Comments

Posts

Ouendan – where a foreigner can learn about Japanese manliness

OSU

On Friday, Takeshi Kitano hosted a TV show focusing on how young men in Japan are apparently not as manly as previous generations. The show spent a lot of time discussing the traits of Japan’s so-called “herbivore men” and panelists talked about how much cooler Japanese men were back in the old days.

One segment of the program looked a student from Zimbabwe who was learning about old fashioned Japanese manliness through participation in Nodai‘s ouendan (“cheering squad“).

Viewers are left with the impression that the manly ideals embodied in the ouendan’s grueling training regimen are disappearing among Japan’s youth.

—

Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

28 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - September 1, 2009 at 10:06 am

Categories: Foreigners in Japan Tags: Japanese men, osu, Ouendan, Zimbabwe

Skeletor

Hmm, Great segment, makes me want to get out of this castle and go dance with Daikon!
radical pikachu

There is interesting sound at 7:25.
sukeroku

So, is becoming cheerleader more manly than joining the rugby team, judo team…or even the baseball team?

The Overthinker

You wouldn’t think so, but it is – perhaps in the same way being a cheerleader in the West is more girly than playing netball or something. To be a rude about it, the rugger men know they are men; the chickenhawks jumping up and down on the sidelines need to prove it.

http://www.transpacificradio.com/ Garrett

Even more than “proving it,” cheering squads tend to be much more traditional and regimented than sports teams, in some cases carrying on traditions from over a century ago, when, for example Waseda and Keio’s baseball cheering squads were brawl-leaders as much as cheerleaders.

hoihoi

Bankara ouendan
mizusawa high, Iwate
http://images.google.co.jp/images?hl=ja&q=%E3%83%90%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AB%E3%83%A9%E5%BF%9C%E6%8F%B4%E5%9B%A3%E3%80%80%E5%B2%A9%E6%89%8B%E3%80%80%E6%B0%B4%E6%B2%A2%E9%AB%98%E6%A0%A1&lr=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

Morioka high
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C8JuwjAsXU&feature=related

Fukuoka high
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR7n1oegUKE&feature=related

Kuda Mutenda

I tend to disagree with the last part,
“To be a rude about it, the rugger men know they are men; the chickenhawks jumping up and down on the sidelines need to prove it.”
Because I am not a “Chickenhawk”, I could have played and been a star player on the rugby team, Karate or even Judo squad. I chose the “sidelines” because that is where there was the greatest challenge for me as a foreign student in Japan.

Kuda Mutenda

Actually it is, in the Cheerleading squad we train thrice as hard as any other sports team and work more than twice as any other squad, be it rugby, judo or anything else.

ponta

クダさん、頑張ってね！

gilgamesh

That guy is awesome.
Kitty

That sound at 7:25 was a man taking a manly poop!

Kuda Mutenda

Why is it that some people always look for the most negative and discouraging area to focus their energies on, often these areas which are centers of criticism are of the most insignificant relevance.
Please assist with answers!!!

Ron

I think he should have just joined a good martial arts dojo. That would have toughened him up.

Kuda Mutenda

I have been doing martial arts for more than 10yrs, ever since I was 6years old. I have a black belt in Kyokushin Karate. There was just no more challenge for in Karate. By the way I did not join the cheerleading club to toughen up, I already bench press 150kg.

I joined the club because I wanted to do something that I could only do in Japan. OUENDAN is something that you can only do in Japan.

http://dimesfornickels.wordpress.com/ William George

“…and panelists talked about how much cooler Japanese men were back in the old days”

That Hideki Tōjō sure was a sexy fucker alright…

hoihoi

ouendan respects even enemy

Penz

Being a man is being fearless in the face of adversity, being capable of looking after and providing for yourself, maintaining a certain level of strength and fitness, showing respect and grace to those around you, being balanced in your judgements, being graceful in defeat, never giving up, seeking constant self-improvement, protecting those you love from harm, and providing to those in need.

It isn’t encouraging a poor African chap to sign up to a military-esque shoutathon.

Japan, as ever = MASSIVE FAIL.

The Overthinker

Whose arse did this list come from?

Penz

A puckered and chafed one sir!

Kuda Mutenda

I did not quite get you, can you please rephrase your comment. It sounds like something profound though. Looking forward to your post.

Obtuse

Metrosexuality is the new AIDS. That’s what’s killing ‘Men’ off.
http://www.mutantfrog.com/ Adamu

Those ouendan are quasi-cults and the training sessions are borderline hazing rituals.
TW

PACIFIST CONSTITUTION – what the hell do they expect?
http://www.binary-apotheosis.com/blogs/index.php Rob A

Yes, cheerleading is so manly…

Most of the Ouendan squads I’ve seen look like Gackt backup singers.
Anonymous

Might have something to do with the manly men being the most likely to get killed off in several generations of wars, especially given Japan’s ‘no surrender’ policy. So what sort of men survive to continue their bloodline?
oro_the_dog

whatever manliness is, it doesn’t include being a lemming in my book.
tokyojesusfist

Western countries are cutting off their balls too. Manly behavior, even something like self-defense, is seen as barbaric and morally wrong.
Ido

Hey I would’ve done that before had I been in Japan, Ouendan is really impressive and full of tamashii! （^ω^） Plus they get an awesome long gakuran!

Ouendan – where a foreigner can learn about Japanese manliness

Recent Comments

Further Reading

Japanese Documentary About Sea Shepherd’s Protest Activities in Taiji (English Subtitles)

Babies Born on March 11th Receive Special Present

Washington Times Freelancer Slams Former Employer, Fails to Ethically Disclose Relationship?

Christopher Johnson Attempts to Silence Criticism of His “Gaijin Gulag” Article (Legal Threats!!!)

Tabloid Reports About Yu Darvish’s Love Life: Kirara Asuka & Miho Koga?

Does K-Pop Group KARA Have Ties to North Korea?

Tokyo Gate Bridge

Sara Errani Admits She Avoided Tennis Tournament in Tokyo: Feared Radiation

Chinese Workers Who Survived March 11th Tsunami Return to Tohoku

Why’s Zippei So Quiet? TV Dog Had Vocal Cords Removed

Categories

Archives

Subscribe

Japan Blogs

Korea Blogs

Linkroll

Other Asia Blogs