Attitudes and Stereotypes
Attitudes towards hobbyists of Japanese popular culture have changed over the years. In the early 2000s, the hobby was still quite stigmatized, and many were bullied because of it. Today, there are fewer prejudices and many feel that the hobby is accepted.
Berserk
Berserk, starting in 1989, is a dark fantasy manga series drawn and written by Kentaro Miura. After Miura’s death (2021), the series has been written by Miura’s close friend Kouji Mori and illustrated by Miura’s assistants at Studio Gaga. Three anime series (1997–1998, 2012–2013, 2016–2017) and three video games (1999, 2004, 2016) have been made based on the manga.
Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin
Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin is a manga series about dogs created by Yoshihiro Takahashi that was published between 1983–1987, which Toei Animation adapted into an anime series in 1986.
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon is a magical girl manga series created by Naoko Takeuchi and published in 1991–1997. The manga has been adapted into two anime series, airing from 1992 to 1997 and 2014 to 2016.
Street Styles
Japanese alternative fashion is a large cathegory which includes many different kind of styles.
The Significance of the Internet
Hobbying of Japanese popular culture as it is today would not exist without the internet.
Diversity among Hobbyists
Hobbyists of Japanese popular culture are diverse, and there are many ways to take part in the hobby. In general, the Finnish hobbyist scene is seen as more communal than in many other countries
Akira
Akira is a dystopian cyberpunk manga series created by Katsuhiro Otomo, and serialized in 1982–1990. Otomo himself scripted and directed an anime film version of the manga 1988.
Why Japanese Popular Culture?
Many are attracted to Japanese popular culture because of its unique style, values, and content, which many feel are different to those of Western popular culture.
Japanese Street Fashion
Japanese street fashion has drawn inspiration from various media, including music, manga, anime, and games.
J-music experiences
Memories and experiences of enthusiasts of Japanese popular music, quoted from the responses to the survey conducted by Leikki – the Museum of Play
Manga Artists
The article introduces Japanese mangakas, that is, manga artists such as Osamu Tezuka and Yoshihiro Takahashi.
Manga in Finland
The first manga series published in Finland were Barefoot Gen (1973–1987) in 1985 and Akira (1982–1990) in 1996.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a mecha anime series written and directed by Hideaki Anno and produced by Gainax.
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a battle manga series created by Kōhei Horikoshi in 2014, that has also been adapted into an anime series (2016–), multiple movies, spin-off manga series, video games, and stage plays.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball is a battle manga series created by Akira Toriyama, serialized from 1984 to 1995. Several anime series have been adapted from the manga as well as anime and live-action films and video games.
Japan as a hobby
In the early 2000s, Japanese popular culture, such as manga, anime, fashion, music, and Japan-themed conventions, and cosplay, began to gain a stronger foothold in Finland.
Decora
Decora originated in the Harajuku area of Tokyo in the late 1990s and gained popularity especially in the first decade of the 2000s. The style is colorful and maximalist.
Soulsborne Games
The dark and grim soulsborne games created by FromSoftware (Demon’s Souls, 2008; Dark Souls series, 2011–2016; Bloodborne, 2015; Elden Ring, 2022) are popular among players due to their challenging difficulty and unique game mechanics.
Target audiences for manga and anime
There are several genres within manga and anime (such as sci-fi, adventure, romance, comedy, etc.), and series are often made and marketed towards specific target audiences.
Parapara and Odottemita Dances
Parapara and odottemita dances may look similar, but they have different origins and purposes. Parapara dance involves official choreographies introduced by parapara clubs, which are learned at club nights, from recordings, or from videos recorded by fans. Odottemita involves reinterpreting any dance choreography.
Experiences of Gaming
Memories and experiences of enthusiasts of Japanese games and gaming, quoted from the responses to the survey conducted by Leikki – the Museum of Play.
Target audiences for manga and anime
Tokyo Mew Mew is an example of a manga targeted at a girl audience. Image: Leikki – the Museum of Play There are several genres within manga and anime (such as sci-fi, adventure, romance, comedy, etc.), and series are often made and marketed towards specific target audiences. Kodomo Series: These are aimed at young children […]
Sweet Lolita
Sweet lolita is one of the most popular substyles of lolita. It features a voluminous cupcake-shaped skirt and abundant lace decorations.
Experiences of Fashion Enthusiasts
Experiences of enthusiasts of Japanese street fashion, quoted from the responses to the survey conducted by Leikki – the Museum of Play in 2023.
Experiences of the Hobby
The hobby has been important to me and I have experienced a sense of belonging through it. It has also been fun to have something of my own. The hobby is a big part of my life and I don’t think I could ever give it up completely. It’s a lifestyle. (b.1992) The hobby was […]
Experiences of Cosplay
Memories and experiences of enthusiasts about cosplay, quoted from the responses to the survey conducted by Leikki – the Museum of Play in 2023.
Anime Creators
This article presents some of the mangakas who were most prominent in an online survey about the hobby of Japanese pop culture in Finland in the 2000s, conducted by Leikki – the Museum of Play in late spring 2023.
Making Anime
In the world of anime, authorship is a complex concept because anime is produced by large studio systems as massive productions involving many contributors.
Anime in Finland
Anime quietly made its way to Finland already in the 1980s. Today, consuming anime has become commonplace.
Game Genres
There are many different types of Japanese games, including JRPGs, rhythm games, mobile games, visual novels, and arcade games.
Manga and Anime Series
This page presents nine manga and anime series that were most prominent in an online survey about the hobby of Japanese pop culture in Finland in the 2000s, conducted by the Museum of Play in late spring 2023.
The Most Well-known Japanese Game Companies
Gaming companies are numerous in Japan, with some primarily acting as developers, with others also serving as publishers.
Interest in Lolita Fashion
One of the most well-known styles of Japanese street fashion is lolita, which has many substyles such as gothic lolita, sweet lolita, classic lolita, and even punk lolita.
Manga
Manga (マンガ) is an overarching term for Japanese comics and graphic novels. Manga can be seen as a central force in Japan’s mass culture.
Visual Kei and Dir en Grey
Visual kei is a music and fashion style that originated in Japan in the 1980s. The j-rock band Dir en grey is one of the most popular representatives of the style.
Vocaloids
Vocaloid is a vocal synthesizer developed by Yamaha, with the first products hitting the market in 2004. Vocaloid utilizes snippets of real human voice recordings, modeling them into singing based on inputted lyrics and melodies.
Cosplay Costume
A cosplay costume often includes many parts, such as a wig, makeup, accessories, the costume itself, shoes, as well as props (such as swords and wings). Some cosplayers buy ready-made clothes or complete outfits, using them as they are or modifying them. Others make part of or all of their costumes entirely by themselves.
Production of manga
Manga artists are called mangaka. Because manga is published on tight schedules, many mangaka have assistants who help with drawing or shading. Many well-known creators have started their careers as assistants to already successful mangaka.
Idols and Idol Groups
The music of Japanese idol singers is often classified as j-pop. Many idol singers succeed more as a group than as individuals. In idol groups, members are often assigned different roles that fans can identify with.
Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts is a fantasy adventure video game series by Square Enix, often described as a combination of Final Fantasy and Disney.
Final Fantasy
The Final Fantasy video game series, developed and published by Square Enix, has been very popular in Finland. The first installment of the series, Final Fantasy I, was released in 1987.
Tokyo Mew Mew
Tokyo Mew Mew is a magical girl manga series written by Reiko Yoshida and illustrated by Mia Ikumi. The original series was published from 2000 to 2003, with a two volume sequel in 2020.
The Multimediatic Nature of Products
Products of Japanese popular culture are multimediatic by nature since they rarely exist solely within one medium. Many of the products presented in the exhibition appear as manga, anime, games, merchandise, and possibly in other forms as well.
Japanese Popular Music in Finland
Japanese popular music, especially j-rock, gained popularity in Finland in the 1990s as the spread of manga and anime increased.
Cons in Finland
A unique feature of Finnish cons is that they are run mainly by volunteers. Compared to many commercial and trade-like large events abroad, cons in our country are mostly made by attendees for attendees, as non-profit events. While Finland emphasizes diverse con programming, many international events often focus more on sales.
Naruto
Naruto is a fantasy adventure manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto in 1999, which began being translated into Finnish in 2008 (Sangatsu Manga). The manga was adapted into two anime series: Naruto (2002–2007) and Naruto: Shippūden (2007–2017).
Photography as a Part of Cosplay
Photography is often an important part of cosplay. Many conventions have a separate photography spot for taking pictures.
Cosplay Competitions
Cosplay competition award ceremony at Desucon Frostbite in 2024. Image: Leikki – the Museum of play Almost every convention hosts some type of cosplay competition, which often draw a packed audience. In recent years, it has become common to categorize competitions based on the participants’ experience levels. For example, beginners can compete against each other […]
Games and Gaming
Although Japan is a strong gaming nation, gaming is not always the primary hobby for those interested in Japanese pop culture, and many people play non-Japanese games as well.
Historic Lolita
A substyle of classic lolita, historical lolita mimics the fashion of a historical era in its style.
Old School Lolita
Unlike most modern lolita styles, old school lolita rarely utilizes prints. Outfits usually consist of only two colors, with black often being one of them.
Music
Japanese popular music has deep roots. In its modern form, it began to spread more widely in the 1990s.
Fandom and Fan Art
The fan community around a particular interest has been referred to as fandom in American sci-fi circles as early as the 1920s. Fan art refers to works created by fans based on previously established characters, worlds, or stories, often from Japanese popular culture.
Visual Kei
In addition to being a music genre, visual kei is also a subgenre of street fashion. The aesthetics of the style are inspired by the attire of visual kei band members.
Anime
Anime (アニメ) in Western countries refers to specifically Japanese animation, but in Japan, it encompasses all animation. Anime series and movies are often based on popular manga series, and sometimes also on novels or games.
Cons
Conventions are one of the most visible parts of Japanese popular culture as a hobby in Finland. The largest hobby groups are fans of anime, manga, role-playing games, and science fiction.
Cosplay
Cosplay, short for “costume play,” refers to dressing up as characters from, for example, anime, games, manga, or public figures.
Experiences from Conventions and Creating Fan Art
It has given me a lot of joy. Even though it’s fanfiction, some of these characters have become really dear to me and I can’t imagine my life without them. (b. 1989) I got acquainted with popular series (such as Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin and Fullmetal Alchemist) when I was about 10 years old through TV […]
The Pokémon Phenomenon
Pokémon became known to Finns in 1999 due to the Finnish-dubbed TV anime. However, the Pokémon phenomenon began in 1996 as a game series on the Nintendo Game Boy. Pokémon games come in various forms, and there are players of all kinds.
Gyaru
Gyaru style has been inspired by actresses and j-pop artists Namie Amuro and Ayumi Hamasaki. The style originated in Japan as a reaction to the expectations placed on women. It emphasizes glamour and a rebellious appearance.
Jirai Kei
Jirai kei outfits typically feature pink, black, and white, and are often adorned with lace, fake jewels, and ribbons.
Fairy Kei
The Fairy kei style draws inspiration mainly from toys, games, cartoons, and generally nostalgic, innocent times of the 1980s and 1990s.
Conventions and Fan Culture
Conventions, or cons, are events organized around a group, theme, or genre. Conventions are popular events for showcasing and selling fan art and merchandise.
Gothic Lolita
As the name suggests, gothic lolita is the gothic version of lolita fashion. The style draws inspiration from Victorian mourning attire and the visual kei music scene.
The Experience of Following Manga
Read Finnish manga enthusiasts’ memories and stories about their hobby.
Country Lolita
The essential features of country lolita include rustic elements such as the checkered gingham pattern, straw hats and baskets, as well as fruit and plant themed prints in the dresses.
Larme Kei
Larme kei is a popular style in the Western world, which originated in 2012 when the LARME fashion magazine began its publication. Its aesthetic is “girlish with a touch of darkness”.
Experiences of Anime Hobbyists
Anime and manga were the Big Thing and an important part of my identity as I grew up and searched for myself as an adult. My favorite series and games will probably remain important for the rest of my life, and it’s nice to be able to revisit them and see how my feelings towards […]
