あいきもの アタックバクスタ アビーアドラ スアドトランタンラム

Background Info• リラックマは かわいい くまです , よ . 　かおるのうちにすんでいます . パンケーキや オムライスや フランが好きです . テレビを みるのや おんせんに きくのが好きです . 　コーリラックマは いたずらずきなで しろい くまです . コーリラックマはリラッくマに いたずらを するのが好きです . ペンギンや アヒルの ぬいぐるみで あそぶのが好きです . かおるのあいちょうは キイトリです . キィトリは 小さくて きいろいです . 　リラックマは ものぐさなので キィトリは リラックマを しかります｡キィリトリは コーリラックマと けんかをはじめます｡そうじを して金を ためるのが好きです . 毎日かおるのうちで あいつらは あそびます . リラックマはゲームや本や ビデホや おもちゃや てくの中に あります . 日本のぬいぐるみの中で大ゆうめいです .

友だちのリラックマ• Rilakkuma often appears with his two friends.

There is a small child-like white bear called Korilakkuma who often plays pranks on Rilakkuma. His other companion is a yellow chick with attitude named Kiiroitori, who often nags at the two bears.

Personalities• Rilakkuma: Very

relaxed and lazy, not particularly energetic with no serious goals

• Ko-Rilakkuma: His little sister who is very energetic and loves to play pranks on her older brotherKiiroitori – Supposedly smarter, he’s

a huge clean freak and often nags Rilakkuma, though Rilakkuma is not always receptive.

• So when we were looking at these characters, we began to wonder why there are certain character archetypes like the ones we see in Rilakkuma in Japanese pop culture. There are actually very generic character relationships between Rilakkuma and the two individually.

• Korilakkuma and Kiiroitori often do not interact.

Korilakkuma and Rilakkuma• Two very obvious character archetypes here:• A simple character who is very calm, and collected,

reflecting someone completely at peace of mind• A very energetic, prank-loving character that often

serves as a complement to the calmer character• Guess who is who?

This actually traces back to Japanese Kabuki Theater

• So what is Kabuki? It is a particular stylized version of classical Japanese dance-drama, often recognized by its use of elaborate make-up by its performers.

• Within Kabuki theater, there are often protagonist and antagonist roles, into which the main characters often get divided.

Protagonists• Wagoto/ Rilakkuma: A calmer, very relaxed

character who is only minutely bothered by the Aragoto’s ploys. In Kabuki theater, the Wagoto often uses more subdued and realistic expressions

• Aragoto/ Korilakkuma: A very gruff, hot headed and aggressive character who often has friendly conflicts with the wagoto ; In Kabuki theater, this style of kabuki often uses exaggerated kata (forms or movements) alongside flashy costumes and makeup

Example : Samurai Champloo

Aragoto: Mugen Wagoto: Jin

Other Stereotypes in Kabuki theater

• Jitsugoto – Old man who appears in story to solve problems and frequently functions as a mentor

• wakaonnagata - youthful princesses, courtesans, and other damsels in likely distress

• kashagata - samurai wives, often good with a sword or a frying pan

• Akuba - archetypal bad-girls, with street smarts, tattoos, and sass)

• Any familiar archetypes to modern pop culture?

If anyone’s watched these animes, surely they can guess the Kabuki character equivalent!

• Two very obvious character archetypes here:• A simple character who is very calm, and

collected, reflecting someone completely at peace of mind

• A smarter and more reasonable character who often verbally abuses the simpler character

• Guess who is who?

Korilakkuma and Kiiroitori

This actually could trace back to Kabuki Theater, but also Owarai comedy!

• Owarai is a basic name for the traditional Japanese comedy.

• Rilakkuma and Kiiroitori functioned as an unofficial ‘comedy’ combination within Owarai called Boke and tsukkomi

• Boke and tsukkomi• The boke is the slow-

acting character very often prone to misinterpretation and forgetfulness, as Rilakkuma is sometimes characterized to be.

• Tsukkomi refers to the role the second comedian plays in "butting in“ and scolding the boke for his actions, often receiving repercussions.

• Comparable to the straight-man, funny-guy act of Western audiences!

Other Owarai Terms• Geinin – Often translated to be a performer or

artisan; most comedians known as owarai geinin• Monomane – character imitation skills, many

owarai geinin have become quite popular through their ability to imitate other famous Japanese people

• Kire – Role taken by owarai geinin which focuses on expressing fake short-tempered anger

• Shimoneta – Sets of jokes that are typically dirty used by Japanese comedians

Cosplay Craze• “Cosplay” is the

combination of “costume” and “play”

• Is a way for fan’s to get together and celebrate their favorite characters

• The fad originated in Japan but has developed a substantial foundation in other countries

• Japanese cosplay is unique however.

Japanese Cosplay and Theatrical Ties

• In Japan, cosplay goes beyond having a cool costume

• When fans put on their costume and make-up, they became the character

• This immersion into the character reaches a level of free-lancing acting

• Not only that, but fans are able to show off their craftsmanship

• Most costumes are handmade: sewing/design, make-up, carpentry

• All of this reflects influence of art in Japanese culture.

リラックマ• リラックマ　 is described as a

stuff bear with a zipper running down his back– Means that he’s actually in a bear

costume!• Many scenes depict 　リラックマ waiting for his many identical

costumes to dry• Kaoru frequently dresses him in

sheep costumes as well.

Korilakkuma• Korilakkuma also appears as

a cow and a rabbit• In the zodiac, the cow and

the rabbit represent certain characteristics

• The ox (cow) – strong, steadfast, dependable, faithful, quick to anger

• The rabbit – modest, quick, delicate senses

What could this mean???

• The ox (cow) – Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, dogmatic, hot-tempered, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.

• The rabbit –Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, lucky, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-

indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.

• The sheep – Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.

• Maybe these characters are putting on costumes that reflect the personality traits that they lack

Or maybe it’s because they are just so darn cute!

Kawaii culture

-“Magic Term”: it encompasses everything acceptable and desirable in Japan

-Cute is rooted in Japan’s harmony-loving culture

-It is rapidly becoming Japan’s global image.

-it is becoming widely acceptable in European countries, especially Russia

-Kawaii factory in Russia where they create cute accessories

-Kawaii has become the greatest “recession proof” commodity

Yuri Ebihara

Kawaii Ambassadors (aka The Ambassadors of Cute)カわいい大使-The ambassadors are made up of three models: Shizuka Fujioka, Yu Kimura, and Misako Aoki

-Each one is dressed representing three kinds of kawaii fashion: lolitas, gyaru, and high school girl.

-Appointed by the Japanese Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

-They travel abroad and introduce Japanese pop culture to young people overseas

Misako Aoki, Yu Kimura, Shizuka Fujioka

San-X( サンエックス )• A Japanese company that specializes in the creation, production and

marketing of goods featuring cute characters.

• Characters tend to be animals or inanimate objects with their own quirky traits.

• Most successful characters are Tarepanda and Rilakumma

• Characters are usually found on stationary sets, keychains, stuffed pets, etc.

• Often are found as prizes in Japanese arcades

• After becoming very popular they are featured in their own series and video games

Citations

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_zodiac• <<http://gojapan.about.com/gi/0.htm?2i=1/

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