Comments on: Video Series “Only in Japan”: Part 2 - Magic Hand http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/ A fresh look at Japan, by gaijins for gaijins! Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:37:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: HappyInJapan http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-29036 HappyInJapan Wed, 08 Aug 2007 03:41:19 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-29036 This video didn't look so bad, still I wouldn't try to emulate Borat. I didn't see his last movie, but there were some real heart-breaking reviews on how he misrepresented himself to poor villagers in a small Romanian town. He asked them to do many stupid things on camera, and the poor villagers complied, thinking he was going to put them "on the map." Well, he sure did! Using those scenes to depict "his hometown" in the movie, he portrayed the villagers as little better than animals and incestuous, heaping humiliation on top of their misery, all so he could get some (well-paid) laughs. I think that is going too far. This video didn’t look so bad, still I wouldn’t try to emulate Borat. I didn’t see his last movie, but there were some real heart-breaking reviews on how he misrepresented himself to poor villagers in a small Romanian town. He asked them to do many stupid things on camera, and the poor villagers complied, thinking he was going to put them “on the map.” Well, he sure did! Using those scenes to depict “his hometown” in the movie, he portrayed the villagers as little better than animals and incestuous, heaping humiliation on top of their misery, all so he could get some (well-paid) laughs. I think that is going too far.

]]> By: AssCat http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-340 AssCat Thu, 07 Dec 2006 05:31:20 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-340 Whatever, this video was just lame. There's a long claw to pick stuff up dropped on the tracks, how's that even funny? Whatever, this video was just lame. There’s a long claw to pick stuff up dropped on the tracks, how’s that even funny?

]]> By: liobundury http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-224 liobundury Sun, 12 Nov 2006 07:47:26 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-224 Love it! Thanks for making us laugh. Love it! Thanks for making us laugh.

]]> By: Hideki....Kangeki!!! http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-175 Hideki....Kangeki!!! Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:40:42 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-175 This video might be leaning (pretty heavily) on the juvenile side, but culturally insensitive? I wouldn't go that far. Maybe a little obnoxious, but still funny. The Japanese have a long tradition of skits that make people look silly - have you seen the one posted on this site about the otaku in Akihabara? Funny stuff! When you think about it that way, maybe this video is actually in touch with the Japanese sense of humour? Of course, hitting the eki-in on the head with a big fan would have been a better way to finish :-) I think the only cultural insensitivity going on is the suggestion that the guys in the video are British! Gotta agree with Brit6 - lighten up and laugh at yourself - then you can laugh at other people without feeling guilty! Give that man a zabuton! This video might be leaning (pretty heavily) on the juvenile side, but culturally insensitive? I wouldn’t go that far. Maybe a little obnoxious, but still funny.

The Japanese have a long tradition of skits that make people look silly - have you seen the one posted on this site about the otaku in Akihabara? Funny stuff!

When you think about it that way, maybe this video is actually in touch with the Japanese sense of humour? Of course, hitting the eki-in on the head with a big fan would have been a better way to finish :-)

I think the only cultural insensitivity going on is the suggestion that the guys in the video are British!

Gotta agree with Brit6 - lighten up and laugh at yourself - then you can laugh at other people without feeling guilty!

Give that man a zabuton!

]]> By: Steve http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-174 Steve Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:25:39 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-174 These videos will keep me coming back here for a while I suspect! Robert, you need to lighten up dude. The Japanese frequently visit foreign countries and make "documentaries" about gaikoku. But it generally ends up being some pretty girl and some oldish Japanese guy, roaming around the country side, being outlandish, and stridently ignoring the culture of that country. They make bold comparisons and often speak Japanese behind the backs of the people in that country saying how primitive the Nigerian tribal people are, or what big noses the Norwegians have. It doesn’t seem racially intolerant to the average Japanese, but is no better than this video on this site. If you cant have a laugh about how people do things in a different way, then you should stay in your country maybe. These videos will keep me coming back here for a while I suspect!

Robert, you need to lighten up dude. The Japanese frequently visit foreign countries and make “documentaries” about gaikoku. But it generally ends up being some pretty girl and some oldish Japanese guy, roaming around the country side, being outlandish, and stridently ignoring the culture of that country. They make bold comparisons and often speak Japanese behind the backs of the people in that country saying how primitive the Nigerian tribal people are, or what big noses the Norwegians have. It doesn’t seem racially intolerant to the average Japanese, but is no better than this video on this site. If you cant have a laugh about how people do things in a different way, then you should stay in your country maybe.

]]> By: Brit6 http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-173 Brit6 Tue, 07 Nov 2006 10:55:43 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-173 I think you've missed the point... being culturally insensitive can most definately be humourous you only have to look at the sucess of Borat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borat (this guy takes being culturally insentive to the stratosphere!). Its been a real surpruise that he is proving very popular in the US, it a real credit when people are able to laugh at themselves. I think you’ve missed the point… being culturally insensitive can most definately be humourous you only have to look at the sucess of Borat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borat (this guy takes being culturally insentive to the stratosphere!). Its been a real surpruise that he is proving very popular in the US, it a real credit when people are able to laugh at themselves.

]]> By: Robert http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-166 Robert Tue, 07 Nov 2006 06:12:28 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-166 It's culturally insensitive and downright obnoxious for you, a gaikokujin, to be disturbing Japanese people the way you do -- asking them questions in English and trying to get them to play along with your banal little skits. News to you: the Japanese don't like being treated disrespectfully like this, and their smiles or laughter are signs of embarrassment, not enjoyment. Learn some manners, or go back to Britain. You give other Igirisu a bad name. It’s culturally insensitive and downright obnoxious for you, a gaikokujin, to be disturbing Japanese people the way you do — asking them questions in English and trying to get them to play along with your banal little skits. News to you: the Japanese don’t like being treated disrespectfully like this, and their smiles or laughter are signs of embarrassment, not enjoyment.

Learn some manners, or go back to Britain. You give other Igirisu a bad name.

]]> By: fuckedgaijin http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-112 fuckedgaijin Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:28:38 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-112 Trains sometimes annoy me, but they are an integral part of life in Japan. There are so many happenings at train stations that make tsukin that little more interesting. Nice video! Trains sometimes annoy me, but they are an integral part of life in Japan. There are so many happenings at train stations that make tsukin that little more interesting. Nice video!

]]> By: Gold http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-49 Gold Fri, 20 Oct 2006 05:48:40 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-videos/video-series-only-in-japan-part-2-magic-hand/#comment-49 What a classic video! I was getting on the JR Yamanote-sen during rush hour one morning with a visitor from overseas. In the midst of us all being squashed on, he accidently stepped on the back of the high-heel shoe of the girl in front of us. It managed to drop right between the train and the platform. I have never seen such a look of helplessness as she watched her shoe drop.... What a classic video!

I was getting on the JR Yamanote-sen during rush hour one morning with a visitor from overseas. In the midst of us all being squashed on, he accidently stepped on the back of the high-heel shoe of the girl in front of us. It managed to drop right between the train and the platform. I have never seen such a look of helplessness as she watched her shoe drop….

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