6/27/2008

‘Just looking’

miteru dake “Just looking” is the name of this website run by Japanese media giant AVEX. The site has been successfully selling a 2-hour long DVD of just what it says—50 women, mostly Japanese, standing very still in front of a white background just looking straight into the high-definition video camera.
That’s it.
Oddly compelling.

Hint: Click on the photos with the eye mark to view the sample videos.

Posted by Taro in General, Internet, Society | 5 Comments »

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1. gb Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 6:26 am

   i clicked on the eye icon… and saw a very cute girl staring at me… thats it… just staring at me… kinda freaky…but you know… she was cute, so I didn’t mind. i think i understand why its so popular – who wouldn’t want a real life doll that you could look at and doesn’t judge you… all we need is the tactile experience and we’re all set :)

2. Taro Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 6:52 am

   I have read before that many Japanese guys bought this DVD as “practice” for their shyness. Looking at someone straight into their eyes is not common in Japan and many guys have trouble making eye contact when it’s needed.

3. gb Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 7:18 am

   i should have thought of that. when i was in japan a few months ago, a lot of my buddy’s young english students had problems with shyness, problems with posture, problems speaking up, problems looking straight in the eyes… but then his older buddies who i hung out with were pretty much type a personalities.

4. den4 Says:
   June 28th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

   I think, Taro, that if the eye-contact was with anime characters, then these so-called Shy guys would have no problem…it’s just that they can’t deal with eye-contacting real people…in the real world… :(

5. MARKed TRAIL Says:
   July 11th, 2008 at 8:29 pm

   Hey Taro! Here’s a full explanation of the Miteiru dake (Just Looking) DVD from a “scholarly” source…
   

   
   Idol Socialization
   clast – July 11th, 2008 by Jeff Lippold
   Japanese companies are always looking to meet the needs of the “niche-ist” of niche markets. For example, top-selling record label Avex has discovered a new way to reach extremely anti-social sets — the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), and the most reclusive of the recluses, the hikikomori. Most believe that these groups’ refusal of social participation stems from their lack of social skills. The hikikomori almost never socialize with other people and prefer to spend their time in their bedrooms, completely locked away from the world. The total numbers of NEET and hikikomori may have been overestimated in the past, but they do exist to some extent and are mostly male.
   Avex is trying to reach these groups with a new DVD — part “corporate social responsibility,” part traditional content delivery, and part talent blog/model promotion. The DVD is called Miteiru dake (Just Looking), and it features various talent/models just staring straight ahead. That’s right, the models on the DVD do very little other than stare straight at the camera. According to the website, the idea is to get young males who aren’t used to socializing with women to become more accustomed to making eye contact and/or handle the fact that a sentient being sits across from them and awaits interaction. The DVD hopes to cure those afflicted with shyness so that they may rejoin society…..

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