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Westernization
of Japan
Not
desirable at the cost of leaving the Japanese culture behind
Takao Aoyama shared his concerns about the widely
spreading
misconception that Japanese (and other Asian) women are the
most beautiful. This is being reinforced by many publications,
including MYNIPPON. The
article generated a lot of controversy among the members who believe
that Japanese women, while being extremely beautiful
as they are, should not try to change the basis of what attracts other
people to them in the first place. Almost everyone opposes how
some women are coloring their hair blonde
or some shade not black and how they shunning kimonos
and moving to mini-skirts.
Max in
Australia thinks that
Japanese women may be
abandoning their biggest asset. "Japanese women have a niche.
The main appeal is that they maintain their youthful looks well beyond the age of
30. Prior to the
Second World War, Japan had access to only wholesome food. Perhaps
the soy products, being high in antioxidants, preserved their
beauty. This is now being replaced with fast food and the effects experienced in the west
have followed - enlarged body features." (Related
article: Looking
younger)
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 What's wrong with Japanese women?
Erin is simply shocked that Japanese women just
don't get it. Human bodies in different races have evolved over
centuries and imitating body attributes of other races are not likely to
work. She writes, "I think it's quite absurd that Japanese
women are so obsessed with Western looks. Blonde
hair doesn't look good on them at all! I can
understand why they like America so much, but Japanese women don't
really have a good reason to be so obsessed with American women. Black
hair is so much prettier than blonde!"
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Mei Sagara is equally
upset that Japanese are making a
concerted attempt to lose the beauty of their culture, values, and style,
"I am white and am very interested in the Asian culture after taking classes in Japanese. Personally, I do not understand much why the Japanese
are so in love with the western lifestyle. I admire that they really are
into fashion and fads, however I do not think that it should ruin their life.
The western pop stars in my opinion are all fake and they all sound the
same. There is nothing unique about most western music and traditional
designer clothing such as Gap and
Old Navy. Whenever new
commercials
advertising these products appear, I tell myself 'Oh Great! Here's another thing
for people at my school to eat up.' Sure enough, tons of people appear at
school wearing such Western fads. The Japanese should try to combine their
style with ours if they like it so much. However I don't think that Asians
our losing their culture since every Asian I know is proud to
be Asian and wouldn't trade it in for the world. My message to the Japanese:
Do whatever you like as long as you personally are original in what you
do."
A
man who lives among the most
beautiful and attractive Brazilian women writes, "I think all Asian
women more attractive because they have a natural beauty. All this fake
western looks are useless. In the west, the fake hair colors are more an act
of protest (like punks, darks, etc.) than a beauty style. Indeed, I think it
is more funny (like a clown's hair) than beautiful."
Back to the basics
 Japanese men and women have to borrow from other
countries what is good and appropriate for their bodies and culture. Gee
comments, "I think natural is still more
beautiful than artificial beauty. In Japan, people really are concerned
about looks so much so that Japanese go eccentric at times. To all
Japanese white wannabes out there, better stick to your natural beauty.
Colored hair and some of your fashions do mot match with your faces. A
typical Japanese beauty - smooth skin, black hair, well contoured lips
and nose) is a great look (just forget the legs)."
Zenon from Sweden writes, "I think that the old
Japanese look is great. Kimonos go real
good. I say to you people - stick to what you got." Chris in UK writes, "Every country in Europe basically listens to American music
and movies.
Japan is the only country that has its own pop culture other
than us. Most of all, look at the influence on American pop culture Japan
has had - Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z and
videogames."
Khoo Kah Guan writes, "I am in my early 30's,
single male from
Malaysia. I don't know much about Japan or Japanese
Culture. In Malaysia many children are crazy over Japanese
cartoons, comics
and music. The influence of western culture into Asians
culture is also great due to advertisements and other forms of entertainment (basically we look for something foreign and
teens
always love to try new things). If only our way of living can change rapidly
enough and have enough of choices like Japanese cartoons, I think Japan will
prevail because many Asian countries are looking at Japan today as a
leader."
It is clear that most Japan lovers do not want
Japanese people to abandon their basic values. These fans of Japan
are attracted to what Japan has nurtured for centuries. While some
of it is not necessarily great (the subservient role of women, for
example), most of the other values in Japan are admired by the rest of
the world. It is hard for anyone to say that Japanese women are
ugly as they are. Then why change? Kumiko Imaeda agrees with
us, "I think that Japan is losing its
pride. We used to have a very
proud nation (which was contradicted by the teachings of humbleness). Although
the United States is quite an alluring nation to follow, Japan must come
back to its own roots."
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