Japanese Guys Strive to be “Skinny and Cute”

November 20, 2007 Posted in Body, News

Every day, girls all over America are doing their best to be “cute and skinny”.

Dieting, working out, spending hours in the bathroom, squeezing ourselves into tight pants, strapping on a pair of Spanx, we’ll do whatever it takes to reach the pinnacle of girly beauty.

Over in Japan, guys are doing the exact same thing (minus the Spanx…I think).

Traditionally, it was the women of Japan who strived to be tiny, but after the country went through a “health and exercise boom” about 7 years ago, the “new Japanese woman” wasn’t afraid to show off her curves and muscles, and was “proud” of her sexuality.

Guys, on the other hand, started to shrink.

“Young males between the ages of 18 and 30 make up the slimmest segment of the [Japanese] population” explains the International Herald Tribune, “and the ideal fashion weight as decreed by the apparel industry is 57 kilograms, or about 125 pounds, for a height of 175 centimeters, or 5 feet 8 inches”.

No six-packs or bursting biceps here. At 125 pounds, most of these guys probably don’t have the arm strength to lift much of anything, let alone weights.

Junichi Shirakawa, A twenty-five year old retail worker who was interviewed for the article, claimed he wanted to be skinnier than 125 pounds, and admitted that his girlfriend was the one who wore the pants. “She’s a lot stronger than I am, can lift heavy things and go drinking until dawn” Shirakawa explained. “I admire that about her, and feel protected when I’m around her.”

According to the article, Shirakawa isn’t alone in wanting to be sheltered by his girlfriend. “[Japanese] men claim to want to be pursued and then nurtured – they often hate to make the first move and often shy away from conflict.”

There’s no real explanation for this odd character reversal taking place in Japan, with the articling only speculating that since women are becoming more self-sufficient, men are deciding to take a backseat role.

Now, I’m all about having a boyfriend who takes me seriously, but dating someone who raids my closet, runs behind me if someone freaky walks past us, and strives to show his ribs, doesn’t sound appealing in the least. It would be like dating some kind of male version of Kate Moss.

I’ll take a guy with a little extra over someone with a little less any day.

What about you? Like the idea of having a boyfriend you can lift over your head?

617822 Comments2007-11-20+15%3A30%3A15Jess+-+NYU on "Japanese Guys Strive to be “Skinny and Cute”"

J says:
Tue, 20th Nov 200711:25 pm

I don't even wanna imagine having a boyfriend who "wants to be pursued and then nurtured". I mean, eww!

loretta says:
Sun, 25th Nov 200712:00 pm

HEY I dont mind having such a boyfriend as long as i have sole control tooo over his finance!

i'll teach hime how it can be manageD:)

Gabriel says:
Wed, 5th Dec 20077:50 pm

Well, you are not in the same society and the same culture to understand them. So it would be intelligent not to judge.

Amber says:
Fri, 7th Dec 20075:15 pm

You have to consider in the view of cultural relativism. but before anything, I agree that striving to be skinny than to be healthy is no commendable trend.

IlluminaZer0 says:
Sat, 8th Dec 20075:55 pm

Huh… That’s pretty interesting. Explains a lot in regards to the “Bishonen” explosion, also pretty neat as it’s simply different.

raphael says:
Sun, 23rd Dec 20077:17 am

this could only mean one thing: http://perfectyou.org/rules/no_fat_chicks.png

IYKWIM says:
Tue, 22nd Jan 200810:16 am

The PERFECT girl:

http://reviews.starseeker.com/wp-content/uploads/…

IYKWIM says:
Tue, 22nd Jan 20083:13 pm

I agree completely. Guys need to be strong. Moreover, I prefer a skinny chick myself.

Strong dudes + waifish chicks For The Win!

kdero says:
Wed, 30th Jan 20087:55 pm

SIGN ME UP!!! japanese dudes are hot, skinny dudes are hot, game on.

Jenni says:
Tue, 4th Mar 200812:07 pm

After I first found that article, I wanted to hop on a plane to Japan. "Skinny and cute" is just my type of guy. And the fact that so many here give them a big 'no way'? Just means more for me

Saetian says:
Thu, 12th Jun 20085:23 pm

Find me one of those guys and dress him up like Ryuk from Death Note. I'll eat him up with a spoon!

tissue says:
Fri, 13th Jun 200810:11 pm

Actually, I'm in Japan right now…

Growing up in an 80% Asian area even, I am still surprised by the effeminate men in Japan (took me a second glance before i realize somebody was male before). The guys really do seem amazingly thin (i'm quite a lot of them don't eat enough) but there are also lots of really well-built guys here. so not all guys in Japan are thin

Chanellia says:
Wed, 22nd Oct 200811:58 pm

Ehm .. Isn't that better to have body like Josh Holloway or Jake Gyllenhaal ? They are a lot more healthier , even JT and the Gossip Girl's boys looks better and still cute .

When i saw Japanese celebrities(especially the male) , they are so thin . I thought it's their natural metabolism . But , i think it's better not to be that skinny …. it's wierd to see skinny guy and think that he's hot .

yk12369 says:
Mon, 30th Mar 20096:01 pm

of course ,it's my type. and i really like skinny cute j-actors.

i don't like and afraid muscular boys.

MYM says:
Sat, 25th Apr 20096:59 pm

the funny thing is i absolutely adore skinny cute guys from japan but if its a relationship, no matter your nationality, personality,or looks, it just makes me feel uncomfortable if you look to me as the protector b/c it makes me feel like i'm a man.thats how i receive it because i'm pessimistic lol

vs says:
Thu, 25th Jun 200912:21 am

i love japanese guys skinny or masculine they all work for me

Mark Martinez says:
Tue, 9th Feb 20106:48 am

No way, I won't go skinny… I used to be so thin cuz of my high metabolism, Didn't like it one bit. I felt weak and mostly out of energy. How would I have fun with my fiance, pick her up and stuff if I'm always out of breath and can't lift ??? Ah you know.

Mark Martinez

your creatine powder test lab

Yiyi says:
Tue, 9th Feb 201011:42 pm

LOL i have a boyfriend like that atm, except he isn't skinny haha. But he does act like the way you described… =|

I have full control as well.. so i'm not complaining DDD

♥

cafefadein says:
Mon, 5th Jul 20107:23 am

Japanese like many Asians are naturally skinny but it's more about their wimpy attitudes and they can't be depended on to defend their girlfriends if their lives depended on it.

Perry Rhinitis says:
Mon, 4th Oct 20104:41 pm

I like abs and biceps and pecs in men. So this trend is a no-no for me. The Japs can do whatever they like though. Not very much into them in the first place.

sally says:
Mon, 11th Oct 20109:53 pm

japanese guys are sooooooooooooooo gorgeous. *__* my boyfriend is chinese, but…he was a bad boyfriend until recently, and well…i am going to japan and marrying a japanese guy.

i hope hes not a total wimp tho >o> but gaaaawwww and the newest generations doesnt have lovers and go out getting drunk and passing out all over

Beautiful japanese man of my dreams…wait for me 10 more months~~~

guy says:
Tue, 10th May 20112:39 pm

This is plagiarism. New York Times wrote an article exactly as this one is written. You should remove it or atleast give them credit.

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