Politics in Japan when it comes to public affection.

This weeks post is about the politics of public affection in public. When I got here, I realised early how uncommon it is too see public affection between two people in a relationship. Don't get me wrong, it is everybody's own business what they do in their relationship. When I asked a Japanese friend of mine she told me that it's not really about what they want to do, it's what they are expected to do. When she went to South Korea in Seoul she was very surprised to see young couples kissing in public on the trains or wherever. But here in Japan that is considered rude. It is interesting how a country with so much diversity are afraid of being judged and considered to their feelings of complete strangers.

When I went to the aquarium in Osaka earlier this semester, I was not aware of that this place was known for it popular dating spot. When I arrived there (without a date, but instead with a lot of gaijin friends) we were all shocked to see all these couples, but none of them did more than holding hands. The first picture I have chosen this week is of these two seals in the aquarium, their animals and they are living the sweet life. Showing their own public affections to thousands of people everyday. Do we judge them? No, we don't. Why? Because it is part of nature.

Of course I am not comparing Japanese people to be below seals or what so ever but I for being a country that have come so far in the world when it comes to technology and education I still find it astounding that small things like these are issues. The next picture I have chosen is a typical cover for some kind of manga, these covers can be seen on every stop at the train stations. In Japan they have so many things that should be considered much worse than public affection, or at least frowned upon. Things like this cover, is the magazine for young kids or older men? If you go to Den Den Town in Osaka at night, what kind of stores are you likely going to bump into apart from a technical store? Yes, a porn store. You can even find anime porn, manga porn all very accesible to young children. We have Japanese Idol (which is best explaned as cute "regular teengirls posing in thin layer of clothes, like a photosession), maid cafés, love hotels etc.
You would think that this would take away the tabu about showing public affection. This is just one of many examples of how contradictive this country really is. It is different when it comes to a foreign mixed couple though. They do show public affection but still, you can tell they are holding a lot back. I hope I don't sound too much as a pervert after this post. But I just wouldn't be able to not kiss the person I love in public. I would probably do it anyways. Maybe that's the proof that I am not turning Japanese all yet. To be continued.

/Quangus