Stripey in Akihabara (2) ~ Not everyone in seifuku is a bishoujo
It troubled me a great deal that I was paying more attention than I should to the seifuku when in Japan. Whenever a seifuku came into my field of view, it warranted a second look. Reflecting on this abnormality (while kneeling on a durian - a consequence of sharing too much with my beloved wife in the day), it dawned on me that I had to find a scapegoat fast my RL bishoujo radar has been poisoned by my penchant for 2D beauty.
My contact with the Japanese seifuku has mostly been limited to anime and works of highly esteemed 2D illustrators. But years of exposure to the seifuku has conditioned me to believe that -
Not just any seifuku but the Japanese seifuku in the various forms. That explains the chain of events that occurs in between the synapses in my brain when in Japan.
See seifuku -> 'seifuku = bishoujo' flag triggered -> Verifying against wife-chan commandments database -> Permission granted -> 2nd look executed.
Of course not everyone in a seifuku is a bishoujo and it shakes me to the core to think that my 2D passion has overridden common sense so easily. Extrapolating from that thought, I wonder what's it like to be a Japanese high-schooler when Japanese eroge and porn feature the 'schoolgirl' so prominently. Never mind the occasional Singaporean otaku oddball who thinks seifuku = pretty girls, what's it like to be in a society that has 'seifuku' as one of the pornographic genre? Maybe that's why of my 2 Japanese cousins, the female adores Singapore while the male has sworn to never leave Japan. Personally, I think fables of short skirts in Tokyo are hugely exaggerated.
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July 23rd, 2009 - 03:16
And here I was thinking that you got caught by a trap cosplaying as a bishoujo in a seifuku :p That’s one thing I think I’d find weird going over there. Just in general schools having uniforms isn’t something that you find very much in the US, so seeing a bunch of people wearing school uniforms would be a bit of a culture shock.
July 23rd, 2009 - 20:47
School uniforms are normal here in the Philippines too, doubly so in private Catholic schools, so it’s not really that odd. Sailor-style uniforms are all-but unknown though.
By the way Stripey, heading back to Singapore this August, and I was wondering if I could ask for the locations of prominent bookstores (as I’ve never really seen one despite having visited the city more than 3 times already). And no, I don’t count the National Library as a ‘book store’.
July 24th, 2009 - 00:14
CHIJ school uniforms for our tanuki. >_>
July 25th, 2009 - 03:07
Not so much for seifuku goodness around here >_< A few private schools do use standardized uniforms here but that's about it. Just another reason for me to visit Japan ^^;
July 27th, 2009 - 00:10
Nazarielle: Ah I’ve always thought the school uniform to be the great equaliser. It’s easier to pick out the prettiest girl in the class/school when everyone’s wearing the same thing. At least that’s what I was taught.
Myssa Rei: Oh welcome to our Republic island again! I’ll drop you an email on the localities. Are you looking specifically for 2D merchandise/artbooks?
Di Gi Kazune: Hmm. I can’t remember the CHIJ uniform actually…. I thought the St Nic’s one was quite nice. Maybe cos (one of) the prettiest girl in my JC then was from St Nic’s XD
anonymous_object: It’s quite a sight when they come out in force (after school). Just don’t expect to as much ribbons as in anime
July 27th, 2009 - 15:53
2D stuff, as I’ll be stuck here in Singapore for a week or so. Also, ANY bookstore would do, and there’s really a limit to what I could find that interests me in the many bargain bins in the city.
July 27th, 2009 - 23:59
There’re a couple of 2D-related spots in Sg that may interest you. All of them can be amply covered in a day.
Have dropped you the mail.
July 30th, 2009 - 01:32
The seifuku can be rather ungrateful to the wearer if they are overweight. Fortunately, that’s still more unusual than usual in Japan (unlike the US where Zeppelin-itis has reached lethal proportions — and I mean that in a morbid medical sense).
As a regular participant in US anime cons — I can verify that no matter what the costume, there is someone that can make you run for the eye bleach.
Seriously… many people need to get up and MOVE!!!! After my doctor slapped me around, I’ve gone from 230lbs to 195 in about 6 months ((I’m 6′0″)) – basically by eating less and exercising more. I can now consider more options in cosplay as a result
Been wanting to go as an ARIA ’salamander’ for a couple of years now.
(currently 89kg at 183cm)
My wife has a goal of 92lbs (currently 98lbs) so I just glare at her when she begs off from the gym. ((she’s 4′10″))
(currently 43kg at