Pure fiction. Why do we love Japan. From Pokemon to Karaoke. Alt M.

In a word, all of Japan is pure fiction. There is no such country, there is no such people! [...] The Japanese, as they say, is just a manner, style, graceful fantasy of art.

Oscar Wilde, “The decline of lies”, 1891

Japan, a rather long period remained one of the most closed countries in the world, which is why its culture went along a completely unique path. Therefore, when in the second half of the 20th century Japan became closer to foreigners, the whole Western world saw how attractive and distinctive local flavor was.

In this book, the author figured out how the Japanese popular culture captured the whole world, and why interest in it only continues to grow for more than a decade. From “pure fiction” you will learn the history of the main Japanese brands that control the culture of entertainment, you will understand where the roots of the mysterious Japanese mentality are growing and find out why the whole world perceives Japan as a country of future.

The author of this book, as well as several more bestsellers about life in Japan, American Matt Alt, has been living and working in Japan for several years, and represents a Western view of such a bizarre and alluring Japanese culture: from anime, Karaoke and Sony to manga, Tamagochi and Nintendo. And also explains why, without Japan, modern pop culture would exist in a completely different form.