Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Please do it again in 2011


Did the guy who designs these posters send this one to the printers after a bonenkai party? The angle on that poor foreign woman is all wrong in the first picture: what happened to her armpit? Did that giant spotted muu muu gobble it up? And what's with that huge beaver tail mound of hair overwhelming her left side? A rendering of what her hair looks like when she turns her head?

This is all wrong. I would say that it looks like a white male eikawa teacher designed this portrayal of the Evil White Woman in Japan but I can't even bring myself to resort to what is one of the oldest and most tired shots in the book - gaijin girl vs. gaijin guy: let's take out all our misery and insecurities on each other!!!

Who knows, maybe she is a member of Japan's national volleyball team. Or maybe a Russian sumo wrestler on his way to the hairdresser. I'm all out of ideas...

26 comments:

Erin said...

I saw these and I was like, what the fuck is she so angry for? If I was this baa-chan, and this scary beast handed me my bag, I'd probably crap myself.

Mr. Salaryman said...

Seriously, isn't that a non-licensed version of Matsuko Deluxe? That was my first at least, not foreign woman particularly?

gaijinwife said...

Russian Sumo Wrestler definitely. What I want to know is how did she get it up there in the first place?

F. said...

look closer - it's fairly clear that the foreign woman with the Jewish curls is being pinched in the arm by granny. No wonder she's cross.

♥ becca said...

Like Mr.Salaryman said, she looks very Matsuko Deluxe to me.

Kathryn said...

Drag queen for sure!

Judith said...

What's up with the guy in the back. His hand is already up there trying to steal the bundle. Maybe that's why granny is looking for help from the giant angry foreigner to beat the crap out of that thief!

Chris said...

The guy in the back doing jack shit which is acceptable ojisan/salaryman practice is more annoying than the massive bull dyke

Al said...

She has her backed turned and is looking over her left shoulder in the first panel. She has turned around in the second. The armpit and hair make more sense when looked at like this.

Anonymous said...

The first thing I thought when I saw the poster is that it was Matsuko Deluxe. I see I'm not the only one who thought the same

Kelly A said...

I thought it was shoko asahara to be honest! I didn't realise it was a woman. lol :)

Anonymous said...

That's totally Matsuko Deluxe, the new Haruna Ai, who was the new Ikko, who was the new...I dunno? Anyway, don't think they're poking fun at foreigners.

illahee said...

i love the idea that the dude in the back wanted to swipe the bento. he totally has the, 'rats! thwarted again!!' expression on his face in the second panel!

Roberto said...

I've done a series of comics that track the Tokyo Metro 'manners' campaign ... the latest (Matsuko Deluxe Edition) is here: http://www.politicomix.net/2011/01/tokyo-metro-manners-magic-word.html

Anonymous said...

She? First time I saw this I genuinely thought it was supposed to be the fat guy from Lost. In a smock.

Michelle Lara said...

I had to look at the picture twice to figure out what was going on. Why didn't the artist AT LEAST change her expression to a smile in the second picture?

Tako Hostil said...

Isn't it obvious? She is Sven's assistant, the black-haired valkyrie. Missing armpit? It is because she is wearing a cape. Now, isn't a part of Mr. Creepy's face missing in the second vignete? Is he about to puke? Looks like he would be covering his mouth with his hand.

RMilner said...

I've seen a very few Japanese women who were taller than me (I am 5 feet 11) but they weren't built to match sideways.

Anonymous said...

this sign is in ginza station I think?

Hanta said...

Personally, I think it's quite accurate of the female gaijin demographic... I don't really... don't attack me.

Anonymous said...

Interesting how a gaijin is showing the act of kindness and the sign says "please do it again" like we foreigners are special and the Japanese like that treatment from us. Ive seen some pretty rude behavior on the trains by Japanese after 9 pm and early in the morning. Many pushing and punching, some yelling.

Unknown said...

TOTALLY think it's Matsuko Deluxe! That Matsuko Deluxe, she's so hot right now.

Green-Eyed Geisha said...

Erin: She is SO stern looking, I agree grams is about to poop her pants.

Mr. Salaryman: You win the prize for being the first to point it out! And now that you have, I sort of agree, but isn't MD a bit shorter and wider? This woman is taller than the overhead shelf!
Also thanks to:
Becca
Versatile 29
and Tokyo Nights for their agreement.

Anon @ 5:55: MD is the new Haruna Ai?! Haruna is wa-hay cuter. But that's just me :)

gaijinwife: Also plausible. (S)he does bear a resemblance to some of those large pasty men from over yonder!

BiggerinJapan: Girl needs to get some styling product! It looks to me like grams is appealing to her, but who knows, maybe she elbowed her out of the way minutes before.

kathrynoh: She does look like she's been beaten with a "manly stick", quite unfortunate really.

Judith: That is Creepy Sweepy, this series' resident perv. He's usually quite tame (lame?) but maybe he is getting bad ass.

Chris: Very true, but at least they are accurate depictions of reality?!?

Al: Thanks, I wish they hadn't made her such a huge solid blob.

Green-Eyed Geisha said...

Kelly A: Yikes, I didn't even see that! That would be a really creepy/inappropriate depiction wouldn't it?!

illahee: I couldn't even see his facial expression change until you pointed it out! If I get really close to the screen I can see a new shape to his mouth. I need to start enlarging things, clearly.

Roberto: Thanks for letting me know. I think I linked to one of your earlier ones, but will have to go back and check!

Anon @ 11:06: I've never seen Lost but for some reason "smock" made me giggle. And then I googled the guy and giggled some more while picturing him in said smock.

Michi: I don't know, they really wanted her to look pissy...but why?!

Tako Hostil: Great comment! I think she might be Sven's body guard...

RMilner: Exactly. Who is this amazon? We will never know..

Anon @ 9:52: These posters are at all the metro stations in Tokyo.

Hanta: You're totally asking for it! Actually, no, I was when I decided to suggest it.

Anon @ 8:23: If she is a foreigner, it would be a little strange using her to "teach" good behavior, although we have seen gaijin used in the case of Sven (and maybe others but I can't remember). I'm inclined to think she isn't a foreigner...if she is a gaijinette, that's a pretty unfortunate depiction of one.

gaijinwife said...

fat guy from lost in a smock - I swear anon I just about snorted beer out my nose onto my beautiful mac. Glad I came back to read comments.

Green-Eyed Geisha said...

Gaijinwife: Isn't it a precious image?!