Michael Moore visits a maid cafe in Akihabara
Shinichi Karube of “Mezamashi TV” takes American director Michael Moore on a tour of Akihabara:
Part 1
Michael Moore is amused with the crowd of onlookers taking photos of himself and Karube. He borrows a camera from one onlooker so he can take the onlooker’s photo. He then asks to call the guy’s dad, who is a reporter for the Sankei Shimbun (Fuji TV is part of the same media group). The father cannot speak English, but Moore attempts a conversation anyway.
Upon seeing a man wearing a mask, Moore decides to give a lecture on why it is good for us as humans to breath in germs and get a stronger immune system. The lecture doesn’t seem to have much effect.
They move on to a figure shop. Moore ignores the figures and buys some wire instead.
Next, they interview a Japanese gyaru. She had never heard of Michael Moore, which gives the show an opportunity to air some clips further introducing Moore’s achievements to the audience at home. The gyaru and her friend had just come from a maid cafe….
Part 2 (The maid cafe)
Moore and Karube go to Akihabara’s famous @home maid cafe. Moore does not seem to enjoy the servility of the maids and fears that it is some sort of pedo business that will soon be raided by the police.
Before leaving, Moore apparently comments on his opposition to Obama’s Afghanistan policy. He then reminds Karube that masks are bad and germs are good. Teenage girls are to be avoided.
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
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Oh, this is going to be a hilarious comments thread. I can’t wait.
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God, he’s so ignorant…. It’s like he’s there to modernize and educate them, lol
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ha ha right. i really laughed when he said: no, i need your germs! poor man, saying something about such a good habit to not contaminate people around you. what an idiot.
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You are the ignoramus. Not Michael Moore.
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No, Michael Moore is a tool, and I lean enough to the left to probably be considered a social democrat. Robert has it right, that’s not what the mask is meant for. The mask is to keep YOUR germs if you have a cold or the flu away from OTHER people, not the other way around. Clinics in America ask you to do the same thing if you have the flu.
And he’s also a tremendous idiot of he really thinks the power balance in the maid cafes are really skewed towards the male otaku patrons. It’s not like maid cafe is the only job available for a woman in Japan, and it’s still more dignified and safer than a strip bar or a hostess club. All the women there have to do is indulge in kitschy otaku fantasies and pretend to like them, hell, just to respect them as people is probably more affection than the average ota gets in their day to day life. Patrons are charged for pretty much every interaction made with a maid. It costs about 5 dollars to play rock, paper, scissors. Nothing indecent happens in a maid cafe. It’s a total money spinning operation; if anything, it’s much more exploitative of the ota than it is the women.
On the other hand “hostess clubs” are often thinly veiled brothels. And then there are host clubs on the other end of the spectrum, and they’re all sorts of fu’d up too.
Ultimately, Japan has inequality issues on par with America: there’s still problems, but there’s enough freedom in the job place to get a job that someone wouldn’t find demeaning if they were inclined to feel that way about this line of work. So typically only people that are desperate or genuinely enjoy it end up in places like this. At least in maid cafes; I won’t deny that hostess clubs probably have a number of women that have been coerced by underworld thugs into doing that.
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Moore can be quite funny just riffing on reality, like he did 10-15 years ago, and maybe is returning to with his recent film. It’s when he just makes stuff up that it gets a bit annoying (as in his thoroughly-discredited Oscar winning “documentary”)
Besides, reality is usually a lot funnier.
Give him credit for not changing his stripes on Afghanistan, like 90% of the Left sine The One got elected and won a Peace Prize while simultaneously managing 2 wars (?!)
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“Moore does not seem to enjoy the servility of the maids and fears that it is some sort of pedo business that will soon be raided by the police.”
Finally, a man with some common sense.
This image of Japan is appalling.
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I do not see what could possibly be “appalling” about maid cafes.
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I concur wholeheartedly, private.
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People under the age of 18 aren’t seen or act as asexual, moronic little angles, oh noes!
We Americans must teach the Japanese the wrongness of their evil pedo ways!
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Yeah. But I guess those girls are actually 18 or older.
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this was painful to watch…
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omg he’s such a douche. he reminds me of Kyle’s cousin on southpark.
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No one cares about that guy! Moore is such a hypocrite! The only other person that can be just as annoying is his best pal and soul mate, Debito. They deserve each other.
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I now understand why he looks so healthy! Don’t talk to teenagers, accuse the American health care system, and… eat germs, eat germs, eat ALL GERMS!
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Moore didn’t moe or did he is the question.
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Top 5 things thought by the guy whom Moore told not to wear a mask:
- “Now I wish I had something to cover my ears!”
- “I think I can name something that should cover YOUR mouth”
- “Covering my face like this keeps me from saying stupid sh– you should try it”
- “Looks like you’ve eaten your share of germs – and everything else”
- “Is Fred Flintstone actually telling ME not to cover my mouth?”
Seriously, the Japanese shows are now following this guy around? I can see actual movie stars; Hugh Jackman, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, etc, but Michael Moore? The only people that flock to his movies are extreme leftists, and how many of them are gonna rush to see his movie subtitled in Japanese? Seriously, he’s not a box office draw – who cares what he thinks?
Has anyone ever asked him what he pays HIS employees?
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actually, I know of alot of Japanese who are fans of Moore and have been fans since Bowling for Columbine. many of my Japanese friends do care on what he has to say and thinks.
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Moore is one of the worst examples of America their is. God i hope the Japanese do not take this guy seriously.
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Yes what an awful example.
Moore went from self-publishing a small local newspaper, to a regional newspaper to a national magazine, to a hit movie, to a weekly television show, wrote a few books, then to more hit movies with worldwide distribution.
Since he started out from a working class family, with no outside finances except what he earned/begged/borrowed himself, and without a ivy league education, I’d say he’s a GREAT example for people to follow/admire.
You don’t have to agree with his opinions – his entire reason for all of his projects is to MAKE YOU THINK (so yeah, I can see why YOU don’t like him).
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“his entire reason for all of his projects is to MAKE YOU THINK”
His projects are made to make you believe what he is saying. He is not interested in objectivity and never has been. Even when he first started out with possibly noble intentions with “Roger & Me” he only put forth his opinion. Oh my god the evil company wanted to make money, how dare them. The only thing that really bugs me is that they allow him to classify his films as documentaries. When they clearly just push his agenda. It’s like calling Fox News, fair and balanced.
Also Isn’t it a little hypocritical for a morbidly obese man to make a movie criticizing health care? The best way to improve health care (in the US) is to spot being so damn fat.
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Oh my Karl! A way to maintain a well-functioning immune system is to take a moderate amount of meals, exercise, and rest. He is the incarnation of the strong immune system. Obviously! No Capitalism anymore!
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“his entire reason for all of his projects is to MAKE YOU THINK”
Someone should tell him, physician, heal thyself, i.e. think.
Breath in the germs… honestly, someone expose Moore to the Plague. With no antibiotics of course, so his immune system can get nice and strong.
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His bad humor is so hilarious though!
*sigh*
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It was great! He was just trying to make this borring walk around Akihabara a little bit more interesting. Finally I could enjoy one episode from that “Mezamashi TV”.
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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!
Nice to see a fine American specimen walking the streets of another foreign country! And what a fine prototypical specimen he is, too. He is so quintessentially American, there is no doubt about it. How lovely it is to see this excellent example of the great American man make nice and be a shining representative of our great nation.
Praise be the lord.
LOL
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HALLELUJAH!!!
This fine example of the greatest of what America has to offer has come to teach those heathen Japanese the ways of modern America society!
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Yes! All 635 lbs of him, too! Isn’t he a peach? He is such a wonder, that man!
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pew pew… I am sure that you are a fine example yourself. I bet you, as the cream of the crop, is the perfect charisma specimen to look down on someone who is fat. You are a sure reminder of how shallow people can be.
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No duh! That’s the point, ain’t it? LOL
I’m not THAT heavy, but I’m close. After all, I am a proud and typical American who doesn’t walk, exercise or eat healthy foods. I frequent Mickey D’s for breakfast, KFC for lunch and Taco Bell for dinner. And I hate salad. I love onion rings, freedom fries and the biggest soda you can give me. Them desserts are good at Mickey D’s too, especially the sundae, so I go get that after dinner.
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I’ll never understand why people don’t bother to take the extra minute to proofread what they write, especially when they’re attempting to insult someone. I can only assume that posts like this are the result of a poor education and epilepsy.
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He’s right about the Germs, and even tough he’s fat he’s no Otaku. 2 Stars from me for that
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lol! he break the mold
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To the insecure asses that made fun of Michael Moore’s weight…people will listen to what he has to say and he will get paid for it while you will only get above minimum wage for any of your second hand English lessons. For real, does it really matter what the man looks like? Can you really be that easily embarrassed by someone who is a foreigner and doesnt look like Johnny Depp or some famous actor. He brought about a lot of ground breaking insights that have made many people question the things around them. For facks sake…give the man a break.
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I only have one thing to say about this…Michael Moore, shut the fuck up…just please…shut the fuck up…
I’m done.
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This guy is so cool and he’s right about masks. An article about masks : http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=930863&lang=eng_news&cate_img=317.jpg&cate_rss=news_Features
In America, Moore is the reflect of an alternative way to think far away from TV and mass consumption or Republican’s propaganda.
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This guy is so cool and he’s right about masks.
No, he’s wrong about masks. His opinion seems to be that wearing a mask decreases the amount of exposure to germs, and hence it would affect proper development and/or enhancement of immune system in an undesirable manner. However, it is supposed that one of the crucial factors for maintaining proper and balanced immune system is good lifestyle and habits, e.g., just enough amount of well-balanced meals, adequate exercise, and sufficient sleep and rest. Not wearing a mask in the public places has probably the least relevance on enhancing his immune system. He might have just wanted to enlighten foolish people who are often agitated by advertisements, but his claim is, at least, doubtful. And look at him, think about his immune system, and imagine his future health status — he is not so cool.
In America, Moore is the reflect of an alternative way to think far away from TV and mass consumption or Republican’s propaganda.
And your article is full of usual Japanology principles and it does not offer an alternative way of think far away from some kind of news media.
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talking about documentaries, my brain still hurts from watching this one. A fine specimen of american cetacean, the star and striped whale navigating the shallow sea of Akiba his native culture dispersing everywhere.
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Lol I was there yesterday…
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everyone here is hilarious!!!!
Some people hate him because he s a leftist :
last time I checked being any kind of extremist sold newspapers or got your movie made.
Some people hate him because he s an American Icon:
You dont have to like him, but he s a great example of American free speech hands down. The things he gets away with saying and not having any real detrimental effect except that a person wont see his movie. That s impressive.
SO he s walking the streets of Akihabara… he s still getting a lot of publicity just to be on Mezameshi TV. Thats all he wanted!
Some people hate him because he s fat. :
WHY?! Fat people are so funny.
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I don’t like him and I’m a left winger, he’s everything that’s wrong with current “liberals”. Don’t stoop to fox’s level just to combat them.
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Michael is cool. I thoroughly enjoy his films, even if I may not agree with all his viewpoints and conclusions. He is one of the revolutionaries that made documentaries cool and big time. He is infinitely more fascinating than any other high profile celebrities that visit Japan.
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How the world would be better without that blob Moore.
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Yup. Just as crazy as I thought it would be.
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Welcome to the internet!
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Moore may have some valid points about the masks, the maid cafes, etc, etc, but consider how absurd it is for that fit Japanese man in the video with a mask on to be lectured by a guy at high risk for heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer – by choice of lifestyle – on why wearing a surgical mask isn’t good for your health.
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he’s pretty rude, I had no idea he was so dumb.
this is weird..why is the background music in the video from Gravitation and My boss, my hero…?
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