Japan: Too Many Taboos, Britain: Too Little Restraint

NakanoWhen I think of candidates for the next generation of dandies in Britain, I picture the young princes of the royal family. How are they perceived? Especially Prince Harry. His photos are constantly appearing in the tabloids in terrible ways...

BarakanThe tabloids, well, they can't help themselves (laughs). Just the other day, Michael Phelps was targeted. They bought photos of him smoking marijuana with his girlfriend in a foreign country. Poor guy. He should have just ignored it.

NakanoThe more famous someone is, the more they become easy prey.

BarakanTabloids have always been the worst (laughs). They build up unknown people, and then tear them down once they become famous.

NakanoThere's no mercy at all. Famous people are either denigrated or ridiculed. Is that also a product of jealousy? Japanese weekly magazines have a similar tendency, though.

BarakanPerhaps it's a similar island mentality. But while Japan has taboos, Britain doesn't.

NakanoThe royal family is a prime target, isn't it? In Japan, scandals involving the royal family are still somewhat untouchable.

BarakanJapan has too many taboos! True freedom of speech doesn't exist. There are too many things you can't say. At least not in broadcast media.

NakanoFor example?

NakanoAh, I see. Japanese people do tend to get very agitated and overreact in such situations. It's a world of "read the room!" If you go against the prevailing mood even slightly, you'll face immense backlash, so it's best not to touch it. Self-censorship kicks in at times like these.

BarakanIn any case, Japan has many taboos. Britain is healthy in that sense. However, British media also needs some degree of self-restraint, otherwise it's no good. The tabloids have not a shred of self-control. That's the problem.

NakanoBut the public enjoys it, don't they? The British people.

BarakanIndeed, if you compare circulation figures, tabloids sell overwhelmingly more. But they aren't newspapers. They're for killing time (laughs).

NakanoIn the sense that they run wild without any morals, they lack even a shred of dandyism. Are they primarily read by the working class?

BarakanNo, I wonder about that. Not anymore. To my surprise, my mother reads the Daily Mail. I often wonder why she reads something like that (laughs).

NakanoI sometimes read the online versions too (laughs). While they might be full of gossip, don't they show us the ultimate vanity of human nature? Celebrities go to extreme lengths, wanting more and more attention from the tabloids.

BarakanIt's wrong to see celebrities as role models for life. Though tearing them down is healthy. But even while tearing them down, they remain fixated on them.

NakanoOne would think they should be ignored, but they aren't (laughs). For celebrities, notoriety is far better than anonymity, as Oscar Wilde also said. That's why their actions become increasingly extreme to generate material.

British Humor Is Difficult for Japanese People to Understand

BarakanWhen did you first come to Britain? If it was in the 90s, do you remember a TV show called "Spitting Image"?

NakanoNo, I didn't watch it.

BarakanIt was a satirical comedy show using puppets. They created puppets of Thatcher, the Queen, and so on, and it was a show that brutally mocked them. Such shows are popular in Britain. Generally, British humor is rather malicious.

BarakanPerhaps they like that atmosphere. But they probably find it difficult to understand the malicious humor. It's too biting.

NakanoEven if they could understand it, whether they could laugh at it is another matter. They probably wouldn't laugh like the British do.




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