chad vollenweider <chad@vollen.weider> wrote in news:chad-



2A6DB8.15380307112005@news.easynews.com:

> Hi,
> 
> I am doing a paper on the Japanese phenomenon known as "burikko", which 
> is basically when a (Japanese) woman acts childish, usually in front of 
> men, for various reasons. It also touches on the "Hello Kitty" 
> phenomenon. 
> 
> I am thus looking for any multimedia (video, audio, etc.) related to 
> these ideas. I have to do a presentation along with my paper, so it 
> would be much more clear to the audience what "burikko" is if they had 
> video evidence, for example. Also, if anyone knows of pictures/video of 
> older women with many Hello Kitty items, that would be very helpful. 
> 
> I usually don't make requests such as this, but I have searched far and 
> wide, and my Japanese skills aren't good enough yet. Also, you are the 
> people to ask!
> 
> Any help appreciated! Thank you.
> 

Hello,

I found this forum where people are talking about it: 
http://forum.japantoday.com/BURIKKO_:_LOVE_or_HATE%3F/m_597902/tm.htm

They seemed to have mentioned some celebrity named "Chiaki" so maybe you 
could find out who she is and try to find some clip of her?

Also, I was wondering whether the phenomenon might be related to the 
concept of "shoujo" in Japan in general.  Since youth for females is so 
over-valued, perhaps some women might think it makes them more attractive 
to act younger?  Before being a "shoujo" was roughly defined as that age 
between starting puberty and getting married (at which point one becomes a 
"woman"), but it seems that nowadays, anyone can remain "shoujo" inside, 
despite their age.  (I'm taking a Japn lit class right now and that's what 
we were discussing.)  Supposedly the author Mori Mari, daughter of Mori 
Ougai, is a good example of this.  (However I haven't read her stuff so I 
wouldn't know personally.)

As well, how about people who dress up in Lolita style - would that qualify 
as/be related to Burikko?  There's tonnes of Goth Loli pics out there on 
the web.

- tamagotchi