Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Oh, those japanese!

Anyone know why those sweet boutique japanese keirin track bikes (nagasawa, gan well pro, san rensho, etc.) have english decals, rather than japanese characters? Is it for the same reason that some americans have japanese character tattoos (i.e. it's exotic, so it looks "cool" *snicker*)? Just wondering...

I was thinking of getting a tatoo on the out side of my leg of something
in japanese but how would I know what it said.............Then all I could think
of was walking by some japanese peeps and all of em busting out laughing and
telling me that my kewl tatoo reads "Three Eggrolls For A Dollar".

Good Day - VÈÑÍ VÍÐÌ VÌÇÍ

Then all I could think
of was walking by some japanese peeps and all of em busting out laughing and
telling me that my kewl tatoo reads "Three Eggrolls For A Dollar"

Actually that would be Chinese, not Japanese...

Actually that would be Chinese, not Japanese...

Not necessarily. Japanese use kanji too.

i saw a story on the news last year where a japanese tatoo artist was doing just that, i think he was in detroit but i'm not sure. people would come in and ask for something in japanese, and instead of writing what they wanted he would put stuff like "i love to eat big macs" and some of the stuff he wrote on them was fairly offensive. a few people were suing him.

You could get a tatoo on the outside of ur calf like Jamie Staff except that on most people his tatoo would wrap all the way round your lower leg HAHA.

I like tattoos, but I think writing something in a foreign language (that has nothing to do with your faith or ethnicity) is ridiculous. That's a line between "expression" and "image" - and your grandkids are going to know you were a trend-chasing tool.

I like tattoos, but I think writing something in a foreign language (that has nothing to do with your faith or ethnicity) is ridiculous.

I completely concur.

Anyone know why those sweet boutique japanese keirin track bikes (nagasawa, gan well pro, san rensho, etc.) have english decals, rather than japanese characters? Is it for the same reason that some americans have japanese character tattoos (i.e. it's exotic, so it looks "cool" *snicker*)? Just wondering...

Just a guess, but the japanese use english characters all the time. Most of them know english, too. I think it's to show that it's a 'bastard' word, not something that belongs in proper japanese...

Could be wrong though. I know pretty much nothing about keirin racing.

From a design standpoint, Americans maintaining a small obsession with Kanji is no worse than the Japanese doing the same with the alphabet. Visually, we like Kanji because it's different. The Japanese currently have an infatuation with the alphabet. Heck, Koreans currently dig Japanese Kana. And again, this is from the standpoint of graphic design.

In the end, while I don't necessarily have any problem with people getting Kanji tattoos and the like, what I do have a problem with is people getting them without having any idea what they really say. I'm against any tattoo that lacks significant meaning for the person on the receiving end. If you get inked with something and you don't even know what it says in another language for sure, well then hell that's just stupid.

I've been thinking of getting a 14t cog tatooed on either my right shoulder or the back of my neck...

Don't think anyone could mis-interpret that (but some of the people I work with probably would.)

There's *always* a way to misinterpret a tattoo. That said, sometimes a tattoo can function as a handy idiot-finder.

Heck, Koreans currently dig Japanese Kana. And again, this is from the standpoint of graphic design.
and that will always be from a graphic design standpoint - Japanese and Koreans are like gas and water...a lot of pride issues stemming from inter-country abuses. But that is their debate/struggle, not mine. I bring it up since I lived in Seoul for a year and heard about it daily. Animosity towards the Japanese was very prevalent when I was there. Anyways...
Like Japanese styles? Hesitant to get something in script? Here is my left arm (the right one in progress):

You know how people go and get those Chinese or Japanese characters that mean "strength" or "power" or "determination" (usually w/ a barbed-wire one on the other arm)?

I've often thought of countering this trend w/ a tattoo that means "noodle" in either language. I would also intentionally not flex my arm when I showed it off.

A coy giggle would finish my "who the f*** cares" image:)

Leslie

yea, i'm korean and i i hate the japanese ; ) seriously, japan is one of the coolest, hippest places i've ever been (up there w/ berlin, and of course nyc). as for english script, it's used worldwide. look at cars, appliances, electronics, etc. you don't see "sony" in japanese, "elantra" in korean, "boxster" in german translation, the list goes on. just the way it is as marketing is american.

From a design standpoint, Americans maintaining a small obsession with Kanji is no worse than the Japanese doing the same with the alphabet. Visually, we like Kanji because it's different. The Japanese currently have an infatuation with the alphabet. Heck, Koreans currently dig Japanese Kana. And again, this is from the standpoint of graphic design.

In the end, while I don't necessarily have any problem with people getting Kanji tattoos and the like, what I do have a problem with is people getting them without having any idea what they really say. I'm against any tattoo that lacks significant meaning for the person on the receiving end. If you get inked with something and you don't even know what it says in another language for sure, well then hell that's just stupid.

Why? Can't you just think of it as a graphic art, even if the tattoo means nothing? Maybe it just looks good to the person. Why does it has to 'mean' anything. Does all art we admire mean something? I think not. Art evokes certain feelings, and that is why we like art. Tattoo is art, and the chinese/korean/japanese characters do not have to mean anything profound! These pictorial characters are beutiful the way they are.

From a design standpoint, Americans maintaining a small obsession with Kanji is no worse than the Japanese doing the same with the alphabet. Visually, we like Kanji because it's different. The Japanese currently have an infatuation with the alphabet. Heck, Koreans currently dig Japanese Kana. And again, this is from the standpoint of graphic design.

In the end, while I don't necessarily have any problem with people getting Kanji tattoos and the like, what I do have a problem with is people getting them without having any idea what they really say. I'm against any tattoo that lacks significant meaning for the person on the receiving end. If you get inked with something and you don't even know what it says in another language for sure, well then hell that's just stupid.


I think you're right. Asian calligraphy, whether Japanese, Chinese or Tibetan can be visually stunning.

I've got no tattoos, but I do have a Seattle Mariners baseball cap I got last year at Kanji baseball night.
It has two Japanese characters on it which translated literally mean "Wildball" their word for baseball.
Next to my TDF hat, it's my favorite.

Not necessarily. Japanese use kanji too.

Obviously....but my comment was directed at "Three Eggrolls For A Dollar"

']Anyways...
Like Japanese styles? Hesitant to get something in script? Here is my left arm (the right one will be started by end of august):

That's beautiful work....
But on the other hand, if I saw you in the Kansai region of Japan with those graphics, I can't help but assume you are a member of the Yakuza...

']
Like Japanese styles? Hesitant to get something in script? Here is my left arm (the right one will be started by end of august):

Very nice. I'm quite fond of japanese koi.

Here's one of my favourite pieces - designer Joshua Davis of http://www.praystation.com - that back is killer. On his right forearm, is the Mayan alphabet. Also real nice.

That's beautiful work....
But on the other hand, if I saw you in the Kansai region of Japan with those graphics, I can't help but assume you are a member of the Yakuza...
LOL
Thanks for the compliment regarding the work. Korea was interesting in the Mok Yok Tang (bath houses) - there were times people asked if I was Yakuza. With red hair, big sideburns, and my opalescent skin tone I was suprised that my non-Yakuza status was questioned! :)

looks like 3rensho had English written logos:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/3rdecal.html

AND Kanji logos:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/kanji.html