JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
-
In an OECD survey of 36 nations on people's perceptions of their living conditions, Japan ranked 21st in terms of quality of life; Australia, Norway and the U.S. were the top 3. What do you think of that?
( 12 )
-
The Fukuoka mayor is banning public servants from drinking alcohol for a month; the Osaka mayor has declared war on tattoos on civil servants. What do you think of all this?
( 21 )
-
Why do you think Facebook's stock failed to live up to the hype in its trading debut?
( 13 )
-
Which sport, when played well, do you think is the most exciting to watch?
( 62 )
-
What's the difference between an average burger and a great one?
( 12 )
-
- Business Teaching Positions - Part-time - Kanto Region
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥3,000 ~ ¥5,000 / Hour
-
- National Relief/Substitute Teacher - summer start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥275,000 ~ ¥300,000 / Month
-
- 営業パーソン
- 加治金属工業株式会社, Tochigi
- Salary: ¥240,000 ~ ¥350,000 / Month Negotiable
Order by Time Order by Popularity
48 Comments
Login to comment
1
84jenk
They wear it to prevent suntan.
-1
some14some
Because they are born in the land of the Rising Sun and want to absorb sunlight as much as they can :)
-1
ExRand
To hide what their doing with their fingers.
0
pamelot
They are a perfect accessory to full face visors.
2
Mike Walker
The reason is that they dont want to allow the ageing effects of UV in sunlight to make their skin look old and wrinkled,belying their age.They also dont like getting a suntan as white skin is considered more attractive and indicates purity.Tanned brown arms and hands could indicate you possibly work outside or are from the countryside. A no no in urban Japan. Sunlight will alter the structure of collegen in the skin over time, rigidifying it so it loses its elesticity.This results in a kind of reptilian appearance to skin exposed to sunlight.To prevent similar exposure to the face Japanese women use parasols.Of course covering up too much also has attendant health problems in that Vitamin D is not synthesized which can result in rickets and brittle bone disease as seen in some Arabic women.
-4
globalwatcher
Daaah.... Because Japanese men and women are not sensitive to colors of 4 beautiful seasons. They still wear black tights, .dresses and carry a black umbrella in mid June while I was there. They look so stuffy and made me sweat just looking at them..
1
miamum
I wear them because I have to ride my bike around 10kms every day, and having weak British skin and havng already had a bunch of foreign friends here with skin lesions that have needed to be removed I am not taking any chances. I also wear suscreen and a hat - not a visor that doesn`t protect the top of your head.
I don`t think Japanese worry so much about skin cancer though, it is more all about ageing.
Dunno why black though - that colour absorbs more heat and makes you hotter I thought? Mine are white.
1
paulinusa
Yes, for years I've seen white gloves. Never have seen black versions.
-2
zurcronium
The women who are attempting to protect their beauty no longer have it usually. Nothing really to protect.
It is a proven fact, the more they cover up the less there is really of interest to see.
Young beautiful women just wear sun screen probably.
1
Tamarama
So they don't have to have basal cell carcinomers, or melanoma cut out of their body later in life. So they don't have to use efudix to cook the sun-damaged, pre cancerous tumours that many of my fellow countrymen (including myself, and my father) develop through sustained exposure to UV rays. So they don't end up looking like an old leather bag at 40 years of age, like many of my fellow countrymen do. They are being smart, and they look great for it.
0
bass4funk
The funny thing is, is that exactly what zurcronium said, they are attempting to hold on to something that is not there or at least most guys wouldn't pay attention to. And it is true what Mike was saying about Arabic women and how vitamin D is synthesized through the body, ad to that the lack of milk women take in or calcium as a whole are all contributing factors. But what really gets me is, that many Japanese women work so hard to keep their skin perfect, but let their eyes go. Where Sunglasses, No Way. Do you have any idea how many people have cornea and cataract problems? As long as I have perfect skin, who cares if I'm blind or if I can't see worth a darn.
@Tamarama-Japanese women are not the only women that look great. There are millions of women that take care of their skin without looking like they wearing the latest Vampire fashion! My wife doesn't wear any of that and she is tall and pale (would love if she could get a tan, but she'll burn) and has smooth skin. She just really takes in vitamins, creams and lotions, she is fine. When I was in Korea, many women cover up, not as much as the Japanese, but I thought many of them looked way better.
But seriously, how can any woman feel comfortable with all that stuff on? Gloves, visor (which looks soooo ugly) Long pants, long-sleeves, I'm getting sweaty just writing this. It seems no one really goes to the beach in mass numbers. I love the breeze on my body, I try to stay cool and hydrated, but for the life of me I feel, if you are going to overdo it and cover up everything for fear of melanoma, just stay inside, close the shutters and hang upside down until dusk. I also know for a fact that most parasols don't block out 100% of UVA or UVB rays. I think many of these companies are trying to push their products on women and many women do do enough research, just follow the tradition of follow everyone else. Yes, I am all for protecting one's skin even if you are a man, but you don't have to overdo it.
-2
Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land
I hate those damn fake sleeves so much, as well as the huge brimmed hats or visors. Afraid of the sun? Add that to the phobia many Japanese have of dirt and germs and it starts to look like many people here would be happier living in a bubble with no contact whatsoever with the natural world. I'm waiting for the sun shade hats to start coming with mosquito nets attached lest an errant mosquito chance to pierce their precious skin.
You could also say, 'As long as I have perfect skin who cares if my teeth look like a bag of broken dominoes.' Not to mention the regular people walking around every day with teeth completely missing. Nobody seems to know that that kind of stuff can be fixed.
Moderator
Moderator: Please stay on topic. The question doesn't ask about teeth.
2
Serrano
It's sexy.
1
smithinjapan
It's always interesting to watch the oba-chan who have bee-keeper hats, dark visors, gloves, parasols, and wear enough padding to make an astronaut jealous walk around trying to preserve their looks. The sun does age you to an extent, granted, but that's what sunscreen is for. Either way, age will get you in the end (especially when as children the kids play out in the sun all day at school -- during summer holidays -- and get tanned as anything).
It's quite evident that women wear them to avoid the sun. Not sure why this is a question.... equally unsure why I am attempting to answer it. Hmmm...
0
Tamarama
Bass4funk
Sure, I know that. Interestingly, I thought the opposite was true about the Koreans - I thought way more used gloves and parasols there than in Japan, and you are right, they do look great. I'm just interested in stepping in to balance out another "those dumb, vain Japanese" type threads, when I think they; 1. have the right to make the choice without people bagging them for it, and 2. Are doing something quite sensible. So sensible in fact, that loads of my fellow countrymen would avoid serious sun damage if they followed suit. Oh but hang on, thats right, it's not COOL here. Roll on the skin cancers.
0
LoveNot
Because they do not realize they are ridiculous.
-3
ihavegreatlegs
Because it makes them sweat so much, that the vinegar from sushi comes out in their hands as well as their feet. That is why geta get sprayed at sushi ya with disinfectant.
-2
presto345
You are wrong.
0
miamum
I use them and BELIEVE me - I beg to differ big time! It`s actually pretty irritating, the attention I get here.
2
Zenny11
I don't mind the gloves but those full-face Visors got to go.
3
miamum
The face visors scare me. It`s like Darth Vader on a mama-chari coming at me at 30mph.
3
Ivan Coughanoffalot
I'm with the posters above. The ones who wear them, and the visors, always look like they've escaped from a mortuary slab.
You can spot the Japanese housewives on holiday easily. They're the ones lying by the pool, in the shade, entirely covered in blankets and towels with a folded-up T-shirt over their faces. They're afraid of everything, these people - other than looking like halfwits.
-1
edojin
They probably dress weird because they are trying to fight off allergies. I have a neighbor (a woman) who lives across the street and another one (also a woman) who lives nearby and both have allergies. Among the things that trigger these ailments is, believe it or not, fresh air. And they, too, cover up when they go outside. Both of them wear gloves and face masks. And there is another women who lives several blocks away who says that when her skin gets in contact with outside air, it aches. So, she, too, covers up when she goes out. I have seen them wearing both black and white cotton gloves. The woman across the street is now wearing rubber gloves when she rides her bicycle, the kind that people wear when they work with strong soap, etc. Could be she is thinking radiation ... But why some women wear only black gloves ... guess you'll have to ask them.
0
kview
As a sunscreen, black do block out more UV but they are higher heat absorber though. They will feel the heat but if they are thinking why not sweat it out as well .... then they reap the benefit of both advantages !
1
Cos
They should wear white and light colored ones like people from other countries. Why black ? Idem for tights. Fashion. They think that makes them look slimmer maybe. And yes, some believe like Kview that black fabric blocks more sun than white. Not the case. Fabric, any color, can block the rays.
"A no no in urban Japan. "
Also a no no in countryside gaikoku where my grand-mothers lived. The pretty apricot tan or just get red. Then the dull brown tan. Then the dirty looking "freckles", Then the black spots. Who wants that ? I am not impressed by the sun-tanned generation of my mother and aunts. No they are elderly with terrible skins, which is the least problem, and they can get laser to remove spots, botox, etc. . The concern is there are more of them that have got their skin cancer than that haven't yet. In places where they get way less sunlight than here.
If I can avoid repeating the mistake... I also cover myself carefully, for outdoor activities during the day, from May to November (in Osaka). It's easy to wear long sleeves and carry a parasol. Sunscreen cream gives me other skin problems if I use it too frequently. I keep it for occasions when there are no other options (water sports...).
I am not getting the "vampire skin" at all. Maybe I eat too much carotene loaded food. I think to get that color, they need more than avoiding the sun. Many bleach the skin with some cosmetics.
0
bass4funk
> They probably dress weird because they are trying to fight off allergies. I have a neighbor (a woman) who lives across the street and another one (also a woman) who lives nearby and both have allergies. Among the things that trigger these ailments is, believe it or not, fresh air. And they, too, cover up when they go outside. Both of them wear gloves and face masks. And there is another women who lives several blocks away who says that when her skin gets in contact with outside air, it aches. So, she, too, covers up when she goes out.
I mean, serious in all honesty, don't you find that rather strange the allergies, ailments etc. I think they don't have tough skin because of all that armor. their skin cannot properly get any nutrients from the sun and air because they protect it to much from all the natural elements. As I said before, you should take some precautions and not to overexpose yourself for a lengthy amount of time. Another problem that no seems to talk about is the amount of cosmetics that women use in this country, way too much, bleaches, whitening creams, you mean to tell me these products are good for their skin and health? I have traveled a lot and I don't think Japanese women have THE best skin in the world, it just depends on the individual, genetics, care. I have been in this country for 13 years and I have seen a lot of women with messed up skin, wrinkles, spots and I also think that when a lot of Japanese women start to wrinkle up, they really start to fall apart from that point. I have been to 3rd world countries where women use little or no make up and as they get older age quite well and they don't use umbrellas or gloves, visors. These women take care of their skin too, they just don't use all those gimmicks and chemicals. Because if you're ugly, you will be ugly and no umbrella, glove or visor (well, maybe that would...) will help improve your looks. By the way, you have a lot of good looking men in this country, how is it that they can look good, stay that way without using umbrellas? I have nice skin and I don't use those things.
3
bass4funk
But the problem is that no matter what you do, wrinkles and liver spots come with age. Yes, you can protect your skin, but here people overdo it as if they can avoid the inevitable. I think in Japan women tend to worry way to much about these things. The outside appearance is so important for women in this country. Cosmetics is a multi-billion dollar industry and these companies promise women magical benefits and solutions to every skin problem, but at the same time, I don't see a lot of women once they get to a certain age maintain their overall appearance, skin yes. Other parts of their body physically, often not so much. As far as the laser and botox issue is concerned, young women still do that, has nothing to do with age, maybe they don't talk about it openly or so much or spread that information to everyone, but they often do it. So to think that young women nowadays don't use laser or botox is a complete ruse.
-2
realteacher
Well duh, they cannot afford it and they don't live in a society that expects it.
Who comes up with these lame questions anyway?
0
bass4funk
Who comes up with these lame questions anyway?
Fine, let me rephrase that: Even the ones that can afford it still don't use it as much and still have amazing skin!
1
gogogo
They dont want to tan, everyone knows this.
0
Gwragged
I couldnt bear to wear these long gloves in this heat and humidity. Mia's mum, you must be gorgeous and provocative in those gloves, as I never receive unwanted attention. What is wrong with sun block anyway?
2
MrDog
Because the old women who wear them actually think that other people care about whether an old bag has sun-damaged skin on their hands or not.
0
CapnSinbad
My J-wife breaks out in a terrible rash whenever she gets too much sun and it's very painful, takes days to go away. Is this an isolated example ? Maybe they all have it.
-2
Serrano
"Because the old women who wear them"
20's is old?
0
bass4funk
Especially this year, I have been seeing more and more High school girls wearing them on their way to and from school.
@MrDog, I think people in Japan worry too much about what other people think, when in actuality NO ONE cares at all what anyone really thinks.
My wife just told me on her job some of her co-workers ask her why she doesn't cover up, but wears sunglasses, she said, she wants to protect her eyes, but for her skin, she just uses heavy sunblock, they think she might have changed while living in the states, but she has always been like that. She always thought wearing all that gear to her looked uncomfortable and she never believed those products work "that much" she likes tank tops and going to the beach, not sunbathing, but the water. (when it was safe to do so)
0
BurakuminDes
Many Japanese women are like Michael Jackson: they will do anything to be white. That may include bleaching their skin, expensive cosmetics - and yes - those ridiculous gloves in summer!
0
Osakadaz
I always assumed it was for eczema and atopic dermatitis.
0
2020hindsights
I think it's preferable to wearing greasy sunscreen, which is burdensome to apply. And you only need to wear it when you go outside. I think it is a good idea, but I'd rather see pretty girl's skin. ;-) Me? I burn easily and tend to cover up in tropical places. I don't lie in the sun either.
bass4funk
Sunglasses won't protect you from cornea or cataract problems.
0
bass4funk
@2020
I never said, that it would prevent, but "it does" protect and minimize extensive damage to the cornea and pre-mature macular degeneration, growths on the eye, "sometimes" leading to cancer, also photokeratitis (which is like a sunburn on the eye) as well as retina damage, I don't know what you are talking about, but wearing sunglasses and the overall health of your eyes should be the highest priority. I used to work as an optician for 10 years in the states and I have seen some pretty bad things that the sun can do. Please never think that contact lenses could substitute for sunglasses. Even if your contacts provide UV protection, still you need to wear sunglasses and should always. Personally, I enjoy looking at things, my eyesight is more important than walking around blind, but back to the topic. I am not against protecting one's skin, but there is a large segment of this society that covers up to the point that, I cannot see how any woman can in all honesty enjoy the summer weather with all that getup. Perhaps, I too, would probably hate the summer if I had to wear all that, long pants, shirts, visor, gloves, scarfs...think about it, covering up in the fall, covering up in the winter, covering up in spring, so when is it ok to give your skin a break??
0
Foxie
They wear black gloves instead of white gloves because the white ones get dirty very fast and need to be washed very often. Sure, those gloves protect from UV but by wearing them no vitamin D will be absorbed. Hence all the other effects when aging. What is the use of having no wrinkles but osteoporosis? People need to be educated that wearing suntan lotions and covering yourself up doesn't really protect them from cancer, it provokes it. If those people would make sure that they have enough of vitamin B, they wouldn't get sunburned in the first place. In addition to that, take some astaxanthin supplements and you never get sunburned again. Beauty comes from within and you are what you eat.
0
bass4funk
@Foxie, couldn't have said it better.
0
2020hindsights
Doesn't protect from cancer? Check studies done in the southern hemisphere about the effect of the sun on skin cancer. In what way does covering up provoke cancer?
I'd be the first to tell you how effective astaxanthin or vitamin B are on sunburn using me to experiment on, but I don't want to feel the pain of sunburn.
0
Foxie
2020hindsights, you obviously never had skin cancer unlike me. Mine was reoccuring, 25 times. The more I smeared those lotions on me, the more malignant tumors came out. That was until I got to know why and tried those methods. I will guarantee you that you will only get a slight sunburn the first days with no pain at all. I spend a lot of time in the sea and am constantly exposed to the sun, trust me. By covering your body up with clothes, you are preventing sunlight to come to your skin. Your skin needs sunlight because it contains vitamin D. Vitamin D prevents osteoporosis, depression, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and even effects diabetes and obesity.
Your risk of developing serious diseases like diabetes and cancer is reduced 50% - 80% through simple, sensible exposure to natural sunlight 2-3 times each week.
0
Foxie
Many sunscreens contain ingredients (like oxybenzone and methoxycinnamate) that are potent hormone disruptors and potential carcinogens. My advice is to never use these commercial sunscreens. Instead use organic zinc oxide sunscreen. Coconut oil keeps the skin strong and supple, preventing sagging, wrinkled skin. It protects from free radicals and is a natural sunscreen. It prevents dry skin, blemishes and liver spots. It even has the ability to restore and rejuvenate damaged skin. It heals and repairs, leaving the skin radiant and youthful. Most skin creams on the market actually do more harm than good because they are full of chemicals that may make your skin look nice in the short term, but will cause damage long term. And the best thing is that it is not even expensive and probably a lot cheaper than those black gloves.
0
TimeiClic
Good lord. What is it with this sentiment that everything has some kind of high level intelligent meaning in Japan...
The reason they wear the gloves is because they see other people do it, and sit at home watching the shopping channel where they are advertised, buy them, and then the next time they are out riding their rubbish mama-chari, wobbling all over the place, and they pass another woman wearing the same, they can feel like they are part of the club. Nothing more, nothing less.
0
miamum
Didn
t say what I wasnt wearing on my legs ;) ! No, seriously, I mean when the sun goes down and the gloves come off....or maybe its just because then the light is good!I use sunblock (factor 70!!!) and I STILL get a tan! Nothing at all wrong with that, and it stops me burning, but I am noticing more and more sun damage these days on my arms so I am trying to minimise that, and avoid the BCC`S that seem to be springing up on everyone around me at the moment.
0
miamum
I always swore blind years ago that I would never wear those things, but I have crossed over to the dark side now! They are also quite handy in that when you go indoors you can just pull `em off - long sleeved shirts and thigns are hotter and more uncomfortable and you then have to strip down going in, and dress up again going out. They are quite usefu for that reason too.
Back to top