"Could you write my name for me in Kanji?"
I was suddenly asked this question at a Vienna airport duty free shop
cash register in November of 2001.
To Kanji admirers throughout the world?
I visited Europe twice and America once during 2001. I have traveled
to Spain, France, Switzerland, and Austria and have seen that each
of these European countries has its differing language and culture.
Regardless of the country, there is one common trend apparent and
that is an admiration of Japanese culture by the Western world.
In Spain and France alike, T-shirts bearing Japanese phrases taken
from who knows where are sold at places such as the gift shop below
the Louvre museum. There is a department store in Switzerland with
an area called the Japanese corner devoted entirely to the sale of
such items, in the basement of that building a grocery store sells
sashimi(raw cuts of fish) and sushi. In Seattle it seems that Teriyaki
is very becoming popular.
Therefore it seems safe to say that across Europe and America there
is a high level of interest in Kanji. There especially seems to be
no lack of those who would like to write their own name in Kanji.
Near many popular tourist sights in Spain and France Chinese entrapeneurs
had booths set up offering to write peoples' names in Kanji for a
fee, and in Austria I was met with similar requests to write people's
names in Kanji.
This website was started off by a strong desire to present those admirers
of Japanese with cool and "correct" Kanji and Kana(additional components
of written Japanese).
We would like to help you create your new identity through a range
of goods bearing your name in Kanji and or Kana. Through this website
we promise you the chance to get a feel for both Japanese and Asian
culture and become a real Kanji freak.
The Impact of English on Japanese Culture
Years ago when I was a college student I was asked a question by
a foreign student from Australia. "Why is there so much English
on Japanese product packaging? Why isn't it written in Japanese?"
In fact to many people across the world apparent Japanese overuse
of the alphabet seems odd. The Australian student pointed out that
there is tons of Japanese packaging that uses the alphabet. For
example, on a cassette tape recorder instead of " " (Saisei, Japanese
for play) the English word "Play" appears.
During the latter half of the 19th Century after the Meiji renovation,
Japan began a fast paced process of Europeanization and the culture
of the western world became more and more apparent in everyday Japanese
life. The remains of that trend are still very apparent in modern
day Japan and many Japanese see Kanji and Kana written on product
packaging as "un-cool".
Most designers try to use the Alphabet as much as possible. On the
other hand there are many western people who have an appreciation
for Japanese culture and it seems that in some cases western cultures
actually have more interest in the culture of Japan than do many
Japanese.
Soon the World Cup soccer championship will be underway.
During this event the culture of Japan will be on display and Japan
will have a chance to re-evaluate its culture. We hope to be the
website that properly presents cool Japanese culture, introducing
and familiarizing the world with Japan.
Let's toast (Kampai) to our culture!
Come to know the correct culture of your own country and take pride.
Understand the culture of other countries and meet them with respect.
That is the main point of this website.
Let's toast to our great culture, KAMPAI!
May 2002
Kappe Inc. CEO
OKANO Yamato
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