Sieg Heil Sushi and Korean Nazi chic

[ultragaijin]

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/images/jnazis.jpg

Looking through some old links of mine, I came across this very unsettling photo from the Singapore launch party of Activision Software's Return To Castle Wolfenstein video game (http://www.planetwolfenstein.com/images/photo/index.asp?id=341914) (from the "WTF was marketing thinking?" dept.). (*Note: it's not the same photo as above.)

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/images/news/singrtcw.jpg

Also, a related Time Asia story about a Nazi chic fashion trend in South Korea (http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/time/magazine/2000/0605/southkorea.trouble.html), where Nazi dress and symbols have found their way into mainstream advertising and even a theme bar. What is puzzling is the seeming lack of outrage at the commercialization and trivialization of the Holocaust.
...to put it mildly.

From Japan Today, regarding a similar story: Japan Times pulls story on "Nazi" bar after Jewish protest (http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=1&id=205708), apparently by people who didn't read the article. I'm not sure why it helps to cover up this hideous phenomenon.

From Skins, Punks, and Other Japanese I Know (http://www.earlham.edu/~japanink/japanink_skins+punks.html): In Japan, I noticed only two types of skinheads- the trads (similar to other trads elsewhere in the world) and the SSS, which stands for Skinhead Samurai Spirit. The SSS is difficult to describe, there are members who are ultra-nationalistic boneheads and those who are trads and have a sense of loyalty similar to Bushido to the skinhead scene. The ultra-nationalistic SSS pose a difficult problem that cannot be answered. If they are truly ultra-nationalistic, why do they chose a Western subculture style to express themselves?

[Anonymous]

Yeah.. I think that sums up the Japanese fascination with Nazism as well. I have a great shot of a bunch of Japanese dorks dressed up as Nazis from Comic Market a few years ago. I also have a couple Nazi doujinshi which are.. interesting. I think these yutzs just like the esthetic of the Third Reich.. and, I'll admit it too: I DO think they dressed well, at least for genocidal maniacs.

[ultragaijin]

Yeah.. I think that sums up the Japanese fascination with Nazism as well. I have a great shot of a bunch of Japanese dorks dressed up as Nazis from Comic Market a few years ago.

Can you email that to me, or post/send a link maybe? I've been looking around for more photos like that.

[Anonymous]

fg,
i just got back from the songkran festival in BKK and noticed a number of folks, male and female, with nazi armbands. one fellow was riding his motorbike with a giant nazi flag attached. another motorbiker had his girlfriend on the back of his bike who was wearing a nazi helmet. these nazi helmets can be found in many of the tourist chotchke markets in BKK and in pattaya beach as well. disturbing trend indeed.

[ultragaijin]

Some people just don't have a clue. I really don't think Asians fit into Hitler's image of the "Master Race."

Did you happen to take any photos, mr. sparkle?

[Anonymous]

Ultragaijin, I have this pic on my site in an article I wrote about Comic Market. Check it out here:

www.sukebepanda.com/niptopia/cm.htm

[ultragaijin]

Thanks, man, that's a cool article. Those Nazi's are obviously the least of our worries. Cosplay seems to work okay in Japan (as long as cuties are the ones in the costumes), but some of the shots I've seen from US cons are just too silly for words.

[Anonymous]

There are some freaky ass Japanese cosplayers, too.. especially the guys who wear huge fake doll heads. But, on the whole, American cosplayers are a sorry bunch.. they just don't realize when they look like shit in a costume. And there's not enough cuties over here into it, too. :-P

[Buraku]

they had something political going on
and a weird message about the WTC attacks on their site

guess Ishihara must fund these kinds of freaks ?

[Taro Toporific]

Mongolian neo-Nazis: Anti-Chinese sentiment fuels rise of ultra-nationalism
guardian.co.uk, Monday 2 August 2010 16.13 BST

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/images/vbimghost/1294c5abdfdea1e3.jpg
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/02/mongolia-far-right)


COMPARE WITH....


http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/images/jnazis.jpg
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/images/news/singrtcw.jpg

[Iraira]

Mongolian neo-Nazis: Anti-Chinese sentiment fuels rise of ultra-nationalism
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/images/vbimghost/1294c5abdfdea1e3.jpg

I seriously hope the world ends on December whatever 2012.

[Typhoon]

Some people just don't have a clue. I really don't think Asians fit into Hitler's image of the "Master Race."


Does the WWII German - Japan Axis ring any bells?

Did you happen to take any photos, mr. sparkle?

Nazism was confined to Europe. People in Asia and India were not affected by the mass murder of Jews, Gypsies, Slavs and others in Europe. To them it's a distant history lesson, like the Stalin manufactured famine in the Ukraine, so they don't particularly care. They have their own local historical atrocities to deal with. The US is an anomaly - an outlier in this regard.

Also, the swastika, co-opted from the ubiquitous Hindu - Buddhist symbol, would have a natural appeal in Asia. As would the Nazi's great fashion sense.

[Ganma]

. As would the Nazi's great fashion sense.
I think this is the key as to why Naziism and Nazi regalia continues to hold a fascination for some. There have been plenty of other nutty totalitarian regimes/ groups ― Mao's communist China, Mussolini's Italy ― but none of them had the wardrobe or imagery the Nazis did.

[Doctor Stop]

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/images/vbimghost/1294c5abdfdea1e3.jpgWhat a bunch of Mongoloids.

[IparryU]

What a bunch of Mongoloids.

Sad thing is, that they thought they were allies in war... when really, Hitler would have gone after them next.

Seriously though, Hitler would not turn down an offering hand, but when the time comes, you can bet your bottom dollar that Hitler would kill them next.

Other than that, sorta funny to see Asians dress in SWPish clothing... ughh "White Power" or the "Pure Race" does not include Asians of any sort.