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The Japanese media and English
Author(s) -
TANAKA SACHIKO ODA
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
world englishes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.6
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1467-971X
pISSN - 0883-2919
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-971x.1995.tb00338.x
Subject(s) - newspaper , feudalism , english language , history , media studies , advertising , linguistics , sociology , political science , law , business , philosophy , politics
Japanese contact with the English language was very limited until 1853, when Commodore Perry arrived in Edo (Tokyo) Bay to open diplomatic and commercial relations between the US and Japan. In subsequent years English played a significant role in the transformation of Japan from a feudal, closed country to a modern nation. The aim of this paper is to describe the use of English in the media in Japan today. First, we will look at the role and history of English‐language newspapers. Second, we will look at how much English programs are broadcast on radio and television. Finally, we will see that more than half of the movies shown in the theaters in the Tokyo area in February, 1994 were in English. We will conclude this survey by a short discussion of some of the implications these findings have regarding the use of English in Japan in the coming years.