Japanese Teeth
All the news that fits. Or doesn't fit.
Mr. Magoo was one of the first targets of political correctness. Especially bad was Hashimoto. He had buck teeth the size of a beaver's. So when I went to Japan I kept an eye out. Buck teeth are rare. I think this image came from American war propaganda. But after a while I noticed that teeth were different. A very few J people have extreme teeth that stick out all over the place. That caught my attention. What's going on is that J people tend to have narrow jaws. Sometimes the jaw is longer, almost like a snout. Other times the teeth are squeezed into two irregular rows. Once you get sensitized you notice that about half of people have at least a trace of this. Pop stars and models and other people selected for their beauty don't have it, but with the teeth you can still be popular as the funloving informal person who enjoys life so much they overwhelm others' judgements and carry them along like an irresistible tide.
Then there’s singer/dancer Suzaku Nakamoto of BABYMETAL fame. They say she had braces but it looks more like palate-widening surgery to me. Ouch.
……………………………………………..Suzuka Nakamoto before and after……………………………………………
Suzuka became an “idol” as a child. The irregular two-row teeth are considered cute but the now-adult BABYMETAL has gone for a more serious warrior style. That alteration must have hurt a lot, but if you want to remain a star you gotta do what you gotta do.
Japan is a monoculture. Everybody looks mostly the same and of the same size and build and the social code is very restrictive. On the other hand no place is more fiery, more passionate. The icon on their national flag is an enormous fireball. The way it works is that there is the formal rigid everyday culture, then a big underground nighttime "floating world" where you get drunk and can do any weird thing you want as long as it's harmless.
Japanese people are like Fujiyama. It's peacefully covered with cooling snow most of the time but on appropriate occasions it explodes and spews lava all over the place. Here's an example: Carry On My Wayward Son at a Yamaha competition. Now that's Japan.
Hi Patrick, I admire your "in your face stance. But suggesting Japan is a monoculture says much more about your current relationship with Japan than the folks living there. Check out Speedtribes for an ancient look at Tokyo pre-internet culture.
A phone is the worst way to navigate the train system, unless you use Hyperdia (an app!). Take your time, learn about the different train lines. They've got history.
Tokyo is a country in terms of size and culture. And within Tokyo there are lots of different cultures. Many folks in other parts of Japan regard Tokyo inhabitants the same way many Americans think of people in New York, or LA., regional people in France think of Paris, or those in north, south, and east England think of London. People in some parts of Japan can't understand the Japanese spoken by their fellow-citizens from different prefectures. Experience the diversity. It's real. And Japan is a great place as a base for further explorations in Asia. Relax, explore, and enjoy! Best wishes.