Originally Posted by Nyororin (Post 678366)

Back when we were dating, my husband shaved and then penciled his eyebrows. He rarely bothers these days as it takes time and is a pain...
But anyway, it is perfectly normal here. They sell little men`s grooming kits everywhere, and even makeup stuff for men.
Every single person I spoke to in the US said he HAD to be gay because of it... And added to the fact that he loved to go to a public bath during the summer (there was a really nice one near where we lived... It was great to walk to it in the summer night.) and get naked with other men in the room - it was set in stone.

I really do not think that it is true at all that children do not get that much affection from parents and siblings. Most kids sleep, bathe, and do everything with their family members. There is no need to go out of the way to express physical affection as chances are you are stuck to a family member most of your childhood. Mothers and daughters, fathers and sons seem to be very affectionate to each other, at least in my eyes. The school behavior is learned at home with parents and siblings - but with family it`s embarrassing to do so in public.

Originally Posted by MMM (Post 678367)

I think Japanese children get a lot of physical affection from parents, but something seems to happen at some point where that seems not OK. The Japanese adults I know have almost no physical contact with their parents or siblings...even if they are comfortable being naked in front of them. On the other hand, I can be physical with my (American) family, but the thought of being naked in front of them is vomit-inducing.

Originally Posted by burkhartdesu (Post 678442)

Trust me, I went to a High School in the U.S. where kids were especially perverted- but this type of affection (grabbing breasts, poking weiners were all things I witnessed in Japan) just seemed kind of... not Japanese.

Especially them grabbing my behind.

Another thing that happened was a girl walked by me and sensually rubbed my chest... you know like an up and down "oooooOOoO" Chest rub O_O

I haven't told anyone this lol.



I've learned a lot from this thread

Originally Posted by Shea (Post 678675)

reading this conversation im starting to think that the majority of Americans are a tad paranoid w/ physical communication and their sexuality. so i guess we really are the odd ones out

Originally Posted by MissMisa (Post 678711)

I don't think that's weird to be honest. I hold hands and kiss my friend and everything, nobody really cares. It's not seen as weird.

I had to go home and change my skirt once because it was apparently too short! I'd been wearing it for a year and they suddenly started caring then! In England school uniform is the norm and I see people do this ALL the time.

Wearing a mini skirt doesn't mean you are sexually deprived [LOL] That's funny to me since I always wear them. It just suits my body type, they are comfy and easy to walk about in, and as long as they are what I call 'wind-proof' [so they don't fly up and expose you in the middle of school D: argh!] they are fine.

To be honest I never really got the impression they would be radically different to me personality wise. There are cultural differences yes, but there are too many individuals to say 'Japanese school girls are like ____' [That's obvious, but still.]