This video expresses the speaker's frustration with Japan's cultural tendency to favor Eurocentric beauty standards, evident in their video games and anime. The speaker argues that this preference leads to a self-deprecating attitude among Japanese people and a lack of representation for those who don't conform to this ideal.
Eurocentric Bias in Japanese Media: The speaker highlights the overwhelming prevalence of white protagonists in Japanese video games (Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Earthbound, Star Fox) and anime (Naruto, Bleach, Attack on Titan), despite the Japanese origin of these forms of media. Japanese characters are often relegated to secondary, less significant roles.
The Impact of Eurocentric Beauty Standards: The speaker discusses how Japan's adoption of Eurocentric beauty standards leads to a widespread desire among Japanese people to emulate Western features, such as dyeing hair blonde, leading to a sense of shame and embarrassment among some Japanese individuals who feel they are rejecting their own heritage.
Contrast with Other Asian Cultures: The speaker contrasts Japan's approach with those of other Asian cultures like China and South Korea. The speaker notes that the Han Chinese are more proud of their own features and don't conform to Western standards to the same extent. The speaker cites South Korea's K-dramas and K-films as examples of media that features a more diverse range of features, showcasing both characters with big eyes and small eyes.
The Importance of Cultural Identity: The core argument revolves around the idea of embracing one's own cultural identity, including physical features, and resisting the pressure to conform to external beauty standards. The speaker suggests that Japan should learn from the African-American community's resistance to Eurocentric beauty standards and the Han Chinese’s cultural pride.
