In the Demon Slayer movie and even the shows you can watch them in Japanese or English, for this activity I chose to watch the movie in Japanese with English subtitles. Personally, I prefer to watch anime in Japanese since there is more passion in their voices and since the drawing is made for the Japanese language. Meaning, things may not sink up properly since words translated could be more than one word in English. During the time frame of Demon Slayer it is set during the Taisho Era in Japan which was a period of rapid change and growth that saw the continuation of the diffusion of modern Western technology and culture. This had begun in the Meiji period as the Western influence spread outward from Japan’s urban centers, these new ideas and technologies were often met with resistance to deviate from the traditional cultural and religious practices. In the show there are ones considered ‘Demon Slayers’ and the main character, Tanjiro along with the fellow demon slayers will wear a Taisho-period military uniform which reflects on the Japanese Army during this and the surrounding time periods. 

When they show the Kamado family home and Tanjiros clothing you see a strong expression of the traditional Japanese lifestyle of the rural areas of Japan during the Taisho Era and contrast with the Western elements that mix with the traditional in the urban areas that Tanjiro visits. The use of the telegraph poles and lines show a subtle hint at the arrival of the new technologies in Japan that are prominent in the scene when Tanjiro looks down the snow covered street in the town, even as they parallel traditional wooden shops and homes. When Tanjiro walks through the brightly lit streets at night you can see the urban landscapes of Tokyo and the mix of traditional Japanese cities in the era. Streets are crowded and filled with people of all ages in a wide variety of fashions like kimonos and haori coats to Western suits and dresses. The modern, Western-styled buildings that line the streets with their brightly colored traditional; banner signs, would be recognizable even in today’s Tokyo.You can see how changes within a culture are reflected in the layers of the cultural landscapes as the mixing of building and clothing styles.

These were just some of the many cultural representations in the show. While I am half Japanese I have grown up watching anime and animated styled Japanese shows. The difference between American and Japanese shows/movies is mostly the animation. Japan is strongly animation based while in America most of our shows are live-action. In America if our shows are animated they are either kids shows/stations like cartoon networks or adult entertainment like Nick at Night.