Follow @gaijinass
Japanese teeth have never followed western norms. We’ve already talked about the traditional Japanese Black teeth that, in the 19th century, the Imperial Empire forbid in an effort to be more Western Friendly.
Even today Japanese tend to prefer their women to have snaggle teeth, or vampire like canines. Called Yaeba, women even have dental surgery to perfect their imperfect child like smile.
“It’s not like America, where perfect, straight, picket-fence teeth are considered beautiful, … In Japan, in fact, crooked teeth are actually endearing, and it shows that a girl is not perfect. And, in a way, men find that more approachable than someone who is too overly perfect.” — New York Times
So while America’s top model is yanking out a half dozen teeth to get that perfect set of pearly whites, the Japanese are doing the opposite.
I actually find Japanese teeth enduring, er, endearing? Yes, that one. I’m not into vampires but a stray tooth here or there is cute … or I’ve just been here too long. I have noticed that mouths can get pretty crazy though, I’ve seen people with rows of teeth like a Great White Shark, with two, three sets going further and further back into their talking hole.
Sometimes for a little extra pocket money I do these mentoring/English crash courses for kids leaving to do home stays in America or Australia. It pays well and basically I hang out with a bunch of kids and shoot the shit for a couple of hours. One of the “courses” we had to do was on something cliche like “global leadership” and as I am obviously not leadership material I sought out a trusted friend who spends months overseas working with Japanese youth in foreign study programs.
I asked her what should the Japanese youth do to prepare for the outside world. Without thinking she said, “fix their teeth.” According to her, most western people are so hung up about teeth that it’s a real problem for Japanese people overseas. While here in the land of the rising sun their teeth are regarded as cute imperfection, outside people are horrified at what is going on in Japanese mouths. People can’t focus on anything but the teeth … the rows and rows of pointy teeth.
If you like this, you might like:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Biggest Threats to English Teachers | Japans Sexual Economics | Groper Train | Hypocrisy Cynicism Lies Shame | She works hard for the money |
Gaijinass 
I don’t see anything wrong with that smile!
Sad to say, I really cannot help but stare wide eyed at their teeth. It’s just one of those values that are not universally shared. A shame really, my teeth were pretty bad before I got it fixed.
My pen pal smiles like no other. So, thanks to a few smiling pictures, I know her teeth well. To me, her teeth are perfect.
Now to comment on the wood chipper set of teeth many Japanese women seem to aspire too. Don’t be afraid men from the rest of the world (Outside Japan). I once had an experience with a woman who had a tongue piercing (not Japanese {not me and not the tongue pierced woman}). It was boring and got in the way and pointless until the ball part of it fell off and the sharp threads of the screw came into play. Then it was awesome. A little pain can be a good thing.
…gimme a sec don’t want my beer to get flat…
I also found the black teeth thing interesting. I kind of like it. Although I wouldn’t change my pen pal’s smile for anything.
Yos keep the posts coming.
Obviously taste is personal preference but I think you’ve been here too long if you find Japanese bad teeth enduring. There’s nothing cute about the mess Japanese people/girls have going on in their mouths. It’s one thing to have teeth not perfectly straight, it’s another thing completely to have teeth as crooked and messed up as Japanese teeth tend to be. It’s one of the downsides of Japanese women.
Yeah but you have to respect how they’re going it alone. I thought the whole Yamanba craze a while ago was ridiculous and totally unattractive but I had to respect that it was native to Japan and even with being bombarded with Western Fashion they can still do something unique and against every possible western fashion rule.
I love pale Japanese beauties with their jet black hair…that pictures goes an sucks all that out of them and replaces it with everything that I hate…its almost enough to sober me up…DAMN IT YOS!
You can relax potzo I haven’t seen a Yamanba girl since 2008
That is very good news
They tend to have smaller mouths which results in tooth crowding and a difficult time brushing all areas well. In my Japanese wife’s case, this has resulted in expensive dental care. She hates her “corn teeth” and says she wishes she had braces when young. Funny this is an admired trend.
I have found eccentric teeth sort of engaging, eye catching and exotic long before I came to Japan. In women people like Jewel, Patricia Arquette (big crush for years) and Kirsten Dunst (she’d get it. Big time.) Some how the teeth thing was always attractive to me. As far as guys go, Morgan Freeman; can you get anymore universally beloved? Tough one and his teeth are utterly fucked. Will Ferrel, messed up grill but everyone loves him. And finally, MADONNA: Huge gap and was a western sex symbol for what? Two decades? Three?
Nick Cage got his teeth fixed and now he looks like an android. Ali Larder, who is totally hot, but those huge perfect white teeth reminds me of a Great white. No thanks.
Maybe the west needs to chill out with the teeth and focus on all the incredibly fat asses. Just an idea.