My Entrance into Asian Pop Culture

My fascination of Asia begin when I was a pre-teen doing research on the computer of China. I did most of my research on the historical monument, The Great Wall of China, fantasizing that one day I will walk the snake like pathway from start to finish. Still wishing, praying, and hoping that my dream comes true. I was into learning about the different dynasties of China. Of course how can I forget about the great black and white pandas gnawing on bamboo.

I read about the gruesome event of Nanjing through Iris Chang’s novel The Raping of Nanking (a amazing book to read). I was swept up into the martial arts Hong Kong films that stared Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, and Maggie Chung. I was into the clothing, silk trade, Chinese instrumental music, basically I loved everything China.

Then I began to fall in love with Japan through anime. At first, I did not know it was called anime I just thought they were regular cartoons. The first anime shows I watched were the ones that come on Toonami like Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z, Reboot, Rurouni Kenshin, Gundam Wing, Tenchi Myou, and Ronin Warriors. It was not until middle school that I begun to understand that these shows were originally from Japan. A friend of mine got me into InuYasha, and from there I really got into anime.

Now, I have fallen deeper into the anime world. I intend local anime conventions every year, Japanese Clubs, and anime forums. Anime also got me into anime music, Jrock, and Jpop. It was really when I was curious about visual kei because two of my friends were looking at pictures of Mana from Malice Mizer, and could not figure it out if that was a man or a woman.