2 CONNECT
FLASHBACK
This Flashback piece is from March & April 2012
3 CONNECT FLASHBACK
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STUDENTS’ POP CULTURE:
A BASIC GUIDE
Amanda Horton, Yamagata (2010-2013)
This article originally appeared in two pieces in the March and April 2012 issues of Connect. It has been modified to fit this issue, but can be read in its full form, with tons of additional information, on ajet.net/ajet-connect or issuu. com/ajetconnect.
We’ve all been there, suspended in the awkward silence that arises when you suddenly find yourself face-to-face with students OUTSIDE of class time. After exchanging the mandatory pleasantries and making a brief comment on how cold/hot it is, suddenly you realise you have nothing more to say. Instead, you start to think longingly of those tedious family gatherings or a disastrous first date. Fear not, however, for I am here to help. Having been inspired by the interest shown by my students when I started talking about manga, I decided to explore further into Japanese pop culture. “Great idea Amanda, but where do I start?” This is what I want to help with. This will, hopefully, help bridge that language barrier and really get you interacting with your students. It’s amazing how animated even the shy girls get when they start talking about boys. I’ll start with J-pop. J-pop is everywhere. You will have heard lots of it, as it is unavoidable. You would have a better chance trying
to avoid getting sick whilst working in an elementary school. So stop fighting and embrace it. You don’t even need to understand the lyrics; that’s the beauty of music. I guarantee that dropping a few of these names will help kick start a conversation. Let’s start with the Johnnys, bands managed by Johnny and Associates Talent Agency.
Arashi (嵐 Storm)
A group of five very delicious looking guys (if you’re that way inclined), they were first formed in 1999, but, after an initial success they fell into a slump. In November 2005 Arashi took off again, rising ever higher to become one of the biggest J-pop bands in Japan. In 2011 they were voted artist of the year at the Japan Golden Disc Awards. Their music style is typical cheesy pop; think the 90s and all those hours dancing around your bedroom to The Spice Girls and The Backstreet Boys, and you’ve pretty much gotten the idea. There’s nothing terribly original about them, but they have
CONNECT April Issue 2014