Japanese women dream of the USA
DIMSDRIVE performed internet-based research involving 5,274 people in September of last year to find out which country’s citizens would people most want to marry. It is not stated whether or not the people interviewed were single or not.
The Asia versus the West split is quite noticeable in the men, but really striking amongst the women. I previously translated statistics regarding international marriages in Japan that shows that the ideals being expressed here do not seem to be realised.
On a slight tangent, I watched the last episode of an NHK English learning program which features an English-speaking Western blonde angel that prods a clueless office worker along the path to success at her job getting a date with her transferred from New York colleague, the ideal tall, muscular, tanned, well-coiffured white executive. The angel’s job was done because the glaikit Misaki finally pulled her man.
Q: Other than Japanese, which country’s people do you think would be good to have as a partner (husband or wife)? (Sample size=5,274, free answer)
Rank Votes 1 USA 1,144 2 Korea 505 3 UK 442 4 Italy 370 5 France 344 6 Australia 218 7 Germany 203 8 China 197 9 Canada 150 10 Russia 120 Q: Other than Japanese, which country’s people do you think would be good to have as a partner (husband or wife)? (By sex, free answer)
Rank MaleN=2,468 Votes Rank FemaleN=2,806 Votes 1 USA 368 1 USA 776 2 Korea 297 2 UK 347 3 China 174 3 Italy 278 4 France 134 4 France 210 5 Russia 117 5 Korea 208 6 Thailand 99 6 Australia 145 7 UK 95 7 Germany 131 8 Italy 92 8 Canada 99 9= Taiwan 73 9 Switzerland 47 9= Australia 73 10 Spain 34 First, looking at the East-West split - or more accurately, perhaps, the caucasian-Asian split (I’m not aware of any black Western role-models in Japan) we see that for men, 36% of the total votes were for Western wives versus 26% for Asian women, favouring the West (I’m including Russia, with Maria Sharapova as the popular image of the country) by just over a third. However for women there is a marked difference; about 74% in total choose the West (over 40% for the USA alone) versus a mere 7.4% for the East, a massive ten to one vote for Europe and the USA.
Next, looking at the detailed age breakdown, it’s only in the teenage girls group that the USA fails to top the charts, losing out to France and Korea, and equal with the UK. For men in their twenties, American women are preferred over the second-placed Korean women by almost 60%, and the Chinese are back in fifth, gaining just over a third of the number of votes of the USA. However, the older men get, the stronger the charms of the Asian neighbours become, with the gap at its smallest being just a mere three votes. Similarly, for men in their forties and over, Chinese women cut the gap from a third to about a half of the USA score.
For women, as they get older (ignoring the over sixty bracket which has a very small sample size, so may be rather inaccurate) the attraction to American men only get stronger; in their twenties, Americans get just under a quarter of the vote, but by their fifties, it surpasses three in ten. Despite the charms of the disturbingly Harry Potter-like Bae Yong Joon Korean men do not seem to be particularly favoured by the middle-aged demographic.
These two main trends noted above are perhaps reflections on Japanese society as much as on foreign stereotypes. The younger men hold images of themselves as charming the sophisticated Western woman, but as they age (and visit dodgy hostess bars…) they come to realise that perhaps only Asian women could accept their typical Japanese behaviour. For women, after having been around Japanese men for many, many years, they too may come to realise that the Western stereotypes of politeness and chivalry are the only things that could satisty them in marriage.
Bonus points if you can name the people pictured…
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed, or check out my weekly newsletter. Thanks for visiting!
Read more on:
Subscribe to feed
Send to mobile
Subscribe to 世論 What Japan Thinks newsletter
Onyx said,
July 31, 2008 @ 23:10
Birdman, if you dont mind me asking, what exactly do you do in Osaka?? I plan to be living in Japan within the next 2 years, gonna go the english teacher route, then after a couple years, if my reading is good enough, try and get a job doing computer animation/ renderings.
sun set watcher said,
July 31, 2008 @ 23:56
Onyx,
as for them hating on you because of your interests, unfortunately thats how it is. there will always be those that will hate on something or someone who is different. its up to us to break these sterio types, not because we should, but because in the world of reality, and art, there isn’t any set fixed way on how to do anything. not everyone can get it. thus, there will always be leaders and followers.
on a side note, its amaizing you are all still on here. damn…i guess some things never change.lol
birdman1515 said,
August 1, 2008 @ 01:56
I’m an actor at Universal Studios Japan. One of the very few African Americans, or Africans for that matter. I was thinking about doing the English teacher thing too, so if my acting doesn’t go anywhere, I think that’s what I’ll do.
Onyx said,
August 1, 2008 @ 03:17
Dude, thats awesome! That same thing has very well crossed my mind as well, i figured Japan has few black actors so there might be a better chance and geting into that field. BUt then again, i assume your language and reading skills have to be excellent. How did you land that Job??? Did ya wok at Universal in the US then get the opportunity to do it in Japan? Or did you land it in Japan??
birdman1515 said,
August 1, 2008 @ 03:26
Its actually a funny story. If you’re in the Los Angeles area right now, there will be auditions on Septemeber 1 (USA time). I did one of these in LA, and I did ok @ the audition and got a call back. They liked me still, so they paid for a plane ticket, paid for my house and medical bills, and they pay me 2 act. Pretty simple really.
ViolentAJ said,
August 1, 2008 @ 06:23
Birdman, I think that I met your dumbass when I was in Osaka. You seemed like a pretty cool dude and knowledgeable about reality, but now you’re up here talkin shit. If you are who I think you are, we were discussing how the white man and the spics despise us and how japanese girls like almost anything but us. You were in agreement and gearing up for the Race War.
I suggest that all Black People prepare. These are troubling times,a nd anti-Black racism is on the rise and in the open more and more, not just in America, but on a GLOBAL level. Blacks must learn to love themselves, stop trying to get love from others (or give love to others that will not give it back), and learn to work to improve themselves. Other people are not going to save us, especially since they do not even see us as human for the most part. We need to forge our own destinies. If it leads to genocide of non-Blacks in africa, then so be it. They’ve done it to us for so long, I see it justified to do it to them.
ViolentAJ said,
August 1, 2008 @ 06:36
Also, Black actors in Japan primarily fill the sambo roles or the role of a savage or idiot. The Japanese enjoy these “Black Entertainers” just like whites used to enjoy minstrel shows. When will My People learn these facts and stop showing love to our enemies? When will My People start spiting them back?
You know, although I don’t condone it, every time a Black person slaughters a non-Black, I celebrate a little bit inside. I do not condone these actions, but I cannot help but think to myself how the “victim” probably deserved it. I only hope that it happens to masuda.
birdman1515 said,
August 1, 2008 @ 06:43
Check this out: the only correct statement you made about me was that I’m a cool person. Your rant: erroneous. I’ve never met you, of this I am sure. First of all, I never would agree to a piece of shit “Race War” I only have met a couple other blacks here and none of them we named anything that begins with an “A.” I am the only one who’s name begins with an A, but i won’t tell you my name. I’ll only digress that with the intelligent people on this forum. And 2 add 2 that, they have Japanese girlfriends, Go figure! I myself am in talks with this one girl named Asuka (pronounced As-Ka). We are dating and she’s not racist, Go FIGURE. Well. Seems only shit heads like you, think like you. And i feel sorry for that other person you met, because they are likely 2 be killed fucking around with you. And I’ll make sure 2 steer clear of you, and I’m sorry Osaka has a punk like you walking down its streets, harassing beautiful and innocent women. I really wish you’d leave and go to Oakland (city in California, my home state, just in case readers don’t know where it is.) So you can be with black ppl who hate others. And if i happen 2 run across you, I will definately kick your ass. And at 6′1 190 lbs, I’m more than capable. (But I’m not one for violence you guys, so don’t take it as I’m a violent person. I’m the Birdman, remember?)
birdman1515 said,
August 1, 2008 @ 06:53
I know that I said that would be the last time I would actually type 2 Mambo number 5 head, but he said he met me. I really had to reinforce that I never have and never will be a racist and agree 2 any race war. I am not dumbledore (harry potter fans, you know what I’m talking about) I believe there is only one race: Human. I mean, lets say aliens came to take over earth. Would they kill based on color? Fuck no. They’d kill based on who had two arms, two legs, two eyes, lips, breathes oxygen, carbon based, 2 ears, or walk on two legs. (I just described evey human on earth, because if they don’t have one they definately have the other. Evey human is carbon based aj u jock strap). And that is not all that’s available out here. Maybe since you go looking for racist things, that’s all you find. Come 2 universal studios. There aren’t any sambo or black stereotypical acts. So, your arguement: nullified, invalid, void-pick one.
sun set watcher said,
August 1, 2008 @ 09:32
i hear there are lots of black actors in japan. not all of them being american, obviously. not anything rare to see on japanese television… if they need a black guy for a part, they will find a black guy. thats until the trend breaks. but they won’t break it themselves, america has to do it.
don’t know about you guys but i would like to see a black or biracial batman one of these days. what do you think, could they ever break that mold?
ViolentAJ said,
August 1, 2008 @ 10:15
I personally wouldn’t want to see a Black Batman (unless they had a good backstory like they did in Batman Beyond, or like they have to explain the Black Green Lantern). I’d much rather see an original Black superhero.
The trend of Black popularity (if it ever existed at all) is certainly falling. The spics have taken that role. Also, Blacks are primarily seen as samboes, coons, idiots, criminals, brutes, etc. in American (and more so in Japanese) media.
Birdman, I don’t live in crapan anymore. Just a word of advice: stay away from Pizzeria Torreze in Osaka. You can commit fratricide if you want, but there are many whites, latrinos, idnians,a rabs, japanese, etc. that hate you and are far more deserving of an ass-whoopin’. Looks like you’ve been “willie lynched”.
Who says that my name begins with “A”? ViolentAJ is just a pseudonym.
ViolentAJ said,
August 1, 2008 @ 10:32
You should all play my game (the URL is linked in my name this post). Maybe you’ll learn something you dumb niggers.
black passenger said,
August 1, 2008 @ 11:05
yo, birdman, you probably know my boy larry up in kobe. holla at him the next time you see him. i did the acting thing too in japan, 3 tv commercials. the last one was this big tuka cell phone campaign. never again. as to the black man being an actor in japan, notice that birdman was hired by a US company to perform for a US company. the black actor on j tv or j movie is virtually non-existent and most def underpaid. but my boy dante in the softbank commercials is blowin’ up. i read in the japanese media hes about to make his debut in a ‘drama’ (tv series). theres bobby the nigerian baffoon, otherwise everyone, dont go to japan for an acting career. but i do recommend auditioning for universal studios japan though.
yo birdman, hit me on the myspace, we may know some people in common dude.
a little 16 year old said,
August 1, 2008 @ 14:55
Man I’d love to join the race war…Just let me know when we start killing those alien bastards Ha ha ha!
~snip~
I know that I said that would be the last time I would actually type 2 Mambo number 5 head, but he said he met me. I really had to reinforce that I never have and never will be a racist and agree 2 any race war. I am not dumbledore (harry potter fans, you know what I’m talking about) I believe there is only one race: Human. I mean, lets say aliens came to take over earth. Would they kill based on color? Fuck no. They’d kill based on who had two arms, two legs, two eyes, lips, breathes oxygen, carbon based, 2 ears, or walk on two legs. (I just described evey human on earth, because if they don’t have one they definately have the other. Evey human is carbon based aj u jock strap). And that is not all that’s available out here. Maybe since you go looking for racist things, that’s all you find. Come 2 universal studios. There aren’t any sambo or black stereotypical acts. So, your arguement: nullified, invalid, void-pick one
~snip~
Ha ha ha That was funny as hell! By the way thanks birdman and BP for excluding the rest of us from your conversations about Tv in japan and whatever else lol ^^ So what would be a better carrer choice in japan for a black person?
On a side note what was the Dumbledore thing about( I like harry potter books were thug to read although mad long)
And ViolentAJ if black characters are startin to die out, I recommend you start makin more ^^ I see plenty of em everyday on TV though. Just thought I’d let you know, and I’m currently workin on one myself that I’m going to implement into my game that me and my team are working on.
Also your game about killing japs and whites and junk…Didn’t teach me to much except you make the common black man look even more ignorant than SOME non-black people claim them to be.
black passenger said,
August 1, 2008 @ 23:03
if you wanna make some money in japan, first you should, as onyx said, use english teaching as an introductory process to japan. thats the easiest way to obtain a visa without getting married. then you should transition to IT. japan is behind, very much behind (no one in the west would believe that) in information technology. so they are scrambling to catch up.
black passenger said,
August 1, 2008 @ 23:05
but make sure when you work in japan, inform them that you wont be slaving away 17 hrs a day like japanese people do. i reminded them that im of african decent and slavery, although a long time ago, is still fresh in my mind. so homie just cant work no 17hrs a day 7 days a week with nooooooooooooooooooo overtime pay.
sun set watcher said,
August 1, 2008 @ 23:47
vaj -
i think you are making it out to be more than it is. don’t be so ungrateful. i sometimes wish i was black and not some skinny unsocial chinese guy. just the mere thought of it for me, i know it would put an end to my rejection. other than not being black, i guess i’m like you, i don’t fit in to the standards of how society and pop culture says everyone should be and act. you may say some harsh things, and at times i’m sure you mean them, but your really just seeking acceptance, and that is understandable. But i just don’t understand what you mean by them not liking black guys. that is all in your head. many people have made mistakes in the past out of rage and anger, and most people are quick to point and say, look at that fucked up loser… but who’s to say that those very same popular, social whores wouldn’t do the same thing if it happened to them. not telling you to do the right thing because of some god or anything, doesn’t exist. i’m just saying be better than those who discriminate to you in japan. i’ve heard japan can be a racist place, but at the same time there are soo many americans who live there married to a japanese spouse, i really don’t think thats the case. or maybe not for a certain few.
Dj Red said,
August 2, 2008 @ 07:34
Man, ya’ll need 2 chill and get da fuck out da house and do somethin. Go smoke sum weed, catch a movie, damn. In dis world, you need to get fucked up to make it threw. Don’t let nobody tell you other wise. Weed came from da earth 4 dat very purpose. Same with alcohol.
When u smoke, let those worries blow by like the smoke in da wind in front of u. Same when you drink. Enjoy and make da most of it, you only get one.
SeriouslyNow said,
August 2, 2008 @ 07:56
WTF ViolentAJ?
You talk about Black progress and you droole over Japanese women only, learn to love your women too before drooling over others.
Also Birdman, be careful what kind of image they are making you portray. From what I’ve seen, black actors/talents have the dumbest roles on Japanese television. They are stereotypically big and buff and act like big dumb apes (like bob sap) or they just act awkward and dumb, which is probably what the program directors wants. It’s sickening. Remeber to BE YOURSELF if you’re in a tv show at least.
ViolentAJ said,
August 2, 2008 @ 13:18
SeriouslyNow, I do not have to procreate with a Black Woman to advance my race. I likle japanese but japanese hate Blacks. Too bad for me, let’s carry on.
You’re right about Blacks on japanese TV. What race are you?
DJRed, that might be how you enjoy your life and if so, good for you. I hope that you’re never driving down the same street that I am.
Drew said,
August 3, 2008 @ 13:30
Ken, is it possible for you to configure your comments RSS feed to exclude replies to this thread? I enjoy subscribing to your comments feed but I can’t stand the racist bickering in this thread.
Ken Y-N said,
August 3, 2008 @ 16:59
Drew, thanks for that, pointing out what a sewer this comment thread has become!
If the plugin works correctly, you should not see this comment…
Ken Y-N said,
August 3, 2008 @ 22:32
Oops, that plugin didn’t work!
Oh well, time to close the comments here.