<p>Japan has a lot of problems, not the least of which its sexual relation laws are a small part: the schoolgirl problem and its roricon complex, and its signs: vending machines dispensing soiled panties with pictures of the wearer and enjo-kosai system. China is more normal; at least the Chinese know the definition of ‘party’.</p>
<p>Not to sound mean or disrespectful, but the concept of hentai just makes me laugh…</p>
<p>I have heard of the school girl problem…and those vending machines. </p>
<p>I have a question, what’s the roricon complex and the enjo-kosai system?</p>
<p>enjo-kosai: older male around 40 goes to a phone directory and calls a number hooking caller into network of HS girls who agree to meet and date, possibly including sex
roricon complex: nice way of saying pedophilia</p>
<p>ahhhh, thanks for clearing that up.</p>
<p>I haven’t been in China in about 8 years, but from what I’ve heard it’s also starting to swing in into that direction and extramarital affairs abundant. I also think some of the fetishes in Japan are really … um, cough. There are people who went there and complained that there aren’t any ‘normal’ adult movies, lol.</p>
<p>I first came upon yaoi by accident - and was quite scarred, even though I’m no homophobe. What I really don’t understand is why would so many GIRLS like it, as opposed to say homosexual men. There are explanations that say that girls feel more secure as a result, because there are no female ‘rivals’ in the story, but I don’t think that makes sense.</p>
<p>However, prolonged contact with these has affected me somewhat as well. I am okay with some of the themes (just no yaoi), and I’m quite into EGL style (elegant gothic lolita - dressing up like a victorian doll basically). I hope it’s not what you meant as “roricon/lolicon complex” -_-.</p>
<p>There are not, and I will not provide the links to said movies here. BTW, they are the perfect reason as to why the Asian female is oversexualized in society. Roricon is only the effect on men, and I think that girls like the shoujo as escapist literature. China was not bad when I saw it; however, I was in a top school (SFLS), not something like the equivalent of Taipei Ta’an Technical.</p>
<p>Some of the guys in yaoi seemed very pretty and so feminine to me. They seemed so touchy feely…I guess that might appeal to young girls.</p>
<p>(Again this covers the small amount of yaoi that I encountered)</p>
<p>Gothic lolita…sounds interesting.</p>
<p>You guys know way too much of this!! Therefore, you are all condemned.</p>
<p>well, there are yaoi between bishounen, so they’re kind of effeminate-looking. But others like “Zetsuai” are carried out between broad-shouldered, MANLY men,… </p>
<p>it is a sweet fashion phenomena ^_^, and my dress for the graduation party is in that style (though the skirt is not as poofy, but it has lace and princess sleeves). It seems so innocent and pretty in comparison to the strappy, ‘sexy’ dresses that’s prevalent.</p>
<p>Yes, many are; it is an emanation of something called kawaii (aka cute) and explains things like ganguro among other trends. It is what buoys Otsuka Ai, a saccharine pop singer whose voice is terrible, and can be heard [url=<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc86foapSAU]here[/url”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc86foapSAU]here[/url</a>]. Note: it is a YouTube video.</p>
<p>Yeah, that would raise my eyebrows…why would a young girl be interested in reading about two manly men. </p>
<p>Now I need to go google gothic lolita to see what you are talking about…:)</p>
<p>That reminds me, I need to finish watching Brokeback Mountain.</p>
<p>kman, I had to stop watching that video…I got fifteen cavities just from 10 seconds of it…</p>
<p>what coincidence, I am watching BbM right now as well!</p>
<p>I was always baffled why people like Otsuka Ai. Her songs are too insanehappypoppy for me to digest. But then, jpop is a very appearance conscious genre - so long the CD has an attractive cover (and I admit most of them do), it will sell. Which is why I find the singers’ efforts at fashion so tasteful and appealing (like Ayu). When it comes to voice, I guess only Mika Nakashima could sing decently.</p>
<p>I have found that Koda Kumi can sing well also; I like many of her songs and her style.
shaddix, only fifteen? I could not stand the red in there, although the song means ‘cherries’ in Japanese.
The worst offender of Eurobeat (what insanehappypoppy is called) is Hinoi Team; they have killed me.</p>
<p>I agree Koda Kumi has a pretty good voice (FFX-2’s 1000 no kotoba) for ballads, and some of her pop/rnb can be addictive (Candy, DDD, Lies). Recently I’ve also taken a liking for Rurutia, who is an entirely reclusive singer with very delicate, crafted songs. In general, I think the jpop artists are more unique than the kpop ones. All of the kpop singers seem all to have gone through facial surgery and are all super gorgeous and thin, that I sometimes can’t tell them apart.</p>
<p>I like tommyfebruary6…but I probably like her for her strange quirkiness; not necessarily for her abilities.</p>
<p>I actually had a chance to listen to Koda Kumi…IMO she sounded better than the singer they got for FFX-2. I actually played that game. Coincidence…</p>
<p>I liked Koda Kumi’s: Get it On, DDD, Candy, Shake It, Hot Stuff, Love Goes Like, No Tricks, Color of Soul, you, Birthday Eve, all of it found on a place called <a href=“http://www.soundclick.com%5B/url%5D”>www.soundclick.com</a>.</p>
<p>I usually find my jpop on jpop.bww2.com (seems down for now) or jmp3.net (site in Chinese but one can find everything if kanji-literate - has tons of not only jpop but also soundtracks too).</p>
<p>I can read the basic names, but sometimes the Chinese butcher them as well, so I will have to learn the transliterations.</p>
<p>I know, like some of the kanji aren’t usually used or recognized in Chinese, so they have to ‘adapt’ them a bit. Like ‘Hamasaki’ in Ayumi’s name, for instance. I looked “hama/浜” up in a Chinese dictionary one day and was surprised to actually find it in the archaic section. Yet for the commercial CDs they changed it to 滨, a frequently used character. Since the original meant ‘little brook’ (or something like that) and the new one meant ‘by the water’ (I think?), so there is still some semblance.</p>
<p>actually I think the jmp3.net site still wrote them in kanji as opposed to hanzi, except the lists are alphabetized according to the Chinese pronounciations of the kanji.</p>
<p>That is the problem; I don’t know both translations. I would still have to learn them. And yes, the pronunciation of 浜 is beng1 and means side-creek.</p>