Gray Hair of politicians is acceptable in Japan, how about others?

Astroboy · 26 Nov 2008

Perosnally I beleve .... one of characteristics of Japanese politicians is their appearance or lookings. Unfortunately I have to admit that Japanese politicians are "Shabby" but in other words "as it is".
However, perspective of other Asian leaders about appearance or looking is likely different from Japanese politicians.... Typically perception about "Gray Hair". In fact, I cannot remember the names of Gray Haired Leaders of China, South Korea, and other Asian countries.
"Gray Hair" is not acceptable in some Asian countries ? while it is acceptable in Japan ?
Gray Hair Koizumi

Completely Black Hair Hu-Jintao

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao --- Again completely black hair.

Astroboy · 26 Nov 2008

Former President of South Korea, Roh Moo Hyun. Completely Black without any piece of gray hair. Maybe he is very young?

New President of South Korea, Lee Myung-bak. Black Hair but Less Hair.

Astroboy · 26 Nov 2008

Shinzo Abe --- Maybe he is still young?

Taro Aso --- Maybe he is dyeing ?

Japan's 81st Prime Minister, Tomiichi Murayama - Partly Gray Hair

Astroboy · 26 Nov 2008

Both Kim of South and North are completely Black haired.

Astroboy · 26 Nov 2008

G W Bush is partly Gray Hair, I think.
Vice President Dick Chaney is completely Gray and less hair.

Must be Black Hair but less hair.

Astroboy · 26 Nov 2008

Taiwan New President is completely Black hair

Taiwan former President is also Black Hair.

Astroboy · 26 Nov 2008

Interesting article from Wall Street Journal.

President and party chief Hu Jintao, 64, still has black hair. Even his retired predecessor, 81-year-old Jiang Zemin, still turns up at major political events with a shiny black top.
"Political leaders need to go on television and are seen by the public. They need to show that they are in good health," says Wang Zhengrun, deputy chief executive of a state-owned insecticide-manufacturing plant, who colors his hair with an herbal preparation.

Some men in Japan and India dye their hair, too. But few countries are as averse to gray as China is. Japan's former prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, was famous for his salt-and-pepper locks. Current Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sports a gray beard and bushy white eyebrows below his trademark blue turban.

In America, dye jobs suggest vanity. George W. Bush has let his hair gray in the White House, as Bill Clinton had done.

http://online.wsj.com/public/articl...885-XBGf9QO8acpyCMCJyaX2eXOT1PY_20081210.html

Desire for Youthfulness ??

Drew-san · 26 Nov 2008

Astroboy said:
Desire for Youthfulness ??

It's probably more for their public image as was said in the article you posted.

"Political leaders need to go on television and are seen by the public. They need to show that they are in good health," says Wang Zhengrun

Astroboy · 26 Nov 2008

Political leaders need to go on television and are seen by the public. They need to show that they are in good health," says Wang Zhengrun

Mentality of Chinese politicians is likely the same as Italian.

Astroboy · 26 Nov 2008

ALL Blacks at China's National Congress

They must be aware that the public view them via TV.

Astroboy · 26 Nov 2008

ALL Blacks at S Korean Congress.

I cannot find any Gray Hair man.

JerseyBoy · 28 Nov 2008

In general, there is a false perception by the general Japanese public that you get smarter as you get older. Of course, some people keep building mental capacity as they get older through a variety of experiences over the course of years. But, some people are just getting older without any increased mental and intellectual capacity.

When I was with an American company in Japan, all of my staff are older than me (some key members of my staff were over 20 years older than me). But, I was very comfortable managing my team.

Typically in Japan, people look backward to their predecessors through the typical Japanese reverence toward older people. In USA and other Western countries, oftentimes, youth (or youthfulness even for the old people) is the strong positive in the culture, which also puts more emphasis on the posterity over the previous generation.

Astroboy · 29 Nov 2008

JerseyBoy said:
In general, there is a false perception by the general Japanese public that you get smarter as you get older. Of course, some people keep building mental capacity as they get older through a variety of experiences over the course of years. But, some people are just getting older without any increased mental and intellectual capacity.

When I was with an American company in Japan, all of my staff are older than me (some key members of my staff were over 20 years older than me). But, I was very comfortable managing my team.

Typically in Japan, people look backward to their predecessors through the typical Japanese reverence toward older people. In USA and other Western countries, oftentimes, youth (or youthfulness even for the old people) is the strong positive in the culture, which also puts more emphasis on the posterity over the previous generation.

It is true that respecting "Senpai" is still common in Japan. Paying due respect to seniors often help move team better, especially in manufcturing sector as seniors usually have more knowledge and skills. But it does not work out in financial business. So I wonder how Nomura will manage ex-Lehman Bros staff.

Either way, this thread is aimed to find out why Asian political leaders, excluding Japanese, care their black hair, while Gray hair, a sign of senior, is theoretically positve in Cofusian tradition of East Asian region.
Maybe Chinese/Korea/Taiwanese politicans see that Lookings are moe important than a sing of Senior (Wise/Skilled). And Japanese just don 't care. ☝

Drew-san · 29 Nov 2008

Thats already been addressed.

JerseyBoy · 29 Nov 2008

Astroboy said:
So I wonder how Nomura will manage ex-Lehman Bros staff.

Some of the top performers at Lehman jumped to other foreign-owned companies instead of staying there to be part of Nomura. I think I would have done the same in a hart beat if I were a Lehman employee (with the guaranteed pre-collapse Lehman-level pay by Nomura for a year or so).

My previous comment suggests "looking old" is virtue in Japan (for the traditional people - as I don's subscribe to that myself). So, typical Japanese politicians tend not to dye their gray hair to more youthful black. It's mostly for the sake of image to play the role in the rigged political theatre. Or, some of them are just not into fixing themselves up for better looks.

Gray Hair of politicians is acceptable in Japan, how about others?

Astroboy

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