I think, in a Japanese cultural context, this is very positive. Done in America, Western Europe or Australia might mean very different things, more than likely negative. It seemed to me that because Japanese culture had such a group mentality, something like this is extreme and very attention-getting. These young women, who were probably picked on and bullied, are showing very radical ideas about body acceptance and self-awareness. That's not to say that all Japanese people think this way, but there is not a mainstream support for things like feminism and body acceptance.

I have to say that I am in support, because from these women's cultural perspective, this is a huge risk financially, emotionally and even physically. They're really challenging the people around them and the status quo. Maybe not the "best" way, by encouraging a certain amount of fetishism, but they're putting themselves out there and really making a statement.

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All that said, I do not look forward to trying to buy clothing in Japan.

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It's also made me realize that maybe that's not such a bad thing...

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Also, we as Americans may not think they're fat, but the average woman's BMI in Japan is drastically lower than in America.

That said, it's ridic that these have to exist. Even if it's not some dank brothel catering to men with a fat fetish, it kind of still speaks about our standards of beauty as a whole. But, let it be known that I applaud these women.

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DREAMS, OH DREAMS.

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If this restaurant "caters to a fetish," what say you of the restaurant where all of the maids are very thin? Is that also a fetish of sorts?

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