In 1853 a fleet of U.S. warships arrived in Japan, led by U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry. The United States wanted Japan to open its ports to trade. They told the Japanese that if they declined the offer, conflict with the U.S. Navy would happen. This forced Japan to consider negotiations seriously, eventually leading to the Treaty of Kanagawa.
Feudal Japan ended with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which overthrew the Tokugawa Shogunate and returned power to the Emperor. The Meiji government then initiated reforms, including the abolition of the han system (feudal domains) in 1871 and the establishment of a centralized prefectural system. This was the beginning of Japan's modernization and the end of the old feudal order.
From this, the samurai was replaced with a modern, conscripted army.
Japan expanded its influence in Asia, invading Manchuria (1931), China (1937), and then French Indochina (1940).
The United States stopped supplying oil to Japan in 1941 in response to Japan's aggressive expansion in Asia, particularly its occupation of French Indochina, aiming to cripple Japan's war effort.
Before World War II, Japan relied heavily on the United States for oil, importing approximately 80% of its oil needs from the US.
The US oil embargo in the summer of 1941, further tightened by the freezing of Japanese assets, forced Japan to choose between giving up its ambitions in Southeast Asia or going to war with the United States.
Many Japanese citizens viewed the American embargo and refusal to negotiate as a form of bullying that left Japan no choice but to fight back.
The Japanese proverb, "A cornered mouse will bite a cat," was used to explain their actions.
The war began with Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which drew the US into the war. Following initial Japanese victories, the US and its allies gradually turned the tide, ultimately winning decisive battles like Midway and Guadalcanal.
The strategic bombing of Japan involved a series of air raids by Allied forces, primarily the US, aimed at weakening Japan's war-making capacity and potentially forcing its surrender.
This map shows the percentage each city was destroyed:
The firebombing of Tokyo on March 9-10, 1945, killed an estimated 100,000 people. This single air raid is considered the most destructive in history, even exceeding the number of deaths in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima (August 6, 135,000†) and Nagasaki (August 9, 64,000†). Around a million people were left homeless, and over 15 square miles of the city were destroyed.
Throughout the war it's estimated 550,000 to 800,000 Japanese civilians died from war-related causes. In 1941, Japan's population was estimated to be around 71.9 million, not including territories.
Japan formally surrendered to the United States on September 2, 1945.
Since then, Japan's political and economic relationship with the U.S. has shaped global affairs, with Japan often considered a key ally.
Japanese influence on American society is multifaceted, spanning economic, cultural, and political spheres. Japanese technology, particularly in automobiles and electronics, has had a significant impact on American industries. Japanese pop culture, including anime, manga, and video games, has become increasingly popular in the United States, influencing entertainment, fashion, and other aspects of American life.
Video Games:
The Japanese video game industry has profoundly shaped global gaming, influencing hardware, software, culture, and trends.
Japanese companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Sega have created iconic franchises and game mechanics that are widely recognized and emulated.
Sega's early history is rooted in a company called Service Games, which initially focused on distributing coin-operated amusement machines, particularly slot machines and jukeboxes, to American military bases in Japan and later, across Asia and Europe.
While there isn't a direct, established causal link between flashing colors and ADHD, there's evidence suggesting that certain visual stimuli, including flashing lights and bright colors, can exacerbate existing ADHD symptoms or create sensory overload for individuals with ADHD. This is due to the potential for visual sensitivities and difficulties with visual processing that are common in ADHD.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Anime/Manga
Anime emerged in Japan due to the influence of Western animation and the desire to create a uniquely Japanese form of storytelling regarding its culture.
Anime has been heavily influenced by Western animation styles, particularly those from Disney, which often feature characters with light skin and exaggerated features.
Anime characters often appear white or Caucasian-like due to a combination of factors, including the historical influence of Western animation, the traditional preference for light skin in Japanese culture, and the stylistic choices of manga and anime artists.
Impact of Anime on American Youth
Anime's impact on American youth is multifaceted, affecting their mental health, cultural views, and potentially influencing behaviors. While some find it a source of comfort, inspiration, and community, others express concerns about unrealistic body images, potential exposure to mature themes, and possible negative psychological outcomes.
For many of the younger generations, anime and manga can be a major part of their cultural landscape and a way to connect with others and find a sense of belonging.
Possible Link to Trans Culture?
Anime often features characters, particularly male characters, with androgynous features or "bishōnen" (prettyboy aesthetic) that can blur traditional gender lines. This can lead to interpretations of them as trans or gender non-conforming.
Several anime characters are explicitly transgender, or strongly implied to be, and some series delve into themes of gender identity and expression. Examples include Lily Hoshikawa from Zombie Land Saga, who is a trans woman, and Alluka Zoldyck from Hunter x Hunter, also a trans woman.
Many trans youth express themselves online with anime avatars.
Anime has gradually increased its representation of transgender characters, often with positive portrayals and casual acceptance of their identities. Some examples include Kiyoharu Suirenji from Magical Girl Site, a trans girl who is bullied at school but still becomes a magical girl. Desmond from Carole & Tuesday is another example, a musician on Mars who experiences both male and female traits due to the planet's influence.
As of recent years in the US and other nations that were members of the Allied Forces, more transgender people are coming out, and there's increasing media representation and public awareness. Some countries even persecute discrimination against transgenders.
Hentai
Japanese erotic anime, or "hentai," has a history rooted in various forms of erotic art and literature in Japan, including shunga and manga. While erotic themes have existed in Japanese culture for centuries, the modern form of anime gained popularity in the 1970s-80s and saw significant growth in the 1990s. This genre often features explicit content, including sexual acts, and can be found in various forms, including anime series, OVAs (Original Video Animations), and manga.
The connection between pornography consumption and a perverted mindset is a complex and contested issue, with some studies suggesting a link between heavy pornography use and changes in sexual attitudes and behavior.
Pornography consumption can lead to brain changes, impacting the reward system and potentially contributing to addictive behaviors, decreased sexual satisfaction, and mental health issues. Studies show that pornography exposure can create unhealthy neural pathways, desensitize the brain's reward circuitry, and affect decision-making and mood.
Here are examples of anime conventions:
An image of a pride festival:
Feudal Japan ended with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which overthrew the Tokugawa Shogunate and returned power to the Emperor. The Meiji government then initiated reforms, including the abolition of the han system (feudal domains) in 1871 and the establishment of a centralized prefectural system. This was the beginning of Japan's modernization and the end of the old feudal order.
From this, the samurai was replaced with a modern, conscripted army.
Japan expanded its influence in Asia, invading Manchuria (1931), China (1937), and then French Indochina (1940).
The United States stopped supplying oil to Japan in 1941 in response to Japan's aggressive expansion in Asia, particularly its occupation of French Indochina, aiming to cripple Japan's war effort.
Before World War II, Japan relied heavily on the United States for oil, importing approximately 80% of its oil needs from the US.
The US oil embargo in the summer of 1941, further tightened by the freezing of Japanese assets, forced Japan to choose between giving up its ambitions in Southeast Asia or going to war with the United States.
Many Japanese citizens viewed the American embargo and refusal to negotiate as a form of bullying that left Japan no choice but to fight back.
The Japanese proverb, "A cornered mouse will bite a cat," was used to explain their actions.
The war began with Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which drew the US into the war. Following initial Japanese victories, the US and its allies gradually turned the tide, ultimately winning decisive battles like Midway and Guadalcanal.
The strategic bombing of Japan involved a series of air raids by Allied forces, primarily the US, aimed at weakening Japan's war-making capacity and potentially forcing its surrender.
This map shows the percentage each city was destroyed:
The firebombing of Tokyo on March 9-10, 1945, killed an estimated 100,000 people. This single air raid is considered the most destructive in history, even exceeding the number of deaths in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima (August 6, 135,000†) and Nagasaki (August 9, 64,000†). Around a million people were left homeless, and over 15 square miles of the city were destroyed.
Throughout the war it's estimated 550,000 to 800,000 Japanese civilians died from war-related causes. In 1941, Japan's population was estimated to be around 71.9 million, not including territories.
Japan formally surrendered to the United States on September 2, 1945.
Since then, Japan's political and economic relationship with the U.S. has shaped global affairs, with Japan often considered a key ally.
Japanese influence on American society is multifaceted, spanning economic, cultural, and political spheres. Japanese technology, particularly in automobiles and electronics, has had a significant impact on American industries. Japanese pop culture, including anime, manga, and video games, has become increasingly popular in the United States, influencing entertainment, fashion, and other aspects of American life.
Video Games:
The Japanese video game industry has profoundly shaped global gaming, influencing hardware, software, culture, and trends.
Japanese companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Sega have created iconic franchises and game mechanics that are widely recognized and emulated.
Sega's early history is rooted in a company called Service Games, which initially focused on distributing coin-operated amusement machines, particularly slot machines and jukeboxes, to American military bases in Japan and later, across Asia and Europe.
While there isn't a direct, established causal link between flashing colors and ADHD, there's evidence suggesting that certain visual stimuli, including flashing lights and bright colors, can exacerbate existing ADHD symptoms or create sensory overload for individuals with ADHD. This is due to the potential for visual sensitivities and difficulties with visual processing that are common in ADHD.
Video Games in ADHD and Non-ADHD Children: Modalities of Use and Association With ADHD Symptoms - PMC
Video game addiction in young children is relevant, but it is especially important for children with ADHD. In order to obtain more data about the use of video games by Canadian children, and in particular by ADHD children, we explored the modalities ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Anime/Manga
Anime emerged in Japan due to the influence of Western animation and the desire to create a uniquely Japanese form of storytelling regarding its culture.
Anime has been heavily influenced by Western animation styles, particularly those from Disney, which often feature characters with light skin and exaggerated features.
Anime characters often appear white or Caucasian-like due to a combination of factors, including the historical influence of Western animation, the traditional preference for light skin in Japanese culture, and the stylistic choices of manga and anime artists.
Impact of Anime on American Youth
Anime's impact on American youth is multifaceted, affecting their mental health, cultural views, and potentially influencing behaviors. While some find it a source of comfort, inspiration, and community, others express concerns about unrealistic body images, potential exposure to mature themes, and possible negative psychological outcomes.
For many of the younger generations, anime and manga can be a major part of their cultural landscape and a way to connect with others and find a sense of belonging.
Possible Link to Trans Culture?
Anime often features characters, particularly male characters, with androgynous features or "bishōnen" (prettyboy aesthetic) that can blur traditional gender lines. This can lead to interpretations of them as trans or gender non-conforming.
Several anime characters are explicitly transgender, or strongly implied to be, and some series delve into themes of gender identity and expression. Examples include Lily Hoshikawa from Zombie Land Saga, who is a trans woman, and Alluka Zoldyck from Hunter x Hunter, also a trans woman.
Many trans youth express themselves online with anime avatars.
Anime has gradually increased its representation of transgender characters, often with positive portrayals and casual acceptance of their identities. Some examples include Kiyoharu Suirenji from Magical Girl Site, a trans girl who is bullied at school but still becomes a magical girl. Desmond from Carole & Tuesday is another example, a musician on Mars who experiences both male and female traits due to the planet's influence.
As of recent years in the US and other nations that were members of the Allied Forces, more transgender people are coming out, and there's increasing media representation and public awareness. Some countries even persecute discrimination against transgenders.
Hentai
Japanese erotic anime, or "hentai," has a history rooted in various forms of erotic art and literature in Japan, including shunga and manga. While erotic themes have existed in Japanese culture for centuries, the modern form of anime gained popularity in the 1970s-80s and saw significant growth in the 1990s. This genre often features explicit content, including sexual acts, and can be found in various forms, including anime series, OVAs (Original Video Animations), and manga.
The connection between pornography consumption and a perverted mindset is a complex and contested issue, with some studies suggesting a link between heavy pornography use and changes in sexual attitudes and behavior.
Pornography consumption can lead to brain changes, impacting the reward system and potentially contributing to addictive behaviors, decreased sexual satisfaction, and mental health issues. Studies show that pornography exposure can create unhealthy neural pathways, desensitize the brain's reward circuitry, and affect decision-making and mood.
Here are examples of anime conventions:
An image of a pride festival:
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