I was just wondering. It’s something I noticed
but I’m not sure…Is it me or do some Japanese girls
walk around with turned in feet? Why is that?
-a question posed by every other visitor
to Japan
“When my son was young, doctors said his legs were developing
funny. To keep him from walking bowlegged, they made him wear special
feet supports in his shoes. That solved the development problem.”
-Gil (age 45)
“They all walk around in those pointy, high heels. It
must be killing their feet.”
-Tracy (age 27) after walking around her first five hours in Tokyo
in 3-inch heeled boots.
“It’s from the way they sit on the tatami. They
sit on top of their feet folded together.”
-Micah (26), whose response everyone laughed at.
“Japanese men walk normally. It’s the girls who
have a problem.”
-Alex (28)
"I think it has to do with being docile. It's hard to
be assertive if you're puttering about knock-kneed."
-Todd (39)
"In my country, they would be considered handicapped."
-Jacek (29), from Poland.
“Well, maybe they’re pigeons.
No, but really, it’s a serious medical issue in Japan.
Some girls don’t even get their periods because their hips
are deformed. Why hasn’t it been addressed? The Japanese aren’t
very well informed on issues.
-Heather (age 28), Japanese girl who has one of those senses of
humor where you could never tell whether or not she's joking.
“They do it because it makes them look cute. That’s
how girls pose in fashion magazines.”
-Karin (28)
“Don’t tell me it has to do with foot fetishes…”
-Rocky (26)
“At those low tables, the men sit cross-legged on the
tatami but the girls sit on their feet. It’s actually really
hard to maintain that position. It’s the way my ankles have
developed. They just won’t fold comfortably for me to sit
on.”
-Jean (30), who did not grow up sitting on the floor.
"It's because they wear skirts when they ride bicycles.
They have to find some way to keep their legs pressed together.
They are going to develop serious bone problems in a few years..."
-Anita (28), physical therapist.
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