I think that really had an impact
They will shout "oh no I forgot to shave!"
Do you think you will feel pressured to do it too? - I might
Hey guys and girls on Ask Japanese it's your flashy fashion reporter CathyCat
Recently in Vogue there's been a model who has been showing armpit hair
And we wanna know what Japanese people who are very cleanly thing about this trend
Let's go ask Japanese people and don't forget to subscribe
Do you know the magazine VOGUE
Of course
Have you read it? - for sure
What is your image of Vogue?
Vogue... well the cover
Generally something more than just looks
Things people are too worried about are brought to the open
Places people are worried about, how fitting
Right now people are talking cause a model was posing beautifully
But she had her armpit hair on display - yes yes that one - you know?
That's why I said that
She wore a bikini and showed her armpit hair
We all worry too much about our hair, but she wore it with confidence
People might think of it differently but putting it on the cover definitely had an impact
You already knew about it - Yes!
What did you guys say to each other when you saw the cover?
We were both talking what impact it had
And we both thought that cover was something amazing
You think it was good? - I think so
Because it is on the cover, more people will look
And it makes us realize that sometimes we need to start thinking differently
You started thinking differently?
I think so
Is there a magazine in Japan that creates new trends instead of just picking up existing ones?
Rarely
Do you know the Magazine Vogue? - Never heard of it
It's a famous fashion magazine abroad
There is a model posing in that magazine
And you could see her armpit hair. You made surprised face just now
Ewww gross
How strict are Japanese about hair removal?
We are very strict about it
Do you sometimes talk about girls being unshaven?
All of my friends are beautiful so that doesnt happen
Which hair is allowed and which is bad?
I only need head hair, eyebrows and lashes
And we don't need anything else
And the rest is gone... well I do shave my armpits but
Would it be possible to grow out your armpit hair in Japan? - In winter
Only in winter
Because nobody will see it - Only in winter
During sports class girls will say "shoot I forgot to shave"
You will forgive her that? - Can't be helped
We will check and tell her "it is not that visible!"
Do boys shave too? - Yes its a recent trend
Do you want boys to shave or not?
I want them to shave
Do you know Vogue? - We do
Have you bought or read it?
Never
I only watch what I see online
What is your image of Vogue?
Cool and creative
And you? - Cool and foreign
Recently there was a model in Vogue that posed and
you could see her armpit hair
People have been talking about her since. What do you think about that?
I think that makes herself an artist and an artwork herself
She is a piece of art herself? - yes
And you? - I think the same
Has something like this ever been in Japanese fashion magazines?
Never - Never ever seen that
Why is this impossible in Japan - we care too much what others think
Worried about being judged? - Yes
Having armpit hair is unforgivable in Japan?
not unforgivable but
we all think we always have to make ourselves look more beautiful
I was surprised that in Japan girls have complexes about their neck hair
I never even wasted a thought on my neck hair
But in Japan it is super important. What is it called here?
You mean unaji hair - That one
Not unagi the eel but unaji the neck hair
Do you also feel pressured to go to a salon to get your neck hair removed?
We believe you look beautiful from behind or when you wear a yukata that way
I got my neck hair removed professionally so I should have none
You go to hair removal salons? - I do
It grows back but thanks to the salon it takes more time
It grows back lighter too, saves me time
I envy your arms, those are also professionally hair removed?
Yes - You looked at them again
I looked at them because I have underarm hair - i think that looks good
Why is my hair ok and not yours?
I got a bit of a complex about it - You do - Yes
It is light, similar to your skin color so it looks less hairyB
black thick hair looks more like strong hair
You said vogue created an art piece. Abroad there are people called naturalists right
Some live the life in their body that was given to them that way without shaving
Will naturalism come to Japan one day?
If we all stopped shaving men and women that's ok too
We should all have more freedom
What do you think about boys going to hair removal salons?
I think that is great - everyone equally goes - exactly
You me everyone hair removal salon
I think that's great
Imagine you are living with 10 people and have shared activities
4 out of 10 start become naturalists. Would you go "yay I join" or not?
Uh... depends on that situation I guess
Feeling the peer pressure?
Pressure from around you - yes
If 7 out of 10 did it, would you do it? - I might join then
This is starting to feel like a social experiment
If everyone does it, you might feel pressured to do it too - that is right
So body hair, seems like in Japan everything is shaven apart from your eyebrows and the
hair on top of your head. Now the question is though...
Because a lot of girls are doing hair removal treatment they also want boys to do it and boys ARE doing it as well
So kind of, everyone is super super sleak!
Seems to be a thing here and they say if everyone does it we do it
Seems to be also the opposite, if everyone doesn't do it they might not do it as well
Again it's a group culture. What did you learn let us know in the video WHAAAAA
I just got bitten!
Ew
we have done another video on body hair and cleanliness in Japan
"seiketsukan" be sure to check this one out if you are curiousa
bout living in Japan, you might have to do it too
Catch you soon for another video on Ask Japanese and don't forget to subscribe
See you in the next video bye