Japanese Aesthetic
I mentioned before on my blog that European women prefer to have tanned skin, on the other hand, Japanese women prefer white skin. I think it's interesting and it reflects different national backgrounds. It's nothing new that Japanese women prefer to having white skin. This tendency goes back to ancient times. For example, Japanese conception of a beauty during Heian Period (794-1185) was having fine-grained white skin, round face, round chin, squinted eye, long black luscious hair and a bit chubby. Not only physical appearance, but also well-educated, status, youth, character (elegance, gracefulness, obedience, modest, and a self-effacing) were an important considerations as a beauty.
During Edo Period (1603-1868), having fine-grained white skin, slender face, small mouth, hairline that grows to a point in the middle of the forehead, clear eye, a shapely nose and black luscious hair as is described in Japanese ukiyoe prints, were personification of beauty.
During Taisho Period (1912-1926), Japanese conception of a beauty become more under the influence of Western and other countries. Women used to put on a little rouge the centre of lips to make small mouth, but started to paint the entire lips. Also getting a perm and getting suntanned were trendy.
In the early 1990s, Ganguro became fashion trend among young Japanese women. It's crazy fashion with tanned skin, bleached hair and used a lot of colourful makeup. Ganguro is slang and translates to "heavily-sunburned face". I didn't empathize with this at all, because it was so crazy!! But when I look back now, I think it might have been sort of expression of social rebellion and young people's individual freedom.
In Japan, it is common-sense to assume that "the nail that sticks out will get a pounding". It means that if you stand out, you will be subject to criticism. It's old aspect, but I think it still exist in an automatic sense. This may not just confined to Japan, but sometimes "the nail" means individuality, assertiveness or beauty. It's nasty, exclusive and tunnel vision. Because you will be criticised from envy and jealousy or just because of dissent from the majority opinion. Japanese may have an essential lack of respecting the opinions of others.
At school, children learn to maintain discipline in a group living, rather than appropriate assertiveness, because harmony is valued in Japan. It's pros and cons. As I grew up being referred to "listen to what people have said until the very end", I've still taken that for granted at the unconscious level. I really feel that parts of my characters are nurtured by these Japanese indigenous constitutions. That's probably why sometimes it was hard to express my opinion in the English class before everyone else, because if I keep listening, someone interrupt a conversation and also other people interrupt again... I was really impressed by them!
Japanese today are definitely affected by other countries' cultures and westernized, not only beauty but also lifestyle. In the modern era of expanding globalization, I think women's aesthetic consciousness is also assimilated around the world. People prefer to be slim and beauty like fashion models or celebrities. In every age and every country, women's aesthetic consciousness has never faded away.
During Edo Period (1603-1868), having fine-grained white skin, slender face, small mouth, hairline that grows to a point in the middle of the forehead, clear eye, a shapely nose and black luscious hair as is described in Japanese ukiyoe prints, were personification of beauty.
During Taisho Period (1912-1926), Japanese conception of a beauty become more under the influence of Western and other countries. Women used to put on a little rouge the centre of lips to make small mouth, but started to paint the entire lips. Also getting a perm and getting suntanned were trendy.
In the early 1990s, Ganguro became fashion trend among young Japanese women. It's crazy fashion with tanned skin, bleached hair and used a lot of colourful makeup. Ganguro is slang and translates to "heavily-sunburned face". I didn't empathize with this at all, because it was so crazy!! But when I look back now, I think it might have been sort of expression of social rebellion and young people's individual freedom.
In Japan, it is common-sense to assume that "the nail that sticks out will get a pounding". It means that if you stand out, you will be subject to criticism. It's old aspect, but I think it still exist in an automatic sense. This may not just confined to Japan, but sometimes "the nail" means individuality, assertiveness or beauty. It's nasty, exclusive and tunnel vision. Because you will be criticised from envy and jealousy or just because of dissent from the majority opinion. Japanese may have an essential lack of respecting the opinions of others.
At school, children learn to maintain discipline in a group living, rather than appropriate assertiveness, because harmony is valued in Japan. It's pros and cons. As I grew up being referred to "listen to what people have said until the very end", I've still taken that for granted at the unconscious level. I really feel that parts of my characters are nurtured by these Japanese indigenous constitutions. That's probably why sometimes it was hard to express my opinion in the English class before everyone else, because if I keep listening, someone interrupt a conversation and also other people interrupt again... I was really impressed by them!
Japanese today are definitely affected by other countries' cultures and westernized, not only beauty but also lifestyle. In the modern era of expanding globalization, I think women's aesthetic consciousness is also assimilated around the world. People prefer to be slim and beauty like fashion models or celebrities. In every age and every country, women's aesthetic consciousness has never faded away.
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