Over the past couple of years there has been something a revolution in the perception and treatment of chubby girls in Japan. With the coining of the term “Marshmallow Girl,” plus-sized girls across Japan have been gaining confidence and options in the fashion world. There is now a fashion and beauty magazine dedicated to these girthy girls and even an idol group.
Although the fashion world is slowly coming around to providing for these larger-than-average young ladies, there are still holes in certain sectors, like cosplay. “Marshmallow girls” can rejoice, however, as a special line of plus-size costumes is due to be released this fall.
In many Western countries, despite the persistence of super-slim models in media, much of the population is more in the category of “overweight.” Clothing manufacturers have kept this in mind, making it easy to find almost anything in larger sizes. This is not the case in Japan. Rarely will you find a store stocked with sizes bigger than Large (which would usually equate to an American-size Medium). Plus-sizes are very hard to come by.
So you can imagine that if finding regular clothes is a challenge, finding costumes would be next to impossible! Costumes rarely come in sizes bigger than Medium and even the supposed “one-size-fits-all” options are a joke if you have some meat on your bones.
Seeing the untapped market of costumes for marshmallow girls, the Japanese costume manufacturing company JiG Paradise, will be releasing a special line of costumes called, “Marshmallow Girls Series.” The costumes are already on display on Internet shopping sites like Amazon Japan, but you can’t actually buy them until September 4.
While they call it a series, it really only consists of four costumes, “Forest Girl” (aka Little Red Riding Hood), “Alice Girl” (Alice in Wonderland), “Witch Maragret,” and “Snow Princess” (Snow White).
The size is considered 4L (American equivalent, XXL), having measurements of 110-centimeter (43-inch) bust and 95-centimeter (37-inch) waist. This is significantly larger than the typical size available, which runs 88 centimeters (34 inchs) in the bust and 70 centimeters (27 inchs) in the waist, read: an American size Small.
The catch, however, other than only offering four styles, is that the costumes are a bit more expensive than their smaller counterparts. Smaller costumes rarely exceed 5,000 yen, but the Marshmallow Girl Series outfits will cost 9,504 yen. The company cites the need for extra fabric to explain the price discrepancy, but really, how much more did they need??
While the options are limited and the price daunting, Japan is moving in the right direction toward providing options for their marshmallow girls. Keep your eyes open this Halloween for the first generation of the Marshmallow Girls Series costumes.
Sources: JiG Paradise, Amazon Japan
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© Japan Today
35 Comments
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theFu
Everyone should be able to play dress up. Too many skinny girls in Japan anyway, IMHO.
MarkG
These girls aren't marshmallows, the're Fluffy! "Stolen from Mr. Fluffy himself Gabriel Iglasias". Well worth watching if you never seen him.
CGB Spender
Common sense tells us that being too fat is unhealthy. Has something changed about this fact in recent decades or is it that they don't care anymore? But of course... There is a difference between western obese and Japanese obese: western obese is generally based on a unhealthy diet. In any case, Nikola Tesla would be disgusted.
justbcuzisay
CGB Spender- please explain your comment. I cannot imagine your reason for Japanese girls getting fat not being from food just as likely as western girls
CGB Spender
@justbcuzisay you can also get fat from healthy food - depends of how much you eat of it. Fatty meat isn't unhealthy if consumed in limits. McDonalds food is unhealthy even when eating a little.
What is interesting is that the mind of fat people changes to a confirmation that their fattiness is OK. This is amplified by the modern age of living in that everything is made being convenient, even for fat people. But of course a healthy mind will understand that this is shooting into the completely wrong direction. Being too fat is unhealthy on the long run. These girls need military-grade exercise and obligatory fasting!
Thunderbird2
CGB Spender... I'm fat and I take offence at every word you've posted mate. My mind is just the same as your mind so please STOP insulting overweight people. I'm assuming you are a bronzed Adonis with a degree in smart-arsery from the University of Perfection.
harvey pekar
First off, @theFu, you can't defend these "marshmallow" girls and then shame the "skinny" girls.
On one hand, you say these girls need to be free and happy and then you say, there are too many skinny girls! What does that mean? There's something wrong with being skinny, but not heavy? Are you just saying this as a sexist eye candy comment or you're actually concerned about health?
And what does too many skinny girls mean? The skinny girls are unhealthy to you just because they are skinny? You'd like a 50/50 split of overweight/skinny Makes no sense.
Skinny or heavy, some people are the body type they are and size doesn't determine health or life expectancy.
CGB Spender
@Thunderbird ... you need to tame your prejudgements. i'm not saying I have something against fat people in general. I don't mind (male) friends who are fat. It's their "problem". But I can't date a fat girl like the ones shown here. It's too much of a turn-off. But I do know some young people who are beyond fat and they are the typical lazy couch potato. They probably will have all kinds of health problems after they turn 30 if they don't change this.
sensei258
Looks are not as important as being able to get along with each other.
justbcuzisay
@CGB Spender
My point was I think it is odd that you assume all Japanese eat healthy and all western girls eat unhealthy. Unhealthy eating is not a western thing, it is a modern lifestyle thing.
Woman are not living for the sole purpose of turning you on.
So is being anorexic... (not saying all skinny girls are, but there are two sides to every coin)
None of your business.
Qamar
@CGB Spender I don't and would never date a man who chooses a girl based on her looks :)
nath
Let them Cosplay and as for dating them High change of scoring..
As for me at long vs unhealthy got a friend who is into nutrition and he keeps surprising me. How my healthy food can make you overweight.
I date ladies not for looks but for other reasons. My J-Wife wasn't exactly skinny but had a good weight for birthing our son.
Larry Woodworth
It's almost a rule that cosplayers in the U.S. must have an unsuitable body-type for the character they're cosplaying. There's even a t-shirt you can buy at anime conventions that pokes fun at this pseudo-rule.
Does this mean the cosplayers are wrong for doing it anyway? No. They're having fun and they're not hurting anyone else, so que sera sera.
nath
Lets not mention "Man-Faye", the brave ones can google this guy that displays Faye from Cowboy Bepop. Besides unsuitable they can also be the opposite sex.
Wc626
@ It"S ME. Right, high chances. Most fail to realize that marshmallow gals need luvin' too. Not really my cup of tea, but you're right either way.
Kabukilover
I prefer "plus size" to "marshmallow." I also like "zoftig," "Rubenesque," "pleasantly plump" and "voluptuous." "Marshmallow" is creepy.
When my friend's daughter was suffering from a bad self image because she was any one of the above except "marshmallow" he took her to an art museum and showed her that almost without exception artists love big women and thereby express men's true hidden desires. She developed such a happy self-image that she had to buy Doc Martin boots to fight off all the boys who too enthusiastically attracted to her. No marshmallow that girl.
Sorry but the above "marshmallow" clothing leaves me cold.
Fadamor
If it's the one I'm thinking of, he seemed like a cross between a Sailor Moon character and "Fat Bastard" from the Austin Powers movies.
Triumvere
I'm not under the impression that anything has changed, save perhaps an understanding that being overweight is - generally speaking - not as bad for you as being too thin.
HonestDictator
My 2 cents. There is a big difference between being voluptuous (my preference) and obese/overweight. No matter what anyone says, being obese/overweight is unhealthy period. Same with being too thin.
In the days before junk food and indoor entertainment, any unhealthy creature was the first to be eaten by the predators. Even pets can get overweight because of the food we humans feed them.
While its good for these girls to get a boost of self confidence, it still needs to be noted that having an unhealthy figure can quite easily lead to even worse health problems later on if not addressed. Keep within your healthy weight range for you height. Do that and all will be well.
Triumvere
Here's the thing, though. I'll agree with you that being obese (ie, significantly overweight) is unquestionably unhealthy. But being merely overweight is not necessarily unhealthy at all. Expected weight/height charts are incredibly crude, and often don't account for body type variation. Thus it is perfectly possible for people to be "overweight" but yet be perfectly healthy. These people can eat right, exercise, and still retain a higher amount of body fat than the "normal" person. All that said, your general thrust is correct: take care of yourself, and you'll both look and feel better. None of the above should be taken as an excuse not to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Erebos
@Kabukilover - I think you've misunderstood why most old paintings portray larger women. Back then, only rich people could possibly get fat, therefore fat was seen as attractive. Poor people simply didn't have enough food and had to work the fields etc. If you were fat, then you must have been rich. Now, it's the complete opposite. Anyone can and will get fat if they don't take care of themselves, therefore being thin is attractive. Quite simple and eye opening.
It's fine to tell people whatever to make them feel better, but how about actually helping them lose weight instead? Being overweight is not a permanent disability that people need to learn to accept.
Triumvere
What this really tells you is that what is "attractive" is - at least in substantial part - arbitrary. There is a sort of universal "golden ratio," but tastes can and do deviate from this to a degree. I'm getting downvoted, but the point I'm trying to make is the line between what is "fat" and what is not is, again, somewhat arbitrary. Pressure, especially on women, to be "thin" is enormous, and can be psychologically and physically unhealthy. This is not meant as some sort of misguided attempt at fat-acceptance, but rather an attempt to point out that societal standards are not always in line with what is actually good from a health perspective.
flash_gordon
@Qamar So you date guys who aren't sexually attracted to you?
bigfujiyama
Marshmallow? Voluptuous? Plus size?
They ate all the pies and are fat.
They should be denied health insurance until they get off their blubber butts and take some exercise.
And don't give me metabolism and all that crap. They are porkers because they eat too much and don't exercise. They should also have to pay for double seats on airplanes because I don't want their sweaty tsunamis of lard overflowing into my restricted space.
As for Cosplay? Oh Jesus. Hippos in maid costumes. Save my eyes and my sanity.
kyushubill
Marshmallow girls? How about some honesty and call 'em fatties.
Strychnine
Where I'm from we call those ladies "thick". They're usually the most beautiful people you'll meet too!
nath
Girls who wouldn't date a man who chooses a girl based on her looks, generally aren't girls who are being chosen for their looks. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing - looks fade, personalities are longer lasting.
As for big girls like this in the article - not my cup of tea at all. I like skinny girls. but some guys do like big girls, so all the more for them.
CGB Spender
@quamar then you are one of the exceptions, because for most people the look still matters and the first impression is the most important. The look is the first thing people encounter. Of course on the long run the character is more important. I sometimes see girls on the train who are cute but also fat. It's actually quite confusing. I then think if she would lose those pounds she really could look great. Fat just isn't aesthetic.
nath
Extra Value Girls
choiwaruoyaji
For me, plump Japanese women can be really cute.
I much prefer them to the emaciated stick insects walking around in Tokyo.
How about a line of sexy underwear for these lovely Rubenesque women to wear under the cosplay costumes?
Triumvere
I like this. More for your money.
rikkun89
Eeew. Fat people should never cosplay. Cosplayers are supposed to look like the character, not like they ate the character.
lostrune2
Ah, she didn't say whether she'd date a man based on his looks!
Qamar
@flash_gordon Sexual attraction comes pretty much at the end of my list. One can always find something sexy if one looks well enough :)
@lostrune2
I don't need to date a man because I'm happily married. Anyway, no, I didn't choose my husband based on looks like he didn't choose me for my looks. Looks don't last, why should I bother? I fell in love with his personality, kindness and heart.
To be completely honest, my first impression of him was during a presentation when he talked about his hobbies, and I can freely say that is what made me interested. Seeing a guy talking passionately about what he likes doing best, it sent my heart fluttering (@CGB Spender). It was only after we started talking that I did start noticing things I find cute about his physique.
@Strangerland - That is true for me, and I learned from a young age that most men who go for the 'most beautiful/sexy' women (based specifically on looks) are not the kind of men I would want to build a family with. Also, many horror stories about men who left their wives when they didn't look as beautiful anymore (I also heard stories the other way round). In fact, when dating men, I made sure he'd see me in gym clothes and no make up before he makes up his mind he wants me.
All in all, I think, what's most important is that a man/woman fall in love with who the other TRULY is, not on expectations or temporary things. A marriage should last forever, so I try to base it on things that will last forever :) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and anyway, doesn't last. Inner beauty can only shine more brightly.
@Mr. Noidall Girls are guilty of doing it too though.