Is Miss Universe Japan’s national costume a national disgrace?
It would seem that a lot of internet users are upset about the “Japanese” national costume that Miss Universe Japan 2009 Emiri Miyasaka will be wearing in the big competition.
A ZakZak article introduces the controversy to Japanese readers, revealing that many comments have criticized the design and American blogs are calling it something a porn star would wear. Photos of costumes worn by the two previous Miss Universe Japan representatives are included in the article, but neither is quite as ridiculous as the one Emiri will wear.
Itai News has posted a record of comments left by Japanese net users, most of whom agree with the negative views expressed about the costume. In some she was described as:
- a national disgrace
- making fun of Japanese traditional clothing and culture
- a stupidly designed stupid costume for a stupid person to wear
- vulgar / perverted
- like a kyabakura hostess
- something akin to the emperor’s new clothes – is she surrounded by nothing but yes men?
There are also a few comments from users who don’t see much of a problem with the costume. However, the majority of comments seemed to be negative.
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The Japanese may be disgraced by it but it serves as a pretty accurate cultural description if you ask me. It perfectly combines the values of tradition and manga/anime.
That is precisely what I was thinking. I was thinking the costume does a good job of showing multiple sides to how women are regarded and portrayed in Japan. It’s incredibly apt for the current culture. Whoever designed it may not be a crowd pleaser, but he or she certainly is an artist.
the artist certainly made a strong piece with powerful ideas but it does not serve the model: she looks vulgar.
In that sense, this artist lacks of humility: his work stands above Japan representative.
Japanese culture != Anime/Manga
And not all anime/manga have characters in doinky outfits like this…
I like to think I’m pretty open minded to adventure & fashion but I have to say this is pretty “geihin”. I also heard that the girls have un-natural behaviour when they speak or interview.
Manga and anime is a sub culture and hardly traditional.
With so much resource and a 2000 year history at their disposal, surely they could have come up with something better than this. Perhaps Ines have lost the plot and it’s time for a helm change?
Ian,
I totally agree with ya!
I was going to say, Japan is such a comic-book based nation now, especially I’m really now surprised at this get-up.
The first thing I thought of when I saw this was that, this is just like a real-world manifestation of the quintessential nightmares where you’re naked in public — or in this case, forgetting to wear pants.
Except my nightmares typically don’t have a fugly color scheme to go with it.
Speaking of forgetting to wear pants. Is that her vagina that I see in the first picture?
Maybe it’s just because I’m color blind and can’t tell, maybe it’s just a shadow, maybe it’s just camel toe.
The other pictures do seem to show panties, but that first one just screams, “Look at my vagina!”
She is more covered than if she has been wearing a swim suit. And I am pretty sure that in some part of the show we have seen her more naked. And it is nice to continue to make the tradition evoluate.
Netizen should shut up and fap.
“She is more covered than if she has been wearing a swim suit.”
That is not the point. She has been sexualized by the display of underwear, especially in a way that looks like her clothing has been partially removed, in a way that bikinis do not do. Hell, she would be less sexualized if she was stark naked.
And is that kimono even silk?
According to the Zakzak article, the textile of the furisode kimono is cowskin leather.
The obi was manufactured by traditional Kyoto Nishijin-ori artisans and provided through a Tokyo retailer … who in the article expressed dismay that their product would be used in such a way.
A leather kimono….. What. The. Fuck…..
I don’t really consider it tasteful but I think it’s better than the armor outfit shown from a previous show.
I also seem to recall a Ms. Universe years competition years ago that had a woman in a full-body lobster suit. It was bizarre.
Isn’t a french woman in charge of Japan’s beauty contestants? Presumably she has some say over this dreadful costume. She should be fired and replaced by Bruno.
Yes, some might say she is collaborating.
The Samurai Costume 3 years ago was better
That Miss Japan got robbed! She should have been Miss Universe that year.
I do not see it being much different than the national costume Miss Japan wore in 2006, some skimpy armor thing, if I recall correctly and there was only a very tiny ruckus brought up when that happened. This, at least, seems more fashionable and less like she is attempting to cosplay as some she-samurai beach babe.
And heaven forbid they chose to sexualize MISS UNIVERSE JAPAN… the nerve of them, what do they think the contest is all about? Oh wait…
And that is exactly why it must not look it.
It rocks! I love it.
this horrible, tasteless piece of crap is going to represent japan? that is really sick.
I think they should’ve utilized a Salior Fuku. Play on the “innocent” look angle than this.
The costume just makes me wanna think: “So when are the tentacles gonna come out and rape her?”
Beauty pageants are for gaudy and kitsch national costumes (and world peace). They don’t represent anything about a country, except “we’ve got girls who look great in swimsuits and can answer questions”. Of course it will look out of place there.
Anywhere else it looks great!
Miss Universe and Miss World fell out of European consciousness years ago, because of their naff sexism. Perhaps the costume fits well in that milieu.
Personally I don’t find the costume attractive or sexy.
I don’t like it, but I’m not one to be offended by it either… let her do her thing.
Aside from the costume itself, the uber-nationalst part of the Japanese netizens should just go and you know, themselves.
I can’t say I like it. It seems to combine a lurid color scheme with schlocky design, and — worst of all — it looks ridiculously uncomfortable. And maybe I spent too long in Japan: it offends my sense of the whole kimono aesthetic.
But if there are women who find this comfortable and feel good wearing it, then over to them. And the oni mask is a nice touch.
it looks fine…if it wasn’t for ms.universe.
I just think its too short
I can totally see cameltoe in the main picture.
Yeah, she’s letting it all hang out here. Not necessarily a bad thing.
This looks exactly like all those embarrasing Flickr photos where a woman is wearing some haphazard mishmash of Chinese, Japanese and Western clothing and calling the end result “Geisha.”
The outfit is hideous and a normal kimono would look infinitely better.
This Kimono was made by a famous traditional Japanese kimono maker, but the design is by YOSHIYUKI OGATA who is a Korean and lives in Japan. His designs are a copy of Japanese pop culture for foreigners.
But what part of a normal kimono would represent modern Japan? That’s what the leggings are for.
The top part is old Japan and the legs are new Japan. Garters and all. One part respectable 20 year old at her coming of age day, one part street walker. Describes just about every single girl you see on the streets today. Sad (or not), but true.
I hope she’s a playable character in the next Final Fantasy game.
a maid uniform should have done it
Ma Jonny says: I like it!
It looks hideous. Pink leggings, with garters attached, and her feet sticking out of them?
The previous two (Riyo Mori and Kurara Chibana) don’t look much better, but Emiri’s outfit is just awful. Perhaps it’s a tactoc to draw attention to their beautiful faces, which certainly contrast well enough with the ugly clothing.
This is the kind of garbage that will be laughed at in 10-20 years, if not sooner. Choose something timeless!
The pink leggins are a bit much.
It reminds me of a flamingo
I think its very pretty!
So THAT’s what girls wear underneath Yukatas…
I think this needs to be a new fashion trend. Go Ms. Universe Japan!
This is exactly the costume Japanese flashers would love to wear near a girls’ high school. The bottom left picture is great, and I think western judges will like the pose very much. However, the degree of Hentai’ness is even higher with that Noh Han-nya mask in the bottom right. The position of her right hand is also perfect! All of the Japanese perverts should be proud of Miss Japan 2009.
If it would have been about 10cm longer, it would have been fine. Just in the middle between her underpants and the stockings, would have been perfect. Still showing a little bit of the garthers would look sexy, but this is a little too much. Especially if it’s for a contest to represent your country.
Well, they might change the final design a little when she has to wear it at the concert after hearing all the complaints ;p
But after the changes I’ve mentioned, I would love it (not that I don’t like the original, but it’s a bit over the top for a public contest…)
She looks like a prostitute. Not someone you would want to represent your country.
And for god’s sake, anime/manga is not the entirety of Japanese culture. How stupid are some of you?
To all those who say she looks like a prostitute,
I just wanted to say that I completely DISagree.
Sure the outfit looks tacky, but high fashion shows generally have things waaay more outrageous and occasionally tawdry than this.
In Short: Think Ugly; Not Lewd
I’ll agree: she does not look like a prostitute.
Prostitutes dress and apply their makeup better.
And you would know this how exactly…? :p
I jest.
I cracked up when I saw this costume. I think that it does indeed portray the Japanese culture quite well. It’s a fusion between modern-day and tradition, so why not? If it stirs controversy then it works.
Very hot!
National Delight rather! In some time this girl will be remembered and valued. She has guts to dare and afront the ooh so disgusted mass. In Amsterdam, the RED District has to wait until past midnite for the Japanese tourists to dissipate, so much for affinity. So this girl and whoever designed behind her, just cut the crap.
Miss Universes “have to, by setup” show much more than this girl is showing
National Costume reflects the changing times and morals not only of Japan as in this case but overall and in that optic, this girl is very moderate.
Funny, how Miss Russia’s national costume BARELY fits her breasts (they literally seem to be popping out of the top), while Miss Japan’s costumes barely cover her legs and bottom.
But as Ines Ligron herself talked about, she achieved her goal, which is to create as much controversy and attention as possible so that the focus is ultimately on Miss Japan, period.
Yes, Ines Ligron achieved her goal by belittling millions of Japanese people home and abroad.
Thank you Ines, for representing Japan
Oh come on, it’s tame compared to the Kouhaku song that DJ Ozma did a couple years ago.
Which in turn was tame compared to the no-pan kissa. But neither of those are being paraded in front of the world to represent the country.
emm did I miss something? She’s taking part in a beauty contest, which means it has about as much cultural relevance as a furries convention.