For those people who were in Japan on March 11, 2011, there are a lot of sounds that they¡¯ll never be able to hear again without being reminded of that time: the slow creaking of high-rises as they swayed back and forth, the and the cheerful vocals of cartoons singing, ¡±.¡±
Pop culture generally deals with major world events in two ways: There¡¯s an immediate reaction and then, with some time, more measured reflection. The Great East Japan Earthquake, which involved a subsequent tsunami and meltdowns at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, brought the entertainment industry to a standstill as the country grappled with its need to mourn, and the anxiety caused by the fallout.
And the event continues to loom large in artistic expression ¡ª NHK alone has prepped four dramas centered on the disasters to coincide with the 10th anniversary. With some creators wondering how the COVID-19 pandemic will alter the entertainment landscape, it¡¯s as good a time as any to look back on the cultural impact 3/11 had on Japan.
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