Monday, December 10, 2007

Twiggy the Mannequin

What's wrong with this picture?


I took this picture during a recent visit to the Diamond City mall in Hiroshima.

Not to get all femi-nazi or anything, but, if the toothpicks masquerading as this girl's legs get any thinner, they'll disappear. Seriously. Her thighs are the size of my arms. You think the American fashion industry is driving throngs of young girls to anorexia? They ain't got nothin' on Japan.

I have to say that one of the surprises in store for me in Japan was the discovery that, at 5-foot-4, 135 pounds, I am a size Extra Large at the Uniqlo, which is essentially the equivalent of an Old Navy. Extra Large. Me. EXTRA LARGE.

It's like some kind of Bizarro universe.

Living here is like being caught in a contradictory existence where I alternate between feeling somehow fat next to all these size zero chicks and yet feeling as though I must be so much healthier than them. There are times when I just want to scream at everyone, "EAT! EEEEEEEEAT!"

On a side note, I'm fascinated by this offbeat article in the Japan Times. There's this eccentric old Japanese dude who spent a lifetime photographing mannequins. He says "feelings emanate from the dolls." He's a retired customs officer. Maybe that explains it... I imagine customs officers are pretty odd ducks.