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Model Melody Yoko -- in tune with a changing Japan

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16 Comments
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"ultra-conservative"? Sheesh.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Wow, I'd like to personally thank the JT staff for posting that picture!

4 ( +7 / -3 )

senwei258, yes, based on that picture, she seems to consist mostly of legs.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

"hafu" omg but I hate this word. half what? half human being? I would prefer the proper "japanese american", "french japanese" terms, even if it's longer to say. They don't use this word in the news for other mixed races like "アラブ系フランス人” ”ドイツ系アメリカ人" why the heck being born in Japan you have to been told your whole life you're just half something?

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Russell Peters said it best when said that "soon there will be no white, black, brown, red or yellow, there will just beige". Since we are all pretty much the same under that 'skin label', when will the old cronies finally give up and get with the times? I'm guessing "when they're six feet under" as the saying goes.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

there are very attractive Japanese and Caucasian women/men, but when you mix the two you get some exotic and special, Melody Yoko, Jun Hasegawa, Jessica Michibataare proof of that, long legs on Japanese women is just WOW!

checkout http://s24.postimg.org/5n2jvoel1/Clipboard.jpg

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

She says she is terrible in the morning. She must be hard to get along with.

-1 ( +2 / -4 )

Being "haafu" is the best of both world. Needless to say, it does not mean being arrogant, conceited or thinking that you are better than anyone else. You have to accept yourself as you are to come to terms with those aspects of yourself that you cannot change. It means to have self-respect, a positive self-image, and unconditional acceptance. It also means having a healthy regard for yourself knowing that you are a worthy human being and that each of us is unique and has specific talents and abilities to offer. You cannot sit around and wait for approval from others. Therefore work on accepting yourself and be the best you can.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I knew the "legs" comments would flood in. GOodlucky to her. Hope Hollywood casts her soon. She's not hafu. She's double.!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

in tune with a changing Japan

Good luck with that. Japan hates change. And there's change it happens very slowly. A half-Japanese model calling for change in Japan?

Wow. Look at the uproar the Japanese caused when Ariana Miyamoto represented Japan in Miss Universe.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

“I think that it’s our time maybe.”

Wow so she does feel separate but feel connected as one hafu! I agree with her the world is changing and the face of Japan is too with all of the international marriages soon the Off springs of these mix marriage will have a lot to say in Japan in the future! Yes yes Miss Japan Ariana Miyamoto is beautiful and as she said the haters will hate but change is going to come like or not!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Thunderbird:

I would prefer the proper "japanese american"

They don't use this word in the news for other mixed races like "アラブ系フランス人” ”ドイツ系アメリカ人"

These three examples you give do not refer to mixed race people but rather citizens of one country whose families originated in another country. So they are not analogous. You might have a point with "french japanese" but I have never heard that used about anyone ever.

I agree that "haafu" is a silly simplification and a wish to categorise which can be irritating. It will be good when the term becomes unnecessary.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Question. Is she known in Japanese language media as just melody yoko? Or full name melody yoko reilly?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They don't use this word in the news for other mixed races like "アラブ系フランス人” ”ドイツ系アメリカ人" why the heck being born in Japan you have to been told your whole life you're just half something?

Because it's mostly a homogeneous society. They'll will always frown on hafu. . . . look how they tormented Becky. Look at the fuss Japan caused when Ariana Miyamoto represented Japan. Everyone was like "She's not Japanese."

http://www.newsweek.com/why-does-no-one-care-japanese-are-openly-racist-364129

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

"hafu" omg but I hate this word. half what? half human being?

Half ethnically Japanese. Maybe, hopefully, a better word (e.g. an actual Japanese word) will spring up in time, but the meaning of the current term is pretty clear. People jump to criticise it on a nationality basis quite often, but it's an ethnic word. Whether that's good or bad is up to you, but the points debated should be relevant to the word's actual meaning.

why the heck being born in Japan you have to been told your whole life you're just half something?

And what of someone of mixed parentage who's born and raised outside of Japan, and never took Japanese citizenship? 'Half' can still be equally applied to them. It's not just for people living in Japan.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I agree Disco. And it's not like this term isn't used overseas. I grew up telling people I was 1/2 this and 1/4 that, and so did most everyone else I know. The word in and of itself is not bad whatsoever. Some people use it in a bad way. But some people use "you people" in a bad way too - and those words are not bad in and of themselves either.

With hafu, it's not the term that is bad, it is the intent (when it is used in a negative manner).

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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