- Postwar Pride in Technological Advances
- The Face of Technology: Postwar Robot Toys
- Technology as the Hero: Astroboy
- Visions of the future
- Raising questions
Changing Views of Technology
Postwar Economic Growth
- Despite early postwar devastation, J. government officials
& business leaders had ambitions for world markets, faith in
future growth
- Wartime economic restructuring, trained labor pool, "clean
slate" for technological improvements, etc.
- Government shifted profits from light to heavy industries
and encouraged shift of labor power from agriculture to
industry
- Expanding global economy
- From 1955-1973, annual growth rate of 10%+
- By 1968, Japan surpassed West Germany in overall GNP as 3rd
largest economy in the world
Postwar Manufacturing Strengths
- Global force in the manufacture of ships, motor vehicles, iron
and steel, machinery (including robots), petrochemicals, precision
equipment (notably cameras), and advanced electronic products
(including computers and microelectronics, telecommunications
equipment, and consumer goods).
- Also major producer of synthetic rubber, aluminum, sulfuric
acid,plastics, cement, pulp and paper, refined copper,and cotton
yarn.
Postwar Symbols of Pride: Shinkansen (Bullet Train)
- Discussions during war
- 1956 JNR feasibility study
- 1964 Line between Tokyo & Shin-Osaka open
- Steady expansion of rail lines and increase of train speeds
(currently up to 350 km/h)
Postwar Symbols of Pride: Sony
- Late 1950s: Sony adapts US technology to produce transistor
radios
- Late 70s Walkman and VCRs introduced
- 1989 Sony purchases Columbia Pictures (hardware +
software)
- 2000 Sony unveils PlayStation2: "most powerful consumer
electronics product on earth"
Technology and Toys
The Face of Technology: 1950s
- By 1958, Japan becomes world's largest exporter of toys
- Specialty: science fiction tin wind-ups
- Conveying the "idea" of a robot
- Notable characteristics?
The Face of Technology: 1960s
- Cottage industry folded into larger companies
- Spin-off production in Asia
- Plastic, electronics, battery-powered, sometimes remote
controlled
- Able to move and make noises
- Other characteristics?
Face of Technology:1970s & 1980s
- 1970s
- Declining share of world market, greater attention to
domestic market
- Plastic and metal
- Kid-powered
- "J-style" tech; TV tie-ins
- Armed w/weapons
- 1980s
- Transformers
- Revival of Japanese toy exports
Astroboy (Tetsuwan Atomu)
- Creator: Tezuka Osamu (1928-1989)
- Manga series 1951-1969
- Animation series 1963
- First regularly scheduled cartoon show on Japanese TV
- Early successful Japanese animation import to the US
Astroboy: Episode One
- Depiction of technology in Astroboy?
- Dangers? Benefits?
- Depiction of science and scientists?
- Humans and Robots
- Different possible relationships between humans and
robots?
- Definitions of "humanity" and "inhumanity"?
- Gender and technology?