Harry Potter and the Japanese fangirl
July 20th, 2009 by James
Sanma Akashiya’s “Karakuri Terebi” held a contest last month in which 10,000 of Japan’s biggest Harry Potter fans competed for a chance to travel to the UK and interview the stars of the new Harry Potter movie. As it is a comedy show, they intentionally picked the strangest fans as finalists. A girl named Kana was the grand prize winner, and here are partially subtitled clips of her meeting Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter).
Rupert Grint Interview
The best part of this interview is her obsession with Rupert’s eyelashes, which she touches with amazement. She also gets a sniff of his wonderful smell.
Daniel Radcliffe
No sniffing here – only some really weird face-touching. Note that the person responsible for translating Daniel’s answers into Japanese made the subtitles say “this girl’s feelings are so real (genuine)” when Daniel was actually describing the situation as “surreal.”
Which interview was more amusing?
Note: If you liked this post, you’ll probably love these videos of Daniel’s 2007 visit to Japan and the post about his encounter with Japanese girls who want to kiss him. You may also like the Emma Watson interview in this series!
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
- dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
- Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)
Full RSS Feed
Looks like she’s gonna sleep really good tonight!
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Daniel is always so kind and gracious during these interviews, even though I’m sure he’s a bit weirded out, ahahah.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
hahaha he’s been weirded out many times before
http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=2241
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Yup, I had this segment in mind too
Good times!
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Drives me nuts when Japanese TV shows dub AND subtitle foreigners, especially when it’s someone famous. Just let the English be heard, it’s not going to hurt anyone!
Rate this comment:
0 
0
This is done so that those that speak English better than the translator don’t spot any errors….
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I don’t think we can know that for sure but it makes SOO much sense! Whenever the English speech is left on you can always notice that the translation is either wrong (intentionally or not) or grossly oversimplified. In either case they don’t care what exactly the person is saying as long as they can make it fit the context of the segment.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
It’s similar in German TV, when there’s a translation of an English interview or something like that, I can always easily spot lots of translation errors and things left out.
These clips with the fangirl are soooooo hilarious, her reactions are really great. But in her case, I’d gave Daniel a hanko with his name instead of hers…
Rate this comment:
0 
0
They don’t subtitle everything, just the most important things. So, English is not going to hurt anyone, but only few people will understand some things.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
and then Rupert Grint infected the girl with swine flu.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I think you made a mistake: the character’s name isn’t Ron BEASLEY, it’s ROONIL WAZLIB.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
HAHAHAHA- good one! Amazing- fellow HP freak, huh?
x
Rate this comment:
0 
0
That was awesome. She should interview all movie stars who visit Japan from now on. I wonder how long it would take before she became jaded?
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Not Beasley, Wallenby!
Rate this comment:
0 
0
hahaha.. good for her. I can’t imagine when I stand infront of my idol myself, I’ll be some day for me~ (:
Rate this comment:
0 
0
What an adorable little geek.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Why is she looking as his eyebrown like that, because he is ginger ? If I meet a Japanese teenager will she want to touch my eyebrown because I am redhead or she won’t because I am not famous ?
Rate this comment:
0 
0
She’ll think you’re famous. Just pretend you’re Ron.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I am a redhead. When I met my wife she asked me if I dyed and permed my hair.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Oh, come on! All Japanese people have dark hair, so it’s very strange for them, to see blonde and redheaded people.
Can’t you think she is an innocent little girl?
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I think it was his eyelash she wanted to touch
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Quick biology lesson: those are eyelashes, not eyebrows. Eyebrows are those hairy caterpillars further up the head.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
LOL. This was too much. Very adorable, and hilarious!
Rate this comment:
0 
0
They better hurry up and film the last 2. I can suspend disbelief about the whole magic thing, but it’s getting harder and harder to imagine the main characters, which are in their 20’s, as being school kids.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
This girl is absolutely bizarre. She’s so into Harry Potter that it’s borderline obsession. She looked like her whole life had been validated when “Harry” said “Griffindore”. Still, it’s amusing, and at least she’s happy about herself.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
That was funny. Great clips.
Harry Potter obsessive geek meets two geeks from the Harry Potter movie series.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
this was actually very funny, and that last part about the MoMA yogurt was great jajaja
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Did this show the part where she goes to the supermarket in search of the Moma stuff and chows down on it as research? She apparently went all out looking for details and that’s what she came up with.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I actually could catch that (beginner Japanese here XD), and wasn’t sure what she was talking about.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
It’s not my thing, but I’m happy for her. She looks like a nice kid and is having an experience she’ll remember all her life. Good for her.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
That was endearing!
I’m happy she had such a good time, even if she got a little too creepy at times :p
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Haha, that was hilarious, thanks for the video. I just watched part 6 yesterday and while it was no fault on the part of the filmmakers the entire film lacked action sequences and certainly wasn’t as enjoyable as the previous outing.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I asked my coworkers about this (I work in TV production), apparently most of this was pre-rehearsed! What a shame.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I doubt they rehearsed the girl, unless she is a fantastic actress.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Depends on what you mean by rehearsed… The placing of the Sorting Cap then her picking it up and sitting in the chair praying, and Dan/Harry appearing was obviously a set-up, but I don’t believe that the girl herself was party to any of it.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Gosh… She’s pretty cute.
Being such a big fangirl!
xD
At least the interview was entertaining and not just questions after questions!
I had a great time watching. hahaha!
Rate this comment:
0 
0
The fangirl is really cute.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
awwww.
the rupert interview was funny, and the daniel one was heart-warming.
dan and rupe are such awesome-o people.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
i had a good laugh. bless this lass. ^^;
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I love how she goes no only fan girl, but a lil creepy fan girl. The guys seemed to enjoy it though. It was cool that they seemed to be good sports about the whole thing and wanted her to enjoy herself.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I know this is great entertainment, but I can’t help thinking that it doesn’t help the image of Japanese people (especially young people) overseas. I guess it doesn’t matter because it was only shown on Japanese TV, but you think it would be better to have a more mature, well-spoken kid do this. This only reinforces the stereotype that Japanese young people are immature, ignorant, and poorly adjusted socially in international settings.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I totally agree with you but Japanese is famous for stupid comedy shows and it definitely would NOT be funny if they chose an intelligent, well-spoken girl. That is how the Japanese entertainment business works. The stupid one usually becomes famous. It is sad but it’s the truth.
I am a Japanese teenager and foreigners often think of me as an immature, loud, awkward, annoying kid even before getting to know me and it is extremely frustrating. I just hope foreigners will understand that all Japanese girls aren’t like her (although I did find her honesty likable and cute).
Rate this comment:
0 
0
itotally agree with you but Japanese is famous for stupid comedy shows and it definitely would NOT be funny if they chose an intelligent, well-spoken girl. That is how the Japanese entertainment business works. The stupid one usually becomes famous. It is sad but it’s the truth.
I am a Japanese teenager and foreigners often think of me as an immature, loud, awkward, annoying kid even before getting to know me and it is extremely frustrating. I just hope foreigners will understand that all Japanese girls aren’t like her (although I did find her honesty likable and cute).
Rate this comment:
0 
0
i’ve also never heard that stereotype for japanese of any age. polite is the first word that comes to my mind.
and to be fair, japan is not the only country who makes fun of itself for entertainment. for example, in america jay leno’s tonight show did “jay walking” which annoyed me. it was basically taking the dumbest people they could find and showcasing them, creating a stereotype of stupid americans.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
As someone from the USA, I just want it known that I have never heard of such a stereotype before for Japanese young people. They are generally regarded here as intelligent and polite and interested in worldwide popular culture.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
That’s what I feel as well.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
OMG. how cute is that?? i want to move to japan.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
That girl is hot! How old is she?
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Thank
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I gotta say I like the Youtube subtitling action. Good job!
Rate this comment:
0 
0
haha.
the one with rupert grint was hilarious.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
I lol’d
Rate this comment:
0 
0
harry potter all move
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Oh god….. she is a bit hyper
Rate this comment:
0 
0
too cute! I need to find me a crazy otaku girl that likes to sniff my sniff my eye lashes! =)
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Aw, both of videos were cute!
I loved her reactions.
And hey, I’d don’t blame her for acting like that… I’d probably act like that as well if I met them, and I think some (many?) other girls (from USA, Japan, anywhere) would act the same as well. ^^
Rate this comment:
0 
0
The video with Ron is effin hilarious! haha!
Rate this comment:
0 
0
they should have brought her to meet alan rickman… while he’s in full snape costume.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Do you know where i could watch the whole episode of this show? This girl is really funny.
And her asking Daniel about the “moma” and Daniel’s reply was soo hilarious! XD
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Actually, although crazy in nature, I would want her to be my girlfriend. It is so hard to find a Japanese girl that is into those things like Harry Potter and openly express herself in a “obsessed fan” type of way. To me, she has broken the shell of her own culture and will express herself openly in public, instead of surprising her opposite in private.
Kana, if you aren’t 18, I will wait for you. You are my dream girl. Please be my boyfriend.
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Harry Potter a great name to every one. I like most to read Harry Potter and movie also enjoyable. Thanks J.K Rowling. I don’t know who is she?
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Harry Potter movies are pretty cool, for sure. I’ve always been fascinated by wizards and sorcery novels since I was 5. Anyone else?
Rate this comment:
0 
0
Harry Potter movies are pretty cool, for sure. I’ve always been fascinated by wizards and sorcery novels since I was 5. Anyone else?
Rate this comment:
0 
0