As someone who's triggered by this and has griped about it just recently: No, this doesn't qualify, because Totoro is actually Japanese content that happens to be popular internationally. "Thing, Japan" is if you take something that is commonplace outside of Japan as well, and act as if only the mystical, wise place that is Japan has it.
No, the question is 'Where else there are decorated bus stops?' and there are countless examples of that. But no one cares (= no one will make a HN post about it) if you see that in Poland [0] or in the UK [1]. So 'Thing, Japan' + HN has a very strong Japanophilia
I don't think it matters to many people that this was in japan, so much as it does that this is totoro and also that it was done by regular people who just wanted to make something nice. It'd be just as cool if grandparents in Ohio did this, expect they'd inevitably be sued into bankruptcy for it by disney.
Do you realize the linked article isn't talking about an actual bus stop? The movie My Neighbor Totoro has a scene at a bus stop. These people recreated the bus stop near their home/business.
So no, any bus stop that's been decorated is not "the same thing outside of Japan." This is specifically about being the bus stop from the movie.
I concur. This would have been awesome anywhere. The fact that this is in Japan is not surprising, although it's clear that if one were to go check out a lifesize Totoro statue, having in Japan makes it nicer because it's its "natural" environment.
As someone who's triggered by this and has griped about it just recently: No, this doesn't qualify, because Totoro is actually Japanese content that happens to be popular internationally. "Thing, Japan" is if you take something that is commonplace outside of Japan as well, and act as if only the mystical, wise place that is Japan has it.
No it's not. "thing, japan" implies that the "thing" wouldn't be special outside of japan. Where else is there a totoro bus stop?
>Where else is there a totoro bus stop?
No, the question is 'Where else there are decorated bus stops?' and there are countless examples of that. But no one cares (= no one will make a HN post about it) if you see that in Poland [0] or in the UK [1]. So 'Thing, Japan' + HN has a very strong Japanophilia
0, https://www.whitemad.pl/en/bus-shelters-as-painted-anna-wojt...
1, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8586edj8ko
I don't think it matters to many people that this was in japan, so much as it does that this is totoro and also that it was done by regular people who just wanted to make something nice. It'd be just as cool if grandparents in Ohio did this, expect they'd inevitably be sued into bankruptcy for it by disney.
Do you realize the linked article isn't talking about an actual bus stop? The movie My Neighbor Totoro has a scene at a bus stop. These people recreated the bus stop near their home/business.
So no, any bus stop that's been decorated is not "the same thing outside of Japan." This is specifically about being the bus stop from the movie.
But there are general interest news stories about both of your examples. Source: your links.
I concur. This would have been awesome anywhere. The fact that this is in Japan is not surprising, although it's clear that if one were to go check out a lifesize Totoro statue, having in Japan makes it nicer because it's its "natural" environment.
It seems quite common. I happened to drive past one in Taiwan. It's still special so I don't think that meme applies.
Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station