Declan Murphy wrote:

> Eric Takabayashi wrote:
>
> > He is merely playing the Devil's Advocate, I'm sure. I have read of scientific
> > authorities saying in all seriousness (though NOT consciously promoting
> > racism) that recent trends to live and marry beyond traditional borders is
> > undoing tens of thousands of years of evolution which occurred in relative
> > isolation such as that which allowed some European people to have lighter
> > shades of skin for better absorption of vitamin D from the sun, while those in
> > warmer climates developed naturally darker shades of skin to protect against
> > solar UV radiation.
>
> Compared to the "recent trend to live and marry beyond traditional
> borders", the introduction over the last few thousand years of clothing
> and shelter might be more relevant.

Yes, for example I have read Japanese comments that Japanese are developing weak,
thin jaws no longer able to accommodate all their adult teeth, in part because of
the very recent trend toward softer foods (an individual's eating and chewing
habits also play a part in jaw development).

But while some commentators will publicly bitch about corrupting so called pure
Japanese blood, language or culture, you aren't going to hear many serious
arguments that Japanese give up eating polished boiled rice and return to chestnuts
or wild foods.