[ Sender:JCS ]
In the last issue, CoFesta Ambassadors from Indonesia introduced their home country's media content market and its potential. In this issue, they will further talk about what specifically attracts young Indonesian media content consumers.
Here, once again, are the contributors continuing from the last issue.
Nadhila: a graduate student at Waseda University studying economics.
What made me interested in Japan: 'Detective Conan' and 'Tensai TV-kun'
Prita: an undergraduate student at Takushoku University. Studying Japanese language and culture.
What made me interested in Japan: 'Crayon Shin Chan'
Mahdina: a graduate student at Waseda University researching environmental studies.
What made me interested in Japan: 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon' and 'Cardcaptor Sakura'
-----What Japanese media content are you interested in lately?
Nadhila: "Since coming to Japan, I get to see a lot of TV dramas. I learn a lot from them including vocabulary and how people in Japan think. I especially watch detective series quite often. There are many difficult vocabulary I have never heard before in daily life. Just by watching, it teaches me the way of thinking. Overall it inspires me a lot."
----What are TV dramas like in Indonesia? How do they differ from Japanese ones?
Nadhila: "Almost all Indonesian TV series are about 'romance'. In addition, they are aired almost every day, so the whole series sums up to more than a hundred episodes! So it feels so long and sluggish. That's why many young people in Indonesia prefer foreign TV series over domestic ones."
Prita:"I feel there are no genres like 'family' or 'educational' dramas in Indonesia. It's all about romance!"
----Can you think of any difficulties or barriers when Indonesia imports Japanese media content?
Prita: "In Indonesia, you will NEVER see what you find in nearly every convenience store in Japan, which are R+18 comics or magazines."
Nadhila: "Contents with both nudity and anti- Islamic elements would not be accepted in Indonesia because of religious reasons. There are restrictions and people will not welcome it, either. Even some scenes from 'Crayon Shin Chan' were cut because of the exposure of the main boy character's naked buttocks!"
----Aren't there romantic or intimate scenes in 'romantic' TV series which are main stream in Indonesia?
Nadhila: "There are hugging and cheek kissing, but nothing more than that. In some movies there are, but not on TV."
----OK, the content that is not too religiously biased nor sensual are appreciated in Indonesia. What about violence or bloody scenes?
Nadhila: "There is violent content on TV. Some are rated under a certain age, but you will get to see it."
Prita: "Usually parents decide what content is appropriate for their children."
Nadhila: "Some people also like Japanese horror movies such as 'The Ring'."
----Do you feel that religion has a certain extent of influence on you and people around you?
Prita:"There certainly is some influence of religion in our lives, since we learn about it at school and most of the disciplines are based on religious lessons. But, what matters more are our own family rules."
Nadhila: "In Indonesia, we respect our parents and listen to what they say. This custom is deeply rooted in people's mind no matter what they believe or don't believe."
----So the content must be carefully considered and respectful to what Indonesian people value.
Prita: "So that's why there is a demand for 'family' TV programs but nobody in Indonesia makes any!"
----How do you usually get information on Japanese media content?
Prita:"On the Internet, of course. There are not many Japanese programs on TV back home. Also animation is aired only on Sunday."
Nadhila: "There is a TV channel called 'WAKUWAKU JAPAN', a local 24/7 TV channel which is dedicated only to Japanese programs all in Indonesian language."
----Do you all watch 'WAKUWAKU JAPAN'?
All:"Yes!"
----Do you think the local language appeals more to local people than English?
Nadhila:Not always. Basically, we have this impression that English ads give us fashionable and sophisticated images, and has more expressions than the local language has. In fact, the cafes or fashion brands that are popular among young people mostly use English as a marketing language. So if you go to shopping malls, you will see many ad boards in English. I think the marketing language is decided according to the main target consumers. Contents that are targeted towards middle to upper middle classes are often advertised in English, and towards other classes, they use the local language. Because people who are upper classes are well educated and simply understand more English. I think this strategy could be applied to the marketing of Japanese media content.
----With your experience as a CoFesta Ambassador, how would you get yourselves involved with Japanese media content in the future?
Prita: "I've been working as a volunteer and an interpreter for Japanese musicians, such as KAWABATA Kaname and flumpool, who are holding concerts in Indonesia. So I'd like to continue and deepen this field when I go back home next year. But I'd like to work in Japan after graduating."
Mahdina: "I would keep recommending or suggesting Japanese content related concerts or events held in Indonesia to my friends."
Nadhila:"I'd like to write articles on my own experiences with Japanese culture and content, like 'how I learned about Japanese society and language through its media content'. I would do it in our local language so that people in Indonesia would know more about Japanese content. Now I'm doing it on Facebook and Twitter, but in the future on a larger scale, such as a blog or newspaper.
Thank you very much again Nadhila, Prita and Mahdina!
The next issue will cover... << Mexico >>! Stay tuned!
Vol.1 : Interviews with "CoFesta Ambassadors": Vol.1 << USA >>
Vol.2 : Interviews with "CoFesta Ambassadors": Vol.2 << Indonesia (1) >>
More about "CoFesta"
http://www.cofesta.jp/
What is "CoFesta Ambassadors" program?
Through the voices and observations done by overseas consumers of
Japanese media content, CoFesta administration team aim to provide
beneficial information from 1) marketing and 2) promotional points of
view for the CoFesta events and the exhibitors.
Every year, 150 international students studying abroad in Japan are
certified as "CoFesta Ambassadors" for this program.
