This is a very light movie that highlights some aspects of being a foreigner in Japan. This movie was released the first year that I moved to Japan so is especially relevant to me. It is often more travelogue than drama as I felt that some scenes were shot simply to show absurd aspects of Tokyo life and clashing cultures (the Japanese mother getting ready for her aerobics class as the daughter practices chopstick use; the boy working in a neighbourhood crepe shop; the plastic food factory; suited Salarymen fishing on the Kanda RIver). Still it has a certain simple charm that makes me smile and I feel that it better captures aspects of Tokyo at that time than Lost in Translation does for a more contemporary Tokyo. I just came across it as i was cleaning out my videos to take to a flea market (my favourites have all been replaced by DVDs). This doesn't seem to be available on DVD now so I am watching it as I dub it to make my own DVD. It still makes me smile and will certainly do the same for anyone who has spent time in Japan.
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Tokyo Pop is an odd 80s romantic comedy. But, more significantly, it uses American pop culture (via rock n' roll) dominating an Eastern culture to illustrate a point about the disappearance about traditional cultures (and consequently, individual identity) disappearing in the face of globalism.
The movie is kind of slow-moving, but it is a funny, lighthearted one, nonetheless. The story concerns a young New York singer (the late Carrie Hamilton) who, after seeing her own rock n' roll career going nowhere, travels to Tokyo with the naive expectation that American singers have a better chance at stardom. She is in for a rude awakening, having to live in the minimimal-amenities boarding house and working long hours at a thankless job as a hostess in a karaoke lounge, where she performs tired American folks songs to drunk, middle-aged Japanese businessmen. It is hardly what you call, a respectable singing career.
Luck has it that a band headed up by co-star real like Japanese rocker, Yutaka Tadokoro as "Hiro", is looking for an eye-catching quality that will get the attention of a much sought after record executive in Tokyo. And, eventually, Hiro meets up with Wendy (the rest of the band doesn't speak English), and he encourages to join the band, which she does after some reluctance.
Eventually, they become one of the most popular bands in Japan after a mishap between Hiro and Wendy land them on the front page of a magazine, something which thrilled this difficult record executive. But, to Wendy's dismay, the band is only popular as a Japanese band (plus one American) playing American cover songs. It takes Wendy a while to realize how superficial their success is, because she knows that Hiro has written some great Japanese songs of his own. And she encourages Hiro to play these on stage one night, taking a break from the tired sets of American pop songs. And as it turns out, Hiro's band does pretty well with these songs. Wendy also opines that her presence in the band is just another superficial factor of their fame, and breaks from the group to return to the states, hoping that Hiro and his band will continue their success with their music, and not American cover songs.
Throughout the movie, you will see the criticism of globalism, or how mass Western pop culture markets amassed the beauty and viability of Eastern culture. This point is most overtly illustrated in what it took for Hiro's band to get recognized--the presence of an American and the constant reliance on American pop songs. It was Wendy who saw that there was something wonderful about Hiro's songs (solely Eastern as they were written by him and sung in Japanese) that he shouldn't sacrifice to the ridiculous American pop scene. She encouraged Hiro's band to overcome their superficial image, and in the end, they were a success for it.
But, it is also present in the disappearance of traditional Eastern culture which has given way to mass commercial markets of the West. For example, Hiro's mother always scolds him for not taking an interest in things that are Japanese. (When he talks about going to Tokyo's historical sites with Wendy, his mother says, "Oh Hiro! I'm glad to see you're finally taking an interest in Japan!") Previously, we see Hiro as a young kid who's idea of fame was going to America to live like Elvis Presley. He idolizes the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix and solely American pop icons.
But Hiro's family is the same. There are scenes of he, his mother, his sister, and their grandfather at the dinner table. Hiro spends time talking about American rock n' roll, his mother is mimicking the aerobics instructor on the television, his sister is eating from a big bucket of KFC. But, his grandfather, is the only semblance of traditional Japanese culture, evident in his costume, his hobbies (fishing with the old men), and so forth. He scolds his daughter (Hiro's mother) for doing aerobics at the table, and she just retorts plainly that he's just being old fashioned. These are brief scenes, but they illustrate a valid point about the disappearance of traditional Eastern culture in the name of Western mass market consumerism and culture.
It is even evident in the scenery. That shot of the Dunkin' Donuts where Hiro, the band, and Wendy meet with plans of how to get a demo tape to the record executive, is no accident. When Wendy gets to Japan, she lives in the "Mickey House," aptly named for the massive Mickey Mouse merchandise everywhere. She works in a karaoke bar where all they entertain the guests with is crappy American folk songs. This, too, juxtaposed with the beautiful scenery of the historical and cultural exhibits that Hiro and Wendy visit midway through the movie, emphasizes the theme once again. I think essentially what the movie is saying is that the Eastern cultures should embrace their heritage, their culture, and not deny it for the superficial comfort of Western mass culture, or, more specifically, American mass culture.
This romantic comedy also provides a cool look at some of the late 80s Japanese new wave/punk scene, and it's pretty wild and makes a great backdrop for this kooky romantic comedy. (Look for Papaya Paranoia in the beginning playing 'Rauken, Rauken'). It was a funny little film with a significant political theme, despite being a somewhat slow-moving film. It may take a few viewings to really appreciate and get past the pace. I'd probably call it one of my favorite 80s movies. -
tasgal26 July 2003There's a very rare honesty and charm to "Tokyo Pop." Although I never knew the music scene in Japan, so much in the movie is immediately recognizable from life: The naivete on many sides. The fun of being exotic for a while and the uses made of it. The value for Westerners of being in Japan for a while; the sterility of living there long-term (generally speaking). The harmless chintziness of much in Japan. A degree of gentleness. The story is believable and the characters endearing. In tune with the lightness of the movie, there are few of the crudest sorts of stupidity one is likely to run up against: Westerners who set themselves up as experts on everything under the sun. The Japanese love of grandiose abstractions; verbal bombast about uniqueness and subtlety. The extreme moral and intellectual obtuseness involved in occasionally hammering down nails that stick up. Or that if you are inclined to pithiness, then you too may be unsuited for life in Japan.
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deedlerock7 May 2002Tokyo Pop has been in my collection since it came out...I could not locate it anywhere..and bribed the video store owner into selling me her copy. This was not too difficult..she said it was never rented..except by me. The movie hooked me in the first scene..just Carrie Hamilton herself, visually. The rest of the movie followed suit..a feast of cultures for the eyes and ears, and a romantic quality as well...though bittersweet.
I loved the music from beginning to end..especially Hiro's Song. Even the instrumentals played during the sad parts were worthy of me taping..what I'd give to find the soundtrack. I particularly love Carrie's vocals..in Do You Believe In Magic...she gives it everything she's got. I was heartbroken to discover that she's passed away at 38 from cancer...awww. -
This is a cute little film. Ultimately it doesn't really go anywhere, but at the very least it's an extremely realistic portrayal of what it'd be like to suddenly fly to Japan with no friends there, no command of the language, no knowledge of the culture and conventions, etc. I suppose part of the reason the film succeeds so well in this is that it's a Japanese-U.S. co-production.
One of the best parts of the movie is the soundtrack. The track by the new wave band that the main character is in at the beginning of the movie is very nice, but "Rakuen, Rakuen" by Papaya Paranoia is wonderful! Even better is being able to watch P.P. perform -- just too bad they didn't include the whole number. So much energy and adorableness from this all-girl Japanese rock band.
The real shame is that the soundtrack's out-of-print worldwide. The Papaya Paranoia track is not available on their other albums, which are hard enough to come by as it is. -
Jihatsuteki20 August 2004I loved this film. A lot. Though my tastes may be a bit different than most people I've met, I really did enjoy both the comedic and romantic aspects of the film, and I thought both blended very well. My favorite example of this was when Hiro (played by Tadokoro Yutaka of Red Warriors), takes Wendy (fantastically played by the late Carrie Hamilton) to a hotel; the movie makes a good point of explaining just how much of a problem language barriers can be, though in a way we can all laugh at, which I found to be great ...
Overacted in some parts, underacted in a few, and misdirected in many, this film is my idea of a great time, and I hope those of you who feel the same way make an effort to see it for yourself. -
moonspinner5522 January 2005Young American singer moves to Japan to find success. When this film opened, Carrie Hamilton got the kind of raves a novice actress can only dream about. Above the movie's advertisement in the L.A. Times were blurbs from critics claiming her to be the next big thing (they reminded me of the reviews Liza Minnelli got for "The Sterile Cuckoo"). Unfortunately, few people went to see "Tokyo Pop"; one look at it and you'll know why. The low-budget film relies too much on its pallid soundtrack and the main character's sass, leaving no room for local flavor or any sort of lasting ambiance. Years later, Sofia Coppola showed how this sort of thing should be done, but "Tokyo Pop" didn't have the right people behind it. Hamilton is fair, but needed a stronger script and director; the bubblegummy material she works with here would defeat anybody. * from ****
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paula15516 November 2007Hello! My name is Paula, I live in Argentina, and I've always had this odd fascination about this film, since I was a teenager actually, and I the last song performed by Carrie Hamilton was so enchanting! It is called "Never Forget", but I can't find it anywhere! and nobody seems to be interested in this film, or the movie soundtrack. Please contact me if you can provide me with some info. paula155@hotmail.com is my email address. I really don't get how this movie is so mysterious and has no fans clubs, forums, or things like that. It was really disappointing when I knew about Carrie's death. She was so young, and talented, her voice was an inspiration.
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crisi9 July 2001I really enjoyed this movie. The characters are real and likeable and the story is entertaining. The script is excellent and the exchanges between the Japanese and gaijin characters genuinely amusing and realistic. I loved the way the hero (Hiro) was always several beats behind in his responses to English. Anyone who has spent some time in Japan and has an interest in the Japanese music scene will find a lot to take delight in here. And the occasional desperation of a gaijin, feeling lost and alien in Japan, is cleverly portrayed. The people who made this movie really knew what they were on about, from the Japanese and the gaijin point of view.
The two lead actors are very believable and the other cast members are all excellent. The band scenes and the portrayals of the varied types of musicians are great fun.
I had never heard of this movie before I watched it and it was a revelation to find something so amusing and true about a place and a music that I love. Thank you to these film makers!