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brock_lee t1_iwja6u9 wrote

Well, Japan has three times as many people, but that fact aside, it is surprising that they are into flamenco at all.

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Viperion_NZ t1_iwjelzs wrote

Following that train of thought, India and China would have the most number of everything, since they have the most people (Fun fact - the US is the third most populous country on the planet; if they had one billion more people, they'd still be third). Population size isn't necessarily an indicator of how many <x> things there are.

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artaig t1_iwjrrjr wrote

It adds that a significant amount of the Spanish population vehemently hates flamenco; it's the music proper of only a small area, and if you stretch it, of one city.

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AkirIkasu t1_iwkayjn wrote

Japan has two things going for it. Number one is that they put a lot of value in music. They put a lot of effort to teach children about music and they have some of the most talented musicians in the world. The second thing is that Japanese culture encourages people to deep dive into niches, so niche things have the tendency to become mainstream and popular from time to time.

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SyntaxLost t1_iwkijut wrote

Well, they also have a massive musical instrument industry (hello Yamaha). Those instruments have to go somewhere.

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No_Vegetable_2570 t1_iwjvmq7 wrote

I think it has more to do with Japanese desire to be individual and original. They really like to adhere to different styles and cultures, flamenco is quite outstanding of a style so they probably liked that a lot to the point when they are more interés in it than the spaniards

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ILL_Show_Myself_Out t1_iwk1r55 wrote

Japanese are not who I think of when I think “individual.” There’s a whole thing about “the nail that sticks out gets hammered back down”

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No_Vegetable_2570 t1_iwk5su3 wrote

I mean, I never was there but you probably seen that typical vids of Japanese ppl going around Tokio dressed like they are a character in a RPG game

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ILL_Show_Myself_Out t1_iwk6q6g wrote

Yes, but you see, a very short time after that, someone totally hammered them back down.

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No_Vegetable_2570 t1_iwk6y8f wrote

Really??? How so? Is that some sort of society pressure thing or some people pressuring them to stop?

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ILL_Show_Myself_Out t1_iwk7ijw wrote

I’m thinkin large wooden mallets.

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tsaimaitreya t1_iwl4snx wrote

For what I know nobody gives a fuck how you dress in your free time.

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itskoo t1_iwjlqhs wrote

Lots of reggae and hip hop in Japan as well

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Krazyel t1_iwkepi6 wrote

Well, not surprised. Flamenco is not a thing for the majority of Spanish people, we don't really care that much. It's like a specialists field for some and that's it. Japanese are fascinated and love it, so ... Yeah, good for everyone.

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drottkvaett t1_iwl51dg wrote

Is it more of a gitano thing?

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Krazyel t1_iwn6jnc wrote

There is some gatekeeping at professional level, but no, you can learn it anywhere being gitano or not.

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[deleted] t1_iwk3vsn wrote

Is this why Samurai Flamenco is a thing

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cheesefondue t1_iwjl0oi wrote

That makes sense. Spain isn’t in Japan

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RunFunny t1_iwkqalk wrote

They also have more hula practitioners (2M) than there are residents in Hawaii (1.44M)

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LipTrev t1_iwjssrq wrote

There are a metric ton of hula schools in Japan as well.

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Vegan_Harvest t1_iwjz8p7 wrote

I imagine the Spanish already know how.

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tsaimaitreya t1_iwl53e4 wrote

I don't imagine the gypsies going to a formal school

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lizlaylo t1_iwlcuq9 wrote

It’s more that it is not a “technical” dance. Yes, there are things that you can learn, but not in a structured class. You learn by seeing, dancing and feeling. And feeling can’t be taught. A big thing in flamenco is “duende”, which is when you can see and feel the emotion that the dancer is feeling. Like triggering a collective catharsis.

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ty_kanye_vcool t1_iwm6g04 wrote

Well duh, Japan’s got more than double the people Spain does. Flamenco schools are like grocery stores, they’re a universal phenomenon across the developed world that everyone regardless of culture enjoys equally. You see them popping up on every corner from Salt Lake City to Brisbane.

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No_Fun8701 t1_iwoxdgd wrote

Just so you learn something today, the “Spanish Fandango “ originated in San Antonio, Texas , back in the day . So, I am told . Not that far from the Alamo .

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Uncle_Budy t1_iwmgi6t wrote

Well yeah, you don't need a school if you're born knowing how to do it.

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Icyrow t1_iwjb273 wrote

japan has a knack for taking cultural stuff from around the world and them dominating their original countries at it.

just look at food. if you want the best french food, go to japan, if you want the best italian food, go to japan.

at the very least, they're on par with the home country and often better.

edit: people really didn't like this comment, but here:

https://nerdyfoodies.com/countries-with-the-most-michelin-stars-412.html

isn't just me being a weeb, a lot of the best resturaunts for just about any cuisine are in japan.

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Inevitable_Phase5048 t1_iwjfryl wrote

Look, better French food could be found in the dumpster as well, but please, don't talk about Italian food made in Japan, Thank you.

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