Japanese women don’t sweat, right? Wrong. In their never-ending desire to achieve well-groomed perfection, local gals stop at nothing to remain sleek and unruffled during the sticky summer months. This trick is, quite literally, hidden up their sleeves: handy sweat pads attached to their bras cling to the wearer’s armpits and prevent unsightly stains from seeping through.
Western women who try to tangle with these contraptions, which are trickier than a sanitary towel to apply and clearly designed for a lighter flow of perspiration, might find they’ve soaked up their sweat pad before they’ve even started. (Felicity Hughes/Metropolis)
© Japan Today
24 Comments
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thepro
How come deodorant in Japan doesn't work?
Zen_Builder
Personally I started to hate western deodorants after living on a few continents.
They simply over-power any smell with their own fragrance and it STINKS. Hate to say it but if I see a western lady wearing stuff I move away.
Not saying I like the smell of sweat but I prefer honest sweat smell over the chemical one.
Coligny
Yes but woman in Japan don't know about fragrance either... It's goes with their unsophisticated general behaviour. Like Toyota cars... Somewhat the same, somewhat different but in fine you don't care...
BTW for a denial of the non sweating japanese girls myth I recommend any movie with Yua Aida... (at least I wuz told...)
dano2002
nothing is worse than getting to that point with a jbird and realizing she does not wear deodorant and is the type that really needs it.
MrPudgins
The writer of this article is probably too young to remember "dress shields." They've been around since the 1950's (at least) in the U.S., and they're still available in some lingerie shops and catalogs. Just in case you want to know!
DenshaDeGO
I can confirm that
northlondon
Honest sweat over a chemical one ? What rubbish. Why do you think the human race invented the deodorant ? To get rid of thousands of years of body odour, that's why ! I have had a few extremely attractive Japanese girlfriends (yes, literally just a few) who had body odour and I never understood why they had to smell that way. Put me right off.
wilbur
all human beings sweat
Zen_Builder
Every person has its own fragrance/smell(pheromones,etc).
But I hate the western ladies over here which I can smell from 3 metres away. Not saying don't use deodorant but many overdo it.
jbro888
its called anti-perspirant
no smell, no sweat, no worries
northlondon
Zen Builder,
No, you can never smell someones deodorant from 3 metres away. I think you are getting confused with their perfume. I cannot stand the smell of body odour and on a woman it is inexcusable.
Zen_Builder
Ok, agreed getting confused same diff here language wise.
keshii
Am I the only person offended by this article stating it as fact that Western women sweat more? (These pads are "...clearly designed for a lighter flow of perspiration..."
Of the smelliest people in Japan, though, I think the salaryman wins hands down, and not the ladies, Western or otherwise.
tokyotom
westerners smell like oinions i have heard japanese smell like soy sauce?
sageb1
One day of perspiration by your GF/wife/mistress/lover, and if you cannot tolerate it, then you are not human at all.
Napoleon was wise to ask his mistress, "Will you desist from bathing?" when returning home from battle.
For nothing beats the scent of a woman!
niku
All human beings sweat
lipscombe
i.e. they mean to say western women are too fat and too indelicate to even attempt to try this product. nice marketing angle
nandakandamanda
"Horses sweat, gentlemen perspire, and ladies glow."
Sometimes the old sayings have it ...
Himajin
They are evidently coming out with this type that attach to the bra, but I've been using the ones that you stick onto the inside of your clothing for years now, they are a lifesaver.
MrPudgins, I remember dress shields, my mother wore them. They had to be put on with safety pins, not very convenient!
rurika
I don't know which is worse, BO or overpowering deodorants. There is a wide range of antiperspirants and deodorants that are effective and have no scent. I don't understand why some people insist of using the ones that smell like cheap perfume.
There is nothing more off-putting that someone with a sleeveless top and unshaved pits with bits of white deodorant sticking to the hairs. That goes for both men and women.
presto345
Everyone sweats, of course. Some more than others, and it doesn't have to be unpleasant for either party. Take frequent showers (at least twice a day in summer), change undergarments twice a day, eat 3 healthy, balanced meals with lots of fruit and vegetables, drink plenty of water, cut down on the alcohol, make sure to choose a deodorant your partner/friends/colleagues like, and your sweat, or that of your partner, won't smell offensive.
Isn't it easy to take a swipe at things you don't know about. Unsophisticated behavior could be attributed to those making the statements. There are a lot of women in Japan who do know a lot about choosing the perfect fragrance.
Sarge
"unsightly stains"
Heh, you should see my undershirts and short sleeve shirts I wear in summer! I tried getting them out with liberal doses of "Atta-ku" but them stains sure are stubborn ha ha ha...
"I hate the western ladies over here which ( who? ) I can smell from 3 metres away"
Heh, I can smell my Japanese lady neighbor for several minutes after she's walked by.
Badsey
Toni Dill
There are these little deoderant crystals, don't know if they can be ordered online in Japan, but they work well, doesn't keep you from oozing sweat, but makes your sweat smelless and stainless. I use them all the time, then you aren't all perfumy either, just neutral