Irony in Japan

[Gavin Rees]

This is a very quick reply, and not really thought out at all, I am afraid.
But I would have said that the use of irony is one of the key features of
Independent Japanese comedy. Surely Yamashita Nobuhiro's hazy life would be
a prime example. It is full of disjunctions between what people say about
themselves, and what they actually do, and all the characters are gently
self-mocking.

As for tragic irony I am not sure, but it seems very unlikely that a culture
which has a strong hand in self-deprecation, doesn"t have its twin brother
irony as well.

I think it perhaps should be said, that one of the standard prejudices that
British and Australian people have against Americans, is that they don't
understand irony, and as a result have trouble understanding what
non-Americans are saying to them. Now, I am not saying agreeing with that,
but it is a very common thing to hear in the more intellectual end of the UK
media.

Gavin Rees
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>F
> I was wondering what people felt about this, especially in relation to
> Japanese film, TV, or other pop culture texts.  Are there cases of tragic
> irony in Japanese film, or other important uses of irony? Can people cite
> some examples or comment on why not?
>