Semiology of the mangas

To include/understand perfectly the references of a work of fiction Japan ease (in particular the Manga S), it is desirable to have a certain number of reference marks on the country which is put in scene and its Stéréotype S. This article presents some of these elements.

standard Characters

the stereotype of the Yakuza carries a large scar on the face.

a yakuza chief is often represented large, man with a moustache and has shaven cranium.

the women Fantôme S or simply lugubrious are often represented with long black hair which dissimulates of good part the face, and wear a white dress. Sadako is representing it most famous.
an insane woman is often represented with its long hair entering its mouth.
In the popular imagery, the robber is represented like carrying a fabric surrounded around the head and which is tied under the nose, and trimballe a bag of green color.
the snowmen Japanese, contrary to their Western counterparts, rather carry Seau X on the head instead of a Haut-de-forme and they often have large Sourcil S.

Stereotyped places

the cliffs are often used in the picturesque imagery, as in the old men Chambara S representing the heroes samurais involving themselves close to a cliff with a sea with large aggressive waves.
the typical inn is the ryokan , a small pension which proposes simple rooms, generally furnished with a futon and of a small table. One takes the meals there on the spot, either in the room or with the family which holds the ryokan . In the ryokan of quality, a source (often exaggerated in the S Animates) can be present, being used as bath. It is generally rather expensive but of quality. There is often a gaming room of Ping-pong.
the gardens with the Japanese woman, or gardens Zen, represent a landscape on a reduced scale. By that, they invite to rise mentally. The sand which composes it is carefully raked.

Studies

the majority of the schools applies a principle of strong selection to the entry then a schooling without redoubling, considering that the performances of the pupils will be sufficiently put to the test during the examination to return in the school of higher cycle.
the universities have very difficult contests but accessible courses and of which it is relatively easy to leave graduate.
the professors must pass a national competition to be a full professor. A person missing the contest can integrate a private school, generally as temporary professor, if this one wishes it.
the difficulty of entry in the good schools, which only make it possible to enter the good universities, oblige the families, and especially the children, with going in courses of the evening lasting of long hours after the school.
the Japanese examinations are often QCM. The by-heart is thus the standard. To include/understand is generally not essential.
the Japanese do not learn the English from England, they learn English from the examinations which give sometimes place to the Engrish. They learn an English grammar, the irregular verbs, vocabulary, which enables them to make a success of their examinations (of the QCM). And a quite specific pronunciation (IE. one takes again those which have a good accent because they are likely to miss by the examinations, the inspector not including/understanding inevitably the English accent). That makes the Japanese outgoing of the school about inapt to communicate in English by oral examination. The lack of practice of the writing also makes the production of writing difficult, but the reading occurs well. However, that is slowly in the process of correction.
When the students prepare to study seriously for an examination, they are rolled up a stringcourse around the head called Hachimaki with inscriptions being referred with work and/or Japan. Professors force sometimes their pupils to do that. The employees and the demonstrators carry also this kind of stringcourse.
the sport is actively applied to the school, in progress and in club.

the girls wear black shorts grinding very short like uniform of sport. It is often an object of phantasm and sexual fetishism at the men.

sometimes

the professors have with them a wood panel in the shape of hand, in order to symbolize their authority and if required to strike students causing of the problems.
If a student behaves badly in progress (for example, if it is noisy), it is punished while being sent in the corridor to be held upright and hold a water bucket to with it in each hand.
the life out-of-school is articulated around club and of the principle Sempai and kohai . However, some preferring to be able to play for the pleasure when and as they wish it (the clubs have strict rules on " who makes what when with qui"), of associations start to take the step on the clubs in the schools.

Technology and consumption

the Karaoké, to sing on a music in front of his/her friends, is a very snuffed entertainment.
the Pachinko is a play resembling a vertical Flipper or a Chinese Billard where one must direct balls which fall into zones planned for that. According to the place where they fall, the player more or less gains balls, which can be given concerned. While leaving, the player can use his balls to make his purchases in an adjacent mini-market, or sometimes to make them change into money (what is not legal, the money play being interdict in Japan). This market is sometimes directed by the Yakuza and people praise little to go there.
the Japanese pass sometimes the evening around a covered coffee table of a heating cover (a Kotatsu ).
the cellphones ( Keitai ) are very present. Although slightly less less advanced than their South Korean counterparts , the Japanese telephones are in technological advance on the telephones available in Europe, of approximately a year.
the teenagers appreciate the Purikura , kind of Photomaton allowing to carry out rather advanced graphic compositions. They there generally will be made photograph in group.
the mini-markets ( Konbini ) are generally open very late, even without any interruption all the year.
There are vending machines for about any type of products (cigarettes, alcohol, breeches, vegetables out of preserve…).
Of publicities, packing and T-shirts often employ English sentences, but they comprise sometimes spelling errors and of grammar or are simply ridiculous, which amuses the english-speaking. One calls this English truncated by Japanese the Engrish. Sometimes, they are also sentences in French (Franponais), which gives the same effects.

Japan produces more band-drawn, cartoons and video games that any other country of the world.

Daily life

There exist coffees (called Manga coffee ) where reviews and Manga S are at disposal. This industry would currently put at evil the sales of manga.
the Japanese often seek to belong to a group. If they reject the idea to be a Salaryman or a OL ( Office lady ), they will probably join one of the other groups: the kogal S , the Gothic lolita , the Ganguro or others.
the too monomaniaques and sedentary people are described as Otaku . That is not regarded as a healthy practice. To have a passion is a good thing but it is necessary to diversify, not to let itself devour by this one. The term otaku is now more used out it Japan to designate a fan of manga/d' animates and/or Japanese culture. The term has a negative connotation there since the tragedy caused by Tsutomu Miyazaki.
a certain number of Japanese do not withstand the pressure of the Japanese company. They are locked up on their premises during long periods and become Hikikomori S.

In a country where the body contacts between people of different sexes are limited, the dances of couples are practiced very little. The Salsa slightly bored, without really convincing.
the body contacts between of the same people sex are well accepted in Japan. It is not necessary offusquer to see two girls hand in the hand or to see a man tightening the arm or the shoulder of another man.
the public baths ( onsen in the frequent case of thermal baths) are a very widespread institution. One bathes there between people of the same sex. One washes oneself and rinses oneself before entering the bath, which is made only to be rested and benefit from its trace elements.
the young people and in particular the young girls like the luxurious products, to dissociate their girlfriends. With the Japan, the prostitution of the coeds (Enjo kōsai) is relatively frequent and relatively quite allowed (a girl will not be inevitably shown a finger for the fact of devoting itself to this activity). That passes in general by the telephone, in telekula .
the problems of contacts, in particular on the young women, in public transport by perverts ( Chikan ) pushed with the creation of special coaches for women on certain lines of the Métro of Tokyo. The women dare little to protest, not to draw the attention to them. However, one saw men being wrongfully made show to extort money, from where the instruction given the abroads to have always the visible hands.

Demography

After having had a strong birthrate which increased its population with the row of tenth country more populated in the world, Japan low has now one of birth rates in the world and a population which ages (approximately 25% of the population have more than 65 years) because of the longevity of life. One allots this fall to the fact that the Japanese " make more the amour".
the Japanese were preceded on the archipelago by the Aïnus, which remain discreetly in north. They seek to be melted in crowd as much as possible, to avoid discriminations.
Less than 2% of the Japanese population is of immigrant origin, which makes of Japan a country ethniquement homogeneous compared to the other developed countries.

the Korean , the greatest ethnic minority in the country, are often put at the variation in Japan. The people of Korean ascent born in Japan always do not have Japanese nationality, and they are almost never represented in the media (in opposition to the Chinese, however fewer).
In a general way, the foreigners ( gaijin ) or Japanese of foreign origin are often object of discrimination, the Japanese being generally very nationalist.
Although the foreigners in Japan do not break more than the law that the Japanese, the preserving media put often ahead their crimes and offenses, giving them a rather unfavourable image.

Religion

In Japan coexists 3 principal worships: Shintoïsme (the first arrival), Buddhism, and the Christianity. The Japanese are frequently Buddhist and shintoïstes.

during bouddho-shintoïque of the nun is the miko. It is about a teenager, generally girl of the family managing the sanctuary, which holds the temple. In Japan, one considers it worse character than the nun because it cannot have relation with a man as long as it holds her office. She is easily recognized by her long red skirt and her white blouse.

It does not need there to be Christian to marry in a church in front of a Prêtre: all the unit is supposed to imitate the marriages " with the occidentale" regarded as more romantic than the marriages Japanese tradionnels.

Marriage and love

the Japanese are not as romantic as the mangas could make it believe, and a survey showed that 70% of them made pass their professional life before their love life.
the day of the St. Valentine's day, the Japanese women are supposed to offer chocolates to the men whom they wish to reward for their kindness or to show their interest (in which case, the chocolates can be hand made, to differentiate them). They feel sometimes forced to offer some more than they would not wish it, for not froisser somebody, which would be unacceptable. They are then giri-choco (obligatory chocolate).

In return of the chocolates of the St. Valentine's day, the men are supposed to make a gift the day of the White Day.

Until recently, the marriages were arranged between family, without really worrying about the opinion of the concerned ones.

Food

the children and the men who have an attentive wife eat a meal prepared in advance and stored in a box, the Bento. The men then are generally regarded as lucky by their pars.

a sign of feeling in love by a girl towards a boy can be expressed by it offering to this last a bento which it itself prepared.
the bento often has Saucisse S cut out to resemble small octopuses, and/or rice has Saumon forming a drawing, often a heart.

Sometimes, to make noise by eating watch which the dish is good. To eat Ramen (Chinese pastes in a bubble), and soups in general, is also made in a noisy way, while aspiring.

History of Japan

the Ninja S are spies and mercenaries. Contrary to the samurais, they did not obey the bushidō. The history claims that they were descendants of Immigré S Chinese. The dissimulation, the diversion, the agility, the speed and the low blow were their weapons.

the legend says that the ninjas had capacities Mystique S which they drew from their ki , enabling them to create illusions, doubles of them-even or to spit of fire.

the capacity which would make it possible the ninja to create several doubles of itself is the bushin-No-jutsu . In reality, the ninja would move quickly in several directions to give the impression which several people were around her adversary, or would pose objects to simulate human silhouettes.

the Samurai S were knights subjected to the orders of a Master, the Shogun. A samurai without Master was a Ronin. He was to give himself death by Seppuku after having avenged death for this one or after a great dishonor. The saber was regarded as the heart of the samurai. It was to take great care of it and to never separate some. All the attitudes were made to be able to declad it in one moment.

Although the samurai has a noble image of warrior, much of samurais were corrupted in the history and acted like mercenaries.
a stable situation envied by the samurai is that of Yojimbo , a species of Bodyguard.

Maffia

the Maffia local is the clan of the Yakuza S. Tatoués, they cut the little finger in the event of serious failure or to prove their engagement, which resulted in to make them inapt to hold a knife effectively.
the yakuzas tend to rather regard the police force as a rival clan than like the arm of a higher order.
the yakuzas carry the great tattooings coloured on their body, visible when they go to the bath. Certain public baths prohibit to entry the customers thus having this kind of tattooing.

Work

the employees of a company frequently make evenings with the bar in company of their chief. The salarymen return generally late, keeping little contact with the family which they maintain.
transport to go to work is very long, Tōkyō being very wide. The employees spend time while reading, in particular mangas that they sometimes let trail after having read them, being considered more as consumables that works of Article
the holiday periods are rare in Japan. The most known holiday period is the Golden week and hard one week.

Gestural and symbol

a hand closed with the left little finger means “boyfriend”. With the inch only left, “boyfriend”.
the gestural one “come here” is done by closing and opening the hand, palm downwards. The Western way of this gesture, with the finger, is reserved for the animals.
the rods planted vertically in food is a provision reserved for the offerings with deaths, never to make out of this framework, therefore. Somebody who would do that in front of an alive person would make a large implied.
One should not pass a food to someone else directly of rod to rod. To pass from rod to rod is part of the funerary rites, at the time without which the close relations of late did its bones.
to cause somebody, the children turn the back on the adversary and type the buttock.
On the photographs, the Asian ones, and in particular the girls, frequently makes the “V” of the Victoire with the fingers. It is in fact interpreted over there like a sign of Paix. Nowadays, it is simply regarded as " Kawaii ", which perpetuates this tradition.
When a girl presents herself and wants to have the air nice, it closes the eyes and points the two indices towards its figure while smiling.
Where the Westerners put two names in a heart with one “+”, Japanese vertically writes 2 names under a symbol of umbrella (a triangle and a vertical line on the basis of the top highest of the triangle downwards), sometimes surmounted by a heart. It is a have-have-gasa (love-love-sunshade).
a dependant couple (intended) is supposed being bound by a bond (a string if you prefer) red. From where certain iconography.
To place its inch between its index and its major is an outrageous gesture similar to the finger of Western honor.
gestural “Ego? ” is done by pointing its nose with its index (in Occident, one points the chest).
famous safety “in courbette” can accompany: hello, goodbye, thank you, please. Time, the angle of inclination and the number of courbettes depend on the situation and the respective rows on the people.

It is habit for the men to incline itself with their right-hand men stuck to the sides and the women to do it with their hands united in front.

a promise between 2 people, in particular between children, is done by clinging the little fingers (auricular).
an excuse is generally done while placing its left hand pointed to the top and with height of the face, perpendicular to this one, or more formally with the two hands united at the same place.
One agitates sometimes Daikon S as one would agitate a flag in public events.

Superstitions and rites

the length of the male body would be proportional to the distance which separates the hand from the end of the rods when you eat.
Boire milk would enlarge the centres. To also mass the centres.
idiotic people would be unable to catch a cold.
a unhappy love affair would give hunger in a girl.
the tests of courage ( kimodameshi ) at night are a rather frequent play, in particular the summer, towards O-Good. One gives oneself a mission to fill between schoolboys.
a particular play in the young people consists in succeeding in planting by surprised the two indices of its hands united in behind of one their colleagues, causing a certain pain.
In the temples, one can suspend wood plates on which one makes write a wish that one wishes to see being carried out. One can also buy charms and amulet.
Before requesting in a temple, the Japanese strike several times in their hands, to draw the attention of the god. (temple Shinto only)
a legend says that there would be rabbit S on the the Moon. That comes from the gray tasks on a face of the Moon which evoke for the Japanese the shape of a making rabbit of the Rice pudding.
When somebody sneezes, it is known as that it is because one speaks about him of his absence (in Europe, that corresponds to the fact of having “the ears who whistles”).
That would carry misfortune to whistle the night, because that " would attract the Serpent s" (with the fact a metaphor to speak about troubles).
a person having a thought concupiscente is supposed to bleed of the nose. That arrives almost exclusively to those of male sex. The nosebleed is a graphic code very running in the mangas to represent a sexual excitation.
the players of Japanese flute must carry a basket on the head, in memory of an order of monks players of flute (the Fuke ) who had disguised themselves thus in the history to infiltrate their enemies.
In the Buddhist burials, one often makes relate to the head of dead stringcourse with a paper triangle, a hitaikakushi . So the Japanese phantoms ( Yurei ) are often represented like carrying a hitaikakushi .

See too

Set of themes of the mangas and animated

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