Does Japan view male sexiness differently?

[Buzzer]

That is very true. There's always some kind of magic or force that they use to make themselves powerful even if they themselves aren't physically powerful, like how Naruto characters use chakra. And you're probably right, a lot of Japanese media wants to relate to the person viewing it. Since, like the others said, many Japanese people are very slender, they wouldn't feel as connected to a muscle bound super hero and would rather see the smaller guy rise victorious.

As a very broad generalization, I would say that Japanese culture more highly prizes skill and cunning, in that order, before physical or pure raw strength. Even if you go back and watch some of the very old black and white movies or read books that precede the movie era about swordsmen in Japan, the emphasis is always on their skill and dedication to their craft and art--- not to how often they work out, or how well defined their bodies were. Physical fighting in Japan is often viewed in a psychological way as well as a physical way that is not anywhere near so emphasized in the Western viewpoint.

[Bowyn Aerrow]

Well Clearly in the example you picked out, the Japanese believe its the size of a man's sword that counts. I guess size does matter.

I doubt that all Japanese turn to cartoons to identify masculinity. I would assume with their long history and culture, their low meat diet, and a decided desire to make everyone slim that the overall impression of 'healthy' is slim.

Until the Westernized Diet hit Asia, men were typically shorter and more compact. They had their strength (physical) but didn't need huge bulking muscle to be strong.

Then Japan has this whole honor and family pride and work ethic and other intangibles that they adhere to. I fear western societies is more about the physical appearance of a 'man's worth' than his inner strengths and better qualities, such as honor.

BTW, Nagasaki got Bombed not because the Japanese didn't know when to give up, it got bombed because the Japanese have this complex 'code of honor' thing going on and the language used in the initial 'surrender' agreement was misunderstood as refusal to surrender when in fact the Japanese were seeking a honorable surrender.

This should be a clue as to where the Japanese places importance on a man's 'value'....

[Kenny221]

Well, I find that east puts an emphasis on beauty rather then sexiness. Just basing on most observations, beauty seems to have a huger impact then 'sexiness'. It seems like boy Beauty in most eastern countries usually involves a pretty face , and a slim long agile build. That's what I've noticed when watching mangas or animes where a man is suppose to be attractive, they usually follow the same build of being pretty ,slim and tall/long limbs.

[TonyAndonuts]

Beauty like this guy

[Chris]

Japan is also very interesting country regarding gay people. For a long time they didn't see nothing wrong in homosexual feelings. But after all a man should got married and had children. Cheating on his wife with was socially acceptable (it was throughout the past, see the figure of samurai and his servant). The most important thing was to elongate the family. Situation slightly changed in twentieth century and homosexuality became a crime probably thanks to the UK. Then it was removed but there is hardly any homophobia. On the other hand there are also hardly any activists. They see things differently. Interesting case.

[BYoNexus]

Look at Cloud. One of the most popular pretty boys in RPG history. Now how in the heck can he carry that giant ass sword with those tiny ass arms?

Answer: He was infused with mako energy in an attempt to turn him into another Sephiroth Clone. It failed, but that infusion give people supernatural strength...

[Buzzer]

Japan is also very interesting country regarding gay people. For a long time they didn't see nothing wrong in homosexual feelings. But after all a man should got married and had children. Cheating on his wife with was socially acceptable (it was throughout the past, see the figure of samurai and his servant). The most important thing was to elongate the family. Situation slightly changed in twentieth century and homosexuality became a crime probably thanks to the UK. Then it was removed but there is hardly any homophobia. On the other hand there are also hardly any activists. They see things differently. Interesting case.

There were also some Buddhist sects in Japan that advocated homosexual sex as a form of worship, and there was also a tradition called shudo among the samurai class, where a slightly older warrior became the lover of a younger one, similar to ancient Greek pederasty and the round shield society although in many shudo relationships the warriors were of similar ages.

[Vigilias]

"Anime" We called them cartoons int' olden days!

[SilverBullet]

Very interesting post, I haven't really noticed much that was brought up here before just kinda seen it with ought really seeing it .

[partis]

basing what an entire nation finds attractive on their animation would be like saying that all american people find geeky heroin addicts hot because that's what shaggy from scooby doo looks like.


much like every other country , japanese people have different things they find attractive . some people like guys with a lot of muscle . some don't . crazy.

But not all american cartoon characters look like shaggy. He was just asking a question, based on what he see’s.