josei-tekina

It struck me a long time ago that there are a lot more effeminate guys in Japan than there are in the UK. It's really not difficult to see. Despite there being more of everything in urban Japan due to the high, concentrated population, there are none-the-less a lot more guys who like knitting. I notice because it's still not cricket to be a gay in the UK - Julian Clary a prime example of being accepted because he's a parody of himself and not real. Most gay people on TV, certainly last time I looked, had some oddity to their character.

It was with fascination that I watch the Reve21 adverts (3rd one down) on TV and see how a very womanly man sells hair implants to the nation. I suppose I'm just prejudiced for not realising that if any man would want to stay thick on top - it's one that dresses as a woman.

Half way through the second Japanese for Busy People book, we learn Josei-tekina - the Japanese for effeminate. It struck me as quite early to be learning such a word but at the same time I wish I'd known earlier for when I was describing guys from Kyoto to a friend. Gestures, as ever, proved adequate.

Japan is well known for its cuteness - a quality which endears to begin with but subsequently induces waves of exasperation. These days you're more likely to find someone who has been to Tokyo Disneyland than you are someone who has made the journey to Ise. There are specific bus stops at suburban bus stations explicitly for this. I didn't quite understand the popularity until I saw this phenomenon.

Products are cute. If they aren't - they're given lovable mascots and inane, child like straplines in English. Every one owns something cute - a bambi face cloth, a mickey mobile strap, even the controversial junior high school girls in their playboy socks. local pedestrian arcades blare cutesy music in the afternoon - sound of music on helium - when the men are propping up their desks. TV commericals all boast a memorable, high pitched jingle, often played twice for effect as cute sales staff beckon you to try. High school boys wear hairclips in their coiffed do's. Girls still parade around in those god-awful maid outfits come saturday.

you can at times, forget about life outside of the cartoon - the grim reality of life in so many other countries - the crime, violence, fear, rage and hate. But who exactly would want to swap? Certainly not Japan. As the culture here seems to be on the point of disappearing it's equally kept alive by sheer resistance to fully accepting the outside.

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