Do: My Work
1Aikido
I do Aikido. I started Aikido just one year ago because I am interested in "Ki."There is the picture that I am wearing an uniform in the right side of the display. This was the time when i showed Aikido's military exercises in the ICU festival.
2Theatre
I belong to Kogasha which is the acting group. I already participated in three plays: Ashita Kimi ni Aitai, Kodomo no Asobi, and Taiyo no To. In these three plays, I acted as a main character. The picture which is in the right side of display is the picture of the play: Kodomo no Asobi.
3Activities
I like outside activities. I often plan BBQ for my ELP section. The picture in the right side is the picture of Section CG BBQ. Also i like to eat foreigh foods. I often eat foreign foods with my friends. In the pictures in the right side, it shows the times when we went to eat Mexican foods and Russian Foods. Moreover I like to walk in the mountain. I often go to the mountain to walk. The reason why I like to walk in the mountain is that the atmosphere in the mountain me relaxed. The picture in the right side is the one I took in the mountain.
4My Academic Work
Last year in ELP Class, I wrote about "What is beauty."I definted "beauty" in comparing beauty in Edo and beauty in this modern society.
自己紹介
- Masa
- People say I am an active person because I participate in a lot of activities such as the play, volleyball competition and so on. Delicious Bookmark Username c121657a
Aikido
Russian Foods
The Play: Kodomo no Asobi
Eating Mexican Food with My friends
Walking in the mountain
Suiboku-ga
Wonderful experience in Elementary school
BBQ
The essay: Beauty in Edo
Masatoshi Yamawaki
Dr. Wadden
ARW
Section CG
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Beauty in Edo Era and Modern Japanese Beauty
There is no absolute definition of beauty. Originally, the concept of beauty was different among cultures (Cho et al. 9). Indeed, the concept of beauty in each culture was considered ugly in other cultures. For example, people can notice how European people see Mongoloid such as Japanese and Chinese through their descriptions. Siebold, a German doctor and naturalist who came to Nagasaki in Japan in 1823, stated “Japanese faces are flat and wide, and their noses are small and wide, and their mouths are big, and their lips are thick. Moreover their spaces between eyes are wide, and their cheekbones jut out” (qtd. in Cho 12). Matteo Ricci, a missionary of Society of Jesus who came to China in 1582, stated “Chinese eyes are small and narrow, and they have forms of oval. Their eyes are also black and outstanding. Their noses are mall and flat” (qtd. in Cho 13). In these descriptions, it is easy to see that European considered Mongoloid ugly. At the same time, one can realize that Japanese and Chinese considered Caucasoid ill-favored through books and how they referred to them. In Kansho, old Chinese book, it stated “Uson, a Turkish tribe, has the weirdest look among tribes of western areas. Kojin, tribes of western or northern areas of China, have blue eyes and red hair and look like monkey because they used to be the same race as Uson” (qtd. in Cho 13). Moreover, in Minshi, old Chinese book, it stated “Dutch people’s eyes are deep, their noses are long, and their hair, eyebrows, and mustaches are all red” (qtd. in Cho 14). Furthermore, Japanese people used to call Caucasoid such as Dutch Koumoujin, a word of discrimination which means red hair people, in Edo era. From these materials, one can notice their blond hair, clear-cut features, and blue eyes were considered ugly (Cho 9-17). However, the concept of beauty is getting united by globalization now. In modern society, the concept of European beauty is dominant. Japan is no exception (Kodama 240-262). In Japan, the concept of beauty changed dramatically between Edo era and modern Japanese society. The difference between them can be clear by observing eyes, mouths, skin colors, figures, and noses. In analyzing them, characters in Japanese comic books and animations, women in Japanese fashion magazines, Japanese actress, women in Japanese drawings of Edo, books which was written in Edo, and photos in Edo era are useful resources.
First is eye. In modern Japanese concept of beauty, big eyes and double-edged eyelids are preferred. (Cho 30-32) All girls who appear in fashion magazines have big eyes and double-edged eyelids. It is more conspicuous in characters of manga, Japanese comic books, and animation. Most female characters have double-edged eyelids and greatly big eyes. In Edo era, however, narrow and long eyes were preferred since these eyes make image of grace and kindness. On the other hand, big eyes were regarded as ugly because they make ones look acrid or whore.(Cho 32-38) In “Miyakofuuzokukeshoden”, the cosmetic book in Edo era, it is written “Big eyes are ugly”(qtd. in Cho 33). Observing photos and drawings such as Ukiyoe, traditional Japanese drawings, most women’s eyes are narrow and long eyes. Moreover, “Miyakofuuzokukeshoden” even includes information on how to make one’s eyes narrow and long. It stated “To make your eyes narrow, go outside, or look down at the degree of 45 otherwise” (qtd. in Cho 334). Eyes are one of factors of differences between the concept of beauty in Edo era and that of the present.
Yawara Inokuma The woman who blows pipe Yuko Takeuchi
From “Yawara” From Ukiyoe
Second is mouth. In modern concept of beauty in Japan, mouths are not really important (Cho 383). When observing popular Japanese actress or women in the fashion magazines, there are both ones with big mouths and ones with small mouths. Now Japanese people do not really care about mouth. Yet, mouths were important factor of beauty in Edo era. Observing Ukiyoe, women’s mouths are all small.
Third is skin color. In modern Japanese concept of beauty, the skin color is not that important. Observing characters in manga and animation, popular actress, and women in the fashion magazines, their skin colors are various. In the concept of beauty in Edo era, however, the color of skin was important. The white skin color was very important factor of beauty. Watching Ukiyoe, the skin colors of women are all white. The reasons why the people in Edo era preferred white skins are that it was the symbol of purity and the symbol of high position. The white skin makes image of not working, always being inside, and wealthy life (Cho 42-48).
Nadia Manami Konishi Nana Eikura Robin Nico women in Ukiyoe
From “Secret of Blue Water” From “One Piece”
Fourth is figure. In modern Japanese concept of beauty, women’s figure is an important factor. The figure which is preferred now is slim and tall, and has small face, long limbs, big breasts, and well-developed hip (Cho et al. 379-383). Most girls in the fashion magazines and popular Japanese actresses have these figures. It is more outstanding when observing characters in manga and animation. In manga and animation, most female characters have this kind of figure, and the factors of preferred figure are often emphasized. On the other hand, in Edo era, the figure was not that important. It is true that there is preference for slimness, but there is no inclination for big breasts, well-developed hips, heights except extremely tall, long limbs, and small faces. In Edo era, it was not allowed to emphasize breasts and hips, and show body lines in daily life. Indeed, it was their etiquette to hide their breasts and hips by using clothes and cosmetic ways (Cho 336). In Miyakofuuzokukeshoden, there is the article “The way to hide the line of hip and make one look grace.” In this article, it introduces the way to have postures to hide the line of hip and the way to wear clothes to hide it. Also it is written “Even if her appearance is good, it is unsightly that she shows the line of hip” (qtd in Cho 337).
Yuri Ebihara Fujiko Mine Women in Ukiyoe Reiko Akimoto
From “Rupan, the Third” From “Kotikame”
Fifth is a nose. As for a nose, people in Edo era and people in modern Japanese society have the same inclination. They both preferred straight noses (Cho 335). Observing characters in manga and animation, actress, and women in fashion magazines, their noses are straight. It is the same thing in Edo. Looking at Ukiyoe and photos in Edo, their noses are all straight. Moreover, it is written in Miyakofuuzokukeshoden “The nose which is in the middle of face and which is also straight is good.” As for nose, they both have the same concept of beauty. From this fact, one can see that the concept of beauty in Edo era has aspects which are the same as parts that of the present has as well as differences.
From these observations through characters in manga and animation, women in Japanese fashion magazines, Japanese actress, Ukiyoe, books and photos in Edo era, it is clear that the concept of beauty in Edo era is different from the present in eyes, mouths, skin colors, and figures. Also, it is clear that there are parts which have not changed from Edo era to the present. From these results, one can see that how unstable the concept of beauty is. The concept of beauty can change easily depending on times as well as cultures. Kyo Cho, the professor of comparative culture at Meiji University, stated “As there is no absolute morality, there is no absolute beauty. Absolute morality and beauty are imaginations” (338).Since there is no absolute beauty, the present Japanese concept of beauty would change someday, too.
“Two Geishas” by Yobee Hori (1865-1868)
“Three Daughters” by Yobee Hori (1865-1868)
“A Woman” by Yobee Hori (1865-1868)
“A Woman” by Yobee Hori (1865-1868)
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