I was surfing through the Taiwan blogosphere this afternoon, and was surprised to find one of my entries from a couple of months ago being discussed on one person's blog. In the comments section, someone else criticized me for my "apparent faith in the BBC's accuracy". To which I would reply to J that:
1.) your reading comprehension skills need some work;
2.) I don't rely on the BBC as my sole "accurate" source for information on Taiwan. But then neither do I unquestionably accept anecdotes and third-person generalizations from Western residents; and
3.) if you thought my original post was a "low blow" (the blogger didn't seem to think so), then all I can say is your hide must be made of gossamer.
Carp-shaped wind socks 鯉幟『こいのぼり』flutter in the wind over a local junkyard
As the above picture shows, symbols of Japanese culture are prevalent here in Taiwan (even if some are placed in unusual surroundings). The Japan Times ジャパンタイムズ posted this Kyōdō News 共同通信社 article today on another facet of things Japanese that is popular among many of the locals - music:
"Nearly 1,500 Taiwanese entered a talent contest sponsored by NHK World ＮＨＫワールド in Taipei 台北 on Sunday to be named the best at crooning Japanese songs.
The taping, for broadcast on the international arm of Japan's public broadcaster, will be shown in Japan, Taiwan and about 150 other areas and countries on or around Oct. 29.
The Taipei show is the 12th NHK has taped overseas since the singing contest — known as "NHK Nodo Jiman ＮＨＫのど自慢" — began on radio 65 years ago.
It has been a television staple since 1953.
NHK began holding the contests overseas in 1998 and the Taipei taping is the first outside Japan since one in Mexico City in 2005.
Contestants have also tried their hand at singing Japanese songs in Beijing, Singapore and Seoul in the past.
Sunday's event attracted 1,480 participants, the most since 1998.
All participants are amateurs who must go through two stages, with the champion selected from 16 finalists.
Sachiko Kobayashi 小林幸子, a special guest on Sunday's program, said she was surprised to see how much the Taiwanese love singing.
Kobayashi encouraged future viewers to visit Taiwan, especially the Chen Lan Temple 大甲鎮瀾宮 in Greater Taichung 大台中."
Name that tune: A couple from Taiwan's indigenous Amis 阿美族 people sing at a contest sponsored by NHK World on Sunday in Taipei. KYŌDŌ PHOTO
As anyone who has had to suffer through karaoke カラオケ (or 卡拉ＯＫ, as it is known in Taiwan) can testify, enka 演歌 has had a big influence on the local music scene. Virtually every KTV has Japanese songs on file, while many popular Taiwanese tunes are actually enka songs that have had the lyrics either translated, or in many cases rewritten, into Mandarin 國語 or Taiwanese 台語. In our area, NHK Nodo Jiman is aired on Channel 107 on Sundays at noon. If I can remember, I'll check it out on the 30th.
No comments:
Post a Comment