Ask John: Are Japanese Citizens Aware of Anime Fans Overseas?

Question:
How aware of anime/manga fandom in the English speaking world are the Japanese public in general? An issue of American Shonen Jump about 18 months ago mentioned a Japanese Shonen Jump mention of the American version and how much Americans supposedly love Shonen Jump. Surely, every so often, anime conventions outside of Japan are mentioned in the Japanese media?

Answer:
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to provide an answer that’s as thorough or detailed as I’d like it to be because I don’t know enough specifics. I have a general sense of the Japanese fan community’s awareness of international anime fandom because I regularly communicate with the Japanese translator that translates “Ask John” articles for Japanese readers. I also occasionally receive questions from Japanese readers. But I’m not Japanese, and I’m not a part of Japan’s fan community. So I have only second-hand, limited familiarity with the perceptions and consciousness of the Japanese fan community.

Based on my limited knowledge, I know that Japan’s anime fan community is aware of the international following for anime. Japanese media sources sometimes report on international fandom. I’ve seen Japanese television programs feature reports on the international anime movement. The September 2007 issue of Japan’s Newtype Magazine, for example, includes a 3 page report on America’s 2007 Anime Expo convention. However, I believe that many Japanese fans don’t have a realistic or accurate perception of the true extent of anime fandom in America. I think that many Japanese fans seem to think that anime is more popular in America than it actually is. This may be conversely true, as Americans may sometimes mistakenly believe that anime is “everywhere” in Japan. I think that many Japanese fans may overestimate exactly how successful, commonplace, and popular anime is in America. For example, I suspect that many Japanese fans may be surprised to learn how little anime is broadcast on mainstream American television, and how little anime reaches significant nationwide American theatrical release. Furthermore, Japanese fans may be, I think, sometimes unaware of the extent of American fans’ devotion to anime. For example, a year ago I recall hearing that Japanese fans were surprised to learn that Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni was popular among Americans. Since the title was based on a relatively little known fan created PC game, and since the title was a morbid drama rather than an exciting or romantic action adventure or comedy, Japanese fans seemed surprised that Americans knew of it, and seemed surprised that Americans would find it interesting.

I’m sorry to say that I don’t know anything about Japanese perception of anime fandom in countries other than America. Anime is especially popular in France, Germany, Mexico, and Latin America, but I don’t know if, or to what extent Japanese fans are aware of this international popularity. I’m also sorry to say that I don’t know precisely how conscious mainstream Japanese society is of the international popularity of anime. However, I suspect that if Japan’s hardcore fans have relatively little awareness of anime fandom overseas, mainstream Japanese society has even less conscious awareness that anime is popular outside of Japan. More accurately, I think that mainstream Japanese society is not especially conscious of anime in Japan, so naturally awareness of anime outside of Japan would be even lower.