Man of the moment

this is creepy on many levels. from the piece sign to the doll in the back. hidden meaning, ka na?

A word, respect. None there.

Again, what makes you say this? What is making people sooo angry? Quite frankly, looking at the comments, this seems to have a lot less to do with Mandela and more to do with some anger at Japanese people and their mannerisms.

A word, respect. None there.

Posing with a wax figure of a recently deceased person might seem like it's in bad taste.

But wait until you see the ANIMATRONIC version of Mr Mandela!

Which one is the wax figure? They all look pretty waxen to me.

No more tasteless than POTUS taking "selfies" at the memorial service for Mandela with a couple other dignitaries. I hope Michelle gives him an earful for that one !

that is exploitation a little bit

I think that is going way over board. The statue was there way before Mandela died.

How are you not tired of seeing it in EVERY SINGLE PICTURE EVER.

There are two people in this photo. One is doing it. The other is not.

I went back and looked at the photos of the day for the past three weeks or so and not one person is making the peace sign.

Here is a recent photo of the day where there are a group of Japanese kids and not one is doing it.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/making-tracks-2

So, maybe you are seeing something that is not always there. One thing is for sure, you are getting hot under the collar over nothing.

Not to be crass, but I think the headline of this page is entirely accurate. Especially in Japan.

Maybe they are being ironic, doing the peace sign next to a waxwork of a former terrorist.

"I think there is nothing wrong with the picture." there is nothing "WRONG" with it. I mean there are real atrocities happening in the world, its just seems to me, that is exploitation a little bit. I mean... come on! I know Japanese people who dont even know who Mandela was. Never heard his name in their entire life! He dies, and now everybody wants their picture with his wax figure.

Its just like Paul Walker death. I turn on my Playstation and the first thing that pops us is FAST AND FURIOUS 6 is onsale to rent. Kinda seems like the same thing to me. Hey lets make a few extra bucks off this guys death. Is it WRONG? like totaly in the black (vs white) wrong? no. do I really care all that much. Not really. There are things like stupid paretns holding their kids in their laps or letting them jump around with no seat belt on in the front seat that makes me REALLY angry. So its not like the Mandela or Paul Walker thing is my soap box, but it just leaves a little funny taste in my mouth is all.

"it certainly makes more sense than the mindless 'cheese' that many westerners say." What? are you serious. I mean I really can't belive that you are serious. Cheese has ZERO meaning its a simple easy and fast way to contort your mouth into a smile. When you say the word cheese you lips and mouth form a smile. Its that simple. it has no "meaning". WTF? seriously.

talking about the peace sign: "It is not rude. It is not insulting to anyone." No its just annoying. I mean seriosuly. How are you not tired of seeing it in EVERY SINGLE PICTURE EVER. Make a funny face. make bunny easrs. Make a thumbs up. Make a "crips" or "blood" sign. Have one finger up. Have the devil horns. or..... OMFG do nothing but smile and look like a normal human being for one picture in your entire life!

Its like this. when aliens come to earth in 1000 years and download 1000 years of facebook pictures. They are going to wonder why out of the trillions and trillions of photos, for 1000 years, why only Japanese people make the same pointless sign in every single photo taken from 1970 until probably the year 2500 when it becomes popular to hold 3 fingers upside in front of your face or something just as asinine.

So, of course I don't know what the woman above was thinking, but I feel that my assumption is pretty safe considering the percentages

I disagree. The are taking a photo with a statue of Mandela. One can easily assume they know who he is or they would not be taking a photo with the statue. Having big signs and whatnot would be much more ridiculous in this situation and I can make a safe bet you would be the first to complain about it.

. If the photo were of the women standing in front of Lady Gaga, I have a feeling the peace sign would still be there

So what? It is not rude. It is not insulting to anyone. Why do you get to decide this gesture is any more mindless than smiling when a photo is taken?

No connotation of peace at all. I disagree. People say the word 'peace' when they do it. It certainly makes more sense than the mindless 'cheese' that many westerners say.

To those complaining, please describe why you find this gesture sooooo rude. It is not as if either woman is grinning from ear to ear or anything. Again, to much complaining for the sake of complaining.

How do you know what this particular person was thinking when they did the gesture?

You're right, I don't. And if they were holding a big sign that said "Peace on earth" with some peace signs drawn around it, I'd have no issue. But for the millions of times that Japanese people make the "peace" hand sign every day while posing for photos, I feel pretty confident that the number of them who are doing it because they are feeling strongly about promoting peace is pretty low. So, of course I don't know what the woman above was thinking, but I feel that my assumption is pretty safe considering the percentages. If the photo were of the women standing in front of Lady Gaga, I have a feeling the peace sign would still be there.

gesture that people in Japan do again and again and again, out of habit.

How do you know what this particular person was thinking when they did the gesture? Out of habit or not, Japanese people know what the peace symbol means. At any rate, there is absolutely nothing rude about it.

Peace sign is OK! Don't go to wax figure museums if you have trouble with the uncanny valley!

slumdog: I think a peace sign is highly appropriate considering they are posing with the wax statue of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela.

slumdog, your point would make sense if the people in the photo were actually doing it to represent peace. The negativity about the peace sign is that it is a meaningless gesture that people in Japan do again and again and again, out of habit. It has nothing to do with peace, even though the gesture originally signified peace.

Nope. This just seems to trivialize or cheapens Mandela and what he went through. He is not a side show or an carnival attraction. Bad taste, indeed.

Japanese people sub-consciously act out the peace sign in photos as a way of taking away the embarrassment of having said photo taken. We all pose, just the peace sign is Japans. I always pose with my hand on my chin so I look like a douche but that is just me...

the peace sign is really inappropriate here.

Why? I think a peace sign is highly appropriate considering they are posing with the wax statue of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela. Too many people complaining where there is nothing to complain about. Mandela made a peaceful country out of a situatin that could have easily turned bloody as it did in other African countries. There is nothing wrong with the statue and there is nothing wrong with the peace sign. Sometimes overthinking something is the same thing as underthinking it.

I went to Madam Tusseaud's in Odaiba a few months ago. They have several other figures of deceased people (Princess Di, Steve Jobs, etc) so I doubt Mandela's will soon be removed.

I agree with the others, the peace sign is really inappropriate here.

@Mirai Hiyashi, I couldn't agree with you more. I'd like to strangle whoever started that stupid gesture. It seems every time I take photos of people in Japan they have to flash the peace sign. And you know what? None of them can say why, exactly!

And @Jyoonbeee, it's anything but cute when it's in every shot I take. I've actually had to ask people not to do it, it's so banal. John Lennon they ain't.

They are about 50 throwing up the peace sign. It's kinda cute. xD

Agree with Mirai Hayashi and inakaRob. Put your peace signs away, kids.

When you look at the doll's expression, it looks like a "I'll be back" moment.

I think there is nothing wrong with the picture. People at Madam Tussauds could have done a better job by portraying a similing Mandela, as he has taught the world to do, and this picture would have been just fine.

And so one of the greatest statesmen of all time became a tourist attraction only a few days after his death.

This makes me so very very tired.

"enough with the dumb gratuitous peace sign already....its so cliche!" At least she doesn't have it sandwiched against her face like the new fad is nowadays. I hate that one even more.

"I can't find the right basis for it, but it just hits me as being in bad taste." agreed

@Mirai Hayashi it's "ask me", I believe. I've been to this wax museum. Not all the figures were on the same level of realism, but this was one of the better ones in my opinion. He became a part of history while he was alive, certainly his wax figure should be kept standing for as long as possible.

For some reason, the yellow sign on the picture taker's back has me distracted...."..K Me"? Hmmm...

It is a pretty amazing likeness. I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping the memory of Mandela alive.

I can't find the right basis for it, but it just hits me as being in bad taste.

Creepy

enough with the dumb gratuitous peace sign already....its so cliche!