Divine Wind
Kamikaze Making a Comeback in Japan
It seems the Neo-Cons are having their day in Japan as well and are resurrecting the kamikaze as a symbol in order to motivate Japanese youth and instill nationalistic pride. Kamikaze means “divine wind†after the legendary typhoon that likely saved Japan from defeat in the 1281 invasion of China's Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. You might think that glorifying suicidal fanatics would be so last century but Tokyo's governor, Shintaro Ishihara has just written a movie doing just that and a southern Japanese museum dedicated to kamikaze receives 500,000 visitors a year. I understand Japan seems to be struggling to instill pride in its youth, not sure this is the way to go.
Trend Themes
1. Resurgence-of-kamikaze - The revival of kamikaze as a symbol in Japan presents an opportunity for industries to develop innovative marketing strategies that appeal to the younger generation and promote nationalistic pride.
2. Retro-nationalism - The trend of resurrecting historical symbols like kamikaze for motivational purposes opens up avenues for industries to explore products or services that cater to the growing demand for nostalgia and revived nationalistic sentiments.
3. Controversial-historical-figures - The glorification of kamikaze and the debate surrounding it provides an opportunity for industries to engage in discussions about complex historical figures and find innovative ways to educate and inform the public.
Industry Implications
1. Film-and-entertainment - The kamikaze-themed movie written by Tokyo's governor showcases an opportunity for the film and entertainment industry to explore controversial historical narratives and create thought-provoking content.
2. Museum-and-cultural-heritage - The significant number of visitors to the southern Japanese museum dedicated to kamikaze highlights the potential for the museum and cultural heritage industry to curate immersive experiences and develop educational programs around controversial historical events.
3. Marketing-and-advertising - The resurrection of kamikaze as a symbol of nationalistic pride offers marketing and advertising professionals a chance to craft innovative campaigns that tap into the nostalgia trend, targeting the younger generation.