Land of the Rising Mickey
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Japan is, in its own way to be sure, there. Actually, they've been there for over 20 years. But the idealized and highly selective view of America hasn't gone anywhere. At this point it's habit... and a vague but persistent longing for something that never existed. I think it's very similar to the longing many Americans feel for a "Norman Rockwell" American past that never was. On a side note, Norman Rockwell images and the like are popular in Japan, especially at Christmas time. (Christmas in Japan... Where to begin?!.)

The Disney tradition is extremely important to Oriental Land Company. I feel they deserve a great deal of credit for their thorough understanding of it and their loyalty to it. (and I'll talk about it in later columns) In my opinion, their understanding and loyalty well exceed that of the current Walt Disney Company. But it's the need to live up to the Japanese image of America that truly keeps OLC on its toes.

The belief in an idealized America is a powerful (and at this point, perhaps, purely) emotional thing in Japan. I'm confident that any lowering in TDL's impeccably high standards would strongly contradict guest's expectations of what both America and Disney should be. I feel the change would quickly be perceived by guests and the response would be a disillusionment deep enough to prevent a significant number of them from returning. The Japanese love affair with Disney is powerful, but I believe the disappointment would be even stronger.

Post Script - Too Perfect??

TDL is so perfect that it sometimes make's my girlfriend uncomfortable...

Mariko was born and raised in a village in the beautiful mountains of Nagano Prefecture, Japan, but for the past several years she's lived in Tokyo. We were having Mickey Mouse pancakes (hottokeki:) at the Center Street Coffeehouse in World Bazaar (TDL's Main Street). I looked up from my breakfast and saw a sad, concerned look on her face. "What's wrong, Mariko?" She thought for a few seconds. Gesturing toward the fantasy world outside the window she said with such sincerity, "Marc, it's too perfect... It's not real". "But it is real, Mariko", I said. "That's one of the things I love about it - Appreciating exactly how they maintain the illusion of perfection!" (didn't know it would end up the title of a column:)

I should point out that Mariko knows real. We met at Main Street Station at Disneyland in California when she was at the beginning of her trip around the world - by herself and mainly by bus!! I was very impressed by that (even though I spent the next eight months running up my phone bill and worrying). When I tell Japanese and other people familiar with the culture what she did it amazes them. "A Japanese woman traveling around the world by herself?!?!". Mariko is a pretty atypical Japanese.

I must admit though, in some areas of the park (parts of Fantasyland and Rivers of America come to mind) I feel the perfection of it does create an atmosphere that is a bit too sterile... less like a park and more like an oversized museum exhibit. But, my appreciation for the dedication to quality, Cast Member pride, and financial resources necessary to actually maintain such an extraordinary level of appearance outweighs the occasional creepiness of it all... or maybe OLC just reboots the chip in my head! :)

Jikai made - ogenki de!
(Until next time - Take care!)

-- Marc Borrelli

© Marc Borrelli and LaughingPlace.com. All rights reserved

-- Posted November 3, 2000