New Japanese tartan

**macwilkin** · 24th February 09, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

It's a good thing you didn't say Ronald McDonald..... McDonalds (food chain) here in Japan is just awful

Don't even get me started.

But no, thank you VERY much for that Ranald MacDonald link. I wasn't aware of that particular facet of Japanese history. I know the era of William Adams a bit better (Samurai William, who arrived in Japan in 1600).

Nice to see some things are universal.

And you're most welcome for the link -- I read that particular book 6 years ago -- very interesting indeed.

Cheers,

Todd

**Bugbear** · 24th February 09, 07:18 PM

Well, that original artical about this tartan slightly gave the impression that that was the first and only Japanese tartan. I think this is a fashion tartan being pushed for mini skirts and school girl uniforms as the artical mentioned. I could be reading it wrong.

I still respect which ever tartan one chooses as representing one's heritage.

**gilmore** · 24th February 09, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

Aw, man! Not this topic again!

How could ANYONE want a tartan that looks like this:

It's hideous. And the fact that someone designed something so ugly for Japan just makes me angry. Not EVERY FLIPPIN' DESIGN needs to look like it was designed by Sanrio as a Hello Kitty product, you know! Geez!

...

Are we a bit Eurocentric in our sense of aesthetics?

**CDNSushi** · 24th February 09, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by gilmore

Are we a bit Eurocentric in our sense of aesthetics?

Nope, not at all. I'm just sick of EVERYTHING being marketed as cutesy or Hello Kitty or pastel-colored. Having lived here for over 6 years now, stuff like THIS really does exist...

Yes, that really IS a Hello Kitty sphygmomanometer.

There is a trend in Japan, of male feminization. The following product came out Fall 2008, and since then, the shop that distributes them is consistently sold out, with a solid 2-3 month waiting list (don't ask me how I know this.. lol)... It's not for men suffering from gynomastia either, in case you were wondering. BTW, this product generated over 8000 comments on Mixi (the Japanese equivalent of Facebook) the first day this product came out -- I hear it was quite the debate between those who thought it was great and those who were appalled.

I guess whatever rattles your chain, right? But seriously. How about something a bit more mainstream for those of us who aren't into manga/anime/schoolgirl/lolita fetishism?

(Photo taken at the Tokyo Highland Games, 2008, by me: a Japanese piper competing in the solo piping competition)

**gilmore** · 24th February 09, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

...
There is a trend in Japan, of male feminization. ...

What are the theories about why this is happening at this point in Japan's history?

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

I guess whatever rattles your chain, right? But seriously. How about something a bit more mainstream for those of us who aren't into manga/anime/schoolgirl/lolita fetishism?...

Like fetishizing kilt-wearing? I am there, dude.

**CDNSushi** · 24th February 09, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by gilmore

What are the theories about why this is happening at this point in Japan's history?

Good question. I showed my department head this thread (he's Japanese, of course) and he's not sure either. He figures that it isn't necessarily a feminization thing, but rather a concerted effort on the part of companies to market the entire "cute" image to EVERYONE (men AND women) not just women... Well, when you really think about it -- it kinda makes sense. Why exclude HALF the population as potential customers when you can aim for the whole friggin' pie! It's a genius move by the shop that makes those bras. I went to the site today to show the original info. to my co-worker and their business has MUSHROOMED... You know, they were all probably sitting around the boardroom, talking about the recession saying, "We need to increase our market share on bra sales. How are we going to do that? Think people! Think outside the box! Bing! Got it! Convince MEN to buy em too!!"

Nonetheless, it's a fairly recent thing. You won't find many older Japanese men buying into this phenomenon -- it seems to be a younger generation thing. (Like men who have teddy bears hanging from their cellphones and walk around with clips in their hair). Some of my students definitely fall into that camp.

Originally Posted by gilmore

Like fetishizing kilt-wearing? I am there, dude.

I'm doing my part!

**Barry** · 25th February 09, 07:40 AM

In the original BBC article a caption states "There are about 7,000 different tartans, several are used for kilts"

Several is it? I would think "many" or "most"! The board members here have consideraly more that several tartans among us. ( Hamish alone is heading to the 7,000 I think )

Anyway if Japanese people want to wear pastel pink kilts then why not. Chacun a son gout.