So I was surfing YouTube last night and noticed a featured Asian clip that looked pretty interesting, so I clicked on it. Once it started playing, I could tell that it was a music video, but I really had no idea what was in store.
Turns out, this is a video of Yazima Beauty Salon’s latest single, titled “Hamaguri Bomber” (I think). Keep reading to check out the video and the information that I found out about this j-pop music band.
The group is made up of DJ Ozma and the duo Tunnels who play three characters named Margaret Camelia Yazima, Naomi Camelia Yazima and Strawberry Camelia Yazima. They perform in drag as characters that were “discovered” in Las Vegas. Here’s the video:
Based on the research that I conducted, I can’t tell if these guys are actually transvestites or have just found a cool novelty that is fun for them. If you know more about this group, please leave the info in your comment, I’d love to know more about them.
I do suspect that the Japanese are more tolerant of crossdressing in general because of the different television shows I’ve seen on the internet. By the way, do you know what crossdressers are called in Japan? I’ve heard the term ladyboy but I’m not sure if that’s derogatory or not. Here’s another one of their music videos:
In any case, it was very cool happening upon this Japanese pop group, they look like they are having an absolute blast doing this and the music’s pretty good too. I hope to see more from them in the future.
Click here for their official website.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
The politically correct term in Japan is “New Half” which is more for transgendered and transsexual people. Also used is the term “okama” which is a bit more derogatory and extends to mean effeminate men, sissies, fags, tranny and drag.
That band looks like a comedy band. There are a hell of a lot of people in mainstream Japanese entertainment that present a transgendered appearance. It’s just very very common and well accepted.
The term “Ladyboy” is really pretty derogatory and strictly speaking applies more to transgendered sex workers from Thailand. Kind of like “Shemale” or “T-girl” in value.
From your Asian correspondent
“New Half”, eh? Pretty interesting term, also never heard okama before, thanks. Yea, it seems like Japan is more tolerant to transgendered people based on what I’ve seen and heard.
I appreciate the info thanks for sharing Miss K
pretty funny band lol. but ya, like miss k said, its merely for the comedic factor. i wouldn’t call them new-halfs , or ladyboys for that matter. theyre just playing the female role as entertainment, much like the old kabuki days.
in japan, androgynous looking men are considered to be the most attractive.
however there’s a whole group of jrock bands that take crossdressing to the extreme – mainly visual kei http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_kei
although crossdressing is widely accepted as an entertainment value, ‘new-halfs” or transexuals are shunned in most parts of japan.
Yea, it seemed to me that they were going for comedy after I watched it a couple of times.
That’s interesting, as crossdressing is only accepted in the US for entertainment or gimmick purposes.
The english term for crossdresser in Japan is “newhalf”. The Japanes theatre , Kabuki, has a centuries old tradition of men playing all female roles .
By the way, you have a great site
Alice
This just small question could you change your link from usa only one so we in europe can see the videos too
jenifer
This may have something to do with it
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/09/youtube_blocks_music_vids_in_uk/
(Just found your entry on google)
Yeah, those guys do that just for the fun ^^ DJ OZMA, a singer who stopped his career, is their producer, but also plays Naomi. Then, there are Kinashi Noritake as Margaret, and Takaaki Ishibashi as Strawberry. The two of them are a comedy duo. Ishibashi also presents several TV shows. The three… “girls” are searching for their father through Japan, that’s why they left the Nevada ^^
I don’t think there is anything else to know about them XD
Thanks for the info Crevettola
Has anyone seen the Crossdress Paradise videos on YouTube?
These are Japanese high school boys done up to be very pretty girls.
A search on that will show that show plus quite a few others like it.