Cool Japan: Extreme Modifications

Cool Japan: Extreme Modifications

This episode of NHK's Cool Japan focused on "Extreme Modifications" (Makaizo).

The term originally comes from the world of plastic scale models, but it represents an explosion of creativity where people take an existing object, alter it drastically to create something entirely new, and add value that surpasses the original. This trend is taking off across various fields, and extreme modification videos are going viral overseas.

■Cooking

Anime and games originally came from abroad, but Japan heavily modified them, transformed them into unique cultural expressions, and re-exported them. This is a classic example of "Cool Japan," and the same logic applies to food.

Western food, localized Chinese dishes, and Japanese curry are all, in a sense, extreme modifications. This thrives in Japan because of the sheer abundance of culinary variety (Japanese, Western, Chinese) and an open-minded market that eagerly embraces and commercializes new ideas. Most importantly, even after a radical transformation, the food still tastes amazing. The current trend of extreme food modification is driven by a pure pursuit of new culinary experiences.

■Mini 4WD Models

Over 180 million Mini 4WD cars have been sold since their debut in the 1980s—that's more than one car per person in Japan. I used to do plenty of extreme modifications on these with my sons. It beautifully combines the mechanical joy of tuning for speed with the artistic outlet of creating a sleek, cool design.

Like model railroading, it's a world loved by children and adults alike. Japan has a very loose cultural boundary between childhood and adulthood; adults openly enjoy manga and video games, creating a massive market for high-end toys. This shared passion for modifying mechanics together feels uniquely Japanese.

■Creepy-Cute (Kimo-Kawaii)

The concept of blending a negative emotion ("creepy") with a positive one ("cute") into a single aesthetic is rare globally. When pushed to the extreme through modification, it often takes on a humanoid form. Because Japan doesn't have rigid religious constraints regarding the creation of living things, it provides the perfect cultural incubator for this kind of radical expression.

■A Culture Built on Destruction

The Shikinen Sengu ritual at Ise Grand Shrine involves completely dismantling and rebuilding the shrine structures every 20 years. This tradition has been repeated for 1,300 years. It convinces me that the cycle of "destroying to rebuild" is fundamental to Japanese culture.

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iU President Gachon:Mr.Nelson Yamaguchi

◆iU President Gachon:Mr.Nelson Yamaguchi

Born in Malaysia, Mr.Nelson Yamaguchi grew up in poverty before coming to Japan. After studying at Hokkaido University and Osaka University, he became an obstetrician and gynecologist. Today, he runs his own clinic.

His is truly an extraordinary story.

■Childhood Dream

"I grew up in a very poor family. My parents never had the opportunity to receive an education, and they couldn't even read or write. They had no choice but to work in physically demanding jobs

As a child, my dream was simply to graduate from high school. I also wanted to become an office worker. Watching my parents struggle made me realize how difficult life can be without an education."

■Why Japan?

"I came to Japan when I was eighteen.

As a child, I constantly saw unfamiliar words around me—Suzuki, Honda, Toyota, Toshiba. They weren't written in English, Chinese, or Malay. Curious, I asked my teacher what language they were.

'Japanese,' my teacher replied.

I was amazed that products from Japan were found all over the world. I imagined Japan to be a huge and wealthy country.

Later, when I looked at a map in junior high school, I was surprised to discover that Japan was actually a small island nation. I couldn't understand how such a small country had become one of the world's leading exporters. That question sparked my fascination with Japan.

Then I watched the television drama Oshin. I was deeply moved. I had never imagined Japan had once gone through such severe poverty. That only strengthened my admiration for the country.

After World War II, Japan was impoverished. Around the same time, Malaysia was still a British colony, enjoying access to Western technology and culture, while our abundant natural resources made us wealthier than Japan.

Yet within only thirty or forty years, Japan had overtaken Malaysia.

I found that incredible.

I wanted to become like the Japanese."

■Pursuing Medicine

"At first, I gave up on the idea of becoming a doctor.

I was attending Japanese language school while working part-time, and medical school seemed completely out of reach.

Still, I was fascinated by medicine, so I entered pharmacy school and became a licensed pharmacist.

But eventually I asked myself, 'Can I really abandon my dream of becoming a doctor?'

The regret grew stronger.

I knew that if I didn't challenge myself, I would regret it for the rest of my life.

So I applied to medical school.

Today, I practice obstetrics and gynecology in Osaka.

Originally, I thought becoming a doctor would simply be impossible. In Malaysia, studying medicine almost always required going abroad, something my family could never afford. That's why I had settled for the more realistic goal of becoming an office worker."

■Why I'm Glad I Came to Japan

"Obstetrics is an extremely demanding profession, but its challenges are often misunderstood.

I was particularly frustrated by the media's use of the phrase 'ambulances being turned away,' which unfairly suggested that hospitals simply refused patients.

To raise awareness, I even ran for the House of Councillors in Osaka. During my campaign speeches, I spoke passionately about the realities of emergency medical care.

Although I lost the election, my message reached the media.

Eventually, many news organizations stopped using the misleading phrase 'ambulances being turned away' and instead described the situation more accurately as 'hospitals unable to accept emergency patients.'

Something else remarkable happened.

One person who heard my speech was so inspired that they encouraged me to open my own clinic, offering me a location and financial support.

Japan is a country where, if you devote yourself wholeheartedly, your dreams really can come true.

That's why I named my clinic Kisaki Clinic—a place where hope can blossom."

■A Speech That Changed Someone's Life

"After one of my speeches, a man in his thirties came up and asked to shake my hand.

He told me that he had been living an ordinary salaryman's life without any dreams or ambitions.

Hearing how I had come to Japan without money, unable to speak Japanese, yet still managed to become a doctor and build my own clinic made him realize that he couldn't keep making excuses.

Those words meant a great deal to me."

■A Message to Students

"Have the courage to take risks.

Fail often.

Experience setbacks.

Japan is a materially wealthy country, and because life is comfortable, many people become afraid of failure. As a result, they never take the first step.

Failure is painful.

But failure becomes the foundation for your next stage of growth.

Without failure or setbacks, there is no change.

And without change, there is no growth."

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Cool Japan: Game 2

■Cool Japan: Game 2

NHK Cool Japan: "Games" Part 2.

It used to be considered a Japanese specialty, but some people might think that's not the case anymore...but that's completely wrong!

Thanks to people staying home because of the coronavirus, the entire gaming industry, including Japanese game manufacturers, has seen increased sales over the past two years, with some companies even recording their highest sales figures ever .

"Video games"

40 years since home video games were first introduced in Japan .

It originally developed by incorporating American technology.

Even after all this time has passed, and games can now be made in any country in the world, people still say that "Japanese games are unique."

Raising simulation games, otome games, train-themed games.

Japan's strength lies in continuously creating things that are unique and unlike anything else.

Starting with egg-like devices that allow you to raise characters, the art of raising fictional things became a uniquely Japanese pastime.

And fitness games are successful because they target adults.

To create things that both children and adults can enjoy.

A characteristic of Japan that is also found in anime and manga.

I believe that its uniqueness and strengths are actually still very much alive.

"The Game of Life"

A classic example of Cool Japan: American-born games that evolved in Japan.

At first, some people thought that a game involving money was vulgar, but it has now become a firmly established and enjoyable activity for families.

One of its features is that the contents of the spinning tops change every year, but another key point is that "many parts remain the same."

For example, instead of dice, they used roulette, which was new at the time, or a three-dimensional game board shaped like a car. The currency was still dollars.

Even adults playing it today will find it nostalgic and think, " Oh yeah, I remember that !"

reason this game has lasted 50 years is because it strikes the perfect balance between new and old elements .

"Game music"

Game music has now become a genre in itself, on par with anime songs.

Music genres have evolved alongside the advancement of digital technology.

It's amazing to think that two genres of music known by adults and children all over the world are Hollywood movie soundtracks and Japanese video game music.

This is because composers of the past never cut corners, even when creating music for children; rather, they poured in the country's finest talent and deepest affection to create a unique world.

I believe that their growth to the point where they hold concerts all over the world is the result of considerable effort, investment, and accumulated experience.

 

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iU President Gachon:Mrs. Toko Shirakawa

■iU President Gachon:Mrs. Toko Shirakawa

Behind the marriage-hunting and fertility- focused trends . A journalist and professor at a women's university.

Actually, she's a long-time friend of mine.

https://bit.ly/3vvFFrB

◆What about Japan?

Japan is a country that is slow to change. It ranks 120th in the Gender Gap Index.

There are good points too. It's a content-producing country. A country with a declining birthrate can become a major producer of moe content. Good content can be produced. However, even that is being taken over by China and South Korea.

Working conditions are also a contributing factor. For example, in South Korean productions, interval regulations are in place to prevent workers from becoming too exhausted. In Japan, however, long working hours, power harassment, and low wages persist. When the workplace becomes exhausted, young people leave. Japan is lagging behind in creating an environment where working conditions are improved and good content can be produced.

◆When I was a student

I was just playing around. I wish I had studied more.

Fragments of what you learned in university can prove useful later on. Assignments make you want to learn more. However, there are many things you don't realize during your student years.

◆Learning and Retraining

My university days weren't a one-time thing. I earned my MBA last year.

I realized the importance of learning systematically as an academic discipline. For example, work style reform is a management strategy, so I listen carefully to what business leaders have to say. They share a lot of information based on their experience, and the more I listen, the more I want to learn.

The best environment is one where you have both people with practical experience and academic expertise. It's beneficial for students to learn while working on projects with adults in society, as this allows them to gain such insights quickly.

◆A message for you

Life doesn't always go as planned; many unexpected things happen. We live in unpredictable times. It's best not to believe someone's words like, "If you go this way, this is what will happen."

We can offer the best advice we can based on what we know at this point. Unpredictable things like pandemics happen. Don't plan too rigidly so you don't panic when that happens. You'll panic when things don't go according to plan. It's good to have a plan in place so you can start from where you left off if something happens.

When a good wave of chance comes along, ride it. Look forward.

Read some science fiction. If you read SF, you'll realize that you've seen something like this pandemic before. Knowing about different worlds is key to staying calm.

★Postscript

I met Momoko nearly 20 years ago. She was the same age as me, a refined lady working for a trading company, then became an otaku journalist, and achieved great success by launching a "marriage-seeking" campaign. I accompanied her to events like Japan Expo in Paris, and she taught me a lot. She also provides invaluable support as a visiting professor at iU .

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