The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in Japan

MJ: I love the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books - I read the first one in a matter of days, and read the other two just as quickly. My mum received the third for Christmas when we were in Rottnest one year - I read it in 2 days lying on the couch overlooking the ocean.

I'm not sure why they are so good, and why Lisbeth Salander is such an appealing character. She does some pretty horrible things, but you still find yourself cheering for her, and hope the system works in her favour. I think it might be because Stieg Larsson somehow seems to make all the characters incredibly 3D. The heroes, while still fantastic, are real enough to have their own problems and baggage.

In Japan, the books have been selling like crazy, in preparation for the Hollywood version film of the first book. I made Nico read them (because I love them so much and have read them all several times) and despite her complaining the first book was too long and detailed she was complaining about there not being any books beyond the third!

So last Friday we went to see the movie in the cinemas. I saw the Swedish version at the outdoor cinemas and loved it, so was very keen to see this movie as well. And overall it was really good. Of course, books are always better but it captured the heart of the book.

But just one thing surprised me.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is quite graphic - sexually and violently. (SPOILERS) There are two rape scenes - not that you can see it actually happening, well you sort of can. And there is violent sexual sadism kidnap, and themes about long term sexual abuse, and murders. Which are all showed in the movie.

And then there is a sex scene between the two main characters. No violence, completely consensual. But realistic looking. AND IT WAS BLURRED OUT!

I couldn't believe it. It was in the cinemas! I looked around and everyone was watching it quite normally, no-one else seemed to notice.

I spoke with Nico afterwards - and found out it is illegal to show sex in public places. If the characters are covered, OK. Or even just covered from the bottom down, OK. But simulating sex while a little naked, not OK. Boobs are OK, but no other bits. Even in a normal Hollywood movie.

I have to admit - it does surprise me. Although there is little to no sex in Japanese mainstream dramas or movies, it is the home of animated pornography.

MJ: I love Japan. I have loved Japan since the first time I came here when I was 15 on a 3 week school trip. Japan is everything weird and wonderful. It is super conservative sitting right next to ultra liberal and modern. Japan has crazy things like vending machines that talk to you, and urban legend says there are even vending machines selling used schoolgirls' underwear. Japan has bullet trains, and towns with only one train track. 

But one of the things I love most about Japan is the kindness of the Japanese people, and their thoughtfulness. Some crazy traditions and practices exist in Japan, and they all started thinking of other people.

On Friday night I got my hair cut for the second time in Japan. The first time I was incredibly nervous about a) telling someone how I wanted my haircut in another language especially as I haven't told my hairdresser at home anything more than short/shorter/long since I was eleven, b) making small talk is not my greatest skill, especially in Japanese and c) I've seen those Japanese schoolgirl haircuts! so I didn't really notice what was happening.  But my hairdresser did such a wonderful job I went back to him.

And this time, when he was washing my hair I realised!!! He put a gauze mask over my face! And when Nico was having her hair washed next to me she had one too! I was really relieved - I always find it really awkward when you can see up each others nostrils while having small conversations.

Talking about it with Nico later, she told me they were mainly for protecting a woman's makeup, so no water splashed would wash anything off. With the added bonus of not having to look up your hairdresser's nostrils.

Yesterday afternoon, while shopping for clothes Nico says 'Hey!! Look! These are like the masks at the hairdressers!' She is in the changerooms of the store, pointing at what looks to be an oversized tissue box.

No, not large tissues.

But a large thin gauze thing. Put over the head.

There is nothing quite as gross as trying on clothes in the store, and seeing the makeup grime of the previous shopper left on the collar. And the Japanese have found a way to solve this problem.

Kooky as it may be, Japan has really thought about how to make customers feel more comfortable. I love Japan!