Hello and welcome to the Stack.
For this week's show, we look at the appeal of Japanese magazines.
A French publication exploring Japan's cultural trends, and finally, a book about the code Zin Little Joe.
Enjoy the show.
From Midori Housing London, this is the stack.
30 minutes of print industry analysis.
And I am Fernando Gusto Paseko.
I've just returned from a trip to Japan and it is no surprise that it is the ideal destination for any print lovers out there.
My bag was very heavy, I can guarantee when I returned it full of magazines.
So I had the pleasure this week to discuss Japanese mags with W.
David Marks.
From the importance of print for the Japanese to what magazines we should keep an eye, and of course, the coat of Popeye magazine.
W.
David Marx is a cultural historian based in Tokyo and author of two books, Status and How Our Desire for Social Rank Creates Taste, Identity, Art, Fashion and Constant Change and How Japan Saved American Style.
Let's hear from him.
Brand media has been really important part of Japanese culture for a long time.
But, you know, especially after World War II, the whole development of the Japanese consumer society was based on magazines.
And so you had to teach people what to buy and what they should be thinking about and what they should be aspiring towards.
And because of that, the manufacturers and people who, who made things were very interested in getting into magazines and sponsoring magazines.
And so for a really long time, the entire magazine complex has been, you know, backed by the people making things that the consumer goods makers and clothing makers.