2007-01-04 10:49:04 · 7 answers · asked by c_wilson2k5 2 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
Actually, if you ask Japanese people this question, they don't even know why they do it. Japanese children begin giving the peace sign at a young age and it continues from there. There is no known person or event that really started the trend, either.
2007-01-04 11:14:51 · answer #1 · answered by Rabbityama 6 · 4⤊ 3⤋
I lived there for a few years, and even though I have been back a year now, I still have to fight the urge not to do the peace sign. After taking a few thousand photos over the years, its a habit that is hard to get out of. It doesn't mean anything. Its a "V" sign, its just a cutesy photo thing. even old grannies will do it.
Now I feel silly when I don't do it.
There are some 'cooler' styles of the peace sign, like holding the fingers out at different angles and away from your body etc, fingers bent etc. so many different options to choose from! hahaha.
I have noticed that some Japanese people who have been to Hawaii come back doing the extended thumb and pinkie finger hand gesture for photos.
2007-01-04 20:41:12 · answer #2 · answered by twikfat 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
It's funny, even many Japanese people I ask don't know why they do it. Some think it is common & popular to do it in America and are surprised to learn that Americans don't do it.
Basically, I think, many years ago, some young people started doing it and it just catapulted into this act that is sort of part of their culture now. Once you get know the Japanese it is probably not so surprising to understand how something like this can happen
2007-01-08 01:33:31 · answer #3 · answered by Mwalimu 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you noticed, it is mostly females that use the peace sign. Basically, they are just trying to be cute. They do the peace sign, tilt their head and flash their best plastered smile possible.
Although they won't admit it, I think that it shows that they are becoming more westernized in their core thought. I disagree that they think it means victory, especially since they are so strongly opposed to war, they wouldn't boast about victory. Besides, victory where? the WBC? Yeah, right.
2007-01-05 10:14:24 · answer #4 · answered by Looking for the truth... 4 · 3⤊ 3⤋
I don't know why we do it. The peace sign means the "V"ictory in Japan. We call it "V sign". Same in the US?
2007-01-04 19:34:51 · answer #5 · answered by Black Dog 4 · 4⤊ 3⤋
I have a friend who had Japanese students stayed with them and this was a question they asked as well. Apparently - it means nothing, it's just something they do for photos.
2007-01-04 20:19:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
1. Because it looks cute to them and it's fashionable to do so.
2. Nothing.
2007-01-04 18:50:28 · answer #7 · answered by Belie 7 · 2⤊ 5⤋