Youth in Asia

Last weekend I went to the J-pop concert Monster Bash.

I got on an early train with Ashely and Hiro. On the train, we sat across from Ashely's high school students and the vice principal of her school who were also going to Monster Bash.

Once we got off the train we had to wait for the shuttle to take us to the venue, thus beginning our wait in the first of many cue's for the day. Everyone stood patiently and orderly in the well organized line.

And once we arrived at Monster Bash I was surrounded by Japanese Youth who were ready to dance and sing along to J-pop.

They were armed with wristbands like this:
(which I do not really want to talk about).

They held tight to their matching hand towels that were swung around in unison, in time with the music.

Everyone sang along to lyrics of songs that featured English words about "living to be an American."
And there were moments of everyone grabbing the shoulder of the person next to them and jumping up and down while smiling and giggling.

Last year I went to this same event and I was enthralled with the extreme fashion and haircuts. This year I stood around, dodging the rainfall, as I had seen it all before and perhaps seem to have a better understanding of where it all stems from. Though the Engrish on many of the t-shirts suggested a rebellious attitude the reality of these individuals are far from that.

When it comes to rebellion America is far ahead of Japan. Being progressive and somewhat rebellious to the youth of Japan means living alone as an adult. "Mortgages for unmarried home buyers were only available after 1981" (Perfectly Japanese).

Musicians stood on stage, telling the audience to "fight through the rain." And everyone did fight really hard, to smile and laugh despite being wet.