Jezebel 
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New York, 10:09 PM
Sat Nov 7
20 posts in the last 24 hours
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Editor-in-Chief:
Anna Holmes
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Dodai Stewart
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Contributing Editors:
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11/04/09
11/04/09
In this case they should have just left What's Sexy Now and be done with it. #kristenstewartrobertpattinsonbazaar...
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11/04/09
I don't care either way if they're really dating, but I agree that they're under a lot of pressure either way.
Overall, I like the photoshoot.
09/22/09
editorially, the feature was intended to be about first ladies in general. the magazine runs features with dolls more often recently because the budget is shrinking (yes, the publishing crisis comes to us all, even here in tokyo). many of the staff have expressed dislike of these spreads using dolls instead of models for several reasons, everything from tackiness, to commentary on the disposability of models.
personally, i think the feature was poorly thought out but i do not have a say in this.
as a japanese-speaking latina having lived in japan for the better part of a decade, i will not deny that japan has xenophobia, racism, and sexism issues. all countries do. these things are everyone’s problems. japan especially needs to deal with these issues in a big way if it wants to survive its population crisis. sadly, so far it’s not faring so well.
i do feel that this argument is a double edged sword, though. others have pointed out that superimposing one culture’s racism issues onto the context of another’s can be counterproductive, but in some ways i feel it can purposeful in highlighting major points for both. when the editor was coming up with this feature, thinking of the implications of how anyone outside of japan (or asia for that matter) may perceive it was most likely not a priority. cultural navel-gazing on whatever level? definitely, sadly, and very revealingly yes.
this is simply a symptom of the larger issues that are in play here, the major one japan’s double standard for everything, especially cultural identity, racism, sexism, feminism, women in the workplace, and its workforce.
in an aside, HB japan has had latinas on the cover, but only actresses. and i don't get the bunny ears either.
09/22/09
09/22/09
i will say it's been the best and worst, the most fantastic and difficult thing i've ever done in my life. i've been given opportunities here i would never have gotten back home and been mentored and encouraged in ways that have been truly priceless, but i've also been treated like a criminal and piece of dirt too.
preconceptions play a big role here, and what is "expected" holds a uniquely strong place. people like to know what to expect, and i think this is one part of the root of racism, sexism and racial and gender stereotyping in japan.
it's an archipelago of extremes and paradoxes.
09/22/09
God bless Italian Vogue.
09/22/09
I'm more interested in the fact that they seem to spell Uma Thurman's name (in katakana) as "Yuma" - probably because "uma" means "horse" in Japanese.
09/22/09
09/22/09
and for better or worse, I can tell you with certainty that that doll would not come in a dark-skinned version in Japan, because close to none do. Japanese girls are not encouraged to embrace diversity like girls are here so you don't have the African-American Barbie over there. It just isn't an issue to them whatsoever. Japanese people not only have an issue with self-image in the racial sense, but a narrow view of beauty that now includes Hollywood idols.
09/22/09
Is this "using dolls instead of models" thing becoming a trend? I don't like it. I feel like we're getting farther away from healthy.
09/22/09
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09/22/09
Perverts.