Rowena Kwok Yin-ting, 22, is a graduate of Chinese University, and works nine to five as a public relations executive in Causeway Bay.
Ho Kar-loong, 15, is a Form four student who attends classes at a Ho Man Tin school. They do not know each other, but they share one thing in common. It is a comic-book character called Kindaichi.
Young Kindaichi always uses reasoning to settle mysterious cases. The comic, drawn by Saimon Fuma, has generated a cult-like following since it was published and has even spawned a TV series. Both Kwok and Ho have the entire set of the 19-volume The Files of the Young Kindaichi at home.
Japanese pop culture has made a telling impact in Hong Kong over the past few years.
Department stores use phrases like Wari Bigi instead of Chinese characters to depict a big sale. Japanese comics remain extremely popular, while karaoke bars have taken the place of singing lounges and sushi bars are never empty until they close, often in the small hours.
Various Japanese comic figures like Sailor Moon and Crayon Shinchan are also available, in forms as varied as soft toys, school bags, and even furniture.
'One obvious thing to any outside observer is the sheer power of the ubiquitousness of Japanese culture in Hong Kong,' said Professor Gordon Matthews, of the Chinese University's Anthropology department. 'It's everywhere, you can't escape it.' Indeed, Japanese products seem to penetrate all walks of life in the territory, including food, electrical goods, entertainment and fashion.
