Katakana Analysis

On the cover of Utada Hikaru’s “Boku wa Kuma” cover, Utada uses katakana to write her given name, Hikaru and kanji for her family name, Utada. In an interview, she says that she gave her song “Hikari” the same kanji as her given name (Hikaru) because the song was so special to her. But if that is the case, why doesn’t she just use the kanji for light? Well, one textbook says that katakana is used for “words the writer wishes to emphasize. (The Japanese Writing System (2))” Maybe that is why Utada chooses to use ヒカル instead of 光: to emphasize her given name as being distinct from her family name. Though we may all (her listeners, anyway) call her Utada, she isn’t just Utada: she is still Utada Hikaru.

On the signs for McDonald’s in Japan, the signs read マックドナルドハンバ-ガ-. This could be in part “for the convenience of foreigners, (II. Japanese Script)” but if that were the case it would merely read マックドナルド. Instead, I believe that the sign’s use of katakana is for both foreigners’ convenience and for the Japanese consumer: the hamburger part added into the title also serves to “give an impression of sophistication and modernity.” Anyone that has been to McDonald’s knows what it serves, so instead the ハンバ-ガ- part reminds the Japanese consumers that the restaurant is modern and foreign. Even though the ハンバ-ガ- part ends up making it unnecessarily long, it markets to the Japanese consumer the fact that McDonald’s serves hamburgers, an exotic and sophisticated dish. Just like in the US, foreign foods instantly have an extra allure to them, even if they are commonplace in their home countries.

I couldn’t find a katakana source of onomatopoeia I liked, so I decided to use myself as a source of katakana. In a previous post, I drew the three starter Pokemon in battle and used various onomatopoeia to depict their motion. But why not use hiragana for onomatopoeia? I believe that it is done to obey the “Rule of Cool.” This means that katakana, with its sharp angles, simply looks cooler than hiragana does. Especially in the case of manga, the sharpness adds to the intensity of whatever is depicted.
Katakana is a versatile writing form. In the examples shown above, I’ve depicted katakana’s use for emphasis, loan words, sophistication, and visual appeal. Perhaps in the case of McDonald’s, the katakana serves to make a distinction between a Japanese establishment and a foreign one. On another level, this serves to maintain a Japanese cultural identity distinct from foreign influences. This emphasis, as we’ve discussed, isn’t limited to loan words. Utada Hikaru’s use of katakana for her given name despite the existence of an appropriate kanji for it emphasizes her identity as more than her stage presence. And of course, sharp angles look cool, it's why bad guys always have spikes and such.