Japanese men live in a different world

This entry is also brought to you by Japanese Night TV. I think this means it's time to change the title of the blog.

Anyway, one thing learned from Japanese Night TV tonight: certain Japanese men should not be on Japanese TV if my blood vessels are to stay intact and not burst from outrage and disgust. And I've got pretty strong blood vessels.

First off, a nice, normal, mindless variety show sets the stage. Several celebrity guests are present, including Mori Izumi, a Eurasian model / actress / host (her father is Japanese-American, her mother is Italian-American). Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the male host of the show turns on Mori and starts baiting her, joined by some other male celebrities.

Host: Ok, so you're beautiful, talented and so on. But I feel that you can never have a happy marriage. For instance, what would you do in this situation? It's raining and you don't have an umbrella, and you're in the car with your boyfriend going to dinner. What would you do?

Mori: I would ask to alight at the restaurant.

Host: Then what about on the way back?

Mori: I'd ask him to get the car from the parking lot while I wait for him (under the shelter) at the restaurant.

Host: And we men would do it for you. But! We don't want you to tell us that you want us to do it for you!

Other male celebs: Yeah, yeah!

Host: You should be like, "No, I'll walk to the parking lot with you". Then we'd be like, "No, it's ok, I'll go get the car. You wait here". Then you refuse again. This exchange of going back and forth should be carried out three times!

Mori: (laughing) Three times??

Host: Yeah, see! You could never marry a Japanese!

Male comedian: Yeah, just now in the dressing room when she saw me, she said "Hello" in English! To a fellow Japanese! She should have said "Ohayo gozaimasu!" To a fellow Japanese!

Host: And don't you spend lots of money on dates and expensive restaurants and branded clothes?

Mori: I don't... honestly....

Host: I think the only one who'd want to marry you is Joy-kun (Joseph Greenwood, a male model who is half British, half Japanese). You two would make a good pair.

Joy-kun: Er, no I don't think it would work out.... we're still from different places... etc

And scene.

Yes. This unprovoked, blatant display of male chauvinism / sexism that even snowballed to include racism was just beyond words for me. Like a friend said, how can the Japanese, in this day and age, still hold on to such archaic views, AND think such behaviour is acceptable? On national TV? To the granddaughter of Mori Hanae, no less. To the extent that the other "foreigner" in the room, Joy, was quick to disassociate himself with Mori Izumi, just so he wouldn't be lumped together with her assumed "foreign" behaviour of saying "hello" in English to other Japanese people, expecting common gentlemanly courtesies and supposedly spending money frivolously and being high maintenance (an accusation that was made randomly with no proof whatsoever except the host's own perceived notions of her).

It just chills the blood, while making it boil at the same time.

Oh, Japan. All the high-tech talking toilets and spiffy android mobile phones and smart appliances in the world can't save you from looking backward, insular and downright ugly if this discrimination against women and "foreigners" continues to be upheld arrogantly as a basic Japanese right. Wake up and smell the unflushed toilets.

Maybe it's time to move to Korea.

Ijyou desu!!