Why do Asians pose for photos with the 'peace' sign?

Question

I mean I am guessing it doesn't have the same meaning there, but why do they do it? Like whenever I see Japanese tourists and they pose for pictures they always make that little sign with their fingers, and even Asians who aren't tourists and live here. Anyone know what the reason is for this? I'm just curious cause it's so popular. ^_^

Ok for the people who are calling me racist... (seriously, racist?? come on you guys) I would like to point out two things. One, I am not so ignorant that I think Asians are only Japanese. Japanese tourists were an example, and I wasn't sure if I had seen Chinese, Korean, etc. people do it too. So chill, I know how big Asia is. Secondly, when did I portray at all some kind of crazy Disneyland tourist, like someone said? I never implied anything of the kind! I'm asking why a group of people do something, which they do, and what the meaning is... what's so bad about that? Sheesh...

Answer 1

I know what you mean. I'm Asian and it confounds me - it just looks silly. A nice big smile does it and they have to stick up two fingers. Its supposed to be cute from our point of view.

Answer 2

it mean "hello", same in Italy, colombia, Lybia, Norway etc In America too. I traveled on an harley and other harley riders did the same sign to me 20 times a day and that's the west coast, the east coast and central USA

RE:
Why do Asians pose for photos with the 'peace' sign?
I mean I am guessing it doesn't have the same meaning there, but why do they do it? Like whenever I see Japanese tourists and they pose for pictures they always make that little sign with their finger...

Answer 3

yeah, we Japanese always do the peace sign when we take pictures. lol

The Japanese peace sign pose for photo was originated from a Japanese actor, Jun Inoue.
In 1971, He made it in a TV commercial for Konica's brandnew camera C35.
And then, It spread among kids and became a pose that most Japanese make for photo.

So, It doesn't have any deep meaning, when Japanese made it. It's basically just a pose for photo.

As far as I know, other Asian people often do the peace sign pose because they were influenced by Japanese pop culture.

also, there's American celebs such as Lindsey Lohan made the peace sign pose for photo.
I'm wondering If they copied it from Japanese.
personally, I think It's interesting.lol

P.S.
I don't think you are racist.
don't worry about it.

Sorry for my poor English

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why do Asians pose for photos with the 'peace' sign?
I mean I am guessing it doesn't have the same meaning there, but why do they do it? Like whenever I see Japanese tourists and they pose for pictures they always make that little sign with their fingers, and even Asians who aren't tourists and live here. Anyone know what the reason is for...

Answer 5

I have seen Japanese tourists not just in the US, but also in Asia and Europe and have never seen them give a peace sign when posing for photos. But apparently you have. Some possible explanations: 1) the peace sign (2nd and 3rd fingers forming a V) was originally the sign for "V" or victory and promoted by Winston Churchill. Perhaps it's an inside joke among Japanese that though they lost WW2, they've won in the post-war period because they have sold us millions of cars, trucks and stereos. But really the joke's on them bc they paid too much for hotels in Hawaii and many of them never got their money back. 2) Japanese are interested in American and Western (Western meaning western civilization-- Canada, Britain, Europe, etc.) culture and maybe they saw pictures of hippies in Life magazine giving the peace sign and they thought they were being "American" or "western" by flashing the peace sign. 3) Maybe they saw some posed pictures by Americans where ppl were putting "bunny ears" behind unsuspecting ppl but the Japanese didn't get it and thought they were giving the peace sign. Nous parlons de tous et nous parlon de rien. That's French for: "we're talking about everything and we're talking about nothing."

Answer 6

Well, I am Asian, so I don't want anyone saying I'm racist and junk... but I've noticed it's mostly Japanese girls who do it, and they do it a lot in the manga... And I know that it may have started over here in America, and in Japan's futile attempts to be America, they have become americanized to the point where their girls are making peace signs in an attempt to be cute like American girls...Or, they're secretly rebuilding their army and want to throw us off by bombarding us with pics of cute school girls wishing us peace...who knows. lol.

Answer 7

Asian Girl Pose

Answer 8

Good question, I would have asked that myself if I only thought about it more. I see it all the time but always from the younger ones. I will keep my eye on the answers to see if there is anyone with a real explanation rather than just a guess.

Answer 9

it mean "hello", same in Italy, colombia, Lybia, Norway etc In America too. I traveled on an harley and other harley riders did the same sign to me 20 times a day and that's the west coast, the east coast and central USA












RE:
Why do Asians pose for photos with the 'peace' sign?
I mean I am guessing it doesn's so popular. ^_^

Answer 10

actually the sign was invented by winston churchill and is the symbol for victory.

and if they think it means peace, and most of us do, then why not spread the love....

this question made my head hurt.