Comments on: Rise of the Japanese “Herbivores” http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/ The Neat Side of the Web Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:06:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Maya http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1895989 Maya Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:54:04 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1895989 I think we need to consider it from a Japanese point of view here. The Japanese have fairly rigid (by western standards anyway) gender roles and expectations of people to fulfill their gender roles. I think what we are seeing here is a manifestation of people breaking out of their gender roles and embracing the characteristics that don't fit into those roles. For example, my father in law stayed with a Japanese family for a home-stay recently and the lady-of-the-house was horrified when he tried to clean up and help with the washing up. She said that it was women's work and that he shouldn't do it. That being said I love this part 'In the streets of Harajuku, Alex Fujita explains why he is not interested in taking it [relationships with women] any further. "Nowadays, women have more education and enjoy working. Women are scary now," he says.' What I love about his comment is this - He is happy to break out of his gender role but finds it uncomfortable for women to break out of theirs. Consider what he is saying. He's not saying that the women are agressive or uncouth; he is saying that women are educated and like to work which makes them 'scary' to him. I think we need to consider it from a Japanese point of view here. The Japanese have fairly rigid (by western standards anyway) gender roles and expectations of people to fulfill their gender roles. I think what we are seeing here is a manifestation of people breaking out of their gender roles and embracing the characteristics that don’t fit into those roles.

For example, my father in law stayed with a Japanese family for a home-stay recently and the lady-of-the-house was horrified when he tried to clean up and help with the washing up. She said that it was women’s work and that he shouldn’t do it.

That being said I love this part ‘In the streets of Harajuku, Alex Fujita explains why he is not interested in taking it [relationships with women] any further.

“Nowadays, women have more education and enjoy working. Women are scary now,” he says.’

What I love about his comment is this – He is happy to break out of his gender role but finds it uncomfortable for women to break out of theirs. Consider what he is saying. He’s not saying that the women are agressive or uncouth; he is saying that women are educated and like to work which makes them ‘scary’ to him.

]]> By: Video Game Dork http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893994 Video Game Dork Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:32:37 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893994 I'm a little doubful about Joe's inforomation. I’m a little doubful about Joe’s inforomation.

]]> By: SydneyClaire http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893849 SydneyClaire Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:21:33 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893849 Asexual? Did some *not* read the second to last paragraph? Asexual? Did some *not* read the second to last paragraph?

]]> By: Max http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893847 Max Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:04:58 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893847 I believe Eri is right about asexual. Their preference is no sexual interest. However, someone like SenorMysterioso is what is called a 'douche-bag.' Their preference is no interest in thinking. I believe Eri is right about asexual. Their preference is no sexual interest.

However, someone like SenorMysterioso is what is called a ‘douche-bag.’ Their preference is no interest in thinking.

]]> By: zavatone http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893777 zavatone Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:04:52 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893777 What a lame repurposing of a perfectly good word that already means something. What a lame repurposing of a perfectly good word that already means something.

]]> By: ted http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893772 ted Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:22:31 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893772 Cola, yes, I think somebody's exaggerating something here. I sense a little hatred towards the "sensitive male" stereotype. There have always been people who are confused or have low sex drives. Hardly a newsflash. Cola, yes, I think somebody’s exaggerating something here.

I sense a little hatred towards the “sensitive male” stereotype.

There have always been people who are confused or have low sex drives. Hardly a newsflash.

]]> By: Clara http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893763 Clara Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:44:46 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893763 Population control... Population control…

]]> By: fz http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893732 fz Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:45:26 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893732 Does this mean an overadundance of single japanese women? When can I book my flight? Does this mean an overadundance of single japanese women? When can I book my flight?

]]> By: Cola http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893723 Cola Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:02:55 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893723 Setting aside my irritation at some of the comments, I think there's a big difference between "not interested in girls" and letting girls take the first step. These guys like girls, but they are not interested in <i>pursuing them</i>. It's an important distinction. Furthermore, I really don't think this is a movement, so much as someone needing something to write about and pretending these guys are all in some big club that's threatening the future population of Japan. I'm sensing some distinct macho anxiety here. Setting aside my irritation at some of the comments, I think there’s a big difference between “not interested in girls” and letting girls take the first step. These guys like girls, but they are not interested in pursuing them. It’s an important distinction.

Furthermore, I really don’t think this is a movement, so much as someone needing something to write about and pretending these guys are all in some big club that’s threatening the future population of Japan. I’m sensing some distinct macho anxiety here.

]]> By: Joe http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893715 Joe Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:39:17 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893715 I truly believe that computing has a lot to do with these guys being the way that they are. Being online all the time seriously stunts the ability of some to function normally in the regular world. I think that a second factor is exposure to chemicals in things such as plastics, which have already been shown to * Reduce the size of men's sexual organs * Make male children more prone to playing like girls (dress-up, dolls, etc.) * Reduce sperm count * Cause fewer boys to be born Not to mention that females are developing voluptuous bodies at very young ages. I truly believe that computing has a lot to do with these guys being the way that they are. Being online all the time seriously stunts the ability of some to function normally in the regular world.

I think that a second factor is exposure to chemicals in things such as plastics, which have already been shown to

* Reduce the size of men’s sexual organs
* Make male children more prone to playing like girls (dress-up, dolls, etc.)
* Reduce sperm count
* Cause fewer boys to be born

Not to mention that females are developing voluptuous bodies at very young ages.

]]> By: SenorMysterioso http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893713 SenorMysterioso Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:30:30 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893713 Theyre not asexual Eri When youre too insecure to approach women its easy to just play up the shy/uninterested guy angle and magically women will start to approach you because youre sensitive and not intimidating. Its just another ploy to get chicks without the pain of rejection. Theyre not asexual Eri

When youre too insecure to approach women its easy to just play up the shy/uninterested guy angle and magically women will start to approach you because youre sensitive and not intimidating. Its just another ploy to get chicks without the pain of rejection.

]]> By: Eri http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893709 Eri Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:06:33 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893709 Isn't this just called asexual? Not caring for either gender sexually... I have asexual friends and that's how they are. Isn’t this just called asexual? Not caring for either gender sexually… I have asexual friends and that’s how they are.

]]> By: pwscott http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893698 pwscott Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:58:44 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893698 Times they are a changing. I know guys like that in the States. One of them had the finest furniture and still lived next door to his mom. He was very effeminate and only had a girlfriend because she approached him in a bar. That was twenty years ago. :l Times they are a changing. I know guys like that in the States. One of them had the finest furniture and still lived next door to his mom. He was very effeminate and only had a girlfriend because she approached him in a bar. That was twenty years ago. :l

]]> By: DaveL http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893693 DaveL Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:35:36 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893693 They're just to shy to admit that they're content with whacking off to hentia and their electronic pet girlfriend toys. They’re just to shy to admit that they’re content with whacking off to hentia and their electronic pet girlfriend toys.

]]> By: Wes http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893685 Wes Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:12:18 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893685 Nerds? No, we nerds were always interested in girls; we just didn't know how to talk to them. Nerds? No, we nerds were always interested in girls; we just didn’t know how to talk to them.

]]> By: tomblight http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893682 tomblight Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:54:27 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893682 Just start importing Mexicans Just start importing Mexicans

]]> By: K.J. http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/comment-page-1/#comment-1893670 K.J. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:47:45 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/11/27/rise-of-the-japanese-herbivores/#comment-1893670 Japan is already in the midst of a severe birthrate decline and this is how the men respond? The country is doooooomed! Japan is already in the midst of a severe birthrate decline and this is how the men respond? The country is doooooomed!

]]>