NationStates Jolt Archive

At 15, Japan's Miss Photogenic shakes a leg (http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/waiwai/0502/06legs.html)
Though youth is a vital factor for beauty pageants in those places across the globe that are still permitted to hold them, one ofthe prizewinners in this year's Miss Japan contest hasn't even reached high school age yet, according to Flash (2/1 5).

At just 15 and still only a junior high school pupil, Aya Koge managed to take out the Miss Photogenic prize in this year's version of the country's oldest and most prestigious beauty contest.

Profile (Japanese) (http://www.sponichi.co.jp/miss_nippon/2005/candidate/ka/index.html)
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/miss_nippon/2005/candidate/ka/diary/images/050118.jpg

Hmmm.... 15 year olds in adult beauty pagents. What do you think?

I find myself torn … libertarian at heart … but understand how destructive not the pageants but usually the parents PUSHING their kids into those things

*pictures mother screaming at her 5 year old daughter cause she is not cute enough to win*

I guess I don’t go against it on a moral standpoint so other.

I have lost a great deal of respect for 'beauty pageants' after the seeing what happened to Jon Bennet Ramsey, that was the most disgusting example for the current explotation of youth I've ever been witness too.

Pageants, though I may not understand them entirely myself, are a matter of personal choice. But a person entering in these must have the capacity to make that choice at an intelligent level on his/her own. When I see youth (granted, fifteen is not as bad) of this age involved in such things, I am inclined to beleive that it is nothing more than parents living out their own materialistic (and personally failed) dreams vicariously through their children. I think that children should remain as children, lets not force them to grow up so quickly.

The corruption of youth is a very dangerous thing, we are all angels on this earth but for the shortest period of time. I'll not be the one to deny a child their right to experience the joy of being a child by pushing them into an industry based around globally trivializing the important aspects of that. As adults, we could only be so lucky to remember what it was to once be a child - and perhaps fall back on that a little when considering these things.

All I have to say is that's one butt-ugly swimsuit.

To specify my 'other' vote
"Beauty pageants are stupid, but really, I don't give a flying ****"

But hee, at least this isn't as bad as pageants for 5 year-olds..
And she is kinda cute in a "let's see what becomes of her in 5 or ten years" way.

At 15, Japan's Miss Photogenic shakes a leg (http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/waiwai/0502/06legs.html)


Profile (Japanese) (http://www.sponichi.co.jp/miss_nippon/2005/candidate/ka/index.html)
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/miss_nippon/2005/candidate/ka/diary/images/050118.jpg

Hmmm.... 15 year olds in adult beauty pagents. What do you think?


I think it promotes pedophilia which is a hugh growth industry in the far east already. This just makes it worse, in addition to all the problems with objectifying women to begin with.

I think it promotes pedophilia which is a hugh growth industry in the far east already. This just makes it worse, in addition to all the problems with objectifying women to begin with.

I agree with you on the pedophillia part - which is why I voted the way I did. But the second part is PCBS. :)

If it was a twelve year old, then maybe I would have a problem, not specifically with the girl enetering, but more with the judges who gave her the prize.

However, fifteen is regarded as adult in many parts of the world, Normally at fifteen a girl has gone through menarche.

In traditional Catholic culture, the fifteenth birthday is the one at which a girl was "introduced" into society, with the express intent of hooking a husband. etc.

I am a libertarian at heart, so if the girl wants to do it, then let her.
It is, however, very difficult to decide at what age the responsibility shoud transfer from the parents to the child.

Aren't a lot of models under 18?

I've seen 15 year olds (and younger) wear outfits like that (or less) to school. I see no difference in allowing them to wear clothes like that at school or allowing them to compete in beauty pageants.

She's only in a pageant and not a XXX movie. I see no harm in letting a 15 year old compete. She IS beautiful.

I've seen 15 year olds (and younger) wear outfits like that (or less) to school. I see no difference in allowing them to wear clothes like that at school or while competing in beauty pageants.

She's only in a pageant and not a XXX movie. I see no harm in letting a 15 year old compete. She IS beautiful.
Less in school? what school did you go to? bare midrifts like that would get you booted out of public school here lol

I have no opinion on beauty pageants. I personally don't find them entertaining, but some people do. Some people have raised the idea of pedophillia. The models, however, are clothed, and beauty is being judged, not sexyness. If it was a sexy chick contest the swimsuits would be much more revealing and I would be a bit upset about a 15 year old entering.

I've seen 15 year olds (and younger) wear outfits like that (or less) to school. I see no difference in allowing them to wear clothes like that at school or allowing them to compete in beauty pageants.

She's only in a pageant and not a XXX movie. I see no harm in letting a 15 year old compete. She IS beautiful.

Where on earth did you go to school where Jr. High girls wear *less* than a bikini to school?? http://www.savingadvice.com/forums/images/smilies/others/blink.gif

Morally, it reeks of the general dumb promotion of grown-up attitudes, values and behaviors in children going on in our society. From Britney to 10 year old cheerleaders in public schools, from beef hormones to credit card deals aimed at junior high kids, no one has respect for the concept of childhood. They want it over with quickly. Most kids do too, naturally. They want everyone grown up, tax paying, lewd sex having, debt accumulating! It disgusts me, and is one of the many reasons I hate humanity and will not mourn if and when some natural disaster kills a bunch of us in the near future.

However, as a male looking at that picture I have no problems with the idea and give my full support to anti-agism in Japanese beauty contests.

Frankly I think beauty pageants are devices that satisfy only attention whores and boost sales of hand creme. And the most hypocritical notion is by those who attempt to give it some false legitimacy by trying to somehow show the intellect of the girls while they are shaking their asses in a thong. If she wants to be judged on her mind there are far more appropriate venues...

That being said, at 15 if someone wants to cash in on her looks I think she is pushing the bounds of when most people are emotionally ready to do that, but that is not my call to make. That would be between her and her parents.


And it's a far cry from those warped souls such at the Ramsey's who dress their 4-year-old girls up like hookers and have them strut the boardwalk in kiddie pageants.

Sexualizing a child like that is just sick.

Less in school? what school did you go to? bare midrifts like that would get you booted out of public school here lol

I work at a McDonalds and see the outfits some wear.

Then I go to Fark.com and read articles like this one:

http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-8/110759319912580.xml

At least this setting is tasteful and the girls are beautiful. Ever see a fat girl wear something like that? Trust me it isnt fun and the last place she should be is at McDonalds.

I work at a McDonalds and see the outfits some wear.

Then I go to Fark.com and read articles like this one:

http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-8/110759319912580.xml

At least this setting is tasteful and the girls are beautiful. Ever see a fat girl wear something like that? Trust me it isnt fun and the last place she should be is at McDonalds.
They may wear it being school age but they dont wear it TO school do they?

They may wear it being school age but they dont wear it TO school do they?


And people thought the Puritans were screwed up. Why is it so impossible to find a happy medium.

Santa Barbara and Zep, that's pretty much the idea that caused my initial reaction.

They may wear it being school age but they dont wear it TO school do they?

Well, Upitatanium's article quotes a Jr. High principal saying a student came "into the cafeteria with only a bra and sweat pants on".

The dress code listed would have gotten you sent home when I was in High School.

And people thought the Puritans were screwed up. Why is it so impossible to find a happy medium.

That's the thing. It's not a happy medium when a Jr. High girl thinks it's ok to walk into the cafeteria wearing just a bra and sweat pants. I wouldn't consider that appropriate attire even in at a university cafeteria.

At 15, Japan's Miss Photogenic shakes a leg (http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/waiwai/0502/06legs.html)


Profile (Japanese) (http://www.sponichi.co.jp/miss_nippon/2005/candidate/ka/index.html)
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/miss_nippon/2005/candidate/ka/diary/images/050118.jpg

Hmmm.... 15 year olds in adult beauty pagents. What do you think?


shes hot i would do her

All I have to say is that's one butt-ugly swimsuit.
Seconded.

Santa Barbara and Zep, that's pretty much the idea that caused my initial reaction.



Well, Upitatanium's article quotes a Jr. High principal saying a student came "into the cafeteria with only a bra and sweat pants on".

The dress code listed would have gotten you sent home when I was in High School.
Same ... and I only graduated what almost 4 years ago now lol

Frankly I think beauty pageants are devices that satisfy only attention whores and boost sales of hand creme. And the most hypocritical notion is by those who attempt to give it some false legitimacy by trying to somehow show the intellect of the girls while they are shaking their asses in a thong. If she wants to be judged on her mind there are far more appropriate venues...

That being said, at 15 if someone wants to cash in on her looks I think she is pushing the bounds of when most people are emotionally ready to do that, but that is not my call to make. That would be between her and her parents.


And it's a far cry from those warped souls such at the Ramsey's who dress their 4-year-old girls up like hookers and have them strut the boardwalk in kiddie pageants.

Sexualizing a child like that is just sick.
This is pretty much what I was trying to express in part of my post. I do agree that this is different than the Ramsey case, but the point remains that the two attitudes that lead to the anti-ageist, sexualisation of young children are one in the same. I'm sorry if this opinion seems narrow minded, but the way I see it there is a limited window of time for children to be children. I'm not so sure I can condone activities that promote the continual downsizing of this window and what it contains.

I miss childhood; I miss the things I learned, the innocence, all of the simplistic 'firsts' that I now take for granted though I try so very hard not to. I think many of us can appreciate this enough not to deny someone the opportunity to relish in it. This is not really an issue that I am comfortable enforcing, since I beleive that people have the right to make their own choices and opinions on the matter - but I do hope that with education we can perhaps return to that lost state of protective parenthood. Not over protective sheltering, but at least to a point where the innocence of a child is valued enough to let a child figure out a small part of the world on their own. Rather, that is, than exposing them to the exploitation of this industry at such an early age - where social and personal growth is forced down their throat in order to market materialistic values.

Other: I don't care.

That's hot!

Do I really need to make some point? :(

She actually won the contest? With that face? I don't know about others, but I think she's only plain, not even good looking.

She actually won the contest? With that face? I don't know about others, but I think she's only plain, not even good looking.

She won Miss Photogenic. The "grand prix" winner was Risa Kumehttp://www.sponichi.co.jp/miss_nippon/2005/award/photo/miss/05.jpg

Here are a couple of more pics of Aya's face:
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/miss_nippon/2005/candidate/ka/images/01.jpg
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/miss_nippon/2005/award/photo/photo/02.jpg

A translation of the winning announcement (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/miss_nippon/2005/candidate/&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%25E9%25AB%2598%25E6%25A9%258B%25E9%2587%258C%25E5%25A5%2588%25E3%2580%2580%26num%3D100 %26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN)

some of the dress code bits in there are stupid. for instance...

The new code bans flip-flops, high heels,

why flip flops? are you showing too much foot now? and heels... well maybe not for kids, but there's nothing really wrong with heels themselves, so long as they're not stilletos or a safety hazard really.

The code requires that shorts and skirts reach the fingertips of the person wearing them when the person's arms are at his or her side. No underwear should be showing and spaghetti straps and halter tops are not allowed. All shirts must cover the skin between the bottom of a shirt and the top of a skirt, shorts or pants.

first off, the length issue. i have very long limbs and fingers. my fingertips go nearly to my knees and my skirts don't go that long... even though i have plenty of leg covered ( i have lots of leg to cover...) and they simply don't sell girl's shorts that are long anymore... (unless you're talking really short girls) so unless the girls go shopping in the boys section, girls are effectively prohibited from wearing shorts.

furthremore, no spaghetti straps? now, that's just dumb. spaghetti straps are the most common straps on tank tops and if it's hot, you're going to want a tank top. these dress codes seem to focus more on girls being uncomfortable in warm weather...

and for the length of a shirt, again, that's dumb. yes, it's one thing if you've got half the belly uncovered, but an inch of stomach exposed isn't going to kill anyone. furthermore, again, this causes problems with tall, thin girls... i know that if i want a shirt that fits my body, i generally need a medium or a small, but often, those come short. (same problem i have with my coat and the arms on it) and excessively baggy shirts don't look good, they tend to look sloppy.

some of the dress code bits in there are stupid. for instance...



why flip flops? are you showing too much foot now? and heels... well maybe not for kids, but there's nothing really wrong with heels themselves, so long as they're not stilletos or a safety hazard really.



first off, the length issue. i have very long limbs and fingers. my fingertips go nearly to my knees and my skirts don't go that long... even though i have plenty of leg covered ( i have lots of leg to cover...) and they simply don't sell girl's shorts that are long anymore... (unless you're talking really short girls) so unless the girls go shopping in the boys section, girls are effectively prohibited from wearing shorts.

furthremore, no spaghetti straps? now, that's just dumb. spaghetti straps are the most common straps on tank tops and if it's hot, you're going to want a tank top. these dress codes seem to focus more on girls being uncomfortable in warm weather...

and for the length of a shirt, again, that's dumb. yes, it's one thing if you've got half the belly uncovered, but an inch of stomach exposed isn't going to kill anyone. furthermore, again, this causes problems with tall, thin girls... i know that if i want a shirt that fits my body, i generally need a medium or a small, but often, those come short. (same problem i have with my coat and the arms on it) and excessively baggy shirts don't look good, they tend to look sloppy.

The dress code where I went to high school almost 20 years ago was (from what I remember):
Men: Sleeved shirts, pants below the knees. Buttoned shirts to be buttoned to the second button from the top. Shirts to come below the waistline of the pants. Closed toe shoes. Hair trimmed to the eyebrows, bottom of the ears, and bottom of the collar. No facial hair. No earrings.
Women: Skirts no more than 1 inch above the knee or pants below the knee.
Tops to have straps of at least 3 inches and to come below the waistline of the pants or skirt. No vee necks or other low necklines, and buttoned to the second button from the top. Closed toe shoes.

No sweat suits, shorts, sandals, halter tops, tank tops, muscle shirts, bare midriffs, off the shoulder tops, or swimwear.
No offensive images or words.
No "unnatural" hair coloring.

I fell afoul of the earring and hair coloring. :)

All I have to say is that's one butt-ugly swimsuit.what comes after seconded?...thirthded???

I'd nail her. (once she's 16)

I teach at a Japanese junior high school. Some of my students are that age. In fact, I'm looking at one right now. None of my students are as attractive as that girl. I really shouldn't be thinking these things.

I have to wonder why this girl isn't studying for her high school entrance exams though. They're only a month away! And everyone knows that if you fail the entrance exams you fail at life.

I'd nail her. (once she's 16)why at 16?

why at 16?

Local law demands, not that it matters. Just an easy cut off for who's too young for me and who isn't.

I think what alot of people here aren't getting is that this didn't happen in America, it happened in Japan. Trying to make sense of anything that goes on over there is hard as hell for an outsider. The more I hear about that place, the more it confuses me. You think this is weird? 45.1% of married Japanese couples are sexless.

Local law demands.are you sure ?

are you sure?

It does in this country.

It does in this country.She is in Japan...and Japanese laws aply there...You cannot impose your Countrys laws over there.

and if you offer her an airfare..I doubt her parents would allow her to leave...she can leave only when she is 20(legal adulthood)

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/miss_nippon/2005/candidate/ka/diary/images/050118.jpg


I'd hit that.

She is in Japan...and Japanese laws aply there...You cannot impose your Countrys laws over there.

and if you offer her an airfare..I doubt her parents would allow her to leave...she can leave only when she is 20(legal adulthood)

Hell I'll give up and go for international waters. 20 is a legal adult? wtf?

She is in Japan...and Japanese laws aply there...You cannot impose your Countrys laws over there.

and if you offer her an airfare..I doubt her parents would allow her to leave...she can leave only when she is 20(legal adulthood)
Kidnap her. Duh... :rolleyes:

Hell I'll give up and go for international waters. 20 is a legal adult? wtf?20 years old. Im telling you do not asume that your country laws aply everywhere.

international water? that is an intersting question...But you dont have to really...the legal sex age is 13.

My Japanese friend says its 13

Indeed it is. Here's a rundown: Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protecting Children (http://www.interpol.int/Public/Children/SexualAbuse/NationalLaws/csaJapan.asp)
Note that this law wasn't passed until 1999! Child porn was legal, and even somewhat popular, here for quite some time. :mad:

http://www.ageofconsent.com/japan.htm has more details.

fine, 16 it is then.

She is in Japan...and Japanese laws aply there...You cannot impose your Countrys laws over there.

and if you offer her an airfare..I doubt her parents would allow her to leave...she can leave only when she is 20(legal adulthood)

20 is a legal adult? wtf?

Yes, 20 is the age of majority. But, AFAIK, that has no bearing on her ability to leave the country.

Hell I'll give up and go for international waters. 20 is a legal adult? wtf?
you are from NZ?
so what is your legal sex age for females and what is for males?
and what is your adulthood age?

Yes, 20 is the age of majority. But, AFAIK, that has no bearing on her ability to leave the country.
In most countries if you are not a legal adult...you need permission from your one of your parents...to leave the country.

In most countries if you are not a legal adult...you need permission from your one of your parents...to leave the country.I remember about some british teen and his USmarine chat-friend, they met at the UK Airport and traveled to Paris... the foudation Interpol charge was "helping a minor leave the country without parental permission".