Funny misconceptions/things you've heard about Japan.

[more cheerios]

I was really bored today so I'm watching "Spotlight" on Gwen Stefani. Anyways, I just heard her say, "We really love Japan. They wear such cool clothes. They put wierd sayings on them just for fun and they don't even make sense! You know, they aren't trying to be cool, they're just there to have fun."

Well, I've never heard Japanese fashion described that way before... :confused:

[Chinpokomon]

http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Gwen-Stefani/Harajuku-Girls.html

Yep, Gwen loves her some Harajuku girls.


Were mono - there's me, there's you (hoko-ten)
In a pedestrian paradise
Where the catwalk got its claws (meow)
A subculture in a kaleidoscope of fashion
Prowl the streets of Harajuku (irasshaimase)
Super lovers, tell me where you got yours
(at the super lovers store)
Yoji Yamamoto, I'm hanging with the locals
Where the catwalk got its claws, all you fashion know-it-alls
With your underground malls in the world of Harajuku
Putting on a show, when you dress up in your clothes
Wild hair color and cell phones
Your accessories are dead on

Harajuku Girls you got the wicked style
I like the way that you are, I am your biggest fan
Harajuku Girls you got the wicked style
I like the way that you are, I am your biggest fan

Harajuku girls, I'm looking at you girls
You're so original girls
You got the look that makes you stand out
Harajuku Girls, I'm looking at you girls
You mix and match it girls
You dress so fly and just parade around (arigato)

I'm fascinated by the Japanese fashion scene
Just an American girl, in the Tokyo streets
My boyfriend bought me a Hysteric Glamour shirt
They're hard to find in the states, got me feeling couture
What's that you got on? Is it Comme des Garcons?
Vivienne Westwood can't go wrong, mixed up with second hand
clothes
(Let's not forget about John Galliano) (no)
Flipped the landscape when Nigo made A Bathing Ape
I got expensive taste (oh, well) guess I better save up (cho
takai)

Harajuku Girls you got the wicked style
I like the way that you are, I am your biggest fan

Work it, express it, live it, command your style
Create it, design it
Now let me see you work it
Create it, design it
Now let me see you work it

You bring style and color all around the world. (You Harajuku
Girls)
You bring style and color all around the world. (You Harajuku
Girls)

You're looking so distinctive like D.N.A., like nothing I've
ever seen in the U.S.A.
Your underground culture, visual grammar
The language of your clothing is something to encounter
A Ping-Pong match between eastern and western
Did you see your inspiration in my latest collection?
Just wait 'til you get your little hands on L.A.M.B.,
'Cause it's (super kawaii), that means (super cute in Japanese)
The streets of Harajuku are your catwalk (bishoujo you're so
vogue)
That's what you drop

Cho saikou - Harajuku Girls
And that's what you drop, that's what you drop
Cho saikou - Harajuku Girls
And that's what you drop, that's what you drop
(I don't think you understand I'm your biggest fan)
(Gwen Stefani - you like me?)


Isn't it cool to use esoteric words in your songs, but when you actually define them as part of the lyrics, isn't that very definitely not cool?

Oh wait, Harajuku rules... everything changes I guess.

[Henjin]

I thought that song was amusing. Heh.

[Varia]

I thought more people would be into electronic stuff (computers, gaming, etc)

Maybe it was just the area I was in, but man, besides standard stuff, they didn't have much. Their TV's were really nice, though. My host family had a big, flat screen TV. There was also a TV and radio in each bedroom. I wish I could have a TV and radio in each bedroom at my house.
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[[Ani-G]ilbert]

lol for japan being in recession everyone ALWAYS got flat screen tv hahahaha. no matter what type of home too aye man

[hanacker]

I read somewhere that video games are decreasing in popularity in Japan and increasing in popularity in America. I was a bit surprised about that.

[DarkWarrior]

I read somewhere that video games are decreasing in popularity in Japan and increasing in popularity in America. I was a bit surprised about that.

Not really surprising. Japan has a rapidly aging population with low birth rates. If I'm not mistaken, Japan's population is projected to decrease in the next decade or so. And not many seniors are interested in video games, so I guess it's natural.

[hanacker]

Not really surprising. Japan has a rapidly aging population with low birth rates. If I'm not mistaken, Japan's population is projected to decrease in the next decade or so. And not many seniors are interested in video games, so I guess it's natural.

It's more than that. Sales are slipping faster than an aging population would imply. I can't find the article anymore, but I think their conclusion was that Japanese kids just aren't as interested in video games as much as they used to be.

[Varia]

I also don't understand where all of their money comes from. I know some people who like buy Gucci bags and designer clothes and the latest cell phone and all that stuff. The thing is, I have no idea where that money comes from. They may work a little, but that can in no way finance the things they buy. They might get some money from their parents, but not that much. Japanese people always have money. Why???
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[PopCulturePooka]

You wanna know?

Japanese teen girls in Junior High School and High School thinks its acceptable to go on 'paid dates' with older men, usually salarymen.

Sometimes its walking around with the guy and talking to him.

Other times the guy may get to cop a feel.

Some girls will fuck the guy.

Its ok, its just a part time job and a great way to get that Louis Vutton bag.

[hanacker]

It's not like every girl in Japan with a LV bag is a prostitute. Most girls live really cheap, get money from their parents, work part time jobs, and spend the majority of their money on clothes and/or accessories.

[mawande]

It's not like every girl in Japan with a LV bag is a prostitute. Most girls live really cheap, get money from their parents, work part time jobs, and spend the majority of their money on clothes and/or accessories.


For that matter, I don't know ANY girls with a LV bag. Or any girls who run around in or with clothing and items unexpectedly expensive for what I know of their lives.

But I'm out in the countryside. :p

[six-eight-ten]

Perhaps the high school girls going on "paid dates" is one of the popular misconceptions.... which is not to say it doesn't happen, just that it's not as common as may be perceived. Vending machines selling panties are not on every street corner, either, but I suppose you could find one somewhere if you really tried.

[Chinpokomon]

I love statistics....
http://www.hackwriters.com/enjokosai.htm
An immediate question which must spring to mind is, "Just how widespread is all this? The above report also states that of all Japanese female high school students, 22% have used ‘dating services’ and that 43.2% of those have actually ‘met’ their date. How truthfully the girls answered either the first or the second part of the survey is anybody’s guess.

According to another survey taken by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1999, "87.3 percent of girls denied having taken part(in enjo kosai)" *2.

That’s typical Japanese circumlocution, but I’m sure you can make the conspicuously omitted calculation.
And when I talk to the actual people engaged in this, I get the unmistakable sense that the police and the surveys are significantly underreporting. My friend who first exposed me to this scene back in 1995, swears that over half of all Japanese high school girls in the Tokyo area are "doing it". He would know. He patronized them all over Tokyo at the pace of about twice a week until steroid therapy for a health condition of his rendered him impotent (ha!ha!).

[more cheerios]

Well, I know that I (as an eighteen year old girl) have lots of money to blow. I work, I go to school, I sometimes get money from my parents. I don't have to pay bills, I don't have to buy food, etc.
Also, these girls might just have knockoffs. Well, I know in Europe its really easy to get designer knockoffs. My friend goes to Bulgaria and gets identical LV/gucci knockoffs all the time.

[laggedreaction]

You guys must come from some pretty backwards areas if you're impressed by flat screen TVs. Perhaps with flat panels I could understand, but flat screens? :confused:

Anyway yeah, I've noticed that a most Japanese home have much less impressive A/V setups compared to American homes, or even American college apartments! I can't believe how widely used VCRs are here.

[atomiton]

usually, flat screens = flat panels in America.

[Dai]

Well, I know that I (as an eighteen year old girl) have lots of money to blow. I work, I go to school, I sometimes get money from my parents. I don't have to pay bills, I don't have to buy food, etc.
Also, these girls might just have knockoffs. Well, I know in Europe its really easy to get designer knockoffs. My friend goes to Bulgaria and gets identical LV/gucci knockoffs all the time.



In Europe? That´s a freaking continent. I know it´s not very common to find knockoffs in France or Italy.

But yeah, Bulgaria is quite a poor country or a developing one.
I guess, it differs with every country.

[Frankey-eh]

Anyway yeah, I've noticed that a most Japanese home have much less impressive A/V setups compared to American homes, or even American college apartments! I can't believe how widely used VCRs are here.

with such small houses, what can you expect, eh? I remember back in 1995, my dad bought a karaoke machine and I thought it was amazing. It fitted inside our small apartment and an even tinier living room like an ox.

[h2orowe]

Anything said by a member of Japanese club, about the Japanese people, is pretty much a misconception.


Gwen Stefani.... What a Japanophile.

[羽之助]

I'd say she's more Wapanese than a Japanophile. Lafcadio Hearn was a Japanophile. I'm a Japanophile. Gwen Stefani is ... currently worshiping anything that has a Made in Japan stamp on it. I also have an earthquake-proof condo for sale if she'd like it. </sarcasm

[more cheerios]

In Europe? That´s a freaking continent. I know it´s not very common to find knockoffs in France or Italy.

But yeah, Bulgaria is quite a poor country or a developing one.
I guess, it differs with every country.
I know.
But just Europe in general, in comparison to North America. Well, you can get knockoffs here, but they all suck.

Not common to find knockoffs in France or Italy? Really? A bunch of my friends went to France/Spain/Italy over the summer and they came home with a bunch of knockoff shit. :confused:
But maybe that's because they were tourists.



And Bulgaria isn't really that poor. They're developing quite quickly, actually. It all depends on which part you go to. :)

[rameek]

Their are plenty of bootleg items in Europe! some in NY arent bad if you know where to go.

Can someone correct my misconception??
i wanna know why i see so many young HS men that look like HS women? with the puffy hair and i swear they are wearing make up?

[Antinomia]

Their are plenty of bootleg items in Europe! some in NY arent bad if you know where to go.

Can someone correct my misconception??
i wanna know why i see so many young HS men that look like HS women? with the puffy hair and i swear they are wearing make up?

blame Gwen Stefani again, for brainwashing all the man and let them sing "I'm just a girl"

[Firefly]

I know.
But just Europe in general, in comparison to North America. Well, you can get knockoffs here, but they all suck.

Not common to find knockoffs in France or Italy? Really? A bunch of my friends went to France/Spain/Italy over the summer and they came home with a bunch of knockoff shit. :confused:
But maybe that's because they were tourists.



And Bulgaria isn't really that poor. They're developing quite quickly, actually. It all depends on which part you go to. :)


Knockoffs...you must mean bootlegs? Knockoffs are usually the "generic" brand designers you can find at Wal-mart to JCPennys. Bootlegs actually have the brand name stamped on them. For example, I went to Mexico and bought a "Gucci" purse for 5 dollars. Looks exactly like the original purse except...the lining is crappy. Bootlegs are popular in Asia and Mexico (I'm not sure why, I heard it was because of lack of Copyright laws or something). I don't know why they'd allow bootlegs in France in Italy, (If they went shopping in the designer areas), unless they were generic. Weird :confused:

[atomiton]

spain is famous for "knock-offs" not bootlegs.

If you've ever shopped at a store called Zara, you'll know what I mean. They knock off the latest fashions and make a killing.

[nameplease]

[QUOTE=rameek]Their are plenty of bootleg items in Europe! some in NY arent bad if you know where to go.
QUOTE]
Any reccomendations? I live in a suburb of NYC. Sometimes I want to buy something designer, but I think that it's probably not worth the money...

Also, what am I doing wrong with the quotes?

[Justin Ellis]

[QUOTE=rameek]Their are plenty of bootleg items in Europe! some in NY arent bad if you know where to go.
QUOTE]
Any reccomendations? I live in a suburb of NYC. Sometimes I want to buy something designer, but I think that it's probably not worth the money...

Also, what am I doing wrong with the quotes?

Like this:

[q u o t e]TEXT[/q u o t e]

(sans spaces, obviously)

[rameek]

[QUOTE=rameek]Their are plenty of bootleg items in Europe! some in NY arent bad if you know where to go.
QUOTE]
Any reccomendations? I live in a suburb of NYC. Sometimes I want to buy something designer, but I think that it's probably not worth the money...

Also, what am I doing wrong with the quotes?
If you go to 27th and broadway in that area there are plenty of shops that have bootleg items and that are nice replica's... When you walk around there you see the big blue bags that means people are buying stuff by the boat loads of replica.... Its really hectic down there but they have more shops open on saturday there that have unlimited options. You will have to go into some seedy looking buildings and such but thats where people get knock off nike sneakers timberlands etc... they are along 5th ave as well. there is one store on the corner i believe its 27th and 5th ave and they have neon lights and you see clothes in the window they have a building full of gucci lv etc... along with clothes its like 3 floors of stuff. You can just ask the african gentlemen that are outside if you like they will guide you to what you want...

Zara's is not a knock off of anything its just european clothes that are at reasonable prices. Many of the stores like HM have famous designers that make things specifically for a price range.