Nov 8, 2005

Japan's pornography culture

日本のポルノ文化について一言いいたい。

この前東京から神戸へ帰る新幹線でのことである。日曜の午後ということもあり、禁煙席は満席だったため、喫煙席をとるしかなかった。乗ってみると車内はたばこ吸ったり、ビール飲んだり、イビキをかいて寝ているおっさんばっか。。苦しくてしかたがなかった。まぁこれは喫煙席だし仕方ない。
私の隣に座ったのは50代くらいのおじさん。ビール2本に週刊誌みたいなのを持っていた。

私が腹が立ったのは、20代の女の子が隣に座ってるというのにどうどうとエロ雑誌を広げて読んでいたことだ。丸見えだった。確かに、個人の自由かもしれない。だけど、恥・プライド・マナーというのはないのか?と思う。そしてその時、前にイギリスの友達が日本のポルノ文化について激怒していたことを思い出した。彼らに言わせて見れば、日本ではエロ本・エロビはほぼどこでも誰でも手に入るし、コンビニには子供の手の届くところにいかにも見ろといっているように置いてあるし、電車に乗ってもおっさん達が何の恥もなくおおっぴらに読んでいる。イギリスでは考えられないのだそう。確かに日本ではお酒もタバコもエロ本等も誰でもどこでも手に入る。自動販売機として置いてあるし、コンビにではIDは見ることになったものの、実際にチェックすることはほとんどない。こんなことでいいのだろうか?

そして失望して辺りを見回してみると、マナーのないおっさんばっかり。お仕事して疲れてるのは分かるけど、公共の場だし、もう少し恥というものを感じてほしい。日本のおじさんたち頼むよ!!

I wanna say something about Japan's porno culture.

I was on the bullet train (shinkansen) the other day on my way home from Tokyo. Unfortunately, I had to sit in a smoking seat since non-smoking seat was already full. The carrige was full of business men (or salary men in Jp) smoking, drinking beer, or sleeping and snoring. A man sat next to me was about in mid 50s, also drinking beer and reading magazine.

What I was upset about was that he, even though I (20s girl) was sitting next to him, was reading this porno magazine without hesitation. He had that magazine so wide open that I could see everything. Of course people have a right to do anything they want. It's freedom. But, dont't they have some kind of embarrassment or pride or manner?

Then, this reminded me of my friends talking about Japan's porno culture long time a go. They were from England and were so angry at the fact that anyone can buy porno books & videos almost anywhere! alcohol and cigarettes too. For those who don't know about Japan, let me tell you. Almost anyone (even kids) can buy alcohol, cigarettes, and porno stuff anywhere in Japan. I know, it's ridiculous. All of them are sold in vending machines, porno books on the shelf of convenience store where kids can see & reach, many men (mostly old men) reading porno books in the train, and there are a rule that you need to show ID when buying them at convenience store but most of the time staff won't check for yourID unless you obciously look under 20. Can you believe that?

And when I looked around the train, I saw many 50-year-oldish men in a terrible manner. I understand they are tired after their work but it's public place and I wish they have more manners.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow i have heard a bit of that but never know that it is so widespread and openly accepted that way. hmmm.....*nod nod* it is a very insulting thing to women when such a controversial issue becomes socially acceptable and ethical concerns that used to matter are ignored.

on the other hand, i think those pictures you took with your camera were fabulous! I can only wish my phone takes pictures half as good as that. hehheh.

Miss you mayu!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Mayu,

Sorry you had to deal with that guy on the Shinkansen... I noticed this when I was in Japan, but it also happens sometimes in Hong Kong too! Maybe the old guy didn't figure you'd be looking over his shoulder to see what he would be reading! hehehe just kidding! Nobody should be reading that stuff in public, especially next to a nice, young lady like you :) Oh well, c'est la vie...

I agree with Astri, your pictures are great, please post some more! (Please, no pictures of that porn-reading guy from the train, haha!)

Talk to you on msn later!

Matt

☆Mayu☆  said...

astri,
I know, Japanese technology is the best! maybe you guys will have this in 3 years...or later that that? I miss you too!!

matt,
thanks for your comment! in HK too? maybe it happens in a big city then.
I'll see you in msn:)

feridun said...

I am totally agreeing with Mayu. It is really strange how they handle those kind of stuff.
You can see everywhere (specially in Convenient Stores) those kind of Magazine. But at least the Magazines are somehow closed. They are taped.

However, I feel it is not good for a country such Japan that those easy going with Pornographic materials are publicly available for everyone, specially for underage.

I think pornos are destroying one's culture and it is very disrespectful against women. The girls and women are displayed in those magazines are shown as they were not equal and are only object to sick people's lust.

People who make and read those kind of magazines has to be aware that those girls and women are mothers, sisters and daughters. And you don't want to be your mothers, sisters and daughthers be shown like that.

In the end, the man with magazine who Mayu saw shows how Japanese man think of women.

I hope my reply didn't insult nobody. But this is what I think.

Feridun

Anonymous said...

Reading to your trip home and I would think that world is sometimes in the grip of a crippling culture crisis, ( I hope u remember me, the girl who sit next to you on the flight from Chicago to Japan on that day)

you were going back home at that time with the train and happening to sit next to the nasty man, and I was in the flight from Japan continuing to Bangkok and sit in the middle of 2 men, luckily they are nice and esp. the big guy whom I told you he sacrificed his seat for us to get more room to breath in a tiny plane.

well.......
at a glance,
1.there is a belief that girls are faced with a this kind of man in some situation and this can affect us....
2. Getting it right can produce a huge apprication gain..
3. The pornography puzzle like this one is hard to solve !

Thanks for the story!

☆Mayu☆  said...

Biw!!!
Of course I remember you:) we pretty much had a same experience after we said goodbye just that you had nice people sitting next to you. yeah, I remeber that big guy.

☆Mayu☆  said...

>Setsuna,

thanks for your comment! I do see your point. Talking about crime rate, guns, drinking, Japan is so safe compared to other countries. You can even leave a purse in the cafe when you go to the bathroom and be safe. That is WOW.

I won't say porno is bad. It's one of a big "business" and some ppl enjoy doing it. My point is public manner, child education and how we young women get offended by some behavior. yes, you mentioned about Internet. That is one of a serious probelm that came up in past 10 years and I don't know the solution for that... we need to set new rules and system.

Anyway, interesting opinion and hope you visit my site again:)

samuel welsh said...

its a substute for a real women in japan horrid stuff.
japan needs to wake up.