Faxes, Mascots, and Manga: Science Communication in Japan | Physics Today
Read the Article | Physics Today | Amanda Alvarez
“If those anachronistic approaches seem surprising for a country popularly associated with cutting-edge tech, there’s a reason they persist. Traditional delivery mechanisms like faxes are part of a system that caters to domestic media and often results in Japanese science news never breaking abroad. The country’s unique approach to science communication also includes a plethora of costumed characters and comics that portray scientists as champions and make research accessible and playful.”
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Matsuki Heikichi, aka Matsuki Tōkō (松木東江 1836 - 1 Jul 1891, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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“Urashima Tarō (浦島 太郎) is the protagonist of a Japanese fairy tale (otogi banashi), who in a typical modern version is a fisherman rewarded for rescuing a turtle, and carried on its back to the Dragon Palace (Ryūgū-jō) beneath the sea. There he is entertained by the princess Otohime as a reward. He spends what he believes to be several days with the princess, but when he returns to his home village, he discovers he has been gone for at least 100 years. When he opens the forbidden jewelled box (tamatebako), given to him by Otohime on his departure, he turns into an old man.”
“In Japanese folklore, Ryūgū-jō (竜宮城, 龍宮城, "Dragon palace castle") is the undersea palace of Ryūjin, the dragon kami of the sea.[1] Princess Otohime, her maidens, and Ryūjin's vassals reside in the palace, as well.[2] Jinja hime are yōkai that serve in Ryūgū-jo. During the Edo period, a jinja hime reportedly appeared on a beach proclaiming to be “a messenger from Ryūgū.” With a six-meter-long, snake-like body, they resemble giant oarfish, which are called ryūgū no tsukai (lit. "messenger of Ryūgū") in Japanese.[3][4]”