Tokyo Pop

I have never been to Japan -- the closest I've ever been to Japan has been the Sanrio store in my local mall during the time period when this film was made -- but I was once a young woman caught up in the post punk music scene and the character of Wendy (Carrie Hamilton) was very familiar to me. This film takes us to 1988 Japan through her eyes and is very effective at conveying her sense of isolation in a foreign land. Watching the movie 36 years after it was made still feels totally fresh, totally timeless. Our current fascination with K-pop gives us some familiarity with the Asian hit-making machinery and now there is not only one Sanrio store in my local mall but four! I highly recommend this movie to any of my young fellow shoppers. The creative force was also involved in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the titles are Keith Haring's work. "Tokyo Pop" is an entertaining cultural artifact that, in this sparkling preservation, is an undiscovered gem. A rare treasure by a woman director that deserves more recognition.

There's a very rare honesty and charm to "Tokyo Pop." Although I never knew the music scene in Japan, so much in the movie is immediately recognizable from life: The naivete on many sides. The fun of being exotic for a while and the uses made of it. The value for Westerners of being in Japan for a while; the sterility of living there long-term (generally speaking). The harmless chintziness of much in Japan. A degree of gentleness. The story is believable and the characters endearing. In tune with the lightness of the movie, there are few of the crudest sorts of stupidity one is likely to run up against: Westerners who set themselves up as experts on everything under the sun. The Japanese love of grandiose abstractions; verbal bombast about uniqueness and subtlety. The extreme moral and intellectual obtuseness involved in occasionally hammering down nails that stick up. Or that if you are inclined to pithiness, then you too may be unsuited for life in Japan.

This is a very light movie that highlights some aspects of being a foreigner in Japan. This movie was released the first year that I moved to Japan so is especially relevant to me. It is often more travelogue than drama as I felt that some scenes were shot simply to show absurd aspects of Tokyo life and clashing cultures (the Japanese mother getting ready for her aerobics class as the daughter practices chopstick use; the boy working in a neighbourhood crepe shop; the plastic food factory; suited Salarymen fishing on the Kanda RIver). Still it has a certain simple charm that makes me smile and I feel that it better captures aspects of Tokyo at that time than Lost in Translation does for a more contemporary Tokyo. I just came across it as i was cleaning out my videos to take to a flea market (my favourites have all been replaced by DVDs). This doesn't seem to be available on DVD now so I am watching it as I dub it to make my own DVD. It still makes me smile and will certainly do the same for anyone who has spent time in Japan.

I really enjoyed this movie. The characters are real and likeable and the story is entertaining. The script is excellent and the exchanges between the Japanese and gaijin characters genuinely amusing and realistic. I loved the way the hero (Hiro) was always several beats behind in his responses to English. Anyone who has spent some time in Japan and has an interest in the Japanese music scene will find a lot to take delight in here. And the occasional desperation of a gaijin, feeling lost and alien in Japan, is cleverly portrayed. The people who made this movie really knew what they were on about, from the Japanese and the gaijin point of view.

The two lead actors are very believable and the other cast members are all excellent. The band scenes and the portrayals of the varied types of musicians are great fun.

I had never heard of this movie before I watched it and it was a revelation to find something so amusing and true about a place and a music that I love. Thank you to these film makers!

Tokyo Pop is a classic eighties story of a American girl who goes to Japan to become a rock star. Carrie Hamilton is excellent as the lead. It is sad that at thirty-eight she passed from lung and brain cancer.

Diamond Yukai is stunning as the boy she falls for. The music is very eighties, but still the versions of Blue Suede Shoes, Natural Woman, and do you believe in Magic are classic. Hiro's (Yukai) original song to her is beautiful and Hiro's Song at the end is sung with passion and is also a wonderful song.

It was incredible that Kino Lorber finally put out a blu ray. I've owned a videocassette since 1988 and have b tried to buy a bluray for years. The soundtrack has been on repeat for me for thirty- five years. Al though I will admit two of the songs are kind of too punk, Japanese for me, but the rest are stellar.

I suggest everyone watch this film. It is a unknown classic.

Thank Carol Burnett for helping get this disc made for her daughter, Carrie Hamilton.