39 What should I know about Japan's Bubble Era? (A Fun Look at Japan's Infamous Era of Opulence)

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What should I know about Japan's Bubble Era?

Topics Discussed

• What was Japan's "Bubble Era"
• The Japanese bubble economy of the late '80s and early '90s
• Examples of some of the over the top ways people are said to have spent money during Japan's bubble economy era
• Golden Bomber's "Dance My Generation"
• Bubble Era fashion trends
• The colorful suits that were popular for men to wear during the late '80s and early '90s in Japan
• Popular female hairstyles of Japan's Bubble Era
• The bodikon dress and the wanren hairstyle
• What the tosakamaegami hairstyle is
• About the nightclub Juliana's Tokyo
• John Robinson's infamous "Tokyo" yell
• The trend of fake car phone antennas during Japan's Bubble Era
• Fake TV antennas for cars
• Trendy words from Japan's Bubble Era
• The phenomenon of asahan (morning shampoo)
• The release of Toto's shanpūdoressā in 1985
• Mitsubishi's Asashan Club
• How Italian food became popular during Japan's Bubble Era
• What itameshi is
• What an Obatarian is
• The etymology of obatarian
• The manga Obatarian by Katsuhiko Hotta
• What "soy sauce face" (shōyugao)
• What "sauce face" is (sōsugao)
• What "salt face" is (shiogao)
• What the "dry war" is (dorai sensō)
• What a dry beer is
• Living the bodikon fantasy
• And much more!

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And it goes without saying that if you sign up, you'll also get my undying gratitude. Thanks in advance!

• Support on Patreon

Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.

This episode features Kyle Broyles as a special guest. If you would like to follow him on Twitter, please use the link below.

• Kyle Broyles on Twitter

Kyle is one of the hosts of the Tokyo Splosion podcast. If you would like to check his podcast out, you can look it up wherever you get your podcasts or use the links below.

• Tokyo Splosion on Apple Podcasts
• Tokyo Splosion on Google Podcasts
• Tokyo Splosion on Spotify
• Tokyo Splosion on Twitter

To check out Kyle Broyles' previous appearances on the podcast, use the links below.

• Do you have any funny or embarrassing Japanese mistake stories? (Part 2) | Ichimon Japan 37
• What's life like in Japan during the coronavirus pandemic? (Uncovering the cute sneeze conspiracy) | Ichimon Japan 13
• Why are vegetables so insulting in Japanese? | Ichimon Japan 14

Here are the main Japanese-language sources used for this episode.

• バブルとは何か？わかりやすく簡単に解説！当時の生活から日本経済崩壊の原因までを10分でイッキに学ぼう！
• そもそも「ワンレングス」とはどういう意味？英語で「One length」と記述するとの事。
• ８０年代ファッション、ヘアスタイル！女性芸能人のワンレン、ボディコンスタイルなどバブル華やかりしころのファッションをチェック
• バブル時代のワンレンボディコンの意味は？バブリーな髪型やファッションも
• トサカ前髪が命!? 上司の時代遅れなバブルメイクの特徴5つと直し方
• トサカ前髪とすだれ前髪。バブル ８０年代の流行が進化して人気。
• バブル時のファッションといえば、肩パッドに太い眉毛！「あれ、もしかして？」
• バブルの時代に流行ったカーアイテム7選！今では見かけない懐かしのカーグッズ！
• 【死語】バブル時代に大流行した「ワカモノ言葉」20選
• 【朝シャンブームから30年】「ちゃん・リン・シャン」覚えてますか？
  • This article is all about the asahan trend. It has many photos of asashan sinks and related products/media.
• パスタとスパゲッティの違いと日本はパスタ＝スパゲッティな理由。
• 「イタめし」「ティラミスブーム」とは何だったのか？バブル時代に爆発的な流行を巻き起こした舞台裏
• 今や美魔女？オバタリアンいずこへ（平成のアルバム）
• ドライ戦争

Here is the music video of "Dance My Generation" by Golden Bomber.

• Dance My Generation by Golden Bomber Music Video

Here is the music video for "Tokyo Go" by Joh Robinson. In this song you can hear John Robinson do his trademark "Tokyo!" yell.

• Tokyo Go by John Robinson

Here is the Japanese trailer for Batarian (The Return of the Living Dead).

• Batarian/The Return of the Living Dead trailer

Here's the commercials mentioned during the dry beer portion of the episode.

• Kirin's 1988 commercial featuring Gene Hackman

Don't forget to check out the latest episodes of Japan Station.

• How did you become so familiar with Japan? | Japan Station 61 (Bonus Solo Episode)
• The Challenges of Post-Fukushima Japan: Immigration, Population Decline & Nuclear Safety (Dreux Richard) | Japan Station 62

To pick up a t-shirt and support the show, check out KimotoDesigns.com

• KimitoDesigns.com

Japanese Vocabulary List

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here's some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC.

• Baburu
  • バブル (n) (1) bubble; (n) (2) (abbr) (See バブル経済) bubble economy
• Baburu keizai
  • バブル経済 【バブルけいざい】 (n) bubble economy
• Baburu jidai
  • バブル時代 【バブルじだい】 (n) (See バブル景気・バブルけいき) bubble era (of Japan, 1986-1991)
• Baburu keiki
  • バブル景気 【バブルけいき】 (n) bubble economy (of Japan, 1986-1991)
• Bodikon
  • ボディコン (adj-no,n) (abbr) (See ボディーコンシャス) body-conscious (look); tight-fitting (clothing)
• Wanren
  • ワンレン (n) (abbr) (See ワンレングス) haircut of uniform length
• Tosaka
  • とさか (n) cockscomb; crest
• Maegami
  • 前髪 【まえがみ】 (n) forelock; bangs
• Asashan
  • 朝シャン 【あさシャン】 (n,vs) shampooing in the morning
• Obatarian
  • オバタリアン : オバタリアン; おばたりあん (n) (col) (from おばさん and バタリアン (horror film)) obatarian; generally obnoxious pushy middle-aged woman
• Itameshi
  • イタ飯 【イタめし; イタメシ】 (n) (col) (See イタリア料理) Italian food
• Shōyugao
  • 醤油顔 : しょうゆ顔; 醤油顔 【しょうゆがお】 (n) (sl) (See ソース顔) typically Japanese face
• Sōsugao
  • ソース顔 【ソースがお】 (n) (sl) (See しょうゆ顔) typically Caucasian face
• Shiogao
  • 塩顔 【しおがお】 (n) (sl) fair and delicate features (of a man)
• Sensō
  • 戦争 【せんそう】 (n,vs) (1) war

We Want Your Questions

Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr)

Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.

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Full Show Notes

• https:///www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan