>>799 Oh. They don't run Hilton hotel anymore. I didn't know that. I heard somewhere that there's the reality show where Paris's father appears. The title is "Apprentice" or something. Winner of the show can work under Paris's father. I am not sure though.
I would say it's kind of uncomfortable to me to hear that the Hiltons' popularity has gone waaaaay up.
Regarding Kano sisters, They are rich enough to do any cosmetic surgery rainging from minor face lift to vacuuming extra fat, enrich their breasts.... whatever they want. I wonder why they enlarged thier breasts to the extent that everybody recognizes they are fake.
They started to become famous not because they have huge breasts but because they are said to be extremely rich. From what I know, they started as very rich amateur models in a fashion magazine calling themselves beauty consultants or something. Then eventually they entered in show business. Their agency spread a rumor intentionally that the older sister went out with a famous singer.
The groundless rumor was their agency's strategy to have them get media's attention. Before the rumor, only the small portion of people, which were the readers of the magazine, had known them. After the rumor, many people got to know the sisters.
It might be sure that fake breasts work well enough to get much attention from men. I personally don't interested in breasts however beautiful and big they are as long as they are fake.
I don't think they are popular among young guys. I'm in my thirties but I am not interested in them either. I think they are circus clowns or something although they seem to think themselves beautiful. Yeah, many J-pop stars and idols are prettier and more beautiful. Plus Kano sisters are too old to be called pretty.
Yeah. I admit that there's an aspect in Japan, too that we take people with much money and economically succeful people as being winners. SIGH
I read somewhere that people in poor countries tend to think themselves happier than those in developed countries. That gives me food for thought. To feel happy, you have to live in a poor country and live a simple life or become economically successful in a rich country? I know things aren't so simple...
You are attractive as everyone here say. ^_~ That's for sure.
"The Apprentice" features a wealthy man named Donald Trump. It is easy to get him mixed up with the Hiltons because he does own a hotel (probably more than one).
You say that the agency of a Kano sister started a rumour that she was dating a celebrity and her popularity went up? That is exactly how it works here. From what I've seen, I am guessing that a Japanese celebrity's popularity is directly related to how much that person appears on TV? Here, it is like that, only with magazines. A celebrity's popularity goes down when he or she doesn't appear in many magazines, like People. (www.people.com)
So, when we lose interest in a celeb, that celebrity does something outrageous like getting arrested, or having a surprise wedding or divorce, and then the story is in all of the magazines. An American celebrity's fame depends on his or her news stories, so they are always keeping themselves in the news.
I think that just as many men are attracted to fake breasts. Because, if a woman has fake breasts, she probably has money, and people are attracted to money. I have seen plastic surgery operations on TV, and I wouldn't put myself through something like that just to tweak my looks. I think it is OK for people who have been in an accident or were born deformed, though.
You think the Kano sisters are too old to be called pretty? I think my mom is pretty. ^_^
I think it's true that people without much money can be a lot happier than people with money. I think it's important to try to live like a poor person for just a little while, even if you have money. You really learn a lot about yourself...
And, thanks. People here and on YouTube keep saying I am attractive, though I was never considered to be while I was growing up.
Hello Magibon. Have you watched this video before? "The dove self-esteem fund AD" www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT4dpFpiTgk One of a comment said that "Dove is only helping young girls realize that, so that they are able to grow with a healthy self esteem. " I agree with this comment. But not only young gilrs. I suppose whoever watch this video can draw the same moral from it.
このビデオを見たことがありますか？"The dove self-esteem fund AD" コメントのひとつはこう言っています。 "Dove is only helping young girls realize that, so that they are able to grow with a healthy self esteem. " 私はこのコメントに同意します。でも若い女性だけではありません。誰でもこのビデオから同じ教訓を得られるのではと思います。
>>838 I've seen similar things, but never seen that same one. It's so interesting. The Dove foundation is doing a really great thing.
The only isuue I have with it, is in the past it has seemed like they were telling people that it is OK to be overweight. Of course, people shouldn't feel bad about themselves and how they look, but it's unhealthy. It shouldn't be "You're beautiful, so stay how you are." I think it should be "You're beautiful, so be healthy too!" In a way, weren't they still saying that looks are all that matter?
I get upset with how heavily edited pictures for the media are. Even the people who bring us our news are sometimes electronically slimmed down on TV! And, of course there are all the magazine covers, and CD jackets.
I don't do anything like that with my videos or pictures, because it would seem like a big lie. But, I do put on make-up like most girls, and try to have decent lighting. So, when do regular grooming, and being creative and artistic become lying?
Incidentally, there is a new digital camera that automatically makes people look skinnier. What do you think about it?
>>831 Oh, yes. I did mix Paris's father up with Donald Trump. If I remember correctly, he is called the king of real estate business. Maybe I shouldn't assure how he was dubbed knowingly. Chances are I'm wrong again. :)
>You say that the agency of a Kano sister started a rumour that she was >dating a celebrity and her popularity went up?
I wouldn't use the word "pupularity." It's just that the rumor made her widely known to general public because after the rumor they got to appear on TV often. It's hard to explain but in my opinion, not many people respect them. They tell on TV how gorgeous life they live and how men overseas want to go out with them. The older sister boasts about how she was asked to go out with men overseas. The more they show off (even if what they say is true) the more they sound stupid.
>I am guessing that a Japanese celebrity's popularity is directly >related to how much that person appears on TV? In most cases, such as idols and young actors whose target audience is young people , yes. But there are exceptions. Some musicians try not to appear on TV often to make them look mysterious. Being on magazines can be a yardstick to measure how popular they are in Japan, too. But is being on a TV show more infuluential and can reach more people than being on a magazine in terms of the traits of these two media?
I know People magazine. There's similar one titled "US". Again I shouldn't say knowingly. hehe There are weekly photo magazines with photos of famous people's private life. If a young female actor or singer, say, one of the members of morning musume or something is taken her photo while dating a man by a photographer of the magazine, chances are her dedicated male fans would be shocked and dissaponted, sometimes feel betrayed.
Another yardstick to measure popularity is in how many TV ad actors and singers appear.
>>841 How you describe a rumour making celebrities widely known is how most celebrities here go about keeping themselves famous. We think that most of our stars are stupid or immoral. It is not important for a celebrity to be respectable or seem pure anymore. I think it is a sad state of affairs, but I also think that Japan goes a little overboard on the other end of the spectrum. I feel that dishonorable behavior should neither be glorified nor too harshly condemned. Because, not one of us is perfect, and throwing stones at someone whose mistake was found out is hypocritical and weak-minded.
For us, being on TV and in movies is the stars' work. It does help to show how famous they are, because it means that the companies trust them to bring in lots of money. But, it is the news stories and gossip that keep them fresh in our minds, and keep people interested.
I think American guys are different from Japanese guys when they see that a famous girl is dating. I don't know how a guys mind works (Do I want to know??), but it seems like they think "Oh, then maybe I have a chance, too!"
I have heard that there are some celebrities in Japan who are famous only for being in TV ads. Would you say that's true?
>>842 I learn from music and dramas, and I learn a lot here. Also, I have some books that teach Japanese. I don't know what kind of certification is required to teach Japanese. I think it depends on the school.
>>845 >I have heard that there are some celebrities in Japan who are famous >only for being in TV ads. Would you say that's true?
I don't know. In general, if a girl gets famous and popular by being on TV ad, then she moves on to another phase where she starts to be on a drama or something. But I am not so sure.
I was surprised by American guys positive reaction you mentioned. Japanese guys imagine going out with a cute idol but that's just imagination and never think, like, "Oh, then maybe I have a chance, too!" Of course some Japanese guys might think the same way as American guys but they are exceptions in my opinion.
>>858 Well, look at our most famous female celebrities: Britney, Paris, Lindsay, Jessica, etc.
Maybe Japan is moving in the same direction? I noticed that Morning Musume's costumes are sexier than they were years ago, and they make very sexy photobooks. Not even ten years ago, they were embarassed to appear in bikinis.
>>859 "Sex sells." Yeah. I think the situation here in Japan is the same but as a man in my thirties, I don't think Japan used to accept the idea with open arms. Everybody understand the idea of "sex sells" deep down but I think we used to be less unconcealed about expressing sexual things. Not only at media level but even at personal level, too, people are becoming less shy about talking about sexual things. As a conservative man, I don't like the tendency even if I sound hypocrytical.
I guess you know of 倖田來未 (hakamada Mirai) youtube.com/watch?v=1G9fDbGtjkg She's been described as "エロカッコイイ”This expression is combination of two words. "エロイ" and "カッコイイ”カッコイイ can be translated "cool." It is difficult to translate エロイ's nuances for me. You might translate it "sexy" but in my opinion エロイ is more than that and has nuances the word "naughty" has.
She sings in lingerie-like fashion and SM-like fashion. Maybe you know more about her than me, Magibon. I am not young enough to know much about young pop culture. ^^
In Japan, "popular word, buzzword of the year" is announced at the end of a year. The annual contest awards buzzwords that have had the strongest impact on society or that have reflected the social situations in a year. This year, the word "エロカッコイイ" won the title. To think that she is the singer who sells the most CD in 2006 here and has much influence to girls, that's understandable.
When I first hear the song by 倖田來未, I thought I'd heard a similar song! It's "Lady marmalade" by Cristina Aguilera, Pink and other...) youtube.com/watch?v=q4JvB1cci2A
I suspect 倖田's side stole the part of "Lady marmalade" melody...
>>839 I don't know the similar version that Magibon watched. The video I watched is only the one that I mentioned before. I found it in someone's favorites accidentally.
"No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted." by Dove AD. This commercial showed us that AD pictures are easily photoshoped. The same applies to words. But how about video? In a video, it is difficult to deceive someone. lonleygirl15 was soon exposed. I think people can't tell a lie in actual video. I'll trust videos rather than words or still pictures.
「我々の美しさの感覚がゆがめられていたとしても不思議ではない。」 by Dove AD このコマーシャルは広告写真が簡単にphotoshopedされることを我々に明らか にしました。同じことは言葉にも当てはまります。しかし、ビデオはどうでし ょう？ ビデオの中で誰かをだますことは難しいでしょう。lonleygirl15はす ぐばれました。人はビデオの中で嘘をつくことはできないと思います。 私は言葉や静止画よりビデオの方を信じるでしょう。
>>866 I have heard of Koda Kumi, but I haven't listened to her music or anything. I don't get into western stars who have that same image, either. It seems even more phony to me than the people who try to be perfect. Besides, I think it probably appeals to men more than women. Actually, didn't she fail an audition for Morning Musume? I think Britney Spears sued a Chinese singer for stealing her song. Koda Kumi is lucky that she got away with claiming that song as totally hers. >>873 Dove not only has commercials, but magazine ads and such also. They are a company that makes shampoo and lotion, and soap. In their ads they use women who are a little overweight, or flat-chested, etc., usually just in their underwear. I think it is just an attempt to sell their products to these types of women, but I can't deny that they have a respectable message when they say that beauty can come in many forms, and that we have been narrow-minded about it lately. I just don't think it is right to encourage women to remain at an unhealthy weight. These days, videos can definitely be photoshopped. I don't know how exactly they do it, but I have seen it. For example, in the early episodes of Kurosagi, the opening shows Yamapi laying in the grass and rolling over. In one of these episodes, that same clip was very noticeably photoshopped compared to the episodes that came before it.
Also, videos can definitely be edited in ways that conceal the truth. When you consider that, and visual illusions and CGI, it almost seems like people are likely to be fooled by video, because they assume that video doesn't lie.
>>874 I have seen a few different versions of the movie. You?
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>>876 Probably people who know a lot about morning musume and Kohda kumi know the fact but since I didn't know that, I searched for some info and found this video clip. www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F7vgvmv2Gg Maybe you've watched this audition video but I hope you'll enjoy it. Kohda was 16 years old at the time (Goto Maki was 13.) and she looked different and showed no signs of エロカッコイイ.
Kohda Kumi, whose real name is 神田来未子(Kohda kumiko) passed through the scond round, where 21 participants survived. As you may know, Goto Maki was the winner.
You said you are into neither Kohda Kumi nor western equivalant. You like morning musume, right? Maybe the reason you are into the "Japanese" girls group is that there's no singers that matche your tastes in music in US music scene. Don't you listen to hip hop?
>>876 Merry X'mas Magibon. Thank you for telling me the background of ads. As the beauty and make-up did not have interest, I thought DOVE has simply explained a brainwashing method by the media to us. And I assumed that brainwashing was related with fake self-esteem. Because even if someone imitate celebritie's make-up, one can't get true self-esteem. I thought fake self-esteem is a theme of this commercial.
I said, I trust video. It means communication. Facial expression talks more than words. Your impression may overwhelm your words, when someone looking in your eyes. As Internet become more like real world, we got possible to make use of natural primitive ability.
>>904 You got it right. False self-esteem is a theme of that commercial. Also, selling more products is a motive. This company that makes lotions and soaps is running a campaign to reinvent people's perception of beauty. They are saying that real beauty is in real people, as opposed to the people we see in ads and in the media. Though they don't come out and say so, they are really trying to sway female cosumers from buying flashier, trendy products, towards instead buying Dove products, which have simple packaging.
It's an interesting marketing plan. Even if profits are the only motiviation (I think they really care too, though) the campaign will probably do good for some people. It is controversial though, and different people will have different views on the matter.
As for me, I think everyone can be beautiful, and deserves to feel beautiful. But, sometimes these arguments go too far. As you may know, the majority of Americans are now overweight. Thin people, who are the minority today, are being hurt by some of this hype. Many people are equating being overweight with being "real." Because, even though the Dove campaign isn't just about weight, that is what most Americans are most self-concious about. As you can probably tell from my videos, I am not overweight, and it hurts my feelings when so many people on TV are saying that I'm not a real person. Some overweight people are taking it so far as to accuse thin people they don't even know of having eating disorders.
This new way of thinking is making it easier for people with too much weight to feel good about themselves. You can say that is a good thing, or you can say it is a bad thing because they would be better off exercising and eating healthier if they want to feel attractive.
In other words, the campaign is fighting to empower a group of people, which is admirable. But, aren't they making things harder for a different group of people? Is it purely coincidence that the company is appealing to the majority of potential customers?
>>885>>886 Oh, I see. The story is based on a novel. Here, many movie adaptations have been made. One of the most well-known is a Shirley Temple movie. Do you know Shirley Temple in Japan? I had no idea there was an anime... I'm kind of shocked.
>>891 Some hip hop is OK. But, it seems to me that most popular music today is more about the singer's image than the actual song. I don't like a harsh image. I want to tell those people... "You're just a normal person, so don't be so full of it." Ah, well...
I don't really know much about Koda Kumi. I am not into her image. But, I saw her on a variety show and she seemed very nice. At least she wears the clothes (or lingerie, hah) rather than letting them wear her (she doesn't seem to let her clothes affect her attitude).
Speaking of that, I have heard that Avril Lavigne is popular in Japan. Did you know that most audiences here rejected her because they decided she was a "poser?" In other words, they thought she should act a certain way if she was going to wear a clothing style. Why did they get so upset?
>>907 Yeah. Avril is popular and her CDs sell here. She did a Japan tour for concerts, too.
>Did you know that most audiences here rejected her because they decided she was a "poser?"
What do you mean? Do American young people think that she is just pretending to be bad? When I first saw her on TV or CD Jacket, she was a slim cute girl, a type that everybody tends to love. But, her make-up changed my impressoin on her. I don't like the way she darken the parts around her eyes. She looks unhealty and the make-up reminds me of a person who is sick in bed and worn out.
>In other words, they thought she should act a certain way if she >was going to wear a clothing style.
I don't understand what you mean due to my lack of English proficiency. Would you explain that?
Be careful Avril Lavigne has a lot of fans in Japan. I think the melody of her songs are much closer to that of J-Pop compared to most other songs from the West. And she isn't well stacked. So it is much easier for Japanese to find her cute.
>>908 Yes, they thought she was an unconvincing "bad girl." Although, many younger kids liked her. One of my little sisters was a big fan. I don't have a strong opinion, because I was always listening to Japanese music at that time. ^_^'
The US army killed more than two million Japanese citizens during the World War II and we have no grudge. It doesn't matter how many people were killed. What it really matters is if people from the two nations have will to be friends.
