Ask John: Which Anime Illustrate Japan Most Accurately?

Question:
Which series do the best job at portraying Japanese society as it is? (Not an escapist wish-fulfillment or idealized version of Japan.)

Answer:
Two important points must be established prior to delving into specific address of this question. First, my own knowledge of Japanese society comes from personal visits to Tokyo, and only Tokyo, along with second-hand knowledge. Although the question doesn’t specify a time, I’m going to assume that the question refers anime that depicts present day Japan. Equally important is recognition that anime is fiction, so Japanese animation only reflects the typical realities of Japanese society to a similar extent that Hollywood movies and prime-time television sitcoms provide an accurate portrait of today’s American society. In order for anime to be accessible and relevant to its primary viewers, it has to be imbued with some degree of Japanese influence, but viewers should always be aware that the nature and necessity of animation requires a degree of fictive disassociation from reality.

No amount of watching anime is going to give someone a functional, accurate image of Japanese society, but anime isn’t entirely unenlightening. I can’t name any single anime that serves as a complete, functional window onto Japanese society. However, I can provide numerous titles that each provide a glimpse of different aspects of modern Japan. In order to create a convincing visual setting, many anime set in modern Japan utilize detailed and realistic backgrounds. Anime including Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto (excluding its magic, of course), Junjo Romantica, You’re Under Arrest (especially the motion picture), and 5cm Per Second are a few examples that feature extremely realistic depictions of modern Japanese metropolitan and residential areas. The cityscapes, neighborhoods, and train stations depicted in these anime are almost photographic recreations of real Japanese environments.

In more narrowed focus, series including Genshiken, Moegaku 5, Lucky Star, and Doujin Work include very literal depictions of Tokyo’s Akihabara “otaku” district and even the interior lay-out of specific major Akihabara specialty stores. The shopping arcade depicted in the beginning of the recently broadcast Kannagi episode 6 looks strikingly similar to Tokyo’s otaku hotspot Nakano Broadway. Studio Ghibli’s film Whisper of the Heart provides an unvarnished and very detailed look at the style of the apartment homes in which many suburban Japanese citizens reside.

On a broader, social dynamic, the Tokyo Tribe 2 television series is one of the best examples I know of that presents a somewhat literal illustration of Tokyo’s crowded streets. While many anime depict pedestrians and shoppers out in public, most anime don’t accurately depict exactly how crowded Tokyo really is because drawing and animating so many bystanders is troublesome. Other anime series like Hataraki Man and Detroit Metal City are obviously embellished, but the vibrant social dynamism that they depict does reflect the pace and “vibe” of modern Tokyo.

A number of anime come to mind that I believe reflect certain aspects of modern Japanese social and familial culture. Minami-ke is noteworthy for illustrating the sense of community and communal responsibility of modern Japan. Domestic comedies including Ai no Wakakusayama no Monogatari, Chibi Maruko-chan, and Sazae-san reflect Japan’s concern with family unity and respect for the elderly. The recent film Piano no Mori subtely depicts the Japanese fixation on childhood education and advancement.

No single anime is going to make anyone an expert on Japanese society. Exclusively watching anime won’t create an intimate understanding and appreciation of culture. But watching and selectively drawing clues from a variety of anime can create an impression of modern Japanese society that reveals some of its characteristics, concerns, appearance, ettiquete, and customs.