They're called Pocahontas Girls
try not to offend anyone
those people can be a target
People think I have thrown Japanese culture away.
Hey guys and girls on ask Japanese it's Cathy cat, greetings from Tokyo guys if you look at
some of our past videos you know we talked about Japanese girl types or for example the Neko kei
Joshi "the cat type girls" those ones are the ones who are their mood can change and they
kind of can be very temperamental and sometimes lonely but then they then come up to you again
and you're kind of happy they're kind of the tsundere type and there's a new term here
in Japan right now and they are the Pocahontas Joshi, "the Pocahontas girls" now that has actually
nothing to do with Pocahontas and the movie or disney or anything in that controversial area
But it became a term here recently in Japan we're going to try and find out what it is
about, who it is about and why Japanese people use it recently and we have a special guest for that
Oh Cathy Cat
Hey Asagi, good to see you, lovely to see you again! Asagi is going to be talking with us today about
the Pocahontas Joshi... um quickly maybe in case you didn't see Asagi yet, Asagi does some great
videos tell us what you do on your channel
My channel is Asagi's life if you are interested in Japanese culture please check out my channel
But the interesting thing is you don't know yet about Pocahontas Joshi just right?
Yes I don't know.
You haven't heard that term yet so much so we're going to dig in it together and find out what it actually is so let's go
According to the internet Pocahontas Joshi... if I said Pocahontas Joshi what would you think?
Pocahontas Joshi?
Like... people who look like Pocahontas?
Ah not quite, not quite but close maybe in a way and first of all I think the major point that
people try to bring is that Pocahontas joshi are the types of Japanese girls who
lived or where living in western countries so Usa Canada Uk many english-speaking countries - Ok.
So first of all those girls get picked up for that one
they have been living there for a long time or a short time, generally
for a short time just half a year and yeah but you're right there is a part of it they look like "pohahontas"
What part do you think looks like Pocahontas ?
I mean yeah I i think I understand... they tend to look like that kind of figure
What do you mean by that kind of figure?
Drawn up eye liner...
Oh you mean the cat eye? - Cat eye! - Ohh yes yes yes
same cat eyes (as the disney character) like long one length hair
black hair, very black hair like I kind of look like that too right
I have the Pocahontas hair style.
Let's look the Disney Character up... you're right.
Don't I look like Pocahontas?
I see. Instead of soft Japanese girl hairstyles, it looks like it makes girls stronger?
Instead of fluffy, cute hairstyles, this one is more... cool?
You already mentioned it, and they seem to have certain characteristics in common
is the long black hair... it's the the proper thicker eyebrows, styled eyebrows because
in Japan it's like fluffy eyebrows but it's like the very styled instagram eyebrows
- Check! - A little bit of a cat eye going on there and also maybe emphasizing the
lips more like bigger lips?
Yeah sounds like a little bit...
Lips okay and another thing is that they also would dress a little bit more revealing than Japanese girls
Because Pocahontas is having a little bit more revealing clothes
and Japanese girls tend to cover up a lot right I mean you're covered up it's winter right now
That's that's main reason but in summer times I have like tank top yeah
That's rare in Japan right? Japanese girls don't really show that much skin right? - Yeah
So what what decided you two "No I don't need to wear that many layers" what was your decision of like
going like "No, I don't need to wear that!"
I just don't like hot weather
This is the thing I don't really get but Japanese girls are okay with showing legs but not here or here... - Yeah
So but those people who got more westernized they tend to be okay
What do you say, because you said for yourself "yeah I think that might look like a Pocahontas Joshi"
what's the big difference between your style and the average feminine Japanese girl style?
Japanese fashion or appearance tend to be more conservative ....try not to offend anyone
Like you you have to be feminine you have to hide your skin... people who are considered as Pocahontas Joshi
I think they want to look like more like strong women like independet... that's
that's what western people respect. -That's a good point I think that's also a thing
that comes with the Japanese feminine kawaii image and the stronger women image
that is: in Japan it seems to be if you're very strong people might be a bit scared of you "hiichau" - Yeah.
And in in the west if you are too cute or too sweet people might not take you serious
So it's like they have that point of "okay I know I need to be a bit stronger" in that kind of
environment and they bring that back home kind of thing would you say that?
Yeah I think that's true
Here comes the "Are you a Japanese Pocahontas Joshi Girl" Quiz:
Have you lived abroad?
I studied abroad for 3 months, so I would say I am in the middle.
In the middle? Ok. Can you speak English? - Check
Almond eye Makeup? - Check
Thick eyebrows? - Compared to the Japanese average? Check!
Okay you always bring a coffee? Noooo
But you got a coffee when we started shooting? - Yeah yeah that's for the shoot
Your laptop, you always bring a laptop and in a cafe work with a mac or something? - Yeah
Do you work in places like Starbucks?
Sometimes? - Aaaah
Your instagram posts are in English? - Yes
I think we're getting a lot of the tropes from the "Pocahontas Joshi" - I am one of them.
I did not know that this video was going in this direction
Now all of these things we were having a lot of fun we were laughing around as well but the
director found that online Pocahontas Joshi can have a bit of a negative connotation what
do you think that could be?
I think that's yeah sometimes those people can be a target to attack
What exactly is ... what problem do people have with the Pocahontas Joshi Japanese girl type?
First of all if we talk about the appearance: those type of appearance is not really popular for Japanese people
they are not you know ...feminine not really cute
So yeah ... some people even consider us like ugly... so yeah that might be one of the reasons
So looks wise you're already going against the feminine ideal in Japanese culture
Okay that's probably one of those points and they also said that they seem to ...they're one
of the things if it goes too much opinion-wise Pocahontas Joshi tend to be the ones who say
"Abroad is better than Japan"... is that a thing?
Ah yeah because you know why not? There are so many things we should learn from other countries
and if we mention that, some people of course get offended
especially traditional Japanese people who are proud of Japan so yeah that can happen
There's also a saying that "in the Usa or Canada or Australia Uk things are like this or things are like that" a
lot in conversations... do you do that too sometimes ?
Yeah I think that's an interesting topic for me
Just the pure reason i'm not saying... they are better than Japan or things like that but
But you have that knowledge right? You brought you bring that knowledge in from different cultures
and some people don't want to hear that kind of thing - Yes
I even get some comments that says like "I mean she looks like her appearance is not popular in Japan"
"that's why she dates with foreigners" kind of mean comments
Oh you get comments like that? I mean come on...
I must say when I came to Japan I was surprised how feminine girls dress but I was always
wondering whether there's almost the pressure to be feminine to be soft to be subdued to be kind
of weak and cute in order to not appear too strong? - Yeah
because I have the feeling like ... abroad you have to be strong as a girl
you need to put your foot down or you won't get anything
but in Japan it seems to be you almost have to be cute or people will avoid you is that true or false?
I think it's true... of course Japan is changing too but there are still many people who
think girl are supposed to wear more like feminine so
The good and bad we found about the Pocahontas Joshi online seem to be the good is: they have
a broad knowledge of abroad and stuff and the bad is some take it a bit too far and say
"I prefer everything abroad" so in a way when we were talking about this before we started the camera
I was like almost comparing it to the "weebs" you know the people who like
either you love Japan or you love Japan so much that you think is a superior country
and the same thing either you love as a Japanese person i'm just wondering... let me do that again...
or as a Japanese person you love western cultures or you love them so much that you say
they're better than Japanese culture so that seems to be the
the almost the weeb = gaikoku gabure seems to be like if it is too much that's what people get told so
did you get that told like "oh you're doing it too much you prefer western cultures too much"
I mean people don't really talk to me like that in person they are trying to be nice but
on the internet I sometimes get kind that kind of comments.
I'm sure there are people who think that "foreigner wannabe" kind of thing
The "other wannabe" kind of thing ...but then again it's the same thing
I think you get "foreigner wannabe" I get "Japan wannabe"
I think we're getting the same thing I'm getting the you know "You are ... oh look at you why do you dress like this"
and you probably get the "no you're too americanized why do you look like this" so it's interesting that um
first of all on the internet everyone will always diss something else that's not like them
I love that look to the camera again! We should do that together three two one
and I think it's always everything has to be taken with a pinch of salt
of course if you diss your own culture no one's gonna like that
but if you say "I think I like the other culture and I think this is enriching our culture" total bonus right? - Yeah.
For example when was the first time when you thought
"They will tell me I am a foreigner wannabe now...."
When did you first think that about yourself?
Once I started dating foreign men, people said and thought that about me.
From then it started.
Like "She is dating foreigners... she is a foreigner wannabe!"
I think that was a big factor.
Did that feel positive or negative?
Some people thought it made me more interesting to have foreign boys and interests.
But by not dating Japanese, some thought I had thrown my Japanese culture away.
"Please don't throw away your own country" do you think that's what they feel? - Yeah.
If I got yen every time someone called me weeb on the internet because I live in Japan or speak
Japanese fluently or dress differently... I'd be rich right now... I'd be so rich so
all of you feel free .... pay me 100 yen every time you want to say weeb to me
bring it on!
Many ladies who become Pocahontas Joshi I think those are people who just forget
about expectations ... that Japanese people have
like we have so many social expectations in Japan
and if we follow all of that you always look like the same... - Everyone in "kawaii"
I think the Pocahontas Joshi is the... I think that's the result of being themselves
not without like Japanese society's expectation
just be myself let grow our black hair...
don't dye my hair ...or things like that so
So in a way it's a way of breaking out from conventions in in your country and
saying "No I like this" and openly saying "I like this, it's fine, I don't mean to offend you by liking this" - Yeah
But I like this! - Exactly
I think we're going into a really positive area here right now
I'm gonna say when we started this video I had no idea where we're gonna go... we had a couple of like
points on a sheet of paper that we thought and we saw it on the internet but I did not know where
that's gonna go... I also did not go did not expect you to say "i'm that type" which you know is is not
easy to say just say like "no it's fine i'm that type" and I do like how you honestly said "no I do
like western cultures, I'm not overdoing it, so I'm cool with saying I can be a Pocahontas Joshi!" - Yeah
I must say like: respect. If we connect that to where we point fingers at people who are interested in
the culture there's always going to be people who get annoyed if they hear too much of one thing
but at the same time they like something else, it's not taking any .... not "taking a diamond
out of your crown" kind of thing if someone likes something very passionately I think
What would you say is your summary of Pocahontas Joshi?
I mean there are some criticism about Pocahontas Joshi but I think it's not really a negative thing
because I think Pocahontas Joshi is the result of being honest with you
not thinking about Japanese social expectations
so yeah why not stay like they went to western countries and learned something from them and they
like some of the stuffs of the western countries ... it's not a bad thing at all and they want to be
more independent more stronger, fierce looking... why not? I think it's a good thing to be Pocahontas Joshi
I see see that's the idea right, it's okay to like something else, another country's culture
actually some people are really happy if you love their culture right? But it's not taking
anything away... you're not dissing your own original culture you're just saying i'm enriching the
original culture with the additional knowledge I'll learn from another culture?
Yeah
I think we agree on that.... right guys what do you think?
Pocahontas Joshi are the Japanese version of weebs yes or no let's not in the comments down below!
Looking forward to reading your comments
Also check it out we're gonna do a triple collaboration here we have a video here on ask Japanese
there's going to be a video on Asagi's channel
and a video on my channel as well! Be sure to click all the links in the description box down below to find all
the other videos we do kind of a lot of fun stuff so be sure to check out what's in store for you
this is going to be a big collaboration thanks so much for watching and i'll catch you soon
with another video coming from Tokyo out to you and thank you so much for being here Asagi!
- Thank you for having me! - Thank you
I had so much fun! - Me too!
See you soon guys bye - Bye!