Whiteness in Japanese culture
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese fashion
style where one aims to have white skin
, or a general lack of pigment
, to achieve the ideal , or fair skin.
in the skin. Skin color is affected by the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells that flow through the capillaries under the skin. Because of melanin production, having pure white skin is difficult, but bihaku aims to bring the skin color as close to white as possible.
In Japan, the preference
for skin that is white and free of blemishes and spots has been around for a long time. There is a proverb that says "The color white will hide the Seven Misfortunes. (For fair-skinned girls, although they may have unattractive spots, they don't stand out.)"
While yearning for whiteness as such was not new, it became a fad in mid-1990s, after when Suzuki Sonoko, an already successful "Diet Queen" started to promote the aesthetics of beautiful white, under the word "bihaku". Previously, skin care words that referred to melanin problems like "stain" and "freckles" were used.
An opposition to the idea of "bihaku" gradually grew amongst high school ganguro
and gyaru
.
For skin whitening cosmetics for use by the public, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)
has recognized a combination of active ingredient
s. These are mainly arbutin
and kojic acid
. Other ingredients include Vitamin C
derivatives, tranexamic acid
and ten-odd other types. Many of these active ingredients work through inhibiting catechol oxidase
. Some types of BB cream
products are also said to have skin whitening effects which contributes to the popularity of the cream in Asian markets.
As for other methods of skin whitening, other decolorizing chemicals can be used. Aesthetic skin decolorizing surgeries can also be performed, but excessive cleansings can cause a number of problems, such as facial inflammation, but in the 2000s this is in decline. Historically, the droppings of the Japanese bush-warbler have been used as an ingredient in face-washes for whitening skin.
y culture" (根暗趣味), because of the stereotype
that having pale skin means being a nerd.
Japanese fashion
Japan began to emulate Western fashion during the middle of the 19th century. By the beginning of the 21st century it had altered into what is known today as 'street fashion'. The term 'street fashion' is used to describe fashion where the wearer customizes outfits by adopting a mixture of current...
style where one aims to have white skin
Skin whitening
Skin whitening, skin lightening and skin bleaching refers to the practice of using chemical substances in an attempt to lighten skin tone or provide an even skin complexion by lessening the concentration of melanin...
, or a general lack of pigment
Pigment
A pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which a material emits light.Many materials selectively absorb...
, to achieve the ideal , or fair skin.
Summary
Although skin tone differs based on a person's race, in general skin color is based on the amount of melaninMelanin
Melanin is a pigment that is ubiquitous in nature, being found in most organisms . In animals melanin pigments are derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine. The most common form of biological melanin is eumelanin, a brown-black polymer of dihydroxyindole carboxylic acids, and their reduced forms...
in the skin. Skin color is affected by the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells that flow through the capillaries under the skin. Because of melanin production, having pure white skin is difficult, but bihaku aims to bring the skin color as close to white as possible.
In Japan, the preference
Physical attractiveness
Physical attractiveness refers to a person's physical traits which are perceived to be aesthetically pleasing or beautiful. The term often implies sexual attractiveness or desirability, but can also be distinct from the two; for example, humans may regard the young as attractive for various...
for skin that is white and free of blemishes and spots has been around for a long time. There is a proverb that says "The color white will hide the Seven Misfortunes. (For fair-skinned girls, although they may have unattractive spots, they don't stand out.)"
While yearning for whiteness as such was not new, it became a fad in mid-1990s, after when Suzuki Sonoko, an already successful "Diet Queen" started to promote the aesthetics of beautiful white, under the word "bihaku". Previously, skin care words that referred to melanin problems like "stain" and "freckles" were used.
An opposition to the idea of "bihaku" gradually grew amongst high school ganguro
Ganguro
Ganguro is an alternative fashion trend of blonde or orange hair and tanned skin among young Japanese women that peaked in popularity around the year 2000. The Shibuya and Ikebukuro districts of Tokyo were the centers of ganguro fashion...
and gyaru
Gyaru
is a Japanese transliteration of the English word gal, that of girl being . The name originated from a 1970s brand of jeans called "gals", with the advertising slogan: "I can't live without men", and was applied to fashion- and peer-conscious girls in their teens and early twenties. Its usage...
.
Method
The popular method of bihaku is to use cosmetics that stop the production of melanin.For skin whitening cosmetics for use by the public, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)
The ' is a cabinet level ministry of the Japanese government. It is commonly known as Kōrō-shō in Japan. This ministry provides regulations on maximum residue limits for agricultural chemicals in foods, basic food and drug regulations, standards for foods, food additives, etc.It was formed with...
has recognized a combination of active ingredient
Active ingredient
An active ingredient is the substance of a pharmaceutical drug or a pharmaceutical ingredient and bulk active in medicine; in pesticide formulations active substance may be used. Some medications and pesticide products may contain more than one active ingredient...
s. These are mainly arbutin
Arbutin
Arbutin is both an ether and a glycoside; a glycosylated hydroquinone extracted from bearberry plant in the genus Arctostaphylos. It inhibits tyrosinase and thus prevents the formation of melanin. Arbutin is therefore used as a skin-lightening agent. Arbutin is found in wheat, and is concentrated...
and kojic acid
Kojic acid
Kojic acid is a chelation agent produced by several species of fungi, especially Aspergillus oryzae, which has the Japanese common name koji. Kojic acid is a by-product in the fermentation process of malting rice, for use in the manufacturing of sake, the Japanese rice wine...
. Other ingredients include Vitamin C
Vitamin C
Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. In living organisms ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against oxidative stress...
derivatives, tranexamic acid
Tranexamic acid
Tranexamic acid is a drug used to treat or prevent excessive blood loss during surgery and in certain other conditions...
and ten-odd other types. Many of these active ingredients work through inhibiting catechol oxidase
Catechol oxidase
Catechol oxidase is an enzyme that catalyses the oxidation of phenols such as catechol. Catechol oxidase is a copper-containing enzyme whose activity is similar to that of tyrosinase, a related class of copper oxidases....
. Some types of BB cream
BB cream
BB cream, also known as Blemish Balm, Blemish Base or Beblesh Balm, is a cosmetic item sold mainly in East and Southeast Asia.Originally formulated in Germany by Dr. med...
products are also said to have skin whitening effects which contributes to the popularity of the cream in Asian markets.
As for other methods of skin whitening, other decolorizing chemicals can be used. Aesthetic skin decolorizing surgeries can also be performed, but excessive cleansings can cause a number of problems, such as facial inflammation, but in the 2000s this is in decline. Historically, the droppings of the Japanese bush-warbler have been used as an ingredient in face-washes for whitening skin.
Popularity
The Bihaku movement has been popular mainly among some middle-aged adult Japanese women while it is usually unpopular among teenagers. Among young people, it is often considered as a "nerdNerd
Nerd is a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Nerds are considered to be awkward, shy, and unattractive...
y culture" (根暗趣味), because of the stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
that having pale skin means being a nerd.
External links
- "Bihaku", a beleza da brancura feminina. oglobo.globo.com