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Japanese singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards Japan in 2014 Image: Norio NAKAYAMA from saitama, japan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Japanese singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s comments on body shaming earn praise online

19 Comments
By grape Japan

With the widespread use of social networking sites and advanced camera applications, we have much more opportunities to see the faces of many different people today.

Perhaps because of this, there is a growing tendency to one-sidedly judge the appearance of others, assigning superiority or inferiority to them, and discriminating against those who are judged to be inferior.

This focus on lookism or "appearances-above-all" can give people a distorted sense of values in which only beauty matters.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu responds to slanderous comments on her appearance

On Nov 21, internationally famous Japanese singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu commented on slander on her Twitter account.

According to her post, she says that she often receives comments criticizing her body shape in response to images of specific parts of her body.

Screen-Shot-2021-11-.png

What Kyary wants to show is not her body, but fashion items such as shoes and rings. The reason why she takes pictures of herself wearing the items is probably that it's easier to convey the appeal of the items that way.

Whether that was her reasoning or not, Kyary naturally got fed up with all the slanderous comments she received.

After complaining about those who criticize the appearance of others from a safe distance, she expressed her thoughts in a simple but powerful way, in support of loving yourself rather than worrying about what others think about you.

Kyary's post has gone viral and she has received sympathetic comments, such as:

"That last sentence is brilliant! Even if people just think they're teasing, I want people to know that it's offensive."

"I think that people who criticize other people's appearance have a complex about their own appearance as well."

"There are some who make comments like this... People who point out other people's appearance based on their own values are really lame."

From the lyrics of Kyary's song 『100%のじぶんに』 "100% no Jibun ni" (being yourself 100%) some people seem to have realized something about their ideal selves.

Many people want to live in a society where each individual can love themselves and live without being limited by their appearance.

Read more stories from grape Japan.

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-- Sanrio characters get adorable mochi makeover thanks to traditional Japanese sweets makers

-- New Nagoya Izakaya lets customers pour their own all-you-can-drink chuhai from tap

© grape Japan

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

19 Comments
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Sorry to bring it to you, but body shaming is part of the Japanese culture. 

Guess whoever downvoted you doesn't live in Japan or haven't seen any of the countless shows where people are being called fat, bald, ugly, creepy, stupid and useless.

The fact that negative comments on social media still surprises people really amazes me. putting anything online is the same as writing on a public bathroom wall, you might get a thought out response but more than likely you'll get back crap.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It is not negative at all, depending on how you look at the situation. The truth always triggers some emotional response because the reader doesn’t clearly understand what is being said.

If a person (like many in this godawful comment section) is so insufferably miserable and peabrained to waste their breath belittling another person’s appearance then they don’t deserve to exist, full-stop. The world is worse off with them in it. Nobody wants them around. It would be better if they would just disappear.

At the end of the day it’s clear who’s just a pathetic shut-in who has nothing more constructive to do with their life than to bash people they don’t know on the internet from the comfort and safety of their mother’s basement. Trash. spits on the ground at their feet

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

She isn’t even remotely “unhealthy” or “fat.” But even if she was, yours or anyone’s negative opinion of another persons body are so less than marginal.

It is not negative at all, depending on how you look at the situation. The truth always triggers some emotional response because the reader doesn’t clearly understand what is being said.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Mmmm...

It is truly unkind and nasty to call people out on their body parts or appearance. It shows no basic human respect.

Those who do that are immature, shallow, gutless and shameless.

Still, on the other hand, she says "What I think is important is being the "you" that you love"... if that IS the case and she believes that, why does she have to even post?? isn't it for PEER APPROVAL? sharing? come on... sharing for what? there's no sharing JUST for sharing, she is LOOKING for something, as any who posts as such. Furthermore, if she truly believes what she says, why then "... makes me feel like not posting any more?" ?? Truth is she doesn't believe it. If she did it wouldn't matter what other think or say or do., cause the important thing is being the you you love, right? Her message is a double one. She says one thing, but does another by proactively seeking peer approval and folding when she doesn't get it.

Which brings me to the 2nd point, folding like to what other says, or looking for peer approval, is likewise immature, shallow, gutless and naive.

Once we all grow and stop demeaning others to feel better about ourselves, and stop feeling demeaned when others disapprove of us, THEN and ONLY then we will have a better, brighter, happier, stronger society. Both sides of the spectrum HAVE TO GROW.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Simple solution: Don't post pictures of anything.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

“Good Luck”, Kyary! - Keep doing what you’ve been doing.

Btw: Her backup dancers ‘theatrics’ are 50% of what’s entertaining about Kyary’s videos & live performances.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Yui Aragaki. - Wouldn’t need a “contract” to marry her, that’s for sure:

https://soranews24.com/2021/04/28/japanese-actress-yui-aragaki-stars-in-new-hm-campaign/ -

*- @Johansawada 4:29p**m: “she could be Yui Aragaki and still receive nasty comments about her appearance… like the kids on the Internet say “haters gona hate”*

0 ( +2 / -2 )

dank_natto 10:36 am JST

I’m response to “Danielsan” above. What a completely disappointing comment.

You must be new here.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

she could be Yui Aragaki and still receive nasty comments about her appearance… like the kids on the Internet say “haters gona hate”

it’s best to ignore these haters for the sake of our sanity

7 ( +9 / -2 )

On Nov 21, internationally famous Japanese singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu commented on slander on her Twitter account.

Never heard of her. Not going to research about her.

-8 ( +6 / -14 )

Err isn't lame a discriminatory word against disabled people?

How outdated is that though?

If you have an endomorphic body type and are naturally a bit husky there's no shame in that.

It's the people who overeat themselves into obesity that have a problem, and it's not body acceptance, it's:

-Cholesterol

-Blood pressure

-Arteries

-Diabetes

-Liver and kidney issues

-Gout, etc.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

I’m response to “Danielsan” above. What a completely disappointing comment. Firstly, this article is about one of the hardest working people in Japan’s music industry. She isn’t even remotely “unhealthy” or “fat.” But even if she was, yours or anyone’s negative opinion of another persons body are so less than marginal.

0 ( +15 / -15 )

People who point out other people's appearance based on their own values are really lame.

Err isn't lame a discriminatory word against disabled people?

3 ( +8 / -5 )

People who let their bodies go to unhealthy fat through slovenly habits should be ashamed of themselves.

Unhealthy people end up costing the public more in health costs and are a burden on society.

Acceptance of sloth only profits the health care industry.

2 ( +24 / -22 )

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