Why do Japanese people like to make the peace sign when they are being photographed?

Question

I live in Okinawa Japan and I see it all the time, its so funny. Why do they do it?

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Answer 1

The three strongest theories are;

1. Konica's TV commercial
2. the base-ball anime "Kyojin no Hoshi"
3. the volley-ball drama "Sain ha V" (the sign is V)

or the combination of them

Or this explanation:
the v sign so popular in japanese photographs is a derivative of the pictures taken during world war 2. at that time, many of the pictures coming out of europe especially after the war had many soldiers with victory signs, the infamous "v". during the initial american presence in japan, there were also quite a few pictures of americans flashing the same gesture. the japanese at the time just thought it was something to be done and a small cultural trend began as the japanese youth of the time mimicked the gesture as they found it appealing/cute/whatever.

Answer 2

The one I have searched for the peace sign below website are not Japanese.>>wikipedia ...
but in my experience traveling when I saw many people making V-sign while being photographed, some of them are foreigners and I don't think they've been to Japan..
As for the Japanese people making peace sign..I think they got used to see many pictures doing this and it looks cute, but not with others..so whatever they feel about it, as long as they enjoyed being shot, for me..doesn't matter..I've seen foreigners doing it too..
Good question !..to learn more about this fact, searching does a long way.
Japan and the V sign
Through the 1970s and 1980s in Japan, the V sign was often accompanied by a vocalization: "piisu!" This gairaigo exclamation, which stood for "peace", has since fallen into disuse, though the V sign itself remains steadfastly popular.

The V sign is also commonly used in anime and Japanese live-action shows. When characters show this sign, it is often accompanied
Perhaps due to Japanese cultural influence, the V sign in photographs has become popular with young Koreans, Hong Kongers, and Taiwanese as well. The sign is ubiquitous in Taiwan and is closely associated with the English word, "happy". Print and television advertisements read "happy" with hands waving while displaying the V sign, and the average Taiwanese person will invariably give that word as the meaning of the sign.

Answer 3

I also live in Japan and see it all the time. I think it is just habit and society. So many people do it that it is in people's heads that they have to do it when photographed. Kinda silly, I know, but it is a way of life here.

Answer 4

Yeah, it has to do w American GI's making the peace sign. Just a habit.
Btw, one of my friends was doing it in a photo and our Japanese boss remarked that it made her look like an airhead. So don't do it in a formal photo.
Peace!!

Answer 5

I live in oki too and when i travel between mainland and oki i see the peace symbol in just about all the pictures taken. I think its funny too. I sometimes do it in my pictures cause I have nothing better to do. I sometimes think if I put up the delta symbol (making a triangle) with my hands and keep doing it when i'm out and about in pictures if they'll pick that up and use it too :)

Answer 6

its not peace its Victory XD
as a photo its suposed to be SOMETHING for the future or posterity so they must look their best moment and what other best moment that to claim victory ????
any victory like war, arguement, a challenge etc ^^

sayounara!

Answer 7

that's their trend but they dont know what is the real meaning of it. it was john lennon gives that sign a meaning , he called it peace!!!

Answer 8

I do that too, yet I live in Europe. People like to be creative, right ?

Answer 9

They like to be cool - and they are free to do so - why???? whats wrong with a little peace here and there????

Answer 10

They do it in Taiwan too!