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gurdymonkeyInspired by a conversation on an earlier thread with misagillian . It all started when we were discussing the expression "baka gaijin," a pejorative meaning, "Stupid foreigner," though I've been given to understand it will do double duty for "rude jerk" at a pinch.
"Henna gaijin" is a Japanese expression which literally translates as "strange foreigner." It's a compliment, because it means a foreigner who is trying not to act like a foreigner.
This is the article where I first encountered the term "henna gaijin," though not the concept. You have to scroll down aways, but it has its own header. (The rest of the article is interesting in its own right as it describes an equestrian festival with origins in the feudal period.) http://www.toraba.com/feature-soma-page-1.htm
I aspire to be a henna gaijin. I think I might have come close at last year's Hakone Matsuri. While I've been out in public in European medieval dress before, it's another thing entirely to venture into a South Bay Japanese-American enclave in medieval Japanese clothing. I dithered nervously over the decision for some time, then bit the bullet and donned kosode, obi and geta. I was in shy mode, kind of quiet. Took small steps. Admired the gardens. Unobtrusively took a few pictures here and there.
I got stared at, but I also got smiled at. The reps from Takara tried to get me smashed on samples. ("I tried that one already." "Go ahead, have some more.") Because of the rain, the indoor venues were packed. I didn't want to miss the dance demo so I dove indoors as soon as the preceding performance let out, stepped out of my geta in the corner, and found a seat on the floor in front of the first row. A number of other people saw fit to be inspired by my example and do the same, including a rather large man who planted himself right in front of me, forcing me to crane inelegantly sideways to watch the dancing.
The performance ended. I edged toward the door and began to step into my geta. Tug. Tug tug. I glanced right and WAY down. A tiny woman with my sleeve in one hand and a camera in another was exclaiming in rapidfire Japanese. I recognized her costume - she was with the shamisen school. She flagged down a friend who spoke some English. The other lady explained that her friend loved my outfit and wanted a picture with me. I agreed on the condition that one be taken with my camera as well.
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/wodeford/album/576460762338425563
misagillian . It all started when we were discussing the expression "baka gaijin," a pejorative meaning, "Stupid foreigner," though I've been given to understand it will do double duty for "rude jerk" at a pinch. "Henna gaijin" is a Japanese expression which literally translates as "strange foreigner." It's a compliment, because it means a foreigner who is trying not to act like a foreigner.
This is the article where I first encountered the term "henna gaijin," though not the concept. You have to scroll down aways, but it has its own header. (The rest of the article is interesting in its own right as it describes an equestrian festival with origins in the feudal period.) http://www.toraba.com/feature-soma-page-1.htm
I aspire to be a henna gaijin. I think I might have come close at last year's Hakone Matsuri. While I've been out in public in European medieval dress before, it's another thing entirely to venture into a South Bay Japanese-American enclave in medieval Japanese clothing. I dithered nervously over the decision for some time, then bit the bullet and donned kosode, obi and geta. I was in shy mode, kind of quiet. Took small steps. Admired the gardens. Unobtrusively took a few pictures here and there.
I got stared at, but I also got smiled at. The reps from Takara tried to get me smashed on samples. ("I tried that one already." "Go ahead, have some more.") Because of the rain, the indoor venues were packed. I didn't want to miss the dance demo so I dove indoors as soon as the preceding performance let out, stepped out of my geta in the corner, and found a seat on the floor in front of the first row. A number of other people saw fit to be inspired by my example and do the same, including a rather large man who planted himself right in front of me, forcing me to crane inelegantly sideways to watch the dancing.
The performance ended. I edged toward the door and began to step into my geta. Tug. Tug tug. I glanced right and WAY down. A tiny woman with my sleeve in one hand and a camera in another was exclaiming in rapidfire Japanese. I recognized her costume - she was with the shamisen school. She flagged down a friend who spoke some English. The other lady explained that her friend loved my outfit and wanted a picture with me. I agreed on the condition that one be taken with my camera as well.
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/wodeford/album/576460762338425563
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Date: 2007-04-06 11:18 am (UTC)Oh, and I don't know if you know this (so please forgive me if this is pedantic), but you might lose the "red dye" associations if you knew it's three words: hen na gaijin. "Hen" is the adjective, but it's a special kind that needs a linking word to add it to a noun. That's the "na". "Na" in and of itself doesn't mean anything. (It's kind of like the "no" in Fujiwara no Aoi.)