Anyone for a 'Gaijin san set'?

[craftsman]

A website called Japan Probe has brought the world to the attention of some questionable disguises on sale via Rakuten, the online shopping site.

Here is the 'Gaijin san set':

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/goldstar/308304/1769609/#1332896

Can you see the lifelike eyebrows and perfectly formed gaijin nose? You mean it doesn't look like you?

How about seeing them on the Japanese model...maybe you'll change your mind...

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/partygoodsland/jg-6156/

Yep.....Wow! Hello Mr.Gaijin san.


But not everyone of us has illuminous yellow hair so they came up with another style, perhaps looking more to the middle east for inspiration...

Yes, the 'black bearded gaijin' set.

Superb ideas for Christmas, Halloween, committing crimes...

Personally I find these to be funny things to wear as a joke costume but there's a part of me saying there's been a line crossed here somewhere.

So is it offensive or funny? Er...or neither?

 

[Ewok85]

Neither, I've seen worse that play on stereotypes And my nose looks nothing like that, its at least 4 times bigger....

 

[Maciamo]

I think this can gives clues on the connotation of the term "gaijin" in Japan. This kind of "gadget" could reflect either the mindset :

- "You are different from us ! Hahaha !" (childish differentiation)

- "You are not an ethnic Japanese" (different looks)

or even :

- "Wow ! You are better than me !" (awe)

 

[Kinsao]

I just think that's funny.

Although... if there was a shop here sold something like that as a joke to make you "look Japanese", I bet they'd be called out in no time as being "racist"... ☝

 

[caster51]

if there was a shop here sold something like that as a joke to make you "look Japanese", I bet they'd be called out in no time as being "racist"...

i want to buy it.
Round glasses,protruding tooth ...

 

[Kinsao]

^ haha, yeah. XD
it'd never be allowed, though...

 

[nice gaijin]

I always found the white foreigner costumes on tv to be over-the-top, but it's so obviously done on purpose. Who knows, in 50 years, maybe it'll seen as the blackface of Japan, but I don't see too much of a comparison today. Blackface wasn't just a costume, it was an entire personae; Japanese comedians donning the big nose don't necessarily follow the same formula.

To be honest, I don't really care, it's obvious that few if any foreigners look like that anyways. The glasses and nose have just become iconic imagery for a comic portrayal of foreigners. I think it's too over-the-top to be an overt expression of racism (though people probably said the same things about blackface back in less sensitive times).

 

[twinklestar]

LOL I can't understand the fuss over this marketed big-nose disguise novelty merchandise,there are prominant Asian comic books often depict Western male as " hairy *caveman " and ridicule black as charcoal little African tribesman's coarse curly kinky hair resulted from some sort of hand held self-inflicted fire explosion LOL


* vision it a pre-historic version of Fred Flintstone ( American cartoon = The Flintstone )

 

[craftsman]

Caster 51 & Kinsao, I think I found something close - not Japanese but Chinese - but from the looks of the ad you'd probably be at least fifty years too late to buy it!

 

[caster51]

I think this image is...

I like it is there the Japanese that feel anything bad about this pic.?
i think it is just funny.

 

[Nicholas0016]

This is the most intristing thread I have ever read, lol!

 

[Davey]

Do I look like a Japanese now?:

Or maybe a Japanese sumo :

 

[craftsman]

Caster 51, some marvellous stereotypes there.

You've given me some ideas to change into the next time my area do the 'run around the track and dress like a gaijin' race complete with pointy cardboard for the nose at my local sports day. (Yes, they've done it twice now)

I think we need to blame good old Dr.Seuss for that classic propaganda image as before he was entertaining children with his Cat in the Hat, he was doing this.....




Almost...but not quite as cute as the cat.

Dutch Baka, ...but I thought you were slim and had short hair!!?