Japan is a beautiful, mysterious country with its own unique charm. When discussing Japan, many people focus on the work of its world-class cartoonists, its beautiful landscapes, its long history, its entertainment and celebrity culture, or its delicious Japanese food. However, in addition to these things, there is also a mysterious, but much-discussed, aspect of Japan’s culture that is unfamiliar, and that is the culture of demons and gods.
The traditional religion of Japan is Shintoism, a religion based on ancient Japanese folk beliefs and nature worship. Because of the important role that Shinto plays in Japanese culture, there are many legends about demons and spirits acting on earth. There are even legends of demons parading en masse one summer evening. This belief in ghosts and spirits has continued to have an impact in Japan even in modern times.
When the concept of aliens was first introduced and even explored, there were naturally many repercussions in Japan, and many legends of aliens, or alien-themed news, emerged and became a kind of aliens culture. In the following article, I will briefly introduce some of these alien-related things that have emerged in Japan.
Urban Legends of Aliens in Japan
Urban legends about aliens descending on, or even living on, Earth are never in the minority in the world, and Japan is no exception. In fact, with a significant number of reported sightings, Japan has one of the highest rates of UFO sightings worldwide. Numerous others have added to this by spreading urban legends about aliens residing in Japan and take these signs as proof that aliens exist there. I’ll outline a few of these alien-related occurrences that happened in Japan in chronological order in the article that follows.
A group of Japanese students claimed to have witnessed a UFO land on a school in 1996.
1998: The waters off the Japanese island of Hokkaido were home to a big, unknown animal. Many people thought the creature, which was described as being roughly 60 feet long, was an alien.
2005: A construction worker reported seeing a metallic monster circling a structure. About 5 feet tall, with a metallic sheen, and wearing a helmet on its head, the creature was reported.
2010: An enigmatic metallic object, which is unknown, was discovered in a field in Japan.
2012: A woman in Sapporo saw a sizable cylindrical object hovering in the sky. She calculated that the object was 10 feet wide and about 30 feet long.
Other instances of extraterrestrial activity abound in Japan. While not believed to be conclusive evidence, the aforementioned instances all suggest that there may be extraterrestrial life in Japan. Even though it is questionable whether aliens exist in Japan or even on this planet, this does not stop people from enthusiastically discussing and speculating about them.
Alien-Themed Films Or Art Portrayals In Japan
As a result of the growth of alien culture in Japan, many film creators have taken up the theme of aliens and have released films that appeal to people. These films combine the familiar with the unfamiliar in a way that creates classic, treacherous and exciting works of art that are popular with audiences. These films often explore the idea of humans being visited or invaded by aliens, and the challenges that come with it. They offer a unique perspective on the classic science fiction genre and are sure to enthrall audiences. If you’re a fan of aliens in film, then you’ll definitely want to check out some of the best, alien-themed films or art portrayals from Japan.
Godzilla
One of the most enduring and well-known monster characters in both Japanese and international film history is Godzilla. It was a massive, incredibly destructive alien monster in its original setting that had a terrible effect on both cities and people. It emerged from the radioactively contaminated seas and landed on the continent, wreaking havoc on mankind and being its enemy. The monster is thought to represent the conflicting memories of war and the love-hate relationship between the Japanese people and atomic energy. Later, the monster alludes to the contamination brought on by the nuclear tests like the Fifth Fukuryu Maru and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
As the film series expanded and popular culture changed, Godzilla’s character and image on screen began to change, slowly shifting to a more positive image. Today, Godzilla has become the archetype of contemporary Japanese film, animation and manga, and has had a profound influence on artwork, becoming one of the symbols of contemporary Japanese pop culture.
GANTZ
Based on the manga by Japanese manga artist Hiroshi Oku of the same name, this Japanese science fiction film was made under the direction of Shinsuke Sato. The movie tells the tale of college student Kei Kurono, who encounters Katsu Kato, a friend from junior high school, at a tram stop one typical evening. The two of them are struck by a tram while attempting to assist a man who has fallen onto the tracks. However, they arrive in a sealed room unharmed in a split second. Along with the “GANTZ” giant black sphere, there are seven additional men.
The crew must don war suits and take up arms in order to kill the enigmatic extraterrestrial, as per the black sphere’s orders. GANTZ would reward points for each man’s performance if they were successful in killing the alien and lived to return to the room, and a total of 100 points would grant them the opportunity to visit the original world. Some people play the murdering game for the money, while others are brutal to survive. The cowardly Kurono Kei and the good-hearted Katsu Kato are compelled to participate in a life-or-death emergency.
In the midst of the brutal killing, Kurono grows stronger and stronger in order to win, while Kato, disgusted by the world dominated by violence, denies fighting. Gradually, differences begin to emerge between the two men.
The above is a discussion of the aliens culture in Japan. It is a mysterious culture in which people continue to explore and try to find out the truth.