Enough about flowers, trees and bombs. Yes, it’s time to re-examine Japanese men’s hair, and to tease the sister-in-law just a bit.
Anyone who follows Japanese male celebrities knows that two men have dominated this field and at any given moment are fronting at least 6 products each, from instant noodles to televisions to hair gel to canned coffeee. The battle is between SMAP idol Kimutaku and singer-actor Fukuyama Masaharo.
Some ladies like one, or the other. It’s rare that anyone likes both equally. As blog readers know, I prefer Kimu, my sister-in-law Fuku. Recently I noticed that as both are becoming solidly “Arafo” (close to 40), they are upping the airbrushing and botox.
Kimu is widely known for his ever-changing hair, generally blondish and curly. Now, Fukuyama seems to be strongly competing as to whose hair is more girlish.
What do you think? Which idol’s hair is more girlish?
The Japanese film Okuribito (おくりびと）has been nominated for an Academy Award (Best Foreign Film). It stars Motoki Masahiro (aka Mokkun), an actor in his mid-40s.
The story revolves around a cellist who loses his job in a New York orchestra, and becomes an undertaker in rural Japan.
Motoki became famous as one of the earliest Janny-su (discovered by Johnny Jimusho, the boy band king of Japan, who also promoted Kimutaku and SMAP) to soaps, songs and a nude photo book called the “White Room” in 1991.
Has anyone already seen the movie? I am super-curious to see it. Here’s the trailer and official website in Japanese:
I was hoping for the perfect Xmas today. Confronted with such public and shameless adultery, my dreams have now been shattered.
Darling Kimutaku, do our vows mean nothing? Everywhere I turn I see you with that woman. I know that Beyonce is famous, rich and beautiful. But why must you flaunt your indiscretions in public? You have turned peace and love into envy and hate. If you want to reclaim my heart, I am expecting over-sized jewels.
Too fast I finished watching Karei naru Ichizoko. The show was predictable, the acting poor, but I enjoyed watching the drama between Kimutaku & Kitaoji Kinya. Costumes and nationalist expression were also interesting. Probably Kitaoji’s surgery is limiting his facial expressions.
I am waiting for the fansubbing of Change, Kimutaka’s latest tv drama. Can anyone suggest other good Kimutaku or Kitauji Kinya dramas?
With Madonna’s “Miles Away” themetrack. The preview is in Japanese, but it’s easy to get the idea: ugly corrupt politicians select super-cute (ちょうかわいい）school teacher Kimutaku (木村 拓哉) with initially bad hair and make him the Prime Minister. Will Kimutaku make me a citizen?!
On a short walk through Kichijoji, Kimutaku (木村 拓哉), with his artfully shaggy perm, was literally everywhere: in a Sony digi-cam product display, on four magazine covers, and an NTT promotion with the full SMAP. In addition to the Cup of Noodle billboards and TV ads, and the on-going SMAP show, he’s got a new TV show debuting soon.
Could Kimutuku be even more pervasive? What if you could conjure him at will? What if he promoted every consumer product? I’m sure for many he’s already their number 1 imaginary friend.
I have found the definitive web resource for Japanese male hair. The above 16 images come from a website with 144 men’s hair styles. Wow! I found this link and several others on a new WordPress blog by Ryuichi; let’s hope the author keeps up the fascinating posts.
Among many great links is the amazing before and after 27 second video how-to on products and big male hair:
I am proud that the product he’s using is Gatsby, promoted by my favorite SMAP member Kimutaku (木村 拓哉) and used by my own husband; the product must be good since the husband despises Kimutaku.
