Japan: "butt biting bug" video is huge
I am told that this video is a recent and wildly popular thing in Japan. Here's an English subtitled YouTube of "the butt biting bug song," Oshiri kajiri mushi. Video Link. It gives me acid flashbacks. "Tight asses and hard asses and beaten asses and shriveled asses." In what universe do these constitute appropriate lyrics for children's music?
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Someone's creativity gland was working overtime. Wonderful!
I don't think Japan really has swear words like we do - the word asses in Japanese is pretty much anatomic, unless you're being incredibly vulgar. So I think that translator is the more likely candidate.
"In what universe do these constitute appropriate lyrics for children's music?"
I'm pretty sure that it's the same one where I am Emperor For Life.
It had occurred to me before actually that "shiri" (bottom) is a completely innocent word and doesn't seem to have any of the embarrassing, rude or risqué connotations associated with it in the west. When I was growing up I'd get told off if I said "bottom" too often, but "shiri" is about as offensive as "arm" or "knee." I often hear kids complaining to their mums "shiri ga itai!" (my bottom hurts) which would certainly get a phnar where I'm from...
In what universe do these constitute appropriate lyrics for children's music?
Maybe not in certain parts (like, say, Baptist day schools) but certainly appropriate in THIS universe.
When the bug meditated under the waterfall, I laughed out loud. Every now and again, I'm reminded of how different we are from the Japanese. Wonderful!
In what universe do these constitute appropriate lyrics for children's music?
When you peel away your cultural blinders and your puritanical American sensibilities, I guess. Talking about poo poo, boogers, wee wees and, in this case, butts are considered very funny and appropriate, especially in children's material. Apparently, you haven't heard of Crayon Shin-chan or any other children's comic book or anime heroes with these subjects. One comic from the '70s or '80s, that I can't remember the title of, has a hero that leaps up in the air and takes a huge dump upon his foes. There was a major hit song in the '60s about a kid writing his name in the snow with pee called "Oh, Ching-ching" or "Oh, Wee-wee". It's true that the Japanese language doesn't have any swear words, another western (Christian?) hang-up. There are slightly inappropriate words such as "omanko" best translated as "pussy" but without the gasp-producing reactions. What's funny is that the English work "fuck" or the gesture of flipping people off is used without any of the baggage.
This was one of the most amusing videos I've seen of late. I can't explain its charm either.
Yeah, while I wasn't a big fan of the above anon's tone, they do have a good point. There really is no concept of a completely taboo word in Japanese. I teach English in Japan and I'm always pleasantly surprised at the English "swear" words that both kids (and adults) over here are familiar with. They just look them up in the dictionary and don't really understand the connotations that go along with them. Older students of English often like to rattle them of for you like the names of merit badges.
It's hardly huge. Japanese people are really into the fad of the week, and there's always some new goober going around. I wouldn't say it's quite to the level where everyone knows it. But it's pretty popular.
As for oshiri being somehow inappropriate for kids, in what way? Kids all have butts don't they? Kids in Japan are all into each other's butts, farting in each other's faces and giving each other fake enemas with their fingers. This one's a pretty clever meme actually, combinging two things that elementary school boys and tomboys are into; bugs and butts. Cnsdrng sm f th thngs y'r nt, Xn, t's hrd t fthm y cllng smthng ths nncs npprprt fr chldrn. The couple who made this are actually pretty old, and it's regularly broadcast on NHK, the national TV network some might call Japan's BBC. Here's a picture of the creators. According to them, the bug actually has its origins in ancient Assyria.
This is very tame children's entertainment by Japanese standards. Unko Manga ("Shit Comics") are a legitimate genre for kids, founded by the mighty Toiretto Hakase- "Professor Toilet" - in 1970 (the link is in Spanish, the only one I could find). Let me assure you, a Butt Biting Bug is exceptionally mild by the standards of the genre.
I find Japanese children's culture to be very refreshing and open compared to it's American counterpart. Kids are curious about and amused by their own bodies, and in Japan they are encouraged to see their bodies and their functions as normal. It's a mixed bag, like everywhere- older Japanese kids come under some very difficult pressure. But I highly recommend talking to Japanese kids- they're as bawdy and funny and honest as any I've ever met.
(Actually, I recommend talking to kids in general! They're pretty interesting people.)
Whoah, whoa, Coligny, rein it in a little, read my comment again. Maybe you've already spent a little too much time in Japan- all that rice got me pretty plugged up, too. Walk down to Mr. Donut and get a nice big cup of coffee- that always helps.
I'm more incensed by the line "Big city butts are bitter." Big city butts are sweet, even sour sometimes (don't get me started on umami) but not bitter.
I've lived in Japan for five years, and I still don't feel half as jaded and disillusioned as Coligny. Sure, there's a lot of cheesy crap here, and of course, kids raised by asshole parents tend towards assholishness as well, but isn't that the same everywhere? No country is perfect, and positive change is very slow. I think you are expecting a little too much from 10-year-olds. Maybe you had one kancho too many? Relax.
Who do you think is more edgy, Blink 182 or L'arc en Ciel? Most kids, no matter what country they're from, are into cheesy crap. Naruto is just as popular in the US as it is here. The kids are still cool.
On the other hand, foreigners' infatuation with every "Japan is wacky!" meme is annoying and sells a fascinating, complicated country short.
i would pay good money to see this mashed up with baby got back.
>n th thr hnd, frgnrs' nfttn wth vry "Jpn s wcky!" mm s nnyng nd slls fscntng, cmplctd cntry shrt
gr, nd t bgs m hw ftn Cry sms t fll nt tht mndst hr n Bng Bng.
Oshiri is more akin to butt, bottom or rear-end; and is perfectly cool to say over there. They're not as hung up about their bodies as we are over here.
Now, Ketsu is a little more crass and more like ass. You don't hear many housewives saying ketsu.
-Joey in Hutto
Marvelous. Right up there with the magnificently weird Fight Kikkoman! song.
"One ass and one ass makes an Association" That can't be a literal translation. Can it?
"One ass and one ass makes an Association" That can't be a literal translation. Can it?
Oshiri (お尻) = butt, shiriai (知り合い) = acquaintance. It's a pun. :) I think the translator did a pretty good job making it work in English, too.
On the other hand, foreigners' infatuation with every "Japan is wacky!" meme is annoying and sells a fascinating, complicated country short
You used 'meme' and complicated in the same sentence, I hope the fundamental error there is obvious.
I translated the video so I'd like to address a few of the comments made here.
First of all, as was mentioned earlier there isn't any vulgarity attached to talking about backsides in Japanese. Second, the use of ass instead of butt was simply to convey figures of speech. For example, tsumetai oshiri is literally cool to the touch backside, but the meaning in english is best conveyed by tight ass. Finally, with regards to association, yes that is a very literal translation. Oshiri means butt and oshiriai is an associate. So the lyric "Oshiri to oshiri de oshiriai." is quite literally as I translated. The only difference is the vulgarity attached to the word ass in English which does not exist in Japanese. Hope this is helpful.
"One ass and one ass makes an Association" That can't be a literal translation. Can it?
Cordwainer,
Actually, it's pretty damn close! Props to the translator in keeping the meaning of the pun. Although not quite "association," "Shiriai" is made up of the words "shiru"--to know, and "au"--to meet, and would translate to something like "acquaintance," or "someone you know." So when two butts ("shiri") meet ("au"), it makes an aquaintance.
The translator also did a good job with "kabai-au" as "helpopottamus." "kabau" means to care for or help. So when two "kaba" (hippos) meet ("au"), they help each other out.
I also agree with Calton's observations on "Japan is wacky" memes. Something very orientalizing about Cory's posts.
This little cartoon has cult following and there is CD/DVD set you can also purchase.
http://japansugoi.com/wordpress/the-ass-biting-bug-japanese-anime-song-on-nhk/