Between myth and stereotype: the method of studying the images of Russia in the visual media culture of Japan

The main sets of symbols of Russia in the visual media culture of Japan are formed in the XX century. This period was saturated with military conflicts and under the conditions of a bipolar political system; reactionary images with noticeable militaristic influence were formed. This study was performed on the materials of visual media culture in Japan, sources such as anime and manga were studied, in which a high concentration of Russian images is observed. During the study of these sources, a complex of several hundred visual and verbal images of Russia was identified, which seems to be a unique phenomenon. Since such an interest in the country-opponent in foreign policy issues is nowhere else observed. The purpose of this study is to identify markers that denote the space of Russian images in individual visual sources and determine their place in the media culture as a whole. Accordingly, the main objective of the study became the development of methods based on approaches of Digital Humanities and Visual Studies. This study allows us to determine the most economically viable images of Russia in the Japanese media industry and makes it possible to use the results of the research in Russia’s state image by stimulating Japan’s visual media culture sector for representation the most auspicious images.