Poster at a Tokyo subway station. Other than the obvious, what I also find funny about this poster is that they've written it in English as well. I've seen plenty of this (and hair curling) going on in the trains, but it has always been Japanese women. Would love to hear if anyone has seen a western woman preening herself like this on public transport.
I've never seen a western woman perform any sort of grooming behavior on herself in public (and I've been here nearly 20 years).
ReplyDeleteI think the English is there not to target foreigners but to draw attention to the sentiment. I've heard that English is included as much as a decorative element as a communicative one.
Besides, we have to realize that every bad habit and problem that ever has come to Japan is the result of foreign influence. :-p
Although this behavior is somewhat annoying, I see it on the LA subway, I am surprised they would bother to post signs asking women to not do this.
ReplyDeleteHey Shari - Oops, I forgot that we are the bad influence in this country... ;)
ReplyDeleteHey Torn - Wow, I've never seen it in Australia, but maybe I just wasn't catching the train at the right time. They seem to have started a train manners campain and have a few different posters up. I think Contamination has done a bit on it as well.
I love how there's so many people who do this that they had to put up a sign!!!
ReplyDeleteAt least it's not like that you see in the US where women put on make WHILE they are driving. It's Crazy
Yep, I've seen this many times in Melbourne. Ladies in cars, at red lights; applying their makeup. Ladies on the train.. It makes me wonder what would happen if the train suddenly stopped when they were mascara-ing.. They'd get a black eye in more than one way..
ReplyDeleteRemember, not all English-speakers are Westerners. I agree with Shari's thought about English being a decorative element, but also, English is the de facto world language, so it was likely used for that reason as well.
ReplyDeleteI've seen women putting on makeup in the car, train and bus here in Perth. The closest thing i've ever gotten is reapplying lip balm. Is that considered rude in Japan?
ReplyDeleteI think the rudest 2 things people do on public transport is get up and move when you sit down next to them, and stare at you continuously, never looking away.
Hi Faz - hehehe.. I used to be one of those women applying makeup in the car. I had an hour`s drive to work, but most of that was sitting still at traffic lights. That make-up in the car time (and eating breakfast) was more sleeping time ;)
ReplyDeleteHey Serena - Yeh! I`ve wondered the same thing!
Hey Billy - yep, you`re probably right, at first, I just accepted that it should be there, and later started trying to read more into it ;)
Hey azumarisan - Na, I`m sure putting lipbalm on is fine. At least I hope so, I do it all the time. People getting up and moving is just down-right rude!
azumarisan, you are right, that is rude, and I really don't like it. Sometimes I think i just get used to being stared at, but sometimes, especially if you have a bad day, it's more than annoying...
ReplyDeleteThe "get up and move to another seat" is also rude, but sometimes also quite relieving as it gets me more space ;P
Hi Marina - hehehe... you're right about getting some extra space if someone moves ;)
ReplyDeleteHaha..this poster is hilarious!
ReplyDelete;) Yeh, I couldn't resist photographing it.
ReplyDeletei put the same on my blog. interesting design. i feel woman can do many things here and don t need to take care about men so much. it s a very superficial view i know but a woman who does that in paris could get some troubles...
ReplyDeleteYeh, in Australia I don't think the woman would have trouble, but I'm sure she'd be frowned upon.
ReplyDelete