This is the 17th installment of "Today's Book," a series that selects books to take with you on camping trips or solo travels. This time, we're featuring "Film Aims for China: The Cutting Edge of the Chinese Film Business" by Kenichi Nakane, Associate Professor of Law at Hokkai Gakuen University and a specialist in Chinese language and culture.
The transformation of the Chinese film market in the 1990s began with the massive success of "Titanic." From this period onward, various foreign films were introduced to mainland China through Hong Kong, and Japanese films also gradually began to enter the Chinese market. China's enormous population represents a huge market for the film industry, and success in China is economically very attractive for Hollywood.
Hollywood employs a strategy of actively incorporating Chinese cultural elements, filming locations, and even Chinese actors to appeal to Chinese audiences. This cultural adaptation is intended for films to directly promote tourism, and the locations featured in films often become popular tourist destinations for fans. Hokkaido, in particular, is known as a filming location for a movie that was a huge hit in China, and this has significantly contributed to the increase in Chinese tourists visiting Japan.
This book also details the influence of children's programs, using Ultraman as an example. It is natural for children to imitate the content of movies and television programs, but this can sometimes lead to safety issues. As a father of two, I was initially cautious about letting my children watch violent content like superhero shows. However, through my experience raising children, I came to understand that movies and programs are not just entertainment, but have an important educational role in helping children to correctly perceive them as fiction and develop the ability to distinguish them from reality.
This book highlights the importance of the influence of film and television on culture, and by analyzing the complex dynamics of the Chinese market in particular, it reveals China's position and influence within the global film industry. It is a highly valuable book not only for film industry professionals but also for general readers interested in cultural exchange.
“Today’s Book” #17 “Movies Aim for China: The Frontline of China’s Video Business” Written by Kenichi Nakane
