Comments | echaecha: Subtle (?) Japanese Racism

echaecha

Subtle (?) Japanese Racism

Oct 03, 2005 09:12

A few days ago, in a Shibuya department store, my wife and I were shocked to see a very large advertisement-poster of a completely naked, black lady! I mean, completely naked - nipples completely bare, and even a bit of, well, nether-hair, too. Now this is very strange, since in Japan, this is supposed to be illegal, but note this ( Read more... )

Comments 4

bulkor October 3 2005, 06:19:34 UTC

I get the impression that blacks get the worst of Japan's racism. Then again, I get the impression that Japan receives 100% of our stupid, racist crap media (and has since day 1) and 0% of whatever education is necessary to not be stupid about race.

I like this Japanese band called Sambo Master, but yeah, that name. It's like nobody ever got around to telling the Japanese that you just don't say stuff like that, or they just don't care.

echaecha October 3 2005, 08:01:49 UTC

Japanese are also the first to complain about racism when they move to another country and experience it for the FIRST TIME... Ignorance? It's like getting splashed with cold water, I guess.

But this is just weird - I mean, if someone put up a poster of a stark-naked Japanese model in a department store, people would be running around calling the Obscene Police, but ...black people aren't people so it's A-OK, right?

Re: nono79 October 9 2005, 07:52:37 UTC

I like one song from Sambo Master (the Naruto theme), but I didn't know that it was a racial term until I looked it up. Assuming they are thinking like me, they're probably talking about the Russian wrestling style?

bulkor October 9 2005, 20:36:26 UTC

There've been a bunch of popular "Sambo" products in Japan which all have to do with the stereotypical depiction of African Americans. While the stereotype (and some of the products) are Western imports, I think most people think of the wide-eyed, big-lipped cartoon caricature instead of the Russian self-defense system when they hear Sambo.

It's a clueless stereotype rather than a malicious one, but I'm pretty sure that is what they're talking about.

That aside, Sambo Master is a great band. You should check out their other single, the Densha Otoko ending theme.