New English textbook takes up Superman, Anpanman to compare cultures

Wednesday 26th March, 09:50 AM JST

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jammerlammy at 01:30 PM JST - 26th March

I guess the Justice League never made it to Japan...
SuperLib at 02:44 PM JST - 26th March

Well, to some extent the lesson is true. They just happened to use these two characters to explain it. Naturally the lesson should include information that it's just a general statement about the two cultures and shouldn't be taken literally, but I have a feeling it's going to end up as a memorized response for a test with only one correct answer.
Ultradude at 03:55 PM JST - 26th March

Rubbish. Mikans and apples. How about comparing Ultraman and Superman? Anpanman is for munchkins - my 3 yr old son has the Ampanman song memorized already. Superman is for much older kids. We have many flawed heroes, as well. At any rate, these differences are way overplayed. Look at the pilgrims or the pioneers who settled the American West, none would've survived without intense cooperation. We don't have team sports in the US? I could go on.
Hikozaemon at 06:06 PM JST - 26th March

To quote Tarentino:

"As you know, l'm quite keen on comic books. Especially the ones about superheroes. I find the whole mythology surrounding superheroes fascinating. Take my favorite superhero, Superman. Not a great comic book. Not particularly well-drawn. But the mythology... The mythology is not only great, it's unique. Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone. Superman didn't become Superman. Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red "S", that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears - the glasses, the business suit - that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent. He's weak... he's unsure of himself... he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race. Sorta like Beatrix Kiddo and Mrs. Tommy Plimpton."

Ampan man on the other hand is soo kawaaaaiiiiii!

Peace
Farmboy at 08:39 PM JST - 26th March

I know Americans who have lived in Japan for over eight years and still haven't understood all the cultural differences, and Japanese living in America with similar difficulties. I seriously doubt that scrunching dubious truisms into a manga will do much for anyone except perhaps the publisher. Experience is the only way through, and even that doesn't always do the trick.
Azrael at 10:44 PM JST - 26th March

I can only guess Wonder Woman would be the ultimate "kowai onna" in a comparison between Wonder Woman and let's say, Sailormoon. I love Hikozaemon's (06:06pm JST - 26th March) quote from Tarantino, BTW.

Like Ultradude said (03:55 PM JST - 26th March), Anpanman and Superman are for different age ranges; just starting from that fact, the comparison is not well-balanced. Besides, from the article above this comparison seems to be a self-congratulating critique to the American individualism while presenting the Japanese hero's method as unique to Japanese culture and more desirable, overall. Obviously, cooperation is not a unique Japanese concept. As for if Superman is aided or not, just the League of Justice alone decries the thesis that Superman only works alone. "Winning" in the Superman adventures is not a "game" per-se; there are always human lives at risk and winning means saving those peoples. Honestly, it's good if he focuses on winning rather than on the stages. Any writer knows that the journey is what takes a hero to the final conclusion: the journey is supposed to improve the character's morale, ethics and present a view of what is supposed to be "right" in the context of the problem they face. Superman achieves all that. Anpanman focuses on small children which don't need a complicated mythology, are being taught to conform in groups according to social hierarchies, and are also being taught not to stick out from the group. On that premise yes, Anpanman's weakness enhances the importance of belonging in a group, which is what keeps Anpanman going. Superman is an alien and to some extent, an outcast little more than all the heroes are. He is alone in his class because he is the most powerful hero (and uses his laser vision on a hand mirror to shave the stubs of his beard of steel every morning). In his individuality he finds the need for his friends, not the contrary. If Superman did not have friends to cooperate with, he couldn't win. It's laughable to presume Japanese children would get a better understanding of a foreign culture by making flawed comparisons that look so self-serving. The bias is... not surprising, but still manages to astound and amaze; and yes, it deserves some eye rolling as well.
Ah_so at 01:33 AM JST - 27th March

My little daughter once asked, "Daddy, is Ampanman a super-hero?" I thought and answered that he was. That sorted it for me.

Is it Anpanman or Ampanman?
Azrael at 03:22 AM JST - 27th March

I think it's An-pan. Pan is from Portuguese meaning "bread." An is from Anko sweet-bean paste.
Sundog at 03:50 AM JST - 27th March

It doesn't really matter who they are comparing Anpanman to, the real subject of this chapter is "who are we and how are we expected to act." The selection of Anpanman is a just an interesting way to turn the topic of discussion again to "how we Japanese do things", and that, for better and for worse, is exactly the function of the Japanese school system.

Superman, the Fantastic Four, the true complexities of these characters don't really matter. They exist just to get the topic to "isn't group consensus really good?".
eastokyo at 05:20 AM JST - 27th March

I concur with Sundog, and I grow weary of attempts to distinguish the Japanese from the rest of the world. It's time we just cut to the chase and went back to war.
Sundog at 06:37 AM JST - 27th March

Eastokyo,

"It’s time we just cut to the chase and went back to war!"

Good idea!

Only this time, maybe we can confine the conflict to a Thunderdome death-cage duel between Oyaji-man, armed with the Sacred Ringi of Justice and the sometimes able assistance of Nakama-Hazure Girl, against Captain SUV and his plucky side-kick, “Irish-African-Innuit-American-bi-curious-gravity-challenged-twelve-steppin’-seventh-day-flying-spaghetti-monster-acolyte-gun-lovin’-pro-choice-mac-not-pc-boxers-not-briefs-interest-group-advocate-boy”.
fireant at 11:00 AM JST - 28th March

“Irish-African-Innuit-American-bi-curious-gravity-challenged-twelve-steppin’-seventh-day-flying-spaghetti-monster-acolyte-gun-lovin’-pro-choice-mac-not-pc-boxers-not-briefs-interest-group-advocate-boy”.

Now THAT would be one heck of a super hero. "Look! Up in the Hummer! It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's Irish-African-Innuit-American-bi-curious-gravity-challenged-twelve-steppin’-seventh-day-flying-spaghetti-monster-acolyte-gun-lovin’-pro-choice-mac-not-pc-boxers-not-briefs-interest-group-advocate-boy"
umbrella at 01:49 PM JST - 28th March

"It’s time we just cut to the chase and went back to war." Great, quote of the day or even century.
Desiderata1967 at 03:29 AM JST - 29th March

More stupidity on the behalf of the Japanese Education Ministry as usual.
ancientone at 04:59 PM JST - 30th March

I think it is incredible that someone would even try this. I should think the differences are like night and day. Each has evolved to suit the needs of the individual cultures. They're both good, but difficult. I think adding cartoon characters is a plus. it will almost gurantee the students will become interested.