MasaManiA [cultureJAP project]

I heard of those guys, the “yankees”(ヤンキー).They’re the delinquent dead-end kids of Japan who show up a lot in animé and mangas(Great Teacher Onizuka, YuYu Hakusho and those Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun games).
They dress just like above in modified school uniforms with long open coats and baggy “bontan” pants but sometimes they dress with Hawaian shirts and granny sandals and cut their hair either in a 50s style pompadour or a tall flat-top. They are believed to be armed with knives and bamboo shinais(kendo practice swords) and are responsible for muggings, brawls and gang rapes. Most yankees eventually join bosozokus(biker gangs).
It seems that every nation has it’s own unique delinquent youth subculture. Japan has their yankees, The USA’s got their gangstas, The UK’s got their chavs, Mexico has it’s cholos and here in Puerto Rico(I’m Puerto Rican of Spanish descent BTW) we have “cacos”.
But I have some questions Masa? Do yankees still exist in Japan? Do they dress the same as they do in those pics or have they adopted a more Americanized hip-hop fashion?
============From MasaManiA
You are good analyst. thank you for your explanation. and yes we have still yankees.

fuck japanese!!!!!

FUCKING SPANIARDS.. STUPID ASS SPANISH LANGUAGE DAMN SO ANNOYING .. DONT REALLY KNOE WHAT THEIR SAYING BUT THEIR FLOODING THE ENTIRE SITE.. FUCKIN SPANISH PEACE OF CRAP… YO MASA WHY DONT U JUST DELETE ALL THOSE SPANISH CRAPS.. ITS REALLY ANNOYING… AND OHH YEA THAT #20 PICS IS TIGHT I LIKER HER MASK… DAMN LAST PICS ARE HOTTIES TOO…

It is clear the guy/gal who wrote the last post is a fucking son/daughter of a bitch.. I dont care where are u from, u cock sucker… u are a fucking fascist and sooner or later u will get ur ass fucked as u deserve.. im sure u will enjoy it…
PD: say ur home country if u dare u fucking faggot

Estimado Drop.
ratifico todo lo dicho anteriormente por nuestro querido compañero Hadesss.
Si no entiendes una mierda de lo que pone la peña te jodes.
al fin y al cabo, yo como la mitad del planeta ha tenido que aprender varios idiomas mas que nada para poder relacionar con el otro medio, como tu, cerrados de mollera que unicamente saben escupir vocablos incoherentes (sea en el idioma que sea).
Quedate en tu puta casa y deja ya de joder (decia el poeta castellano)

hola, amigos españoles. El Internet es un espacio libre grande, pero
considera por favor este sitio está en inglés. Masa aquí hace un
esfuerzo de hablar con el mundo en inglés. Cada uno aquí, de
diversos países, habla inglés, pues éste permite para ser
entendido. Sería muy la lo menos de cortesía a confirmar con esto,
en vez de jugar a club español. No hay razón de usted a la basura
esta cuerda de rosca con su hablar privado.
Masa: grandes cuadros, como de costumbre:)
=======ENGLISH=========
hello, spanish friends. The internet is a big free space, but please consider this site is in english. Masa here makes an effort to talk to the world in english. Everyone here, from different countries, speak english, as this permits to be understood. It would be the very least of politeness to confirm with this, instead of playing spanish club. There is no reason for you to trash this thread with your private talking.
Masa: great pictures, as usual
thank you for everything.
============from MasaManiA
THank you very much for your kind. I dont want to delete any comment but not english comment is not understandable. so I dont want to keep them. THank you for your understanding and advice to spanish people. (^-^)v

Question: How do the people posting in Spanish REALLY know what the thread is about? Sure, they can look at the pictures and read other posts in Spanish, but can they read Masa’s original explanation?
If no, then they really don’t have a clue as to what’s being said and their posts are pointless. Or they are simply saying ‘nice pictures’ over and over.
If yes, then they are a bunch of rude bastards because they could write their comments either in English or in Spanish WITH an English translation.
Either way, the current bunch of Spanish posts is annoying, even by my standards. I grew up in are area with just as many Spanish-speqaking people as English-speaking people. One of my best friends had to translate back and forth between her parents and myself whenever I came over for a visit-this was normal life for me.
=============from MasaManiA
Ok, I will delete them. thank you for your good explanation.

Does anyone know whether it true that some Japanese gang members put pearls in their penises to create a heavy lump in the end of their member?
==============from MasaManiA
Its true

I hate those snull-skulled vulgar little spanish scums, they’re like worms, like plague, they’re fucking disgusting, and they’re everywhere on the net. And did I mention, they smell. What the hell is wrong with you, EURO-NIGGERS !!!! go to a spanish-speaking site and spit your shit there

P.P., from what I know, it’s 1 per year in jail. It’s also supposed to give more pleasure to their girlfriend(s).
I find body modification to be an interesting subject…

I don´t think you can just tell all the spanish are rude just because some of them behave like stupids. I´m Spanish or they tell me so. In my first coment i was just trying to explain that people isn´t just whta they apeard to be but if you just think we smell i´ll think U are just another one who just enter the sites to tell other people that you and your culture are the best. why don´t you just try learning another languages?

it looks cool all that, its remind me a Flock of seagulls, here in mexico are strange people too, but not like the japan people. The girls of the second and the last photo looks great.
Por otro lado pinches españoles, vayanse a la $%&$#%%, cuando los mexicanos van a españa nos tratan mal pero cuando vienen a mexico se creen lo máximo. (sin contar a las españolas esas si me gustan)

I don’t understand this at all. They all look so much alike down to their hairstyles and socks I can’t tell what the customizations are. What does it say on their backs and whats with everyone having that same awful hairstyle? In the US this would not be considered a fashion trend not a rebellion.
Anyway, the costumes are incredible.

A big kishidan fan here,these attire really cool in my opinion since that fashion/culture doesnt exist here.
From the looks of the pics the fans just having fun there mimicking kishidan,i wish i was there.

Thank you, masa san.Your photos help me so much to see japanese fashion tendences and Urban Tribes, thats the theme of my investigation, and with these ones I have a good hint to start.
Sorry but Im not so good in english,(nihongo mo) I hope you understand

GET A LIFE!

ohh i just saw the movie kamikaze girls and it had one of the main girls as a yanki (in the movie they spell it like that…) and the other in gothic lolita. i myself is into gothic lolita but since i saw the movie i wanted to have to have something of yanki look, it very intresting to me and i wanted to get some clothes to cosplay in. i dont know if the coats are something special or just a regular trench coat. all and all i want a outfit it looks badass.

Yanki/BAKA(!)soku/ these guys….weak-ass, limp-dick, chickenshit motherfuckers!! The whole lot of them! The chicks are do-able though!

why are they throwing up the king sighn fuck kings fuck ur gang folk love

cool! Keep going!

Kishidan is awesome…
To PW: Haha, Kishidan and its fans aren’t real “Yakuza”! Kishidan play pop-rock, and their fans listen to it, and imitate their “style”. Their style of clothing is just borrowed from “punks” that think they’re “tuff”…none of the Kishidan members or its fans perform illegal activities for yakuza…
This whole thing is just like the “punk” movement in the 70s, the safety pin through their noses and bum flaps and plaid and combat boots and super glue/sugar water in the hair to make a mowhawk…it’s a “scene”…and “punk” had a little bit of a revival, with pop-punk (aka pseudo-punk, haha) with bands like Sum 41 and Green Day. It’s just like that, some people in the 70s~80s REALLY did dress like these Kishidan people, and at the time, it WAS rebellious…I mean when they group together like this it looks like conformity but if you saw one or two people like that in your school, it’d be much more rebellious than a normal school costume! Just like the “punk” movement, it was really rebellious at the time because everything in England was very proper…just like the whole “grunge” thing to rebel against the clean-cut preppies…although things turn into fads very quickly, in the beginning there’s always a reason for things…
You can call the Japanese stupid for this, but remember, this is just a small handful of extreme people…a lot of Japanese people would also laugh and ridicule this behaviour! Just like many Americans find it ridiculous that some of their peers would dress up in Darth Vadar costumes and camp outside the stadium a day before Star Wars conventions…
I think the lesson to learn from this is don’t be so quick to judge, everyone is different but that doesn’t make them “stupid”. You never know, some of these “stupid” people might be extremely nice and intelligent!

Are those gangs bousouzuko or are they different from bousouzuko?
==============from MasaManiA
bousouzoku is bike gang

ぁE

Travwell,
Super glue and sugar water? Try egg whites and hairspray. Nowadays, you can use hair wax, too.

The long Kimono and otoko no kimono robes are very beautiful, I think. I wish I saw this when I was in Tokyo, I definately would have obtained some!!! Or at least tried. I am gonna send this page to my friend in Yokohama, maybe he can get some for me, the reds & whites r the best to me.
Georgous!

Hey Masa you should do your next update about bosozoku or yakuza.

can you help me?
im doing a project on tokyo street fashion and i need help finding out some info

k os jodan hombre … el ingles a tomar x culo xaval … el español se comera el ingles cuando los hispanos conkistemos USA … asike todo el mundo palla y menos intles y mas ASTURIANU FILLOS DE PUTA !!!

I have been searching all over for those jackets (the kamikazejackets) if u know where to find them I would be grateful (plz plz)if youd let me know also if you know the actual name of that type of jacket
==============From MasaManiA
It’s just a school uniform called, “Gakuran”. but in case of gad student, they wear deformed uniform. it’s kind of Japanese out law tradition. you can get it in Japan.

Hi Masa,
I’ve enjoyed looking through the other cosplay groups you’ve photographed.. but for some reason I find these Kishidan fans look ridiculous! I’m all for Japanese fashion but do they really think they’re cool ?
What is your fashion style Masa?
Keep up the good work~
L

I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE TO BE YANKEE, THERE IS A YOUTH EXPRESION FOR FREEDOM…………YANKEE 4EVER

i have to say people are making me very, very sad. you’re all taking this far too seriously.
kishidan is just about the most talented and awesome band i’ve ever seen, and their cosplayers kick more ass that most of the other cosplayers i’ve ever seen, weither for anime or for other japanese bands. the 6 members of kishidan have more enthusiasm, soul, and love for what they do than can be imagined, or even fully comprehended at any one time.
all you people need to mellow out~~seriously, just because they look a bit bizarre doesn’t mean anything.
the vocalist of kishidan was a bakusozoku when he was in high school, so he knows what he’s doing. the look of kishidan is an over-exagerated version of what he looked like in school, and their music, videos, and concerts reflect that same style.
they’re wacky, they’re fun, they’re rediculous, they’re passionate, they’re incredable hard-workers, and they have immense talent.
honestly, all these people in these photos are dressing like that because it’s FUN. that’s why they do what they do, that’s why kishidan does what they do~~it’s FUN.
and as for the hand signal a bunch of people are doing, it’s a dog. it’s a thing kishidan does, nabbed from an old manga series from the 80’s called “Yoroshiku, Mecha-Dog.” the hand sign is a dog, and they wag their little finger like the dog’s mouth and say, “wan wan” which is the sound of a dog barking.
and as for what’s written on the backs of their jackets, mostly is the name of the band, “kishidan.”
THERE, people, THERE~~this is a BAND. they are MUCISIANS. they are not political activists, they are not rebels. they’re 6 guys in a BAND.
…there, i think i’ve ranted enough on behalf of kishidan. XDD sorry everyone, i just really don’t like people being mean about japanese people, and i don’t like people being mean about kishidan. there is alot to love there.
YOROSHIKU, MECHA-DOG~! WAN WAN~!

i agree with masayuki. kishidan is an amazing group. they have more energy and enthusiaism then pretty much any other group ive seen.
and the cosplayers are awesome. i would love to have one of those jackets ^____^

HA! I’m curently watching the “Kisarasu Cat’s Eye” J-Drama and I just saw Kishidan on there. They sound pretty good and I’m trying to figure out what songs they sang on Episode 7.

YO MAN FUCK UR SCHOOL GANGS LOOK LIKE A BUNCH A FAGS MAN FUCK UR YAKUZA SHIT TO MAN ITS ALL BOUT CHI TOWN GANGS MAN THE FOLKS TWO SIX TGANGSTER DISCIPLES IMPERIAL GANGSTERS ALLMIGHTY AMBROSE THOSE THE REAL GANGS UR GANGS AINT SHIT ESPECIALLY THOSE YAKUZA BITCHES

Hey Masa! It’s my first comment here, but I see your photos always… they are really nice, and shows us ppl in japan, they are other culture, other life… I love the way that japanese face the life… how they see their country. I whish I could travel to japan, I want to see it >__<
And I have to thank you your work, you put pictures of the normal life there, and explains it,it’s ahard and great job. You’re doing well!! Keep on going!!
I have to say tht I’m spanish, and I’m embarrased with some of their posts….. But also I have to say that some comments of english-talkers are crap….. And I could say sorry about some comments of stupid spanish fools, I know them better than anyone on this site, and I can say how stupid they are, but other ppl, from other countries doesn’t know anything from spain, and they dont want to, and it’s really sad… the see us , the spanish ppl like animals… and the real animals are around them…
I have to say that i’m a spanish fan of kishidan, and other japanese bands, like i’m fan of bands of the whole world… and if some ppl read more, and disturb less, they could be better. I only have to say that the “garrulos” of spain, may stay in silence… because they talk about things they dont know. But the fools of america, or other countries, stay quiet too, they don’t have to show us how they spilt at their keybord….
Nothing less to say, Masa, thanks for try to reading me… my english is….. bad, I know. Im trying hard like you n_n I think you understand.
And this is for the spanish people:
Y esto para los españoles: Panda de mongolos, priemro informaros, y dejad de decir que estos japos tal y cual, porque seguro que en vuestras casas teneis cosas mejores que hacer y de las que preocuparos de lo que hacen una panda de japoneses en un parque un domingo, que es mejor que ponerse hasta el culo de pastillas en el radikal todos los viernes. Leed más y hablad menos, y para decir lo tontos que son los japos, miraos vosotros. No hay peor crítico que uno mismo.
Thanks Masa

yeah… those hair do’s remind me of the old what was it 1940’s 50’s?

I scanned the previous posts, and I’m not sure if this was touched upon, but I’d like to bring light to the squat:
Asian bathrooms used to have only a specific kind of toilet which was, essentially, a hole in the ground. To use this ‘toilet’, one had to learn to squat over it and A) not fall in, and B) go to the bathroom while not falling in. Since this was the only toilet available, everyone learned to squat in that fashion.
The introduction of the European toilet (the common ’sit-down’ toilet) happened largely in about the 20th century (I think), and when it first became popular, only the upper class had access to it. Therefor, the general population, comprised mostly of lower class, still had to use the squat toilets (there’s a proper name for them, but I don’t remember it), and, thus, a lot of people still were comfortable squatting.
I used to live in Singapore for 10 years, and before I left there were still some bathrooms that would have the squat toilets. And I’m talking about in a shopping mall on different floors. I’m a guy, so walking into a bathroom I could see A) either 3 or so urinals or one big urinal ‘wall’, B) 4 or so stalls with European toilets in them, and C) 2 or so stalls with porcelain ’squat pots’ equipped with a water tank so you can flush it.
Less developed countries will still have the old squat pots, which were porcelain, but to flush it you had to pour a bucket or two of water down it yourself.
I guess in Japan, where the European toilet underwent a massive facelift, the ’squat pot’ became even more obsolete. I’m surprised how that squat became synonymous with ‘yankees’, though. I’m Chinese, and all my Asian friends call it the “Asian Squat”.
I hope that was helpful.

I like them all and want to play with them in their funky clothes…are they really yakuza? must be fun

that hair kinda reminds me of Elvis Presley lol

I’ve recently come back from visiting Japan – Kishidan are so cool! At first I thought they were weird…but their style is unique

MAN NIGGA I WAS ON UR WEBPAGE FOLKKS I GOTTA SAY SCHOOL GANG KKILA AND YAKKUZA KKILLA TOO NIGGA IM GANGSTA TWO SIX FROM 63RD IN CHICAGO TELL YO YAKKUZA PUNK FRIENDS KKG FROM KKNOX SAIF FUKK U

You can’t be 67074 serious?!?