Why do so many people on the internet like to characterize Japan as sex-crazy?

[crusador90]

It bugs me a lot. I had a hard to trying to get this question out, but seeing jokes on this site and Cracked, as well as a few of my ignorant friends spouting has spurned me once more to try to ask the question, hopefully in a manner that is to be taken seriously, considering the subject matter that will be brought up. (I have my doubts about that, even on the Escapist...)


So... how about it. Why does everyone think they're all sex-crazy when that's definitely nowhere near the extent which everyone thinks? (Though this perception is NOT helped by the cultural-dissonance on how both the West and East view sexuality).

 

[senordesol]

It bugs me a lot. I had a hard to trying to get this question out, but seeing jokes on this site and Cracked, as well as a few of my ignorant friends spouting has spurned me once more to try to ask the question, hopefully in a manner that is to be taken seriously, considering the subject matter that will be brought up. (I have my doubts about that, even on the Escapist...)


So... how about it. Why does everyone think they're all sex-crazy when that's definitely nowhere near the extent which everyone thinks? (Though this perception is NOT helped by the cultural-dissonance on how both the West and East view sexuality).

Why do people think Jews are greedy? Why do people think Mexicans are lazy? Why do people think Asians can't drive?

A few visible minorities in the population get noticed and a stereotype gets created. When a culture creates such a thing as the -*shudders*- tentacle stuff and the infamous vending machines, what are the rest of us who can't fathom such things supposed to think?

Oddities get noticed and stereotypes result. Nothing more than that.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

You know, as a society, you have some issues with sexism when women are segregated in their own passenger cars because GROPING is a nationwide problem. Not speaking for every Japanese obviously, but, you know... it's there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women-only_passenger_car

 

[Zhukov]

Because a lot of people on the internet get their knowledge of Japan from video games and anime?

It would be like learning of Australia by watching Crocodile Dundee.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Because a lot of people on the internet get their knowledge of Japan from video games and anime?

It would be like learning of Australia by watching Crocodile Dundee.

There is also what I just said.

 

[Berny Marcus]

Has anyone here watched Gaijin Goomba's video, about this problem young Japanese males are doing? It's pretty scary when you listen to it.

Its prob off topic, but I thought it might be relevant to the topic at hand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PKwcJVa3dU

He's also been to Japan so if you want to listen to his experiences come here.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eWB9jEOE8A

Hopefully it answers your question TC.

 

[Zhukov]

Because a lot of people on the internet get their knowledge of Japan from video games and anime?

It would be like learning of Australia by watching Crocodile Dundee.

There is also what I just said.

What, sexual harassment of women?

Yeah, because that's totally a thing unique to Japan.

I have no idea why it takes the particular form of groping on trains over there, but if sexual harassment is enough to characterize a country as sex crazy then many, if not most, if not all, countries would be sex crazy.

 

[Olas]

It seems like every time I see an example of shamelessly oversexualized females in videogames or elsewhere in the media it's always coming from Japan. I'm guessing that's why. I think it's also amplified by how some Japanese sexualization tends to be what the West would consider ... odd, which increases the sense of perversion. For example, I have no idea if this is true, but it seems like Japan has a considerable Lolita complex.

If my perceptions are wrong it's because my view of Japanese culture comes through a very narrow window that amplifies all the most extreme examples and ignores the rest. That's the internet for you.

 

[Olas]

Because a lot of people on the internet get their knowledge of Japan from video games and anime?

It would be like learning of Australia by watching Crocodile Dundee.

There is also what I just said.

What, sexual harassment of women?

Yeah, because that's totally a thing unique to Japan.

I have no idea why it takes the particular form of groping on trains over there, but if sexual harassment is enough to characterize a country as sex crazy then many, if not most, if not all, countries would be sex crazy.

All countries ARE sex crazy, and always have been, we're just more classy about it.

 

[Dr. Cakey]

Maybe because we have access to Japan's porn collection?

All countries ARE sex crazy, and always have been, we're just more classy about it.

I've never associated the word "classy" with our nation. "Sexually repressed", yes. I believe Europe has a monopoly on classy.

 

[HoneyVision]

Is it stereotypical? YES. Is it unfounded? HELL NO!

Japan had always taken a different historical approach to sex. When the West was intent on eradicating prostitution and promiscuity, Japan always kept it around as a "necessary evil". Sex was a lot less taboo in Japanese history than it was in Western cultures. So for the West they may seem sex-obsessed, but for THEM it's not. In fact they probably look at others and think "What the fuck is the big deal?"

 

[LetalisK]

When you come from a society with a heritage of sexual repression, it's not hard for other societies to look sex-crazy. No, the real feat is finding a society where you say "God damn, you guys need to loosen up."

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Because a lot of people on the internet get their knowledge of Japan from video games and anime?

It would be like learning of Australia by watching Crocodile Dundee.

There is also what I just said.

What, sexual harassment of women?

Yeah, because that's totally a thing unique to Japan.

I have no idea why it takes the particular form of groping on trains over there, but if sexual harassment is enough to characterize a country as sex crazy then many, if not most, if not all, countries would be sex crazy.

The point isn't sexual harrassment, it's that it's such a big issue and the only way they have of combating it is to rethink public transportation on a nationwide level. Is that what it takes?

 

[Specter Von Baren]

The reason people think of Japan that way is because it's easy to point at an issue when it's done by another country and completely ignore it in your own because you've become accustomed to it.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Because Japan's media creations are completely (and often deliberately) at odds with the actual culture, but given that most people don't live in Japan, that's not readily obvious to them.

 

[Hero of Lime]

I guess it's more because of Japan's weird fetishes too, granted like everyone is saying they aren't as widespread as it would seem.

 

[Evil Smurf]

Okay, I'll be honest here: I've seen a lot of Japanese porn. Also most manga and anime has chicks with boobs bigger then their heads.

 

[Malbourne]

I admire the more stereotyped pornography. Tentacles are super-difficult to draw!

On-topic: If you pay attention to the undercurrents of other cultures, you'll see signs of similar depravity (which I approve of whole-heartedly!). People can be less outspoken about THAT sort of thing because the culture they grew up in generally abhors such talk. Sex seems more alien to people who are raised with restrictive norms and taboos, which goes a long way in explaining the popularity of sex-laden countercultures. Japan, I imagine, allows for more freedom of expression in that regard (more approve).

 

[MrHide-Patten]

Because a lot of people on the internet get their knowledge of Japan from video games and anime?

It would be like learning of Australia by watching Crocodile Dundee.

Or America from Grand Theft Auto. Seriously though I get a bit tired personally of the 'everything in Australia is going to kill you' meme coming from American's (the land of bears, racoons, cougars and Texans).

All countries ARE sex crazy, and always have been, we're just more classy about it.

Americans. Classy? Classy is word I'd ascribe to brits, I associate America more with the stumming of banjo strings... and gunfire, lots and lots of gunfire.

 

[Something Amyss]

Because a lot of people on the internet get their knowledge of Japan from video games and anime?

It would be like learning of Australia by watching Crocodile Dundee.

You mean that documentary lied to me? Damn it, is every Paul Hogan movie a lie?