In Japan, people tend to like TV shows in which a girl plays a role of a boy.  It doesn’t mean an actress performs a boy.  From the past, an actor performs a woman in Kabuki which is one of the Japanese traditional dramas and an actress performs a man in Takarazuka Kageki which is played by women only.  Today, people tend to like the scenario itself that a girl has to pretend a boy.  Why do people like such a story?  There seem to be some reasons related to the view on gender in Japan.  I would like to mention about them.

First of all, the reason why people like such a drama is that they are gradually absorbed in the story.  At the beginning, they think it is too unrealistic, as a girl plays a role of a boy there.  But as the drama unfolds, the heroine behaving like a man seems to be more charming and realistic.  Secondly, the Japanese people are still bound by gender roles, but on the other hand they gradually want to go against them.  For example, a person who tries to be attractive only to the opposite sex may be disliked by the same sex.  Such a person emphasizes too much his or her gender.  So women are more attracted by the boyish heroine than women who flaunt their sex appeals.  Women are also attracted to the heroine because she becomes popular with men, although her hair is short and she always wears pants like a boy, and I agree with her brave, strong will and positive way of living too.

In conclusion, now the Japanese have a trend to think it is smart to have gap between the looks and the behaviors.  The hair styles and clothing are becoming unisex.  I think the tendency can overcome the established gender role.  This culture has a power to change this unfair social custom.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by Sakiko Maruyama