More Than Just an Appearance: Reasons Behind Japanese Youth’s Adoption of Hip Hop Essay Example

society. The adoption of hip hop is not solely born out of the desire for self-identity, but also resentment towards neglect, isolation, and constraint. The lack of parental time spent with children, along with the competitive and conformist education system, as well as strict social and school rules imposing constraints all contribute to this resentment.

The Japanese educational system emphasizes the importance of societal obligation. Students are taught to view themselves as part of and eventually integral pieces of that community. This push to suppress individualism and encourage conformity can lead to feelings of confinement in young people, ultimately sparking a desire for independence and self-exploration. In addition, Liu's article highlights that Japanese parents often have minimal time to spend with their children due to long work hours. This lack of attention can lead to neglected youth exhibiting attention-seeking actions. While Liu fails to consider the perspective of a parent, this issue remains a significant concern.

Parents may unknowingly disregard their children, but they commonly assume that working diligently is the most effective method to support and attend to them. Providing quality education by enrolling their children in reputable schools is another way parents can demonstrate care and secure a promising future. However, inadequate communication between parent and child may lead to feelings of neglect. Japanese adolescents are attracted to hip hop culture because of its portrayal.

Liu examines the impact of hip hop culture on African-American youth as a means to challenge societal norms, yet this portrayal overlooks negative associations with gang violence, gun misuse and delinquency. Conversely, young Japanese individuals adopt hip hop culture as a platform to initiate change and raise awareness

about social issues while avoiding negative values. This illustrates how self-expression and cultural traditions can coexist harmoniously.

In the article, Liu also fails to grasp the underlying reason why young people choose to become ganguro. By blackening their faces and necks and dressing in flashy attire, ganguro girls attempt to transform themselves into a different person and express themselves freely without regard for their previous identity. This process gives them a kind of "second-skin" that allows them to adopt a completely new personality. Liu notes that many Japanese people misinterpret this practice as a sign of academic or personal failure, but he conducted a survey of 66 of Japan's best students, raising questions about his bias in seeking expected results.

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Although Liu's article heavily relies on the findings of his survey, which he conducted with a sample size of only 66 people, the survey results should not carry significant weight due to the absence of participants from different age groups. Liu's examination in section 5 onwards is largely based on these survey results and forms the foundation for at least 2 out of 4 of his conclusions.

A more accurate gauge of public disapproval towards individuals who practice ganguro is the label assigned to them by society. Termed as “ganguro,” these individuals are viewed as abnormal and societal failures, thereby furthering their segregation. This striving for individuality has led to an upset in Japanese society’s cultural balance, resulting in ostracism of this group. Even though ganguro serves as a means of self-identification, the drastic change in appearance coupled with explicit dressing make it hard for

the Japanese populace to accept, given that they view it as a deviation from accepted social norms in Japan.

The Japanese society values conformity, and abnormal behavior is strongly frowned upon due to their upbringing. The expectation of uniform clothing and backpacks in school leaves little room for personal expression, resulting in disapproval towards deviant behavior. However, some Japanese youths have adopted hip hop culture as a means of expressing themselves within this conformist environment. Despite their intentions, these actions can be perceived as rebellious and deviant because they conflict with the cultural values deeply ingrained in the minds of the Japanese people through the education system's emphasis on tradition and conformity.

Japanese adults' lack of understanding regarding the reasons behind hip hop's popularity is hindering their ability to address the issues faced by young people. This deficiency will only encourage more youths to adopt hip hop as a means of expressing their dissatisfaction with the Japanese system. Therefore, in order for Japanese youth to be acknowledged and accepted as autonomous individuals, they must overcome societal and cultural norms deeply rooted in Japanese culture.