Do you want to be a Yamato Nadeshiko?

Nadeshiko Japan, Japanese women’s national soccer team, has made a historical triumph at FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Many people woke up bright and early in the morning to watch the live broadcast on TV and got excited about the thrilling match. Nadeshiko Japan’s wonderful plays brought some light to Japan that is still in darkness in the after mass of horrible earthquake and tsunami disaster. I, at least, was very impressed by the final match which made me proud of our national team.

Nadeshiko is a name of a flower and it is also used to symbolize the ideal of Japanese women, like “Yamato Nadeshiko.” The national team decided to use Nadeshiko in 2004 as a result of an opinion poll. It sounds lovely but I found it somewhat inappropriate for the team nickname because I’ve never heard anyone use “Yamato Nadeshiko” anymore. I think that the term is a bit out dated and it doesn’t really describe modern Japanese women.

Originally, Nadeshiko women were expected to be low keyed, reserved, yet having a strong will power. They usually obey their husband but once they get into a difficult situation, they handle it with their strength and firm attitude. (What a generous woman Nadeshiko is! I never want to be. ) The concept existed in my grandmother’s generation.

The time has changed. Now we are going toward gender equality. Both men and women cooperate together at home and at work. Moreover, some women might have managerial position.

Is there a better nickname that fits Japanese women today?

Minority groups in Golden Triangle

I attended a seminar on minority groups in Thailand.

Karen, Hmong, Akha, Lafu, Mien, Lisu are the 6 major groups. They are living in highland around the borders of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. They wear colorful and fashionable costume decorated with embroidery and silver. Each tribe’s costume is so different from others that you can recognize what tribes they are by their unique and characteristic attire.

I’m really into their ethnic fashion made with dexterous hand skills and what fascinates me is not just that. I think that their borderless living style is a kind of fantasy in this era of globalization and homogenization.

However, the reality is harsh.

Many people in minority groups don’t have nationality because traditionally they have been living in the mountains isolated from the plains where Thai people inhabit.

The Thai government used to ignore the minority groups but it has urged them to settle down in lower places.

As a result, they gave up their traditional slash-and-burn farming and headed for towns for jobs. Some of them were forced to work in very bad conditions and some of them had to sell their daughters for a living. And what is worse, some people went back to illegal drug business as they used to produce opium.

One of the solutions is that the government should give them nationality quickly. People need to receive equal opportunity in education, medical services, social welfare and such until they adapt to their new environment.
It’s not enough, though.


photo: from thailandsworld.com

The way to Vientiane

One of the most exciting events this year will be a trip to Laos.
It will be my forth visit and this time, I’m going with one of my best friends.

Since she lived in Laos for two years when she worked as a volunteer on a health and hygiene program, she knows a lot about Laos.
In fact, she has made a wonderful plan for our trip.

My final destination is Vientiane but before reaching Laos, we are going to drop by Pakxe, the second largest city in the country.
I have no idea exactly what the city is like but I expect to see another aspect of Laos such as the influence of Khmer culture, handicraft products made of cotton and coffee farms as well.
Do you know that Lao coffee is proud of its high quality? When I think of it, I can easily remember its fine aroma.

I hope that the trip widens my knowledge and experience in Laos.
I can’t wait to see my old friends who are working in the handicraft industry and make new friends.

America's Next Top Models

Now, I’m watching “America’s Next Top Model” again.

I just found out that all episodes are available on the Internet and I’m enjoying one of them almost every night.

Cycle 3 is my favorite one, where some girls are going to Tokyo for their competition. Not only the regular members but also Tyra’s mother and her brother’s family from Okinawa appear on the show and it seems like her private trip.

Everything that contestants are required to do, right down to joining the tea ceremony, are very funny. I wondered how they are connected to the beauty competition.

Anyway, I enjoyed the difference in perception between Japanese people and American TV viewers in terms of how they perceive Japan.

The finalists of the cycle are Yaya and Eva. These two beautiful girls are completely different each other.

I believed that Yaya would win because she is smart, leans everything very quickly and mentally stable. However the judge’s decision was different. They chose Eva because she is much more relatable and approachable than Yaya.

The same things happen in our industry.

Very smart and beautiful girls are not always necessarily well-perceived by consumers

That’s one of the difficult points in selecting a suitable model for a brand.