Recently, I have been reading fewer books than ever. I still watch movies though. I often watch movies on DVD at 2 times faster speed to save my time, if it has Japanese subtitles. And I am watching more internet broadcasting from ordinary people nowadays. In this essay, I will tell about it. One of the most popular internet broadcasting sites is called Niconico Douga, which means Smiley movies. One unique feature of the site is that viewers can comment on the screen. In that way, viewers and broadcasters can communicate with each other like in a chat room. Because of such interactive function, some shows create a family-like friendly atmosphere and some other shows create a trollish controversial atmosphere. Even though some shows on this site are terrible, many people now are watching ordinary people’s shows on this site. Some people might ease their loneliness by communicating with broadcasters and viewers. And some other people might enjoy subculture shows that mainstream media is ignoring. Actually, some subcultural movements have become popular because of this site. One of the most successful ones is cyber virtual idol called Hatsune Miku. Miku is a singing robot program that everybody can let her sing in any language. After many people posted their Miku singing on Niconico and Youtube, she got No.1 on the Japanese chart and she is performing the opening act for Lady Gaga in the US now. In this essay, I told about some new shows and how the internet is creating a new subculture these days. I think this micro media and mass media competition and even the collaboration are happening now in the 21st century.
