lifestyle

Keeping up with Japanese metrosexual manes

100 Comments
By Charles Ayres

Foreign women have to maintain their A-game while living among Japanese ladies with their petite figures, flawless skin and polished sense of style. But the pursuit of Sweet Lady Vanity is not solely for the fairer sex. Tokyo men have made a name for themselves as the world’s most lavish metrosexuals. They collect vintage designer duds, groom themselves immaculately and preen like 21st century peacocks—nothing to do with the salarymen in frumpy black suits getting drunk in Ginza. Foreign men have long-coasted on the “Charisma Man” appeal, but let’s face it: some young Japanese guys make us look like savage, hairy wildebeests in comparison.

If you are going to hobnob with the glitterati in Ebisu or meet a lovely lady for cocktails, try not to look like an anime geek from Montana. A wise beginning is your hair. Any Sloppy Joe can get a buzz cut, but a man’s haircut and shoes are often the first things women check on first meeting. Salons can be a hurdle when living abroad, so we hereby introduce a specialist to prevent you being stamped with the “D word”—“Dasai!” (cheesy/déclassé).

Australian stylist Howard Regner has plied his trade in Japan for nine years. A consummate professional, he is tight-lipped about the high-end clientele frequenting his Azabu-Juban salon, Gold (www.goldsalontokyo.com). Suffice to say many Hollywood types just might end up there. You don’t have to be a runway model though, and the English-speaking staff is a welcome treat. They might even serve you a glass of wine if you ask politely.

So what hair issues do you often hear about from your male clientele?

I guess a common one is that a lot of men are looking for some versatility in their look. They want a balance between something that gets taken seriously closing the deal but can be loosened up and personalized into something sexier/edgier for downtime.

Japanese men tend to be immaculate—what can foreign guys do to compete?

J-men have something that works for them but doesn’t always cross over. Gaijin need to celebrate their obvious differences in a refined way so as not to come off Neanderthal-like. Think Tom Ford rather than Tom Cruise’s character in "Days of Thunder."

Do you have any advice for Afro-Caribbean or other hair types?

Keep it tight or grow it out proud and big. The middle ground is the realm of the Blaxploitation films and ’70s sitcoms.

Yes, I suppose modern guys shouldn’t go around looking like J.J. from "Good Times." Speaking of media, which celebrities do people most wish to emulate?

British MTV presenter Alexa Chung. She is the queen of balayage highlights. James Franco. Prizes for finding any major men’s grooming magazine this guy hasn’t been on the cover of in the past 12 months. A personal favorite has got to be the hard man/shaved-head look of John Travolta in his recent films.

My regular request is still Simon Le Bon from Duran Duran. What are some keywords men might keep in mind when visiting a Japanese stylist?

"Eigo ga dekimasu ka?" (Do you speak English?), because if they don’t, and you are not a Japanese speaker, it might be more prudent to use visual aids, such as tearing sheets from magazines, print-outs from the Internet, that kind of thing. If language is a problem, take your iPhone or iPad and hope like hell they have wi-fi. Communication is key to a successful encounter with any stylist.

You must hear all the secrets of the fabulous women that frequent your salon. Do you ever hear complaints about foreign men’s grooming?

Never! My ladies are way too discerning to waste their time on the follicley-challenged and inept (laughs).

Beach season is just around the corner and my big issue in Tokyo is that I am pale—though I prefer “melanin-challenged.” How can foreign men get ready for the beach?

I know this is really un-PC, but I’m an advocate for careful use of sun beds. Just start really slowly—5-10 minutes per session—and build up. Once you have a nice base, after 3-4 sessions you usually only need to go every 2-3 weeks to maintain a healthy glow. Otherwise, you have to resort to spray-on tans or bronzers, which I’ve tried from time to time without any great success. I personally like “tan in a bottle,” especially French ones such as Clarins, but if you don’t do it properly it’s a travesty showing up to Shonan two-toned. What hairstyles are en vogue for men at the moment?

The scruffy unkempt look has run its cycle, and men are returning to a cleaner, groomed look. Think Cary Grant, not billy goat Brad [Pitt].

Many foreign men are befuddled by the vast array of hair products on offer in stores. Do you have any recommendations?

My advice is to use what your stylist uses and recommends, or quiz them on what they’re using and why. Search for something with the same qualities, effects, etc.

This story originally appeared in Metropolis magazine (www.metropolis.co.jp).

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

100 Comments
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think_not___. Why not think for yourself and not listen to this prat?

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Hey! I am hairy and I resent some of the things said here.

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"The scruffy unkempt look has run its cycle, and men are returning to a cleaner, groomed look. Think Cary Grant, not billy goat Brad [Pitt]." i am THRILLED to read this! a personal pet peeve of mine is seeing 90% ( count them sometime if u don't believe me) of white guys in tokyo with either a full or partial beard, mustache, or 2 days stubble. To me, they all look unclean...as in " i am too lazy to shave today....maybe even too lazy to shower, also".

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Great advice for men that need it or don't have any confidence in themselves. Nothing new here that personally, I haven't already heard.

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I`m with proudnippon, absolutely.

In addition - why does this guy think he knows so much about women?

Do we really check out the hair and shoes on first meeting? I don`t think so.

Do we really have to "work so hard" to compete with J women - again, I dont think so. I dont "compete" with anyone, have my own sense of what suits me and have never had a problem with getting any attention in Tokyo despite my blonde hair and western body.

This seems like nothing more than a thinly-disguised advert for Gold salon.

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meh, this guy doesn't know real woman... men are hairy, you want a boy go get one, you want a man they have hair

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flawless skin

Which country are we talking about here? Japan?

Never have I seen worse skin than here.

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Originality, creativity, and resourcefulness are qualities that are always a step ahead.

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Look, as long as your brush your teeth, trim your nails, keep your hair together and in check, be a man as "gogogo put it-men are hairy", keep your body hygiene intact and immaculate, that's the key. Too many men in Japan are girliemen, if the women like that, kudos to them, but I was taught to be a gent, tough, but a real man, a leader, a problem solver, NOT a parasite of a follower or a whiner.

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Hmm? To me it sounds like the prologue of a guide. A Guide On How-To-Crossdress Properly in Japan.

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Women are naturally hairy too, and yet ...

What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Less hair, please. Thanks.

Sincerely,

A Woman

(The irony of course, is that shaving/plucking/waxing are all painful in their own ways, and yet women are the ones who are supposed to be tough and manly and deal with the pain. Men are supposed to wuss out and just let it grow. What's up with that?? I vote that being hairy is actually more "weak" and that removing hair is far more "tough.")

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Lessons on how to also look androgynous amongst the most live at home, sissy boys in the world.

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Women are naturally hairy too, and yet ...

...and yet,nothing wrong with that, so long as it's NOT the men that are hairless!

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Like a few people have said, the most important thing is looking presentable and being yourself. I roll my eyes everytime I see hear some fashionista snob having his two cents worth of what looks good. Nothing says vain or self-centred more than this rubbish.

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"men are hairy, you want a boy go get one, you want a man they have hair"

"I was taught to be a gent, tough, but a real man, a leader, a problem solver, NOT a parasite of a follower or a whiner."

"amongst the most live at home, sissy boys in the world."

Real men don't make these kinds of comments. Give it a rest, guys, Japanese people read this site too.

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Japanese men tend to be immaculate—what can foreign guys do to compete?

Surely this should read:

Japanese men tend to be effeminate—what can foreign guys do to compete?

This was obviously written by a woman who like J-boys. I have rarely seen an "immaculate" Japanese man. "Pretentiously dressed", yes. But "immaculate", no.

Japanese men have some of the worst fashion/hair sense I have ever seen anywhere in the world. I've seen a lot more foreigners here dressed a hell of a lot better than any ladyboy Japanese.

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Japanese women's "flawless skin"?? Just for the advertising, photoshop included.. C'mon, I've seen so many women with terrible skin here. A lot of japanese women use to ask me what do I do to have the flawless skin I actually have. And I'm not exagerating. The japanese women doesn't use make up, they use 'masks'.. I mean, I do use make up too because I like it,but they are so exagerated! As for the guys, I'm actually happy I'm 'out of the J-competition' lol, because if they are the 'prize', I would rather lose! Nothing like a real man, not that girlie-guys we see on the streets..C'mon.. I don't even look at those guys, they're simply just not on my vision area.. No wonder the average japanese woman has to try a lot to found something worth it..lol just kidding.. I can't say all of them are like that but I still prefer a good foreign (and masculine of course) man lol

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Men are hairy? White men mostly. I am mixed race with almost no hair any where and women love it. But being in shape helps that too. And it ain't a testosterone thing either. Doc says its high. 320 pound bench even if I skip the gym for several months. Native American blood and it comes in handy attracting Jwomen. They aren't known for body hair. Nothing wrong with a little but not trimming it and you look like a pasty ape. Have fun with that.

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Yet more proof of the shallowness of society.

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Glad I'm bald. Don't have to do anything other than keep my head shaved. Saves massively on hair cutting costs and requires no upkeep. ^_^

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Men are hairy? White men mostly. I am mixed race with almost no hair any where and women love it. But being in shape helps that too. And it ain't a testosterone thing either.

High testosterone = Bald

I must admit that the J-scout hairdo thing that these guys wear is strange to me. They don't project masculinity. It projects 'someone who spends too much time in the mirror'. But yeah, that's metrosexual I guess.

That's OK. I think women look for something else, so let these guys preen themselves. I think guys who groom naturally will be more successful.

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The end result of this is it's getting harder to tell the boys from the girls ... and the boys seem to be really secure in thier FEMININITY!

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I like that Japanese men have a certain cleanliness about them, like nails and stuff. And they are not overweight, mostly. Japanese men have also beautiful legs, check now that the short pants' season is starting. Young men's hair style is often weird, though, esp. celebrity guys - all hair glued to the face. I like the J-men who have either very short hair, or long kep on ponytail.

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One thing that really turns me off a man is the testosterone-fueled 'tough guy' image and the tendency to call those better groomed than themselves 'ladyboys'.

Two things that turn me off a man are the testosterone-fueled 'tough guy' image, the tendency to call the better-groomed 'ladyboys' and pride in a 'masculine' hairy back.

Three things .....

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@cleo- there is a line between grooming/cleanliness and anti-masculine androgyny. I dont know what a "tough guy" image is but I imagine it has something to do with poor grooming? I sure hope the "better grooming" you are referring to isnt the plucking/shaping of eyebrows and wearing of make up which I think is what is fueling the "ladyboy" opinions. I dont think I am too far of the mark in saying that men should keep themselves clean and shaved with nose and ear hair trimmed as well as a neat haircut but wearing makeup and eyebrow shaping as well as 45 minutes of hair preparation as well as multi hair care products and a constant preening of the hair falls into the category of women.

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also- trying to emulate an image from a cartoon or comic book is neither masculine nor feminine- just childish.

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Honestly, I don't think Japanese men can be called metrosexuals. I think the likes of Beckham fit the image best - well tended, impeccably dressed and MASCULINE, which, to me, a sine que non condition to keep him attractive and sexy. Japanese men, on the other hand, are also well tended, impeccably dressed, but they're so feminine that the overall result is what we see on the streets: they're closer to look like modern clowns out of Cirque du Soleil having a day-off instead of looking sexy - which is the target they can't achieve.

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If you got lots of hair, show it off! Japan is not at war, is no North Korea where they are told what is a good communist look etc..so more power to all of these J dudes with flowing hair!

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metrosexual? biggest scam ever. there is no such thing

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Reads like the hairdresser is interviewing himself.

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If girls only care about hair then they are shallow and not worth the time of day. Guys with hair and guys without hair pickup just as equal as easy other, perhaps not with the same type of girl but equally as attractive.

The hairdresser in this needs to keep his job, he aint going to say anything that would sound otherwise.

Men of hair, men without hair, ignore this idiot and get on with your day :)

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I’m an advocate for careful use of sun beds. Just start really slowly—5-10 minutes per session—and build up. Once you have a nice base, after 3-4 sessions you usually only need to go every 2-3 weeks to maintain a healthy glow.

Is this guy a little bit vain or what? Sure, just ignore all the studies that have shown direct links between the use of these sunbeds and fast-developing melanoma and other skin cancers - just go ahead and get that "healthy tan". While you are at it, get yourself a brazilian wax and eyebrow shaping. Too tough for the gaijin man to compete with these Japanese men these days, you know - they all look like theyve stepped off the catwalks of Milan! Please.....

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Foreign women have to maintain their A-game while living among Japanese ladies with their petite figures, flawless skin and polished sense of style

i don't understand why this person is putting all foreign women in one certain category... what makes Mr. Charles Ayres think foreign women are not petite? what makes him think foreign women don't have good skin? what makes him think japanese women have better skin?

some young Japanese guys make us look like savage, hairy wildebeests in comparison

says who??? i never thought that way..

it's just simple.. whether you are japanese or foreign, or mixed like me.. it doesn't matter.

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"Foreign women have to maintain their A-game while living among Japanese ladies with their petite figures, flawless skin and polished sense of style".

Talk about generalisations! What a shocking statement to say. Every Japanese woman is petite, has flawless skin and a polished sense of style. What a load of garbage.

And isnt the word gaijin considered a little politcially incorrect these days? The word is avoided on tv these days by most people. Bascially the writer seems to think that there are only two err ... "races" in the world the Japanese and rest of you get lumped together as "gaijin". Doesnt matter if you are from the US, France, Ghana or New Zealand, you are all just gaijin.

When he uses the word gaijin does he mean any particular group or is it just another bad generalisation of non-Japanese?

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cleo

Two things that turn me off a man are the testosterone-fueled 'tough guy' image, the tendency to call the better-groomed 'ladyboys' and pride in a 'masculine' hairy back.

As yes, I'm pretty sure you prefer non-meat eating herbivores... ;-)

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Great article. I'm going out right now to get a haircut like Rod Stewart's hairdresser's nightmare.

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People have pretty much covered it all LOL.

Thank goodness I am of the age where frankly dear I dont give a damn! very liberating! I keep it tight & short when its hot & let it grow long thru winter, still is longish, wife likes it, wondering if I shud go for ponytail length again havent done that in about 10yrs now.......but if it gets hot one day & may get it sheared off haha.

As for J-guys........dont care, if I was younger & single I dont think I would worry too much about them in a competition sense

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I have a bald spot on the back, growing a white ponytail, wear sneakers and jeans. Never had a problem with women here. My new one though is a sweet heart and has me shave everything except my arms, eye brows and head of hair. She thinks my legs look better than most Japanese womens' ... and she paints my toe nails blue, so I proudly wear them that way when going surfing. And I am straight. Too many men just stare at themselves in the mirror all the time. Get sick of that.

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And the funny thing is EVERYTHING this guy says in in now cud be out in a years time & all the "bad" stuff could be in, fun to watch it all go by but I just kee doing what I always do pretty much

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When it comes to hairstyles, it is true that Asian men look a lot cooler but that is due to the fact that the structure of their hair is much coarser thus enabling them to have those amazing hairstyles. And Asian guys have beautiful legs and I don't like those tough guys cleo is talking about either. I do look at how clean someone is though and at the fingernails first. I never had to maintain my A-game with Japanese ladies here either, thanks for the insult. Not every foreign woman here is fat and wears only pants. I prefer dresses and skirts for your info.

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@Cleo

Any guy who plucks his eyebrows and prunes himself in every reflection he finds, is a ladyboy in my opinion. I'm not a macho tough-guy and dislike those guys just as much as the Bangkok chick-boys in this country.

Do you have any advice for Afro-Caribbean or other hair types?

Keep it tight or grow it out proud and big. The middle ground is the realm of the Blaxploitation films and ’70s sitcoms.

The person interviewed here is so far out of touch with reality, it isn't even funny.

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None of these J-girls is worth bothering with. This image of the Japanese woman is a heap of tripe. Skinny with no curves and bad teeth prevail.

Yet you drool over them, drool, hahaha and most probably get rejected and then complain. But you have more chance with a Japanese woman than a foreign one, because Japanese girls are yasashii and cannot say no. A foreign woman can say no and make you sorry for ever approaching her.

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There is some pretty funny comments here. I would like to see a picture of goddog, and Foxie. It would be nice if JT would let us post pictures in a section. It could be monitored easily before allowing the post to be published.

Japanese boys plucking their eye brows is not my favorite thing to see, especially when they do it on the train.

They do have some amazing hair, but I would hate to see what they look like in the morning.

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Young Japanese men today are not men, they are girls (not women) and seriously, look pathetic.

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A foreign woman can say no and make you sorry for ever approaching her.

Ha ha! Yes, this is actually true if the approach is bad, but if someone has the balls to approach me respectfully, I would never make them sorry, and anyone who does is not worth bothering with in the first place.

Im glad im not the only one a little peed off at the shocking generalisations in this article.

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Well then, and where does a flamer Aussie get the idea that Japanese girlie-boys even rate in the evolution cycle? But, OK, if you live in the world of hostess bars and TV actors, then he probably has a point because that is the domain of girlie-boys and cosplayers.

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I know this is really un-PC, but I’m an advocate for careful use of sun beds.

I don't really think that any level use of sun beds can be considered safe. It's skin cancer waiting to happen if you do it regularly. The gym that I went to here actually advertised tanning beds to be "healthy", which I found to be very misleading.

young Japanese guys make us look like savage, hairy wildebeests in comparison

Ah..no, I think that young Japanese guys make most foreign guys look even manlier, which does not translate into "Neanderthal-like". I personally find that the way most Japanese (and other Asian) guys dress and groom to be too feminine for my tastes. Though, this doesn't go for Australian/American/Canadian-Born Chinese/Japanese/Koreans etc. Though they are Asian, they definitely come off more masculine than those born and raised here. Sometimes it's not just the clothes and the hair, it's the way they hold themselves that make them look feminine, I guess.

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When the redneck will be fashion again, I'll be the boss.

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Come on, people, what do you expect from a hair artist? They ARE artists, and that generally makes them flamboyant, opinionated, and whatnot! Take it all with a grain of salt.

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I have a bald spot on the back, growing a white ponytail, wear sneakers and jeans. Never had a problem with women here. My new one though is a sweet heart and has me shave everything except my arms, eye brows and head of hair. She thinks my legs look better than most Japanese womens' ... and she paints my toe nails blue, so I proudly wear them that way when going surfing. And I am straight

goddog - 1985 just called, they want the ponytail back. As for your shaving and toenail painting, whatever floatsss yer boat...

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These metrosexuals seem to be sexless. They'd better spend more time focusing on the women around them than on their hair. If the woman who kept grinding her crotch into my into my a#se and leg on the train this a.m. is any indication, there are some sorely unsatisfied women in the metropolis. If she wanted a lap dance, she might at least have left a tip in my belt.

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I think Japanese women are really hard on themselves when it comes to body image. I have met Japanese girls who are literally beanpoles and still think they are fat. I just don't get it.

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men are hairy, you want a boy go get one, you want a man they have hair.

Well said, gogogo! Just taking a look at my mirror, i see a tall, masculine and hairy Greek man that loves to drink ouzo, dance to Zeibekiko and most important, have an ancient Greek looking beard...

I just realized that i don't have any chance against these metrosexual J-guys, do i?

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Lessons on how to also look androgynous amongst the most live at home, sissy boys in the world.

bwhahaahaha! SMASH!

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Greek Gods are exceptions, they make up for all men's mistakes with their charm. Καλή σας μέρα.

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Foreign women have to maintain their A-game while living among Japanese ladies with their petite figures, flawless skin and polished sense of style.

I wonder as I am obviously not a match to Japanese women, why men are so interested in me?! Ha, it must be my intellect, I am maybe more interesting to talk to!!! hoho

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Just taking a look at my mirror, i see a tall, masculine and hairy Greek man that loves to drink ouzo, dance to Zeibekiko and most important, have an ancient Greek looking beard...

Just being Greek is enough for me...I still remember Greek soccer team from World cup last year. The perfects!

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LoveUSA; you don't have to compete, many prefer women with a fuller figure in any country.

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Australian stylist Howard Regner has plied his trade in Japan for nine years. A consummate professional, he is tight-lipped

Rough "Trade" being the operative expression, methinks...

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I think its very hard for non-japanese men to pull off THEIR metrosexual look.

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I think its very hard for non-japanese men to pull off THEIR metrosexual look.

I'm quite sure Australian "stylist" Howard Regner makes a pretty good fist of it though...

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@Antonios_M at 06:42 PM JST - 25th May "Just taking a look at my mirror, i see a tall, masculine and hairy Greek man that loves to drink ouzo, dance to Zeibekiko and most important, have an ancient Greek looking beard... I just realized that i don't have any chance against these metrosexual J-guys, do i?"

haha. Who said everyone has to look the same and if you're a foreigner, that's the "draw" is looking different and being set apart so to speak :) Use your own personal style and charm. ;) If the "cool metro" look isn't you, then do your own thing. Nothin' wrong with that...Plus Greeks have some of the best parties. Opah?

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stevecpfc at 07:52 PM JST - 25th May "you don't have to compete, many prefer women with a fuller figure in any country."

Even when some Asian women are small-built they can still be fat. I see a lot of fat highschool legs walkin' around even though they're small. Not toned at all. /shrug. But agree, ea person will have their own personal taste in what's attractive. :) One thing that kind of irks me though, or weirds me out, is that the Japanese women always feel frail to me. You shake their hand or something and even as a pretty girly girl in American context, I feel like I'm rough and going to break their hand. ><

Moderator: Back on topic please.

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Who said everyone has to look the same and if you're a foreigner, that's the "draw" is looking different and being set apart so to speak :) Use your own personal style and charm. ;)

Agree absolutely! As a wise man once told me when I arrived on these fair shores 6 years ago: "Gaijin Advantage - Guaranteed!"

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Foxie, LoveUSA, Columhcille, thanks a lot! I wish my Japanese girlfriend had the same opinion as you. She always complains about my beard, even though i wear daily the most decent armani shirts with polished shoes and rolex watches. She is only noticing the beard... When it is long she says i look like homeless...(wait a minute, then Zeus would have been viewed as homeless in Japan), and when it is short she says it is "very rude and symbol of laziness". I never understood why my poor and cute Greek beard would be regarded as a symbol of "laziness" in Japan. After all, everybody knows how much workaholic and discipline we Greeks are.

Ok, now it's time to open a bottle of ouzo! Ώπααα!!!

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But the Hairy, Tall, Rugged, Dredlock Guy do catch my eye. It's just cause I'm Tall Dredlock Women.

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I meant Tall dred Woman. Singular.

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Okay I'm Tired. forgot the A in Dreadlock.

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Yawns, this story is just silly and a bit suspect, I think? Well Japanese men love young women, a person like me is an oba-san and over the hill. Think many of them are just weird and perverted. I see lots of American men and yes there is a difference.

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I think the comments are much more interesting than the article.

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And then again there are guys who are overly macho who have bad hair, bad skin and hairy backs but who get the girl because they have the courage (or audacity?) to simply say "Hi", while the metrosexuals are preening in front of the mirror.

Different women like different things. I suppose if you think 60% of women like a certain look and you think you have more chance of a date?/girlfriend/ marriage partner if you get that "look", then who am I to criticize.

But to me, it's getting ridiculous to have guys spending ages in front of the mirror in restrooms while their girlfriend is waiting outside. Just doesn't seem right somehow.

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P.S I know young Japanese guys who spend lots of money on clothes and hair but who don't know how to approach women. And I know so many women who want to get married but can't who spend money on clothes, bags, makeup, hair, nails, diets, shoes, parasols in the hope that they will be more attractive - but still are waiting for someone to introduce them to someone.

No offense to hair stylists, but people seem to spend so much money on hair these days. Is it really that much of a deal breaker?

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"J-men have something that works for them but doesn’t always cross over. "

Yes, he's right about that.

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I think it's what's on the inside of a person that really counts know matter the look or style you choose.

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Foxie and Cleo: I agree with you 100%.

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"sexier/edgier" yeah... but it ends up just look extremely homosexual. which is 100% fine if thats what your going for... but something tells me they are just ZEROsexual.

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My uni students if look cool and handsome Get a lot of action SEX but if they are dorky smelly Messed up wardrobes they must pay $$$$$$$!!!!!! $$$$$$$!!!!!!for any action with any decent Japanese girls $$$ talks and BS...

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I feel that as a man, I try to do the basics, trim my nails, stay in shape, buy decent clothes. But THE MOST important thing (for me at least above all else) is hygiene. Can't deal with the BO and yes, while most Japanese don't smell that bad during the summer, still there really isn't much out there for men that really want to smell good. Every year when I travel back to the states, I hoard up on suitcase full of manly hygiene products from shower gels, shampoos etc. The Japanese Gatsby crap smells like a medicine cabinet which would put 4711 to shame. There just aren't any decent hygiene products for men in this country, sad if you ask me. But at least, I get tones of complements from the ladies always asking me, why I smell so good and to me that is the key to being a real man! If you strut tats and or piercings, facial hair or whatever body shape you have, be proud, but at least be a real man.

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I'd never be an emfinite metrosexual. I take pride on maintaining a masculine image while at the same time trying to being clean, groomed and well dressed.

Some of the metros in Japan and the rest of the developed world take it waaaay to far. Seriously, they should just wear skirts and lipstick and go all the way.

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Sexual is definitely part of the phrase I'd use to describe these "guys" Japan the only place I've been where I walk down the street and wonder "which is the woman"? On couples approaching.

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My regular request is still Simon Le Bon from Duran Duran.

Dude - Simon Le Bon hasn't been popular since 1985.

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I think this article is very true, there is many dasai gaijin around who dont look after their appearances compared to the Japanese..

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Well, I've sure cleaned up my act since coming to Japan. Since my size is not available in hats, shoes, or women's clothes, it is a real challenge. Anyway, yes, I do wish gaijin men would clean up a bit. Also, unless you are bald or nearly so, please avoid the skinhead looks, which is repulsive. Otherwise, I quite enjoy the ranges of sexuality Japanese are free to express here. Refreshing to see.

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Fortunately for the hairy loafs who are not Japanese, J-men are too busy having a bikini wax to be interested in sex. Being an effeminate-looking man is not what J-girls are looking for. Yeah, they want the spineless fashion-boys as "keepakun" becuz they know that they will get to spend their lives shopping and pedicuring. But when they need men, they will be able to take English/French/Spanish lessons!

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I do wish gaijin men would clean up a bit. Also, unless you are bald or nearly so, please avoid the skinhead looks, which is repulsive. Otherwise, I quite enjoy the ranges of sexuality Japanese are free to express here. Refreshing to see.

You are joking, right? What kind of statement was that? Most foreign men are clean at least they tend to wear cologne and me, for example, I never use the Japanese male hygiene crap. Have you ever seen what they have or actually what they don't have? It all smells the same and it all smells like menthol or cheap old spice like, NO thank you, I'll pass! I really think some of the men could benefit from using quality hygiene products, especially high school boys. Also, how is being bald repulsive? Only if you have a messed up shaped head perhaps. With this humidity in Japan, sometimes going bald is the best thing or do you thing sporting a Naruto hairdo is sexier??? Free expressions of Japanese sexuality? Must have definitely missed the boat on that one.

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Most foreign men are clean at least they tend to wear cologne

If you're clean, why would you need cologne? Just asking.

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Sorry, but those of us who are masculine foreign males in Japan are more than happy to keep looking and acting like men.

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I think these chaps look shocking. I have a feeling that a lot of Japanese men have come over all queer.

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Sucks that I cannot change my style of unkempt hair and permanent stubble, I'm not Caucasian, some Asians have follicle troubles as well. I haven't paid for a haircut for 23 years, I let my nose hair grow till they become part of my pathetic unmustachey stubble, my sideburns are not even and I never ever never comb my hair. I'm married with kids now, but the aforementioned look of a treeplanter who doesn't own a proper shaving kit hadn't prevented me from having a less than mundane love life while I was living in Jp when I was younger. Conversely, it's the pretty boys with their go sen yen hair cut and little brother confidence problem that seem not to be able to muster up the courage to ask the girl of their dreams out even when they're all spruced up like '21st century peacocks', well, more like peas, than like cocks, I suppose...

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when they're all spruced up like '21st century peacocks', well, more like peas, than like cocks, I suppose..

Rolling on floor LAUGHING!!!

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If you're clean, why would you need cologne? Just asking

Why wear cologne? To add to the nice smell. I get compliments all the time from people, maybe not from the granny's, but on average, I like the smell and it makes me feel good personally. I don't bathe in it, but sparingly put it on. You don't mind if women wear a nice perfume do you? Perfume, colognes and natural oils can be very alluring and sexy to some people. I like to keep well-groomed and take care of myself inside and out, many people in Japan don't like using them and that's fine with me, each to his own, but I have like to enhance my smell with nice cologne products.

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bass4funk: Go for it. As a woman at least I appreciate a nice, faint high class cologne on men.

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I also agree with Ranger Miffy.

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i agree with genkimarc, steve, and bluewitch and others... These J boys look a lot like Gay boys. Personally I think all of this is superficial BS. There is more to life than hair and pointy clown shoes. I speak from a place of experience when I say that it is easy to get laid by beautiful women and not have the latest fashion, bedhead hair, long pointy clown/witch shoes, tight pants and a small package. What a stupid feature.

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@EUcitizen

Thanks, I really appreciate that. I try not to be offensive around my friends, family and co-workers. Good hygiene gets you a long way in life!

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bass4funk - I understand the bit about liking the smell - I like nice smells - but how does wearing cologne equate to being clean? How can you say that a man isn't clean because he doesn't use cologne? Wasn't perfume originally developed as a means of covering up the body odours of people who had a bath three times a year (whether they needed it or not :-))? And when I smell perfume on a woman I always wonder if she bothered to check whether it was from a range of cruelty-free products.....personally I think there's nothing to beat the smell of clean skin, which carries with it the subtle smell of the soap you last used.

I hate it when you can find a person blindfolded in a dark room from the overpowering smell of their cosmetics. Subtle is best - I don't want to smell it unless I'm in whispering range.

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You misunderstood me once again. I didn't mean that wearing cologne equates to being clean. I meant; "it enhances" the smell. Yes, you can use cologne/perfume to cover-up BO, but that doesn't apply to me. I shower twice a day, because I can never understand how people can get up and leave the house without showering first, likewise in the evenings, how people cannot take a bath or shower before they go to bed. You have some people that prefer to bathe less than twice a day, but I prefer to be always clean. As for buying cologne that are cruelty-free products, I try as much as I can, but to be honest, I can't be sure 110% of the time, I try, really do and also I am a busy man, I have more important things to worry about I like clean smelling skin too, but I also like the enhancement of perfumes, not every time, but I do like natural perfumed essences. As for overpowering, well I don't like that either, some people don't know how to use them properly. But perfume/cologne will smell differently from person to person, so it is quite interesting how Dior can smell on a woman quite alluring and on another extremely annoying, its a hit or miss thing.

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I can never understand how people can get up and leave the house without showering first

Hangovers?

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I can never understand how people can get up and leave the house without showering first

Hangovers?

A big mistake of an one-night stand?

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