Early '80s Japan fetish?

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So why the rapid influx of Japanese imagery into early '80s pop music? Is it the simple combination of "Blade Runner" and ascendent Japanese technology, or is David Sylvian just that influential?

― Erick H (Erick H), Monday, 5 December 2005 00:21 (twenty years ago)

Maybe YMO?

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Monday, 5 December 2005 05:06 (twenty years ago)

I thought about YMO too, but I didn't think they had that much cultural currency in the U.K. before the Tin Drum period came about.

It certainly wasn't Frank Chickens.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Monday, 5 December 2005 05:08 (twenty years ago)

The Japanese economy going through the roof in the 80's and there was lots of "start teaching your kids japanese they are our new overlords!" talk; maybe that had something to do with it.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 5 December 2005 05:25 (twenty years ago)

ihttp://www.pure80spop.co.uk/Images/poppics/susie.jpg

Once this appeared in The Face, it was off to the races.

― brianiac (briania), Monday, 5 December 2005 05:58 (twenty years ago)

So it wasn't Japanese so much as Asian (with "Hong Kong Garden" as the soundtrack for it all)? OK...

― Erick H (Erick H), Monday, 5 December 2005 14:21 (twenty years ago)

What about Bowie and Scary Monsters?

There's one early '80s guide (about '83 approximately) to "the new rock and roll" which has a section devoted entirely to Japanese bands (RC Succession, YMO, Sandii and the Sunsetz, Friction, Hikashu, Vow Wow) - the assumption seemed to be that Japanese pop was going to take off...

― Deluxe (Damian), Monday, 5 December 2005 20:50 (twenty years ago)

Bowie was certainly an avowed Japanophile, going right back to the early 70s and his Kansai Yamamoto stage costumes for Ziggy Stardust. I agree that the economic miracle of 80s Japan also contributed a lot. Japan represented "the future", and when pop music went Futurist post-punk, it was "Life in Tokyo" that seemed to sum up what the future would be like. I also think it's something to do with Japan being the exemplary postmodern consumer society, and the 80s being the time when pomo hit big in the popular consciousness.

As Lionel Lambourne's book "Japonisme" points out, the last time Japan had become an obsession in the West was the 1860s, following the country's reopening. Japanese woodblock prints became popular following the Great Exhibition of 1862, and suddenly everyone from Aubrey Beardsley to Gilbert and Sullivan were making "Japoniste" works.

― Momus (Momus), Monday, 5 December 2005 23:22 (twenty years ago)

Don't forget the song "Crystal Japan" as well...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 5 December 2005 23:25 (twenty years ago)

ENO

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Monday, 5 December 2005 23:52 (twenty years ago)

I've heard of him.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 5 December 2005 23:56 (twenty years ago)

He's japanese or something right?

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 00:12 (twenty years ago)

http://www.80smusiclyrics.com/hehz/w1.jpg

http://www.d1.dion.ne.jp/~xlore/LOVELOG_IMG/2005062546eabfce.jpg

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 00:39 (twenty years ago)

walter kranz has just trounced everyone on this thread.

― Vinegar and Artichoke Hearts (Bimble...), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 01:22 (twenty years ago)

Deluxe, what's the guide you speak of?

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 01:29 (twenty years ago)

Umm... I can't quite remember the name - I think it may have been called The New Rock N' Roll and was co-authored by Glenn A. Baker and some other Australian chap. Sorry I can't provide any more information at the moment - the book's in New Zealand and I'm in England.

― Deluxe (Damian), Tuesday, 6 December 2005 13:42 (twenty years ago)

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