What if: Japan won World War 2?

[Clonus]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

Given that it's a superhero universe it isn't really impossible for the Japanese to win. Give them superpowerful espers or an invincible robot and it can be done. But in order to set up a Manchuoko-style satellite nation the United States should probably be a less cohesive nation with a weaker sense of identity in the first place. I suggest having a Second American Civil War during the Great Depression. Blame it on Huey Long and the Businessman's Plot.

[pinecone]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

I was hoping for a Japanese version of the British Commonwealth of Nations, but I'm not going to insist on that.

 

I do, however, want the United States to have Japanese traditions and culture and having it loose World War II to Japan seemed the best way to do it.

 

I don't see that as nessisary...How about Macarthur Does want to be president and runs on a "annex Japan" platform and wins on popularity that he mistakes for a mandate to turn Japans prefectures into states....the two cultures mix and meld and viola! you have a major mashup Culture!

[Mark Rand]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

I don't see that as nessisary...How about Macarthur Does want to be president and runs on a "annex Japan" platform and wins on popularity that he mistakes for a mandate to turn Japans prefectures into states....the two cultures mix and meld and viola! you have a major mashup Culture!

 

Yeah, that idea works even better than mine. Repped as soon as possible.

[Mark Rand]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

I don't see that as nessisary...How about Macarthur Does want to be president and runs on a "annex Japan" platform and wins on popularity that he mistakes for a mandate to turn Japans prefectures into states....the two cultures mix and meld and viola! you have a major mashup Culture!

 

Here's what I see happening in the United States when the two cultures mix and meld.

 

Soccer becomes more important than football. People in kimono are a common sight in some cities. Respected geisha are celebrities. Nurses will still be in, not necessarily white, uniforms, and, possibly, still wear caps. Many office and department store employees will be in uniform and white gloves will be worn by people that must touch other people.

 

Some information taken from the wikipedia article on the customs and etiquette of Japan.

[OddHat]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

Here's what I see happening in the United States when the two cultures mix and meld.

 

Soccer becomes more important than football. People in kimono are a common sight in some cities. Respected geisha are celebrities. Nurses will still be in, not necessarily white, uniforms, and, possibly, still wear caps. Many office and department store employees will be in uniform and white gloves will be worn by people that must touch other people.

 

Some information taken from the wikipedia article on the customs and etiquette of Japan.

 

Most of that is bollocks.

 

"Respected Geisha" in Japan are not celebrities, though there are a very small number of Geisha that have become celebs. Kimono are only worn for weddings, a few holidays, special occasions, and the occasional theme pub.

 

Nurses do wear uniforms with caps, and there are some uniforms that include white gloves.

 

If you want an accurate look at a mix of Japanese and American culture, sit and watch a half dozen films made and set in modern Tokyo (not Anime). The stuff Americans and Europeans do puts too much emphasis on the mildly freaky. Think pachinko parlors; big public video game parlors; "Fashion Health Salons", Soaplands and similar openly advertised; good hearted prank, softcore porn and amateur athletic game shows; noodle shops with plastic models of the dishes where you buy tickets for your meals; Conveyor belt Kaitenzushi restaurants; Cell phone culture.

 

IMDB and a few DVD rentals will get you far more interesting ideas than Wiki.

[Mark Rand]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

Most of that is bollocks.

 

"Respected Geisha" in Japan are not celebrities, though there are a very small number of Geisha that have become celebs. Kimono are only worn for weddings, a few holidays, special occasions, and the occasional theme pub.

 

Nurses do wear uniforms with caps, and there are some uniforms that include white gloves.

 

If you want an accurate look at a mix of Japanese and American culture, sit and watch a half dozen films made and set in modern Tokyo (not Anime). The stuff Americans and Europeans do puts too much emphasis on the mildly freaky. Think pachinko parlors; big public video game parlors; "Fashion Health Salons", Soaplands and similar openly advertised; good hearted prank, softcore porn and amateur athletic game shows; noodle shops with plastic models of the dishes where you buy tickets for your meals; Conveyor belt Kaitenzushi restaurants; Cell phone culture.

 

IMDB and a few DVD rentals will get you far more interesting ideas than Wiki.

 

Cool stuff. A lot of this will work in Seacouver. The city might even have an area that has a lot of Japanese culture in it.

[McManus]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

Cool stuff. A lot of this will work in Seacouver. The city might even have an area that has a lot of Japanese culture in it.

 

My understanding is that Seattle and Vancouver already have large Japanese communities. You might start looking there.

[BNakagawa]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

...American Idol would be very, very different.

[Mark Rand]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

My understanding is that Seattle and Vancouver already have large Japanese communities. You might start looking there.

 

Seacouver, Washington, which is based on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, my home town, is the county seat of Jefferson County.

 

To my way of thinking, there's a Japanese neighborhood, like Squirrel Hill is Pittsburgh's Jewish neighborhood. It would have various houses of worship, possibly a teahouse or two, and Japanese grocery stores and restaurants.

 

Possibly the University of Seacouver has a number of Japanese language, literature, and culture courses. Keiko Yamashiro, PhD, the mother of the local superhero team's technical manager, teaches some of the cultural courses.

 

Her mother, Fujiko, a semi-retired geisha, occasionally guest lectures at these courses. When Fujiko's not lecturing or working as a geisha, she's often involved in Japanese cultural or civic organizations.

[GoldenAge]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

To my way of thinking' date=' there's a Japanese neighborhood...[/quote']

 

Take a look at this neighborhood:

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1161905&postcount=3236

[Mark Rand]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

I recall reading somewhere that cremation is popular in Japan. If so, it might increase in popularity in the United States.

 

If so, it might be reasonable to assume that the bodies that would normally go to the local "Potter's Field" would be cremated instead.

 

It might also be reasonable to assume that only some funeral homes have cremation facilities.

[Mark Rand]

Re: What if: Japan won World War 2?

 

I have a few thoughts on geisha for you.

 

With the mixing of American and Japanese cultures, some geisha in the United States might not be Japanese.

 

Some geisha in the United States might continue to work after marriage.

 

Superheroes might attend geisha parties.

 

A superhero might have a geisha as a contact. However, she wouldn't give him information about what she's overheard at parties.