More impersonations of black women on Japanese TV
Fuji TV has shown me that Yajima Beauty Salon, the comedy group that impersonates black women from Nevada, can do more than just sing. A clip from last night:
Things that they did inside the Fuji TV building:
- Spoke in stupid fake broken Japanese with random Engrish words thrown in.
- Tried to steal a digital television.
- Pulled out a gun and shot a Japanese comedian.
Update: A lot of the comments on this thread have shown offense at this comedy act. I suggest that you make your voices heard by sending complaints to the Broadcasting Ethics & Program Improvement Organization (BPO). Use the online form on this page.
1. Click the check box next to
○ BPO 「視聴者意見送付に関するお願い、注意事項」に同意する
2. Go the the complaint form by hitting the grey button that says:
送信フォームへ
3. Fill out the information about the channel, time of broadcast, and program name as follows:
番組名 – とんねるずのみなさんのおかげでした
放送局名 – フジテレビ
放送日 - 2008/10/9
放送時間帯 – 21:00-21:54
4. Enter your complaint inside the ご意見(入力必須) Box. Here is an example complaint:
DJオズマととんねるずが演じる矢島美容室は黒人女性に対する偏見を形成・助長する点で極めて不愉快であり、人種差別的でさえある。
5. Fill out the information on your age, sex, and location. This is a translation of the form:
氏名 (Name – optional)
性別(入力必須) (Gender) 男性(male) 女性 (female)← check one of these boxes
年代(入力必須) [age] 歳代
※半角英数で入力してください 例）40郵便番号 (zip-code – optional)
都道府県(入力必須) ← select a prefecture from the list
住所 (address – optional)
電話 (Phone number – optional)
メールアドレス (e-mail address – optional)
6. Hit the 送信する button at the bottom to send the complaint.
-Thanks to Ponta for providing the information on how to send a complaint!
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ahaha.. thats funny.
i dont really see anything wrong with them. w
I also think it is pretty funny, you guys are over reacting.
retarded. it would maybe actually be funny if they actually knew how to stereotype what they are trying to stereotype. Japanese comedy is so third rate.
Racism is hilarious – if you live in the 1960’s.
Just imagine what a hoot it would be if three white guys got bad haircuts, wore coke bottle glasses, had big fake buck teeth, spoke nothing but bad engrish, and giggled like school girls as they shuffled around town with 3 Nikon’s each around their necks taking a zillion photos of any mundane item and trying to grope anything female that walked within reach.
haro prease!
your comment reminds me of last nights south park episode
Yeah, this is pretty low on my comedy rating scale, next to slapping a guy on the head when he says something stupid.
“… shot a Japanese comedian.”
Well that’s one way to kill Japanese “comedy”.
NOT funny. Black people are gun-loving theives who shoot people at the slightest provication. That’s the message I get. Sounds like they got the stereotype right. Disgusting, and DEFINETLY RACIST.
That was pretty offensive. I wonder how a Japanese audience would react to white Americans dressed up as Japanese in an Asian country and pretended to rape and murder the locals, then sat down politely for a cup’a'green tea to show just how “Japanese” they are, in the name of comedy.
I remember watching the Simpsons episode where they go to Japan on Niconico. some where laughing their asses off and some were just like “wait, what? that bgm is from the country!”. And I think there was a similar reaction to the Chinpoko-mon episode of South Park.
Shit, “from the WRONG country” is what I meant.
Agreed. The two-faced nature of this entire “gag” is pretty lame and is getting lamer by the second.
Allow me to quote Rickey Gervais: “It’s funny because it’s racist!”
HAHAHAHAHAAH this is the best thing I’ve seen in a while. Such an accurate stereotype too.
I feel sad that you find this funny and still be able to appreciate the productions of Ricky Gervais. This is light years below what Ricky Gervais could make on his worst day.
Why so serious?
Might be a good idea to send a message to BPO(Broadcasting ethics and program improvement organization)
http://www.bpo.gr.jp/audience/send/
○ BPO 「視聴者意見送付に関するお願い、注意事項」に同意する
↑ check 送信フォームへ←click
番組名 とんねるずのみなさんのおかげでした
放送局名 フジテレビ
放送日 2008/10/9
放送時間帯 21:00-21:54
ご意見(入力必須）
example: DJオズマととんねるずが演じる矢島美容室は黒人女性に対する偏見を形成・助長する点で極めて不愉快であり、人種差別的でさえある。
May I also recommend that those who don’t find this bit “offensive” also write in and say so, to keep the “moral majority” (read: whinging minority) who think they have a Constitutionally-guaranteed right to be offended from taking things over.
Or maybe write in and complain about how they totally dissed Hori-ken by ignoring him, or dissed Himura by walking away after demanding he do a gag. Or maybe even complain about how they made ELT pay for their lunch…
“Yajima Biyoushitsu” – stupid? Yup. Unfunny? Of course, it’s Tunnels. They only have a show because they are “daisenpai”, they have never been funny that I can recall. Ever. “Racist”? No. “Sterotypical”? Perhaps, but no more so than that “tricky” guy with the bad-ass 1970’s “Soul Train” ‘fro.
氏名
性別(入力必須) 男性 女性←male female check
年代(入力必須) 歳代 ←age
※半角英数で入力してください 例）40
郵便番号(zip-code) -
都道府県(入力必須) ←prefecture
住所
電話 - -
メールアドレス
郵便番号 isn’t really “ZIP code.” That refers to a US-specific system, the Zone Improvement Plan. “Post code” is a far more general and accurate translation.
Okay. Thanks.
were all the ppl complaining here also complaining when shingo from SMAP dressed up as MC Hammer or Billy Blanks?
When he was MC Hammer, he performed with Destinys Child? They didnt seem too bothered?
He was doing impersonations, not generalizing an entire ethnicity. Like if someone did an impersonation of OJ and he was a thief, while I wouldn’t find it funny, I wouldn’t be offended by it, because that’s what he was charged with. It’s the generalization that doesn’t sit right.
Stupidest bandwagon ever.
Japanese TV is worthless.
waaahaaaahaaaahaaaa NOT!! that was just plain SICK.
If you want to call Fuji TV and complain,
フジテレビ
電話 03-5531-1111
I called and complained.
And comedy in the US and UK isn’t racist? /sarcasm
This reminds me of that one recurring sketch on Little Britain with the dude who dresses up like a Thai mail order bride (Which was pretty awesome I might add), and honestly I don’t have a problem with this joke or that sketch on Little Britain.
Oh wait, I know, it’s because I’m not some holier than art thou PC freak and can actually laugh at stereotypes and racism.
You’re so forward-thinking and admirable! Thank you for teaching us about our character flaws.
Yup, I’m pretty much awesome that way
I agree with Gusuke.
Americans – stop forcing your own dubious PC culture on the rest of the world.
Rather, I want to say to those who are against this type of comedy while approving directly or indirectly of spreading bias and stereotypes of Japanese.
stop using double standards
They should realise that they are losing our trust.
I hope “they” know who I am talking about.
Mad TV portrays black stereotype a thousand times better. Well since the 80s the japanese’ humor has always been quite corny
Because the Japanese don’t share the black stereotype Americans have.
It could be three Japanese girls in Kansai dialect.
The comedy is just damn anyway, though.
It seems doubtful either of these three hucksters even know any black women.
To the poster above who said “Japanese TV is worthless”:
You are my hero.
are they black women?
I think their skins are yellow.
If you look closely you might find something else is amiss.
I think the question here is, was the joke meant to be ‘Haha, black women are like this’ or, ‘haha this is incredibly surreal’.
If it was the former, then yes, this is quite offensive, however I suspect (hope) that it was meant to eb the latter.
Seriously, i wouldn’t have even thought about this being racist had there not been a post on it being racist. When i first saw this all i thought was “Oh, Japan, You!” and went on with my normal life. But that might be cause I’ve watched several Thai comedies with men who have dressed like that. But really, i think people are kind of making too big a deal over it. That’s just my opinion, though :/
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
I think most of us will agree that the vast majority of viewers realize that these are not real black women… Right, because we understand that this is blatent comedy.
Now the important question is:
- Are viewers to laugh AT the black women?
Or
- Are viewers to laugh at the comedians and their bizzare (& poor, for those that know an Afro-American girl in real life) depections of African-American women?
Again, I’d say that most viewers realize that it is the latter. But for those who think it’s the former, you obviously have every right to send in a complaint.
Should comedians ever paint their faces to look like they’re of another race? Well, if they actually used real black people for these roles, then THAT would be a major issue. The fact that it is so far fetched (Japanese men depecting FEMALE BLACK WOMEN) is where us viewers are suppose to “get it”. Is it classy? Hell no. But is it worth making a fuss over it? I’ll leave that up to you…
It’s unfortunate this type of comedy is being performed by such a respected, veteran comedy duo like the TUNNELS.
At the same time, however, I really don’t think they mean any harm by it — knowing their comedic history. Taka-san (of the Tunnels) has impersonated MC Hammer for years, even in front of the real MC Hammer. And Nori-san’s impersonation of Michael Jackson over the years is quite historic. Over the years they’ve always said how much they are fans of those individuals. Someone mentioned OJ above, and how it differs from racial generalizations. Good point, but I really don’t think they see it that way — at all. This type of comedy is nothing worse than the ever-so-famous ‘Gaijin prosthetic nose acts’ Japan’s been doing for decades. They only recently realized it just might be racist. They came a long way since painting their faces black like the Shanels in the late 70s.
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=ruCae99XfW4
I’d really like to know how black-Americans feel about this. Because chances are, anybody who is remotely offended by this here on this site are caucasian — as with a lot of politically incorrect complaints that make their rounds here in the U.S. You gotta hand it to the white-Americans for making the Asians realize the term “oriental” is a politically incorrect (most even consider it racist) term in the U.S. circa late 1980s.
White, American, not offended…. but BOY was that stupid! Pure Stupid!
I do wish I could navigate my way around a complaint form just to complain that it was stupid! Why do they get away with this stuff? Is it just to fill dead airtime? And don’t you go replying that “well Japanese might find this funny..” whatever…. ku-da-ra-na-i
In case of E-mobile monkey and Chibikuro Sambo, I thought people who felt offended was just projecting their own bias and prejudice and so I objected to the protest against them, but in case of Yajima beauty salon, I am inclined to be opposed to this unit.
(As a side note I supported Ken Tanaka on Youtube, who pretended to be Japanese.)
It is not that something in Yajima Beauty Salon is definitely offensive, but the net effect of their actions with the setting is negative.
I don’t think it is always wrong for Japanese to pretend to be black person just as it is not always wrong for black to pretend to be Japanese.
I don’t think it is always wrong for Japanese to speak wacky English-like language just as it is not always wrong for black people to speak wacky Japanese-like-language.
However,
(1)I somehow feel a bit offensive to set up Japanese as a black woman with the record of a nude dancer just as I would somehow feel offended to set up a black person as a Japanese woman with the record of a nude dancer.
(2)I somehow feel it is a bit offensive about the background story in which a Japanese man left the black woman and their children just as I would somehow feel a bit offensive about a background story in which a black man left a Japanese woman and their children.
(3)when the lyric says they have passports (with them), on one reading, it might suggest there are many illegal black tourists.
I don’t think it is always wrong for Japanese to pretend to be a particular black woman, say,Diana Ross, and act stupidly, for instance, repeating Nammyouhourengeikyou, to get a laugh just as I don’t think it is always wrong for a black person to pretend to be a particular Japanese singer and act stupidly.
But
(4)I feel somehow a bit offensive for Japanese to pretend to be a black women who can be any black women and act stupidly to get a laugh just as I would somehow feel a bit offensive for a black person to pretend to be Japanese who can be any Japanese and act stupidly to get a laugh.
Each reason I listed alone may not be definitely wrong but the net effect is negative. And they are on the public broadcasting. And their actions are getting lamer. I understand it is controversial but I think it is time to let the producers to know there is a controversy about it.
let the producers to know→let the producers know
On second thought, pretending to be Daiana Ross,making fun of repeating the name of Buddha might be wrong because it’s related to religion. But that is another topic.
Have a bunch of comments been deleted here? I’m sure there was more – I remember responding to one about the word “negro.”
Your comment on “negro” is on another thread.
http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=6374
Comment by The Overthinker
2008-10-11 19:49:45
Is that it?
Thanks, ponta. Oops. Too many threads… and having the same picture at the top really doesn’t help….
I can not find anything bad in this program.
Ishibachi is a big fan of the American Movies,and also fan of the American Sports.
He was in the “Mejor League 2″.
He recentlly stayed in the States to watch the MLB games.
This is hillarious! Why is this not funny? So you got Tonneruzu and 3 RNB singers. Kinashi starts stealing the TV, the 3rd guy triggers the fightby yelling do not touch please. Then Ishibashi kicks him and Kinashi shoots him. Tonneruzu do all sorts of comedy where they dress up as this and that. You who are angry remind me of the Muslims who wanted to start Jihad against Denmark because of those carricatures.
I see nothing wrong or racist with this. Americans always say how free they are. But in the end its all about censorship and being overly sensitive. It may be stupid but its not racist.
Freedom does not mean being a jackass.
Actually, it does. Freedom means having the freedom to be an idiot as well as a genius. If we all agreed on what to say, we wouldn’t need to worry about things like free speech.
Let us all look at US and Americans for spiritual guidance of what is tolerated as comedy and freedom from now on. NOT.
Seeing as blackface is, at its heart an American conception, I think it would be appropriate to be listen to those who understand the history and impact the minstrel show still has on African-Americans. To say this is simply comedy despite the context being blatantly placed within the scope of a blaxploitation film (primarily stereotypes of black women) is foolish and ignorant. I suggest you get off the high horse and learn a bit more before you press the “Add comment” button.
Borat was funny too. Compared with Borat this is not racist whatsoever. You foreigners who are all upset about this need to eat a chill pill. YOu remind me of the Muslim extremists who have no sense of humour regarding the carricatures as well as som angry wives who wanted to ban certain rock groups from playing because it goes against their neo concervatice Christian values. Knowing that this does upset people makes it even funnier.
Oh geesh, come off of it. Comparing this to Islamic extremism is the new and equally laughable “Hitler & the Nazis analogy.” Borat doesn’t invoke the history of Jim Crow and all the other baggage that blackface invokes. It isn’t even close.
One thing to consider is this balanced in Japanese media. Is it? Is there positive images of black women in Japanese media to negate this “satire,” or is this all we see? I don’t watch Japanese television enough to know.
I’d love to see a real black woman run into these bozo’s and slap them upside the head. But would that be reinforcing negative stereotypes? Heh.
I have never heard of Jim Crow. Is he some American comedian? The black problem is an American problem. Just becasue African Americans are treated as second class citizens in US dose not mean that the rest of the world have to be super sensitive about that issue. Black women in Japan do not have a negative image. Maybe in US they do but not in Japan. Americans are such race obsessed people. The problem is with Americans and other people who has a history of treating black people as dirt.
(The Jim Crow laws were created after the U.S. Civil War that said “separate but equal,” meaning it segregated blacks from whites).
When I first saw Yajima Biyoushitsu I never thought of it as a racist, or stereotypical. I just thought, “Oh, the Tunnels being the stupidly funny old guys again.” I don’t think most Japanese people even thought of it. Hell, DJ Ozma, as one of the Yajima girls says, “I like Koakuma Ageha,” which is a popular magazine of girls who maybe dye their hair blond, use an excess amount of hairspray, put like five pounds of make-up on, you know, the weird Japanese trends. Taka-san’s name is Strawberry… If he said his name was Laquisha, that would definitely scream stereotypical and racist.
I just can’t see it, and didn’t think that there were people who would trace racism from this.
I guess it just goes to show that there are always some people that will find something wrong with everything.
Well, I am a Black female living in Japan, have been here for the past 6 and a half years, so here’s my two cents!
I think there was a lot of stereotypical foolishness here, but that’s all it was, foolishness. I also think that this is their impression of the ‘typical’ Southern State(Nevada, apparently), working class American, not the typical Black woman. It just so happens that they are Black. I’m not sure this is worth complaning about. I do know that the concept they were trying to go for is ‘Japanese Dreamgirls’. They are comediens however, so the end result is a very exaggerated version of the original source.
Now, as the above comment mentioned, if these ladies were from Atlanta, and named Laquisha, Tenisha, and Ray-ray, THEN I would be calling FUJI TV on a daily basis!
I am not from the States, and although we share many of the same issues, my Black perpspective is somewhat different from an Black American. Having said that, I think this is being made into a race issue when it is really just a cultural one. I think some Americans also need to start thinking globally – by not only thinking about how something is offensive to Americans but to all people from that cultural background. These comedians are trying to portray stereotypical Americans, they even made it a point to write which part of America they came from in the first two lines of the song. It’s not right, but it’s not racist. Racist is people swearing blind that Barack Obama is secretly Muslim and saying things like ‘I don’t know…I’m not really sure if he is really an American…’!!
I agree that Japanese people have a lot to learn about cultural tolerance, and it is up to the foreigners living here to let people know when they are behaving in a insensitive manner, but I still feel we need to pay attention to what is being said and done, and in what context. If people complain every single time that they see something even slightly offensive on television, they’ll just end up saying ‘Ah, the foreigners are complaining again, mendokusai’. They won’t really think about what they’ve done or what they’ve seen. They might take the offensive material off the airwaves if enough complaints come in, but will they care? They’ll say sorry and forget, and then six months later an equally offensive advertisment or character or TV show will pop up. We need to pick and choose our battles!
I think its disgusting.
Alot of orientals try to mimick whites by doing blackface.
These types are sellouts.
Personally, I am a white male from the U.K. and I notice this alot with Orientals.
Ive been living in the US for a year now and Ive noticed the difference is a bit more subtle.
When I stayed in Japan and South Korea for 4 years on business, I saw alot of similar issues with Orientals.