July 8, 2003

My friend, Satomi, and I went bowling and to see Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle yesterday. This trip proved to be a very cultural experience – here are the details.

This was my first trip to a Japanese movie theatre, and I found the layout to be the same as American movie theatres. They even sold the extra buttery popcorn and overpriced candy bars that we Americans have come to expect at movie theatres. I indulged in both since I hadn’t had anything “American” in a while. The American theme continued as all of the previews were for American movies – Bad Boys 2, Legally Blonde 2, Terminator 3, and Sea Biscuit. This all-American spread really surprised me, and it made me wonder what role movies have in shaping the image of America in Japanese minds. I was even more at home once the movie started, because the film was in English with Japanese subtitles. I “turned off” my Japanese and just enjoyed watching a movie in English, something that I hadn’t been able to do since arriving.

The film featured comedian superstar Bernie Mac, and most of his lines had me rolling. I didn’t notice initially, but I was the

only one laughing at his lines. Satomi gave me a confused look as to why I was laughing at something that to the rest of the Japanese people in the theatre, her included, was not funny. It was then that I realized what was happening. Soon after I found myself on the flipside of the situation: all the Japanese people were laughing, while I was silent. I guess this means that I have a different sense of humor from the Japanese? Who knows? Either way Satomi and I both had a good time.