A cosmopolitan tribe of viewers : Crime, women, and akogare in Japan

This chapter explores the meaningfulness and engagement of Japanese audiences with Danish television drama from the perspectives and sentiments of both broadcasters (“those who buy”) and regular viewers (“those who watch”). The chapter includes a discussion of the conceptual framework that argues for an equal focus on the mundane practices of “everyday cosmopolitanism”, as well as explaining the Japanese notion of akogare that refers to a desire for things which are tantalisingly out of reach. The chapter shows how the practices of television companies and the demands of a “cosmopolitan tribe of discerning viewers” are interwoven; it unfolds the figure of the cosmopolitan housewife; and it discusses the different forms of cosmopolitan engagement that viewers express. The chapter also describes the intercultural and linguistic challenges of conducting audience research in Japan.This work was supported by the following funding bodies: Danmarks Frie Forskningsråd (Independent Research Fund Denmark) [grant number DFF-4001- 00298]. Aarhus Universitets Forskningsfond (Aarhus University Research Fund) [grant numbers AUFFF-2018-4-8 and AUFF-F-2013-FLS-1-23]. Go to the full book to find a version of this chapter tagged for accessibility