Some Thoughts on “Lost in Translation” and Tokyo
I recently re-watched “Lost in Translation” on DVD. Watching the movie again, I was reminded of the first time I saw it in Tokyo and the Japanese reaction to the film. It was in a small, overheated theater in Shibuya last spring. It had taken close to seven months for the movie, which had been shot entirely in Japan, to finally open here. The theater was packed with Japanese, and boy were they upset! At the end of the movie they began to attack the few gaijin (foreigners) in the theater. Actually, the Japanese audience seemed to really enjoy the movie. I heard a lot of laughter. I don’t know why there was so much controversy when it was first released in the States. In time the movie became popular enough among Japanese to be shown in quite a few movie theaters (with better heating systems) throughout Japan. Many Japanese I talked to liked the film. There were a few things they thought were a little too much, such as the interpreter for Bob Harris (played by Bill Murray) for a Suntory Whiskey commercial who translated only the barest amount of the director’s comments, and often inaccurately. “Lost in Translation,” in my opinion, is not “anti-Japanese,” as a few people apparently think it is. It is rather “anti-Tokyo,” and subsequently, “anti-big city.” Tokyo is a huge city even for the Japanese, more megalopolis than metropolis. One of the main complaints from residents is that the city has very little in the way of nature. At times it can seem as though every square meter of Tokyo has been covered in concrete and has a convenience store placed upon it.
For a culture whose roots lie in the nature-based spirituality of Shintoism, places like Tokyo can be difficult even for the Japanese to bear. However, what is not shown in the film, and is often overlooked by visitors and foreign residents alike, is the way in which many Tokyoites have brought nature, albeit on a small scale, into the big city. Countless small but elegant gardens dot Tokyo. Flowers are everywhere, from temples to train tracks. The city may be crammed with buildings, but it does possess parks where city dwellers can completely lose themselves and forget they are in one of the largest cities in the world.
A good deal of “Lost in Translation” focuses on the urban loneliness that can affect both visitors and residents in Tokyo or any big city. At times Tokyo can feel like it is crushing one’s senses with all its buildings, neon, noise, confusion, oddness, traffic, and massive amount of people. Tokyo is definitely a city people have to come to terms with on their own. Tokyo is a busy city for busy people with busy plans. For those who are in a transition or a stagnant period of life, such busy-ness can be overwhelming. The “Lost in Translation” effect is the alienation that anyone stuck in a rut can feel, not only in Tokyo, but in any place that is new and strange. The main characters of the film are only in Tokyo for a week or so and much of the time they seem to spend in their hotel. The few times they venture out, they generally seem to have some fun, such as when they go to karaoke. Their animosity towards Tokyo and the Japanese seems to stem more from the underlying loathing they have for their own lives and their lack of direction. By the end of the movie, however, we see they don’t really hate Tokyo, as Scarlett Johansson’s character, Charlotte, jokingly suggests to Bill Murray they could start up a jazz band and never leave.
Overall, I thought the movie did a good job in its portrayal of two lost souls in the urban chaos of Tokyo. Murray gave a fine performance by simply not going overboard and giving us the “Bill Murray” from the movies and “Saturday Night Live.” He was funny in a low-key, genuine way. Johansson never gave into dramatic displays of despair or soul-wrenching monologues that scream “I’d like to thank the Academy…” Both actors gave earnest performances that were stronger for their restraint. In a time where over-acting melodramatics abound in cinema, it was nice to see a movie that didn’t seem like a movie. It felt like the kind of bittersweet story that either has happened or could happen to any of us in our lives. Now, from the point of view of a foreigner living in Tokyo, I thought “Lost in Translation” was quite accurate, though I have never stayed in a five-star hotel in Japan, had a high-priced prostitute sent to my room, or gone to any of those ritzy strip clubs depicted in the film. Had they filmed more scenes in izakaya (Hub Pubs), cheap noodle places, and sleazy meat-market dance clubs in Roppongi, I could have related more to the movie.
A few extra things I feel the film needed to make it even more representative of Tokyo:
|
-
Recent
- Tayu Oiran in Kyoto
- Japanese Craft Beer&History – Yanaka Beer
- Unicorn Gundam in Tokyo
- Japanese Bowing Deer of Nara
- Outdoor Sumo at Yasukuni Shrine
- Samurai Girls Do Battle!!!
- Sumo – Hakuho vs Harumafuji at Outdoor Sumo Event at Yasukuni Shrine
- Samurai Warlord’s Kyoto Cherry Blossom Festival – Taiko Hanami Gyoretsu
- Samurai Battle Festival – Battle of Sekigahara Festival
- Japanese St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Harajuku, Tokyo
- Japanese Devils Beat You For Good Luck on Setsubun
- Wakakusayama Yaki – Japanese Mountain Fire Festival in Nara
-
Links
-
Archives
- September 2018 (3)
- September 2013 (1)
- May 2013 (2)
- April 2013 (3)
- March 2013 (1)
- February 2013 (3)
- January 2013 (1)
- December 2012 (5)
- November 2012 (3)
- October 2012 (3)
- September 2012 (6)
- May 2012 (2)
-
Categories
- 1066
- 1914
- 1950s
- 1970s
- 1980s
- 1990s
- 2000
- 2001
- 2007
- 2008
- 2008 Presidential Race
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 47 Ronin
- 50cent
- 911
- A-Team
- abashiri
- acrobatics
- action figures
- aikido
- air combat
- airplanes
- akihabara
- akihito
- Akita
- ako gishi
- ako roshi
- alcohol
- aliens
- american pop culture
- Amy Fisher
- ancient egypt
- Anglo-Saxons
- animals
- Anime
- Anti-Semitism
- Aoba Matsuri
- aomori
- aomori prefecture
- Apocalypse
- Archery
- armistice day
- art
- Asakusa
- asashoryu
- ashikaga
- Ashikaga Yoshimasa
- Australia
- autumn
- avant-garde
- ayukawa
- Battle of Hastings
- Bavaria
- Bayern
- beautiful girls
- beefeater
- beer
- belly dancing
- Bill Murray
- birthday
- biwa
- blog
- Blogroll
- blowing bubbles
- boating
- boats
- Bobbit
- Bon Odori
- Bonseki
- brawl
- brazil
- buddhism
- bull fighting
- bulls
- Burger King
- busker
- busking
- cairo
- california energy crisis
- Canada
- cannon
- carnaval
- carnival
- castle
- Catholic
- cello
- Celtic
- celtic music
- Charles Schultz
- Charlie Brown
- cheops
- cherry blossoms
- chichibu
- chimes
- chinese food
- Christianity
- christmas
- Christmas in the Trenches
- Christmas Truce
- chuck norris
- chusingura
- CIA
- classical music
- Clinton
- clock tower
- clubbing
- coins
- comedy
- Coming of Age Day
- confessions
- cosplay
- costumes
- craft beer
- crickets
- Croatia
- crossdressing
- Crucifixition
- culture
- culture day
- current tv
- Current TV Promo
- cute
- Dairokuten-no-Hadaka Matsuri
- dance
- Date Masamune
- death
- Democrats
- demons
- design festa
- Deutschland
- devils
- Dezomeshiki
- documentary
- Don't Know Why
- Dracula
- dragons
- drift ice
- drinking
- drums
- Earth Celebration
- earthquake
- easter
- easter bunny
- easter eggs
- Eastern Europe
- egypt
- eine kleine nachtmusik
- elections
- electronica
- England
- english teacher
- english teaching
- enka
- enron
- enron scandal
- entertainment
- environment
- Ernest Hemingway
- europe
- european history
- event
- extreme sports
- Eyeball Love Globe
- fall
- fertility
- fertility festival
- festival
- Festival of Ages
- FIFA
- fight
- fire
- fire dancing
- Fire Department
- fire festival
- fire twirling
- Fire Walking
- firefighter
- firefighting
- fireworks
- flame-twirling
- floats
- flute
- flying saucers
- folklore
- food
- fukushima
- Funekko Nagashi
- furisode
- gadget
- geek
- geibikei
- Geiko
- geisha
- Geisha Dance
- Gempei War
- Genghis Khan
- Germany
- Ghost Stories
- Ghosts
- GI Joe
- Gion
- girls
- girls kissing
- Givemeabreakman
- giza
- Glitterball
- global warming
- Gokaicho
- Golden Dragon
- Golden Dragon Dance
- Golden Fleece
- Golden Week
- goryo
- goshogawara
- Goth Girls
- goth lolita
- government cover-up
- Graham Hancock
- greasers
- Great Pumpkin
- great pyramid
- greenpeace
- Groundhog Day
- Guinness
- gun control
- Gundam
- Hadaka
- hagoita
- hakodate
- halloween
- hamburger
- hanami
- Harajuku
- Harold Godwinson
- Haunted
- Hauntings
- heavy metal
- heike monogatari
- Hello Kitty
- High School Musical
- hikeshi
- Hikone
- hirohito
- hirosaki
- history
- hojo
- hokkaido
- Horror
- horse racing
- horses
- Hosokawa Sansai
- Howitzer
- humor
- ice
- ice sculptures
- Ii Naomasa
- indie
- Ireland
- Irish
- iwate
- Iwate Swan
- IWC
- j-horror
- j-pop
- j-rock
- japan
- Japan Earthquake
- Japan Vlogger
- Japanese Anime
- japanese archery
- japanese beer
- japanese beer vending machine
- japanese culture
- japanese emperor
- Japanese festival
- japanese folklore
- japanese ghost stories
- Japanese Ghosts
- Japanese girls
- japanese goldfish scooping
- japanese history
- Japanese Horror
- japanese imperial palace
- Japanese martial arts
- Japanese subculture
- Japanese Tea Ceremony
- Jean-Michel Jarre
- Jesus
- Jews
- Jidai Matsuri
- jigokudani
- job searching
- John McCutcheon
- Jomon
- jpop
- Ju-on
- juhyo
- Kairaku-en
- Kamakura Matsuri
- kamogawa odori
- karaoke
- karate
- kawaii
- Kendo
- kenneth lay
- khufu
- kimono
- kingyo sukui
- Kinryu-no-Mai
- Kodo
- kokyo
- komuso
- koukyo
- kurama-no-himatsuri
- kwaidan
- Kyoto
- kyudo
- Lafcadio Hearn
- leaves
- Lee Van Cleef
- life
- light saber
- Lilo&Stitch
- Lost in Translation
- macaque
- madonna
- maiko
- marine life
- Mark Twain
- martial arts
- Master Ninja
- matsuri
- McCain
- media
- medieval
- Meiji
- meiji shrine
- metal
- Metropolis Magazine
- Middle Ages
- Middle East
- Millennium
- misogi
- mito
- moira cameron
- momote shiki
- Monica Lewinsky
- monkey
- monster trees
- montage
- morioka
- mounted archery
- movie review
- mozart
- MST3K
- mt. kurama
- Mt. Zao
- Mudslinging
- Munchen
- Munich
- murfreesboro
- museum
- music
- music concert
- music videos
- musicians
- musicians in Japan
- Mystery Science Theater 3000
- mythology
- nagano
- Nagoya
- Naked Festival
- Namahage
- Nara
- nashville
- nature
- nebuta
- neputa
- never gonna give you up
- New Age
- New Age music
- New Year's Eve
- New Years
- news
- Nick Zappetti
- night out
- nightlife
- ninja
- Ninja movies
- Nishimonai
- Nishimonai Bon Odori
- noon
- Norah Jones
- Normans
- November 11th
- Obama
- Obon
- ocean
- octopus
- octopus garden
- odawara
- Oga
- ogasawara ryu
- OJ Simpson
- Oktoberfest
- oni
- Only in Japan
- onryo
- opinion
- Osu Kannon
- otaru
- painters
- painting
- Pamplona
- parade
- paranormal
- parody
- party
- peace
- Peanuts
- penis festival
- Pentagon
- Peru
- photographs
- photography
- pirates
- plum blossom
- poetry
- politics
- pool
- pop culture
- Power Rangers
- Presidential Debate
- Project Blue Book
- Pub
- purification
- pyramids
- racism
- red baron
- reindeer
- remembrance day
- Republicans
- Resurrection
- rick astley
- rick roll
- Ringo Starr
- Ringu
- rio de janeiro
- risque
- rock
- rock band
- rockabilly
- Rodger Swan
- Roller Derby
- Rolly Teranishi
- Romania
- ronin
- Roppongi
- Roswell
- Roving Ronin Report
- Ryuhyo
- S&M
- Sado Island
- sakura
- samba
- samurai
- San Fermin
- San-San-Ku Tebasami Shiki
- sansa odori
- santa claus
- sapporo
- sapporo beer
- Sarah Michelle Gellar
- satire
- scandals
- Scarlett Johansson
- Science Fiction/Double Feature
- Sea of Okhotsk
- sea shepard
- secret commonwealth
- seijin-no-hi
- Sen no Rikyu
- sendai
- sengakuji
- sengoku
- Senso-Ji
- Setsubun
- seven cycle theory
- seven patty Whopper
- sexuality
- sexy
- shakuhachi
- shinsengumi
- Shinto
- sho kosugi
- shopping
- singing
- Snagov
- Snoopy
- snow
- snow festival
- snow gleaming
- snow lantern festival
- snow monkey
- soccer
- sofia coppola
- soma nomaoi
- Spain
- Spanish Culture
- sphinx
- spies
- Spirits
- Sport
- Sports News
- spring
- St. Patrick's Day
- star wars
- Stitch
- Storytelling
- street musicians
- subculture
- sugawara no michizane
- summer
- sumo
- supernatural
- Suzume Odori
- tachi neputa
- taiko
- taiwan
- takenoko-zoku
- tall tales
- techno
- tennessee
- tenno
- terrorism. WTC
- The Beatles
- The Grudge
- The Ring
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- The Sushi Cabaret Club
- three kingoms
- tohoku
- tokugawa ieyasu
- tokyo
- tokyo decadance
- Tokyo Design Festa
- tokyo imperial palace
- Tokyo Kuyo-Kai
- Tokyo Swan
- Tokyo Tower
- TokyoCooney
- Tonya Harding
- tower of london
- toy
- toyotomi hideyoshi
- tradition
- traditional art
- tragedy
- travel
- trees
- true ghost stories
- TV
- ufo
- UK
- ultra-man
- ume
- Umm Khulthum
- Umm Kulthum
- Uncategorized
- Urban Tap
- vampire
- veterans day
- video
- vikings
- violins
- virginia tech
- Vlad Tepes
- vlog
- voting
- weird
- whales
- whaling
- whopper
- William the Conqueror
- Windows 7
- winter
- work
- World Cup
- World Trade Center
- world war I
- wrestling
- WTF
- X-Files
- xmas. holidays
- Y2K
- Yabusame
- Yamagata
- yamanote halloween train
- Yamanote Train
- Yanaka
- yasakuni shrine
- yasukuni shrine
- yeoman warder
- Yokote
- yokozuna
- Yomatsuri
- York
- Yoshitsune
- youtube
- Youtube Gathering
- yudanaka
- Yugoslavia
- yuki matsuri
- Yuki Onna
- yukiakari no michi
- yushima tenjin
- Zagreb
- Zao Onsen
- zen
- Zenkoji
- zojo-ji
- zombies
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS