows how the mass production of cultural goods, intended for the middle and working classes, can become a driving force for nationalism or imperialism. This book allows for a better understanding of a key element of the national identity of the Japanese, and is an invaluable aid in learning about the history and culture of Japan.

E. Taylor Atkins, PhD, is a research fellow at Northern Illinois University. He is the author of, among others, the book Primitive Selves: Koreana in the Japanese Colonial Gaze, 1910-1945 and the editor of the essay collection Jazz Planet. The Jagiellonian University Press presents this publication in a 235x163 mm format, paperback, with 445 pages. Year of publication: 2025.