As a continuation of the previous “cool Japan,” this time I’d like to introduce what idols, movies, and actors Japanese consider being “cool Japan.”

The idol group, “Arashi” placed first, with 53.8% of people thinking they should be “cool Japan.” Arashi had 76.8% with girls in their teens, 68.8% with women in their 20’s, 59.2% with women in their 30’s, and 60.0% with those in their 40’s, ranking first in every female generation. The majority of males picked the group SMAP, which took second place at 51.4%.

■What idol group do you think is “cool Japan?”
1. Arashi
2. SMAP
3. EXILE
4. Ayumi Hamasaki
5. AKB48
6. Hiro Mizushima
7. Seika Matsuda
8. Shoko Nakagawa
9. Kinki Kids
10. Yui Aragaki

After asked what movies should be called “cool Japan,” the number one choice among all generations was Studio Ghibli films, with a result of 76.3%. Second place went to Departures (Okuribito).

■What movie(s) do you think are “cool Japan?”
1. Studio Ghibli films
2. Departures (Okuribito)
3. Bayside Shakedown (Odoru Daisosasen)
4. Otoko wa Tsurai yo – Series
5. Zatoichi (2003, directed by Takeshi Kitano)
6. Tsuribaka Nisshi – Series
7. Godzilla – Series
8. Seven Samurai (Shichinin no Samurai)
9. Socrates in Love (Sekai no Chushin de, Ai wo Sakebu)
10. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (Senjo no Merry Christmas)

When asked what movie director is best known throughout the world, Akira Kurosawa took first place with 70.5%, followed by Miyazaki Hayao with 60.7%.

■What movie director is best known throughout the world?
1. Akira Kurosawa
2. Hayao Miyazaki
3. Takeshi Kitano
4. Youji Yamada
5. Kouki Mitani
6. Kinki Fukasaku
7. Juzou Itami
8. Kon Ichikawa
9. Mamoru Oshii
10. Kazuyuki Izutsu

In the actor/actress category, the actor which received the highest “known throughout the world” ranking was Ken Watanabe, with 65.7%. The actress with the highest ranking was Koyuki, with 39.1%. In the men’s category, Ken’ichi Matsuyama, Shun Oguri, and Jo Odagiri were popular amongst people in their teens, and Shinobu Terashima, who took the best actress award at the International Movie Festival, also gained a lot of support.

■What actress do you think is known around the world as “cool Japan?”
1. Koyuki
2. Yukie Nakama
3. Aoi Miyazaki
4. Shinobu Terashima
5. Chiaki Kuriyama

■What actor do you think is known around the world as “cool Japan?”
1. Ken Watanabe
2. Kouji Yakusho
3. Masahiro Motoki
4. Hiroyuki Sanada
5. Teruyuki Kagawa

Related Post
・Japanese thoughts of “cool Japan”
・Cool Japan – Studio Ghibli