Dude.... Welcome to reality. No, japanese high school girls do not look the same as they do in manga. Sorry to break it to ya. No long socks, no short skirts, no tight shirts. Again I am sorry. Blame God. I didn't make reality.

What Google shows on the topic:
link, link, link, link, link

And below is what the cool/hot (whatever floats your boat) girls wear:
link

[img]http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/6818/29042893.png[/img]
[img]http://img.userbars.pl/69/13603.gif[/img]

Quote from ahoaho

Quote from blakraven66

Was there really a need to quote that just to say a four word reply that wasn't even relevant to the topic?

Besides, that post is nowhere near the longest post ever made in MU.

Sorry, I was just REALLY bored. BTW was it necessary for you to point out the meaninglessness of my meaningless post?

I really want to go to japan so that I can experience the culture first hand.

Not really, just had an impulse to say it so you don't do it again. I apologize if I offended you...

BTW, do they really change shoes when going to school? If so, why?

Quote from xtr3m3dude

Dude.... Welcome to reality. No, japanese high school girls do not look the same as they do in manga. Sorry to break it to ya. No long socks, no short skirts, no tight shirts. Again I am sorry. Blame God. I didn't make reality.

What Google shows on the topic:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Japanese_schoolgirls_walking_and_eating.jpg/800px-Japanese_schoolgirls_walking_and_eating.jpg
http://a5.vox.com/6a00b8ea06ece0dece00d4141b0ebd6a47-500pi
http://www.dsphotographic.com/g2/11444-3/Sanjusangendo+-+003.jpg
http://marynewton.typepad.com/weblog/images/img_0204.jpg
http://www.ljplus.ru/img3/d/k/dkphoto/j_12.jpg

I've seen pics like these a long time ago, I hold no illusions as to japanese girls and hotness in sailor fukus. I was just wondering if it's all that prevalent. Oh one more thing... are there really that many "punks" and gangs around? I seriously doubt it but who knows? And do they all have that obnoxious weird hairstyle that looks kinda like elvis hair?

Quote from funkmu1

Quote from xtr3m3dude

Dude.... Welcome to reality. No, japanese high school girls do not look the same as they do in manga. Sorry to break it to ya. No long socks, no short skirts, no tight shirts. Again I am sorry. Blame God. I didn't make reality.

What Google shows on the topic:
link, link, link, link, link

I've seen pics like these a long time ago, I hold no illusions as to japanese girls and hotness in sailor fukus. I was just wondering if it's all that prevalent. Oh one more thing... are there really that many "punks" and gangs around? I seriously doubt it but who knows? And do they all have that obnoxious weird hairstyle that looks kinda like elvis hair?

Haha, yeah I wonder about those Elvis style "punks/hooligans" too.
I wouldn't know whether to laugh or cry if someone with that hairstyles beats me up.

[img]http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/6818/29042893.png[/img]
[img]http://img.userbars.pl/69/13603.gif[/img]

@xtr3m3dude uh, could you change or shorten the link using the [url=(link)](name of link)[/url] function since your link is "breaking" the site layout

I'd like a little bit of an elaboration on the subject of Valentines day. In manga, about 50% of girls seem to give away love chocolate to guys. About 5% of the male population receives these chocolates. Is this statistically accurate?

And furthermore, do a large group of girls really confess to the guy they love with chocolate, or are things most likely received by guys already in relationships (Like I'd expect)?

And lastly, do they really form secret admiration clubs around people that are hot in Japanese high schools? That's always seemed pretty farfetched...

This signature was recovered from Hades to serve in my rotting armies.

Quote from blakraven66

@xtr3m3dude uh, could you change or shorten the link using the [url=(link)](name of link)[/url] function since your link is "breaking" the site layout

I would, but [url=(link)](name of link)[/url] doesn't work for me for some reason.

[img]http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/6818/29042893.png[/img]
[img]http://img.userbars.pl/69/13603.gif[/img]

I hope no one complains about my longs posts again...I'm just trying to answer questions...

BTW, do they really change shoes when going to school? If so, why?

Some schools do, some schools don't. Depends on the style of the school. In all elementary schools I've been to, we have to change into slippers before going in because the floor is squeaky clean and made of wood. In my university, we only take off our shoes when we go to the kendo/archery halls, and the assembly hall where everyone sits on the floor. I have no research on this, but common sense tells me it's just to keep the place clean because people sit on the floor.

I've seen pics like these a long time ago, I hold no illusions as to japanese girls and hotness in sailor fukus. I was just wondering if it's all that prevalent. Oh one more thing... are there really that many "punks" and gangs around? I seriously doubt it but who knows? And do they all have that obnoxious weird hairstyle that looks kinda like elvis hair?

Some "fashion-forward" girls intentionally fold up their skirts after classes or when they're outside school already to look "sexier"---> it makes it look a lot shorter, like in manga. And gangs...no, they don't have the weird hair. 😀 And I don't really know if there are a lot of them around. In the place where I lived there was this district that everyone avoided (and that I've never dared to go to) because everyone said it was the lair of gangs. I've seen them from afar. They're all in black leather jackets with motorcycles. Much like how they stereotypically look.

In manga, about 50% of girls seem to give away love chocolate to guys. About 5% of the male population receives these chocolates. Is this statistically accurate?

Of course not. XD Some girls actually give chocolates to the guys they like, but most people just give it to friends, and there's really no one guy who monopolizes all the chocolates. No confessions on the rooftop or screaming fangirls or anything like that. It's not as romantic as it's portrayed in manga. XD You're right about girlfriends giving it to their boyfriends---that's a staple, and that's the majority of 'romantic' chocolates being given. Confessions on valentine's day are very few and far in between. Most girls would just confess on any other day (and not in a dramatic way like in manga), no need to wait for valentine's.

And lastly, do they really form secret admiration clubs around people that are hot in Japanese high schools?

Of course not. I've never heard of one, I've never heard of anyone talking about one, and I don't really hear girls fawning over guys. 😀 But then again, I studied in a university and I only spent a few hours a month in high schools, so if there are I wouldn't know. XD

[img]http://img.userbars.pl/69/13603.gif[/img]

Quote from funkmu1

1 - Regarding female fashion:
Do girls usually wear socks that are either up to their knees or up past their thighs, what blows my mind the most is how those long socks up the thighs stay up without garters. (in america girls either wear leggings, stockings, or ankle socks among other things.).

2 - Regarding lolita fashion. How many lolitas do u really see walking in the street? Is it REALLY common or moderately common. Same goes for ganguro.

3 - Regarding kareoke (butchered spelling) bars. Is it really extraordinarily common for there to be that many kareoke bars around and are they really that popular in japan?

4 - Regarding school uniforms. Do MOST schools have uniforms or are there actually quite a number of schools that allow free dress?

5 - Is valentines day really like that in japan? (you should know what I mean) and WTF is White day exactly besides the day guys repay girls.

1- this, i have never seen before in real life. at worst, all i've seen are those wearing really baggy socks.

2 - not actually THAT common. for both, its been around for awhile now, so even if they show up every now and then, its no new surprise. plus, the japanese are very reserved people, so most times, they try to ignore what they deem unnatural to them and mind their own business. all in all, its as natural as seeing a guy sporting a mohawk in the city. not VERY common (tho it depends where you live), but when you do see one, you go "wow" (or "ugh"), without being too expressive about it, and tell yourself its nothing new...

3 - i do remember reading somewhere that it was very popular. although this was a few years ago, so it might've changed now...

4 - this, i cannot be 100% certain. i like to believe that the more prestigious private school, the ones usually having a lot of or specifically for foreign students, allow free dress style. but then again, i only got this from mangas and anime, so don't trust me on that...

5 - yes, feb. 14th is for girls to give the guys chocolate or other accessories that shows interests in romance or simple greatfulness. march 14th (white day) is when the roles are reversed; the guys give the girls. although for the latter, i'm not quite certain if its for every guy or only for those who received sumthin' on valentine's day as sort of a thank you reply to girl.

as for how valentines day became this way in japan, i believe i read a note in one of the manga i read that went SOMETHING (I may be wrong) like this; right after the bombing of hiroshima, japan surrendered to the US, and had american soldiers stationed there for awhile. now if you've seen memoirs of a geisha or fighter in the wind or the like, you'd know how popular the americans were to some of the younger japanese women back then. from there they picked up some western influences (i.e: the way they dress), and among one of them was the concept of valentine's day. this was widely popular with the womenfolk back then, hence it was the day when the girls give chocolates to the guys. it wasn't a while later that men started to get into the groove of it. however, since valentine's day was like a day for women by then, the men instead celebrated their version a month later.

now you might be asking: "the west was already influencing the japanese long before WWII, so why did it take after it for valentine's day to start there?" my answer? i wouldn't know for sure. the note i read specifically said it was after the war. as for xombiecorp's question: on feb. 14th, in japan, when a girl gives you a chocolate, it can mean 2 things: an interest in romance, or she's giving it to you out of pure respect or a way to say thank you to you for something. the latter is the most common.

as for people forming a fan club over someone being hot, i think it was a comedic exaggeration of how a group of people always swoon over and talk about said person, which kinda spread from one manga to others like wildfire. but then again, with a group of hormone charged japanese teens, it doesn't sound too farfetched.

as for the yankees' (punks/hooligans) hairstyle, the poumpadour, for decades, it was pretty abundant up till the 90's. it was kinda like a symbol of power for the young generation back then. now? you'll see them from time to time, but sometimes, the person only sport it out of pure fashion than anything else.

Quote from funkmu1

Regarding female fashion:
Do girls usually wear socks that are either up to their knees or up past their thighs, what blows my mind the most is how those long socks up the thighs stay up without garters. (in america girls either wear leggings, stockings, or ankle socks among other things.).

🤣 Actually some Americans do wear these. like me. I have some knee high and thigh high ones for wearing under skirts and dresses. They are more comfortable than sock tights and they stay up well enough. You can get garters, elastic bands or the famous Japanese sock glue to help keep them up.

I wouldn't say it is usual in Japan so much as something that comes and goes with the fashion. When I was in Japan I didn't see it but at the time style was the baggiest socks you could get (literally layers of folds drooping down) held up with sock glue, The style has most likely changed now.

Quote from funkmu1

• Regarding kareoke (butchered spelling) bars. Is it really extraordinarily common for there to be that many kareoke bars around and are they really that popular in japan?

Yes,. When I was there Kareoke was like starbucks here. On every corner. (at least in the tokyo shopping district). Super cheap too. I didn't see as much public Kareoke like we have here though. At the place we went you rented a small room (super cheap) that had couches and painted (glowy) murals, got free drinks and just sang with your group. No need to publically embarass yourself.

"Tu es responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as approvoise." Le Renard en "The Little Prince" Antoine de St. Exupery.

This has been quite an eye opener. Also are there really as many perverted old lechers or just disgusting perverts who prey on women as they supply in anime? I mean they exist everywhere, but anime and manga tend to make it seem as if there is a HUGE population base of perverts in Japan. (lol what if they had a pervert convention?). Also, you know the comiket or whatever it's called that the gang in Genshiken go to? IS IT LIKE THAT? Cuz if it is, Otakus are a scary bunch.

EDIT: Japanese people have to be the most perverted group of people in the world, can I get a clarification on this? It says it (indirectly) in wiki, and directly on a G4TV poll (with Germany, the US and England behind japan).

EDIT EDIT: How consumer are the japanese vs americans? I've always thought of japan as almost rediculously shallow and consumer as America, so I wonder if that's true?

Quote from funkmu1

This has been quite an eye opener. Also are there really as many perverted old lechers or just disgusting perverts who prey on women as they supply in anime? I mean they exist everywhere, but anime and manga tend to make it seem as if there is a HUGE population base of perverts in Japan. (lol what if they had a pervert convention?). Also, you know the comiket or whatever it's called that the gang in Genshiken go to? IS IT LIKE THAT? Cuz if it is, Otakus are a scary bunch.

I lived in Japan for a year. I came back three times after that. I've never been violated nor have I heard of one. I do hear people telling me to be careful when I'm on trains when it's late at night---because they hear that's when it usually happens. When salarymen go to bars after work then get drunk, then have to go home by the train. If it does happen (and maybe it really does, because on rush hour, the main trains segregates males and females), it's really just the drunk guys at midnight. I doubt anyone goes inside a train and just randomly touches women.

Quote from funkmu1

EDIT: Japanese people have to be the most perverted group of people in the world, can I get a clarification on this? It says it (indirectly) in wiki, and directly on a G4TV poll (with Germany, the US and England behind japan).

I'm not sure what you mean by perverted, but if you mean hentai, yes, they are very open about it. Hentai stores don't even try to hide hentai---it's just there displayed for everyone to see. Most major manga buildings (like gamer and animate) have a hentai section that's usually in the basement, and anyone can just go in there. See, kids are in the ground floor searching for the next Naruto volume, but just beside them is a set of stairs with posters of naked women on the wall, leading to the Hentai section.

If you're just looking for those loser-perverted guys (like in Genshiken), there's no other place where they come in droves but in Akihabara (because Akiba is not only the center for electronics, it's also the center for anime, manga, and video games). To satisfy demand, there are numerous cute ladies in cosplay mode promoting their stores to these men. And these guys stare and oggle at them like there's no tomorrow. LOL. I've been to Akiba tons of times...I'm sure I have a few pictures over here...I'll upload them so you can see. 😀

Quote from funkmu1

EDIT EDIT: How consumer are the japanese vs americans? I've always thought of japan as almost rediculously shallow and consumer as America, so I wonder if that's true?

Hmmm...can you be more specific?
I mean, there'll always be people who long for designer brands (they love Luis Vitton), but most people, and this week's Time Magazine can back me up on this, would rather go for quality stuff with no brand or logo. With most high-schoolers and university students having part-time jobs and therefore earning money for themselves, consumer activity is pretty high, shopping districts are always oozing with people.

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Whoa, good thread! I was actually thinking of starting up something like this, but since it's here I'll just go in with the flow.

Questions:

1. Who's more likely to confess, the girls or the boys? In my country (Philippines) it's somewhat of a cultural no-no. Since in some mangas and animes there's a fairly considerable ratio of girls confessing, I'd like to know if it's a depiction of Japanese culture or just a storytelling supposition.

2. How's Black Day in Japan like? If I remember right, Japan is one of those countries who celebrate it.

3. In Akihabara, are there still those who sell old games like those on PS1? I'm thinking of visiting Japan for those if they are for my vacation. It's hard to find them here or even online -.-

Quote from blackborne

3. In Akihabara, are there still those who sell old games like those on PS1? I'm thinking of visiting Japan for those if they are for my vacation. It's hard to find them here or even online -.-

Yeah there are tons of old games used. One of our group picked up chrno trigger really cheap.

"Tu es responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as approvoise." Le Renard en "The Little Prince" Antoine de St. Exupery.

As promised, here's a few pictures I took of Akihabara during my most recent visit to Japan (around 6 months ago). Look at the hordes of geeks. XD Especially the ones around the girl in the Yuna cosplay. XD Most of the girls in cosplay are working (promoting stores, products, etc.)

[url]http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v31/shuro/Akihabara/[/url]

Maybe I should upload Harajuku next. XD

Quote from blackborne

1. Who's more likely to confess, the girls or the boys?

Girls can confess as much as guys do. It's not really a 'cultural no-no', because the girls don't actually 'court' the guys or anything. They just say "I like you", and that's that. The ball's in your court.

Quote from blackborne

2. How's Black Day in Japan like? If I remember right, Japan is one of those countries who celebrate it.

I don't know...I've never celebrated it when I was there, nor did I know anyone who did. I've never even heard it before...

Quote from blackborne

3. In Akihabara, are there still those who sell old games like those on PS1? I'm thinking of visiting Japan for those if they are for my vacation. It's hard to find them here or even online -.-

Yes. You can find anything games and electronics in Akiba---even old-school ones. They have tons of specialty stores. No worries.

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