Being Fat in JapanIn Japan, being fat remains noteworthy, something that makes you stand out in a shameful way in a conformist society. Even now, despite government statistics and anecdotal evidence that Japanese people are getting heavier, I can go days without seeing a single fat person in Tokyo.--David Nakamura, the Atlantic In my wife`s family, her aunts are sometimes told they have gained weight by their brothers and sisters. Some interpret this as a kind of closeness. Japanese are very earthy people, and in some ways this can be nice. However I wonder how many people feel when they are told that they are fat? No one ever tells me I`m fat in Canada. My brothers I think have told me I could lose a few pounds which I agree with. I hate being told I`m fat though, and it happens every month or two in Japan. I am now trying to channel the anger I feel when this happens to spur me on to lose weight. As I have aged (I am 47 now) I have put on weight and Japanese frequently tell me I am fat. Often it is told in a jokey kind of way but the message is clear: "You are fat." Being Fat in Japan -- What do Japanese think is okay? My Japanese wife Ikumi thinks it`s rude to tell someone you are fat, so she would never do it, however a friend of ours said today that it is okay to tell men they are fat, as a kind of joke, but you shouldn`t tell women this. I wonder how Japanese men feel when they are called fat or "jumbo," as in Jason Taisha`s video (link below)? I don`t think many like it. Perhaps they are being caring and perhaps they hope I will lose weight. Currently I am 6'2" and about 200 lbs. I know I can lose some weight too,I just don`t like hearing about it on the tennis court, at my children`s sports day, have my stomach pinched by a female nursing student at a party--and let`s be honest here, were I to do the same thing to her, I would be at risk of a sexual harassment charge. Double standards abound. Taisha Jason on Being Overweight in Japan Taisha Jason talks about being overweight in Japan "Why are you so fat?"
Being Fat can have your Company Fined in Japan
From being fat in Japan to Daily life in Japan From being fat in Japan to Japan Living (home)
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