The influence of Japanese popular culture on learning Japanese

This article presents the case that because students like Japanese popular culture (JPC) it can motivate them to take up Japanese language study, and not only that, but can influence them to continue their study. This stance is supported with findings from a research project undertaken in Sydney Australia. Learner motivational trajectories reveal that a strong interest in JPC is intertwined with the motivation to learn Japanese sometimes to the point of becoming a passion. Consequently, harmonious passion (HP) is examined in regards to Motivation and a striking similarity is found. Learning Japanese can take place effortlessly through engagement in JPC and is described as ‘effortless effort’ (e-e). It is linked to directed motivational current (DMC), an attractor state within complex dynamic systems theory (CDST). Questionnaire outcomes and excerpts from interviews with university learners portray the influence of JPC on learning Japanese and the role it plays in developing language identities.