I went to Kotaku expecting the worst because they're usually super into "LOL Japan" type stuff, but that was surprisingly even-handed.

I suspect in a few days it will be completely forgotten.

Actually quite a few US citizens would welcome the notion of blackface...
So everyone should look at their own country before raising the moral finger too high.
That goes for my home country as well.

I still think this is not acceptable and a bad decision.

And having thought about it... the girls aren't 12 anymore either.
So a certain amount of responsibility should be expected of them as well.

Lol. Hardly
But that was not what I was saying.

The sad thing is that I was always looking forward to refreshing the threads knowing I would be entertained and laughing.
Lately with the helium tragedy and now this I am almost hesitant thinking "what will happen next..."

It's all unrelated probably but you could almost think that the reformation of section 3 has destroyed a working structure that is limping right now

Yeah we're in desperate need of some good news (preferably about the poor 3Bjr girl).

At least we have a few things to look forward to. Baka Sawagi 2014 at Nissan Stadium comes out in less than 12 days. We're also less than a month away from the new single and I have high hopes for that one.

At least we get plenty of content, I don't know what would become of us if we didn't :))

Bin82501 said:

your president is Black

*half.

But I still don't see them being dressed as "blackface" in the negative sense, that would require large lip outlines and holding the eyes wiiiide open to exaggerate the stereotype features. The girls are just wearing black makeup to imitate the black skin color of specific artists, not to make fun of an entire race.

Invader said:

I'm not directing this comment directly to you, but I've seen a lot of people who think Western celebrities are free... HA! I think that's a misconception people have because the media tries to make it look like that, also a false image to try to appeal to people. I can assure you, people like Anne Hathaway or Jennifer Lawrence didn't cut their hair without consulting with their "team".

Sorry for such a late reply. I actually probably forgot my own point already, but its seems I really exaggerated things a little bit)) Sorry)

Concerning this blackface issue. I am aware it is a big deal in the States, which is understandable, considering history and recent events in Ferguson as well. But in Japan, at least to my own knowledge, it is not offensive at all, just because it does not have any own history behind it. So, when you say that one should know about "in this day and age", you're simply enforcing a country-specific interpretation of cultural symbols on foreign ground.

I would call this the darker side of globalization. The intentions are obviously good - after all, the racial equality is a universal value. But if you judge foreign interpretations of cultural symbols, that does not mean you contribute a lot to the promotion of this value. In most cases that feeling of self-satisfaction ("I am saying the right thing") is the only outcome.

I think the best policy is just to be cool about cultural phenomena, even if you have reasons to consider them distasteful. This is precisely how I feel about this particular Momoclo stunt.

My opinion, however, may be affected by my cultural heritage. In my home country, Russia, blackface has never been an issue. I recall from my childhood how a famous comedian used to appear on TV with a black sock on his face and impersonated a student from Africa. Moreover, the nation's greatest poet of all time, Pushkin, who had ancestors from Ethiopia, in his famous words called himself "an ugly descendant of Negroes". This line is widely known and cited even today, so you see the picture.

No use beating a dead horse. We all have different experiences and ideological backgrounds that inform the way we see the world and that's that.

What cute pics from Momoka's blog.

Quick question, seeing as how I'm newish to Momoclo... what's the song that (in their live performances) it starts out with Kanako singing, and then she starts shrugging her shoulders and sticking her tongue out?

Can anyone ID this occasion (with smileage and Tokyo Girls' Style very early on)?

mocha21 said:

^Young Sunday Visual Web vol.380 December 2010

Thanks :)