Customer Reviews

Beauty Up: Exploring Contemporary Japanese Body Aesthetics

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It seems to be de rigueur for the introduction or first chapter of any cultural studies book to be a catalogue of theoretical approaches, with the author strictly delineating which ones she or he will adopt in the remainder of the book, and gravely acknowledging some other academic for "bring[ing] to our attention the existence of multiple centers and peripheries," etc. The first chapter of this book follows the same formula, but the mood and interest level brighten up as soon as these preliminaries are out of the way. Even though the author makes a number of serious points about, among other things, the "construction" of gender in Japan, she does so with a light touch and a sense of fun.

The book's focus is on how Japanese, especially in the 20-30-y.o. generation, conceive of and modify their bodies, especially through "beauty work" and "esute" (aesthtic) salons. The author convincingly shows that certain beauty practices long interpreted (in the West) as attempts to look more Western or specifically American (e.g. adding a fold to the eyelids using tape or surgery, lightening the skin, and dying hair blond(ish)) actually have a more Japanese meaning.(She also makes a good point by asking why is it that when a Japanese dyes her hair blonde we assume she wants to look American, but when an American kid pierces his nose or wears dreadlocks we say he's showing creativity or multicultural tolerance?) The book also helped me to accept (though not necessarily to understand) that the rock-stars and other overly smooth, tousle-haired guys I'd perceived to be androgynous "girly-man" types are perceived as manly by many young Japanese women.

Throughout, the author provides entertaining descriptions of various esute experiences that she herself, a middle-aged "hairy foreigner", underwent, and of the chicanery of salon owners (which knows no international boundaries). She also has a lot of affection for the extravagant product names (e.g. Shiseido Proudia Face Escort Super Fix UV) and fads (the Karaoke Diet, the Manicure Diet, etc.) that differ from their Western counterparts only by degree, rather than kind. My only regret is that she didn't include more pictures; the book has over 30 illustrations, but she describes many more images and names various celebrities of bygone eras, all of which (or whom) it would have been helpful to see. Nonetheless, you don't need to have a lot of prior knowledge about Japan to get both insight and enjoyment from this book.

im a huge fan of the anthropologist/author. (i'm also a anthro grad) this book is great for projects or just for something interesting to read. i like the fact that she went into these places (salons, etc) and got a first-person experience. she is also a great writer, its easy to read this book and lose track of time. very interesting!!