Currently, the Hankyu Department Store in Umeda, Osaka, is hosting an exhibition titled “Heidi, Girl of the Alpsアルプスの少女ハイジ”. Visiting this exhibition profoundly reminded me of the immense power of Japanese anime.
This particular anime was broadcast weekly in Japan in 1974, achieving a staggering 23% viewership rate. It’s common to hear about young people from abroad being drawn to study in Japan, inspired by Japanese anime.
However, what struck me about “Heidi” was how it must have introduced many Japanese girls to the lifestyle and culture of people living in the mountainous regions of Europe, particularly Switzerland and Germany.
Though based on a Swiss novel by Johanna Spyri, the anime adaptation by Japanese creators, especially the genius animator Hayao Miyazaki宮崎駿, brought Heidi to life in a way that perhaps even surpassed the original.
Through the lens of Japanese anime technology, not only is Japan showcased to the world, but European culture is also conveyed to Japan. Anime, with its ability to transcend language barriers, serves as an excellent medium to introduce various cultures to people worldwide.
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