Rise in miniskirts signals economy truly on the up Options

[foadisto]

A rising tide lifts all skirts.

Rise in miniskirts signals economy truly on the up
By Ryann Connell

Japan's economy is finally back on track. Bonuses are up, optimism is high and sales of pricey consumer items like air conditioners and plasma TVs are brisk.

All this adds up to another boom in miniskirts, long an indicator of fair financial fortunes and a reasonable income generator of their own, according to Spa! (8/3).

A micro-miniskirt boom now heralding Japan's restored business climate will likely contribute some 22.6 billion yen into the economy, according to the men's weekly.

"Put simply, when men have some money they gain self-respect, which in turn makes them confident and more active. Their feel-good attitude reflects first in their work, then also turns toward love and sex," Isamu Saito, a Rissho University psychology professor, tells Spa!, adding that these feelings normally spark a miniskirt revival. "Men are particularly sensitive to visual stimulation and have a tendency toward thinking everything women do has a sexual connotation. So, if a woman wears a miniskirt, there's a considerable chance men will take this as a sexual overture and regard a woman in a miniskirt as being sexy. No matter how mistaken they may be in their belief, the men are still excited, and become even more active."

Which, in turn, makes the market more lively as frisky fellars start flashing the cash to get a piece of the action, or simply just a piece.

Japan's Miniskirt Effect is first felt through women. If just 5 percent of the country's 11.72 million women aged from their late teens to 29 buy a miniskirt at an average cost of 15,000 yen, it will pump a whopping 8.7 billion yen into the market.

And if these gals spend another 10,000 yen apiece on accessories, beauty treatment or nail polish, the effect grows by a further 351 million yen.

Guys in their 20s to mid-30s, of who there are about 13.5 million, can add 13.5 billion yen to the miniskirt effect just by spending an extra 10,000 yen each as they try to woo the lasses in their skimpy skirts.

Economic commentator Haruhiko Sato says the financial benefits of the micromini stretch even further.

"When women buy a miniskirt, they want to go out and show it off. If women go out, so will guys. This leads to more encounters and more couples forming, which in turns provides a boon for the food and leisure industries. Guys who've been thrilled by the exposed women but not fortunate enough to find a partner of their own will use their money relieving frustrations in the adult entertainment business," Sato tells Spa! "Women will want to make sure they look their absolute best, so they'll throw money into things such as beauty treatment, hair removal, bath fragrances, skincare, vitamins to make their inner self more appealing, diet products and gyms. Consumption of spicy foods, or those said to have dietary qualities, will also skyrocket, making Vietnamese or Japanese cuisine popular. Women will want to take photos of themselves in miniskirts, which sparks booms in digital camera sales, or the use of instant photo machines where you can take full-body shots."

Many worry that the excess of exposure also leaves women open to increase victimization at the hands of Japan's multitude of molesters.

But this also provides business chances, according to the economist, as women buy summer shawls and stoles that provide enough cover to dull any excitement that could prompt a pervert to paw, yet can still be removed relatively simply when the woman wants to flaunt what she's got.

"Women wanting to conceal their legs," Sato predicts to Spa! "could also create massive sales of large bags (they could place on their laps) or groping prevention goods."

[Bora.Horza]

Haha, aren't most branded clothes imports?

[BooRadley]

"groping prevention goods"

[Lost in Coruscan...]

lol

[The Incoharent J...]

needs pictures.

pictures are like a 1000 words or something. thats excatly 1000 words i would not otherwise care to read.

[Red 5]

The Incoharent Jedi:
needs pictures.

[foadisto]

Red 5:

Red 5:
needs pictures.

[Pong Messiah]

So how are high are those miniskirt now, foadi?

[foadisto]

Not high enough.

[Pong Messiah]

You always say that.

But seriously, it's been a little more than a year -- what's up with Japan's economy? Was the signal correct? I'd look myself, but the articles you dig up on this kind of subject are always far superior to mine. Plus, I don't feel like looking for one myself.

[foadisto]

I don't know. I was on the internet like 20 hours a day last year. Right now I'm on a few hours a day, and when I was still in Vegas I was lucky if I was on for a few hours a week. I haven't been following the Japanese economy at all. I'd guess that it hasn't really gone anywhere.