Comments on: Is Miss Universe Japan’s national costume a national disgrace?

By: James

James — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:13:51 +0000

I loved it! brought tears of laughter rolling down my white, european face. Hot girl though admittedly.
Got me thinking as well (not often that happens), if I was Japanese I’d be pretty p****d.

By: sanea

sanea — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:03:43 +0000

ahaha..evolution..or just extravagant views! Anyway I don’t like this outfit it looks VULGAR and not sexy!!!

By: Aban

Aban — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:26:00 +0000

I think JP gov should SACK Ines Ligron and her entire committees.
Why bother to employ these foreign “talents”?

By: dango

dango — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:01:40 +0000

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.

By: Marie

Marie — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:52:19 +0000

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.

By: The Overthinker

The Overthinker — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:05:01 +0000

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.

By: fg

fg — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 06:27:11 +0000

Yes, Ines Ligron achieved her goal by belittling millions of Japanese people home and abroad.

Thank you Ines, for representing Japan

By: TakeSake

TakeSake — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 05:59:38 +0000

Oh come on, it’s tame compared to the Kouhaku song that DJ Ozma did a couple years ago.

By: HamachiMan

HamachiMan — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:59:16 +0000

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.

By: Yours Truly

Yours Truly — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:45:01 +0000

And you would know this how exactly…? :p
I jest.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:17:46 +0000

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.

By: Klauscore

Klauscore — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:27:17 +0000

Very hot!

By: Joanne

Joanne — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:50:10 +0000

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.

By: LB

LB — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:46:38 +0000

I’ll agree: she does not look like a prostitute.

Prostitutes dress and apply their makeup better.

By: Yours Truly

Yours Truly — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:07:29 +0000

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

By: klimmer

klimmer — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:58:22 +0000

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?

By: me

me — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:53:32 +0000

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?

By: doinkies

doinkies — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:11:48 +0000

And not all anime/manga have characters in doinky outfits like this…

By: Hatix

Hatix — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:44:01 +0000

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…)

By: SWater

SWater — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:27:29 +0000

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.

By: Rob A

Rob A — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:13:20 +0000

So THAT’s what girls wear underneath Yukatas…

I think this needs to be a new fashion trend. Go Ms. Universe Japan!

By: Chris Mise

Chris Mise — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:44:59 +0000

I think its very pretty!

By: CH

CH — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:25:17 +0000

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.

By: Colin

Colin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:48:52 +0000

The pink leggins are a bit much.
It reminds me of a flamingo

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:48:18 +0000

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!”

By: Mark in Yayoi

Mark in Yayoi — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:05:45 +0000

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!

By: Chinko

Chinko — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:40:48 +0000

Ma Jonny says: I like it!

By: oro_the_dog

oro_the_dog — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:57:26 +0000

a maid uniform should have done it

By: William George

William George — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:55:42 +0000

I hope she’s a playable character in the next Final Fantasy game.

By: Nick in Nagoya

Nick in Nagoya — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:41:55 +0000

Japanese culture != Anime/Manga

By: Jordan

Jordan — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:39:07 +0000

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.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:37:44 +0000

Yeah, she’s letting it all hang out here. Not necessarily a bad thing.

By: Mr. Anonymous

Mr. Anonymous — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:13:10 +0000

But what part of a normal kimono would represent modern Japan? That’s what the leggings are for.

By: tokyojesusfist

tokyojesusfist — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:00:58 +0000

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.

By: The Overthinker

The Overthinker — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:55:52 +0000

And that is exactly why it must not look it.

By: The Overthinker

The Overthinker — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:54:48 +0000

A leather kimono….. What. The. Fuck…..

By: Paul M D

Paul M D — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:53:45 +0000

I can totally see cameltoe in the main picture.

By: taksan

taksan — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:25:25 +0000

it looks fine…if it wasn’t for ms.universe.
I just think its too short

By: MaryWitzl

MaryWitzl — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:20:29 +0000

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.

By: Buster

Buster — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:55:45 +0000

Aside from the costume itself, the uber-nationalst part of the Japanese netizens should just go and you know, themselves.

By: NPC

NPC — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:18:59 +0000

I don’t like it, but I’m not one to be offended by it either… let her do her thing.

By: RMilner

RMilner — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:33:58 +0000

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.

By: whak

whak — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:04:47 +0000

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!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:45:50 +0000

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?”

By: Grinz

Grinz — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:23:37 +0000

That Miss Japan got robbed! She should have been Miss Universe that year.

By: lovely

lovely — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:13:40 +0000

this horrible, tasteless piece of crap is going to represent japan? that is really sick.

By: Kitty

Kitty — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:36:55 +0000

It rocks! I love it.

By: _rem

_rem — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:35:24 +0000

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.

By: LB

LB — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:34:24 +0000

Yes, some might say she is collaborating.

By: Deepspacebeans

Deepspacebeans — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:27:16 +0000

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…

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:22:36 +0000

The Samurai Costume 3 years ago was better

By: helical

helical — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:17:36 +0000

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.

「私どもが衣装合わせに立ち会った時点では、丈は短いものの下半身は隠れており、デザインも異なるものでした。私どもがあの衣装を目にしたのは、皆さんと同じ発表会の当日。事前に分かっていれば辞退申し上げたのは間違いありません」

“When we were present at the fitting, the hem was short but the lower body was still covered and was of a different design. We saw the design in question along with everyone else on the day of the announcement. If we knew beforehand, there is no doubt that we would have refused [to provide the obi]“.

By: The Overthinker

The Overthinker — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:05:03 +0000

“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?

By: Bad Wolf

Bad Wolf — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:02:16 +0000

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.

By: Orchid64

Orchid64 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:46:50 +0000

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.