Questioning the idea of race

[cstaylor]

Maybe these kids just want to look different. It's tough to stand out in a sea of black hair.

[Ketou]

When Japanese people dye their hair a lighter shade, is it simply an expression of fashion or part of a deeper desire to look more Caucasian?

My wife always gets shity when someone says they are just trying to look like westerners.
In a way it is a bit odd to accept westerners dying their hair, whilst saying that Japanese doing the same thing are trying to be another race.

I think the western ideal of beauty is more pervasive than they realize.
Some of them are trying to be different, others are trying to gain that ideal beauty. Either way it will never be just trying to look like a Caucasian. The Japanese have always created their own unique style from outside influences. Religion, politics, now beauty.

[American Oyaji]

Its just fashion.

They see idoru do it so they do it too.

[kamome]

Maybe these kids just want to look different. It's tough to stand out in a sea of black hair.

Well, if it's an attempt to look different, they failed miserably. Every Japanese has a chapatsu hairstyle. The Japanese are conformists even when they "rebel".

[GomiGirl]

Trying to look more western... what a load of BS.

I am surprised because it seems to be a Japanese female journo with the by-line!!

Ketou said:

In a way it is a bit odd to accept westerners dying their hair, whilst saying that Japanese doing the same thing are trying to be another race.

I agree with this.. I've been dying my hair for years and no-one has ever suggested I am trying to be a different race.. sure I am altering what I was born with - but so what??

It sounds like there is either an arrogant caucasian or a xenophobic asian behind this story.... but having read the whole article, there doesn't seem to be a main point at all and the first line was just to cause a stir and read the rest of the article..