Conference Full Paper template

CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Working Paper Series No, 9, Issue 4, 2016
Title
The adaptation and appropriation of Japanese kimono
in Hong Kong society
Author(s)
Miriam Leung Che Lau
Issue Date
2016
Issue Number
4
Paper Number
9
Citation
Lau, M. (2016). The adaptation and appropriation of
Japanese kimono in Hong Kong society (Working
Paper Series No. 9, Issue 4, 2016). Hong Kong:
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, College of
Professional and Continuing Education, Hong
Kong Community College. Retrieved Aug 26,
2016 from http://weblib.cpcepolyu.edu.hk/apps/wps/assets/pdf/w20160409.pdf
Rights
Copyright for this paper is owned by the author(s).
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Working Paper Series No, 9, Issue 4, 2016
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
The Adaptation and Appropriation of Japanese Kimono in
Hong Kong Society
Miriam Leung Che LAU
Hong Kong Community College
College of Professional & Continuing Education
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Kowloon, Hong Kong
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
This paper attempts to analyse the influence of Japanese culture in Hong Kong society,
with particular reference to the adaptation and appropriation of Japanese kimono. I will
present two aspects for discussion, namely the depiction of Japanese women in Hong Kong
pop music videos, and the adoption of Japanese kimono by Hong Kong young couples when
taking their pre-wedding photos. Further, I shall examine whether or not the adaptation of
Japanese kimono by Hong Kong people is an authentic representation of the traditional
Japanese costume, and how far this reveals the understanding of Hong Kong people towards
Japanese culture.
KEYWORDS: Adaptation, Appropriation, Japanese Kimono, Hong Kong Society
1
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
1
INTRODUCTION
When the television industry in Hong Kong emerged in the 1960s, Hong Kong
producers had largely imported television dramas from overseas, particularly from Japan, in
order to enrich the content of their own programmes. Apart from Japanese television
programmes, other cultural products from Japan, such as songs, comics, animations,
electronic products, and even Japanese cuisine proved to be extremely popular among the
Hong Kong people. During the British colonial era, Hong Kong people have often perceived
their identities as unique from the Chinese people in mainland China. Therefore, during the
1980s and the 1990s, there has been a trend in the Hong Kong pop culture industry to adapt
Japanese songs into Cantonese lyrics. Another type of appropriation of Japanese songs was to
insert a few Japanese lines into a Cantonese song. Some examples include inserting
“Sayonara” （さよなら）into Tiger Team 小虎隊’s Holding Back My Tears to Say Goodbye
《忍 著淚 說 goodbye 》 (1984), and Leon Lai 黎明 ’s My Dear 《我的 親愛》 (1992).
Furthermore, Sammi Cheung 鄭秀文 has inserted “Chotto ma tei” （ちょとまて）into her
Cantonese song of Chotto ma tei (1993), in which the tune of her song was adapted from that
of the Japanese singer, 大黒摩季 ’s《ちょっと待ってよ》. Furthermore, she has also
included a Japanese word of “Arigatou” （ありがとう） in her song, Arigatou (1999).
2
REPRESENTATION OF JAPANESE WOMEN IN HONG KONG POP MUSIC
VIDEOS
Apart from the adaptation of Japanese songs, and the insertion of a Japanese line into a
Cantonese song, Hong Kong singers have also attempted to portray a Chinese lady dressed in
kimono in their music videos. One distinctive example was Sam Hui 許冠傑’s “Japanese
Doll” 《日本娃娃》in 1987, in which the Hong Kong actress, Kong Yan-yin, Alvina 江欣
燕 , dressed in a kimono, pretended to be a Japanese girl in the music video. In portraying the
lead actress as a Japanese girl, Sam Hui’s video has largely represented Hong Kong people’s
stereotypes of Japanese females. In terms of appearance, Hui describes Kong in the following
line, “Last night [I] met a Japanese doll in a department store. Her eyes are especially large,
and her chin is thin. [She is] a bit like Akina Nakamori, interesting and special, definitely
Japanese.”1 Secondly, in terms of the personality of Japanese women, Hui imagines them to
be submissive and dutiful, as he fantasizes in the following line, “After marrying the doll, my
status immediately changed. [She will] wash the clothes, cook the soup, massage my back,
and serve me tea.”2 In the music video, Kong, dressed in a blue yukata with red strips, is
portrayed as busily cleaning the floor, and she then proceeds to massage her husband’s back.
On the contrary, Hui, dressed in traditional Chinese attire, is merely relaxing and playing with
the birds in the birdcage. In addition to the Chinese people’s stereotypes of Japanese women
as exhibited in the video, Hui’s song also significantly illustrates Hong Kong people’s anxiety
towards the handover of the city to mainland China in 1997. One of Hui’s fantasies is sung in
the following line, “There is no need to be afraid of 1997, [we will] live in Harajuku and start
1
The original Chinese lyrics of the song are as follow: 「尋晚東急碰正個日本娃娃，對眼特
別大，重有尖尖的下巴。有 D 似中森明菜唔系講假，趣怪又特別，直頭日本化。」 The
English lyrics of the song come from my own translation; see also Appendix I, photos 7 to 9.
2
The original Chinese lyrics of the song are as follow: 「娶左娃娃即刻就變曬生價，洗衫煲
湯 Dum 骨錬背遞茶。」The English lyrics of the song come from my own translation; see
also Appendix I, photos 14 to 15.
Working Paper Series No, 9, Issue 4, 2016
2
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
a sushi bar.”3 In the video, Hui, now dressed in a Japanese style yukata, is seen with his wife,
and they are busily serving their customers in his imagined sushi bar. Hui even adopted the
Japanese etiquette of bowing courteously to the customers as they are entering the restaurant.
Another distinctive element of Sam Hui’s Japanese Doll is that while other Hong Kong
singers merely insert one simple line of Japanese greeting (such as “arigatou ありがと”,
“chotto ma tei ちょとまて”, and “sayonara さよなら”) in their predominately Cantonese
song, Hui’s song has inserted a few more lines of Japanese, which have added to the meaning
of the song and which I have translated in the following.
Hello Konbawa こばわ(“Good Evening”), 小姐你好嗎？(“how are you miss?”)4
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Watashi wa Hong Kong no Matchy desu 私わ香港のまちです。
(“I am Hong Kong’s Matchy”).5
Anata wa totemo kawaii あなたわとてもかわいい。(“You are very cute”).6
After Hui’s initial conversation with the “Japanese doll” using a mixture of Chinese and
Japanese words, he then turned to the audience, and as if like a soliloquy speaking to them, he
switches back to Cantonese, “[I will] use Japanese to befriend her.”7
More recent examples of Hong Kong singers’ adaptation of Japanese kimono in their
music videos are exemplified in Andy Hui 許志安’s “As if it is the beginning” 《如初》
(2014) and Joey Yung 容祖兒’s “Passing by Hokkaido” 《途徑北海道》(2012). Both
singers shot their MTV in Japan. Hui produced “As if it is the beginning” in Kyoto, with his
main actress, Janice Man 文詠珊, wearing a red kimono in his MTV.8 On the other hand,
Yung videotaped “Passing by Hokkaido” in Hokkaido in the summer, in which she wears a
pink yukata, with a red tsukuri obi tied at the back in one of the shots.9 In addition, both
singers have also produced micro films in relation to their MTV. Hui’s micro film, titled
“Theatrical mode of As if it is the beginning in Kyoto” 《如初の京都劇場版》portrays Hui
and Man, in which the latter wears a kimono, strolling slowly along the dark alley of a
Japanese street, conversing in a Japanese restaurant, chatting on the beach until near dawn.
The story gradually reveals that Man is the younger sister of Hui’s deceased lover, and the
complications of their relationship are underscored by the darkness of the long shots in the
micro film.
On the other hand, Yung’s micro film, titled “Missing Memories in Hokkaido”《遺落在
北海道的回憶》, portrays her short-lived love affair with a Japanese man while she is on
holiday in Hokkaido by herself. This film was produced with the sponsorship of Itacho Sushi
( 板 長 壽 司 ), a Japanese chain restaurant in Hong Kong, and thus subtle insertions of
advertising the restaurant can be seen throughout the film. For instance, on her first day in
Hokkaido, Yung meets a good looking Japanese man, who works as a sushi chef. He invites
her to dine at his sushi bar, which is “coincidentally” named as “Itacho Sushi”. On the second
3
The original Chinese lyrics of the song are as follow: 「1997 個陣無有駛怕，實行住原宿開
間 sushi bar。」 The English lyrics of the song come from my own translation; see also
Appendix I, photos 16 to 17.
4
See Appendix I, photo 10.
5
See Appendix I, photo 11.
6
See Appendix I, photo 12.
7
The original Chinese lyrics of the song are as follow: 「實行用架文同她 friend 下。」The
English lyrics of the song come from my own translation; see also Appendix I, Photo 13.
8
See Appendix I, photos 1 to 4.
9
See Appendix I, photo 5.
Working Paper Series No, 9, Issue 4, 2016
3
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
day, the Japanese man presents her a pink yukata, and she wears it when dating with him.
Together, they stroll along the railroad,10 walk pass the lavender garden, watch sunset, and
certainly, eat sushi for lunch. However, the yukata is poorly worn on Yung, as the end of her
collar is very narrow (kou-eri) and also too long down her neck, which signifies that the
yukata is meant to be worn by a young teenager instead. Apart from adapting the yukata in
some of the shots, Yung also appropriates Japanese language in her micro film. She speaks in
a mixture of Cantonese and Japanese, similar to Sam Hui’s “Japanese Doll”. For example, she
speaks in simple Japanese phrases to the Japanese actor, while her inner thoughts or soliloquy
are expressed in Cantonese. Chinese subtitles are also made available for the predominately
Hong Kong audience of the music video.
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
3
ADOPTION OF JAPANESE KIMONO IN HONG KONG’S WEDDING
CULTURE
There has been a trend for Hong Kong young couples to shoot their pre-wedding photos
in kimono and in Japan. Investigations have been conducted with two bridal-cumphotography companies in Hong Kong, namely Perfect Couple and L’amour Bride, as both of
them provide services for Hong Kong couples to shoot their per-wedding photos in kimono
and in Japan. An interview with Michelle Au, makeup artist of Perfect Couple, explains the
reasons why Japan proves to be a popular destination.11 Her company offers photo packages
in Karuizawa, and she describes Karuizawa as an ideal place for taking wedding photos in all
four seasons, such as against the backdrop of maple leaves in autumn, snow in winter, and
cherry blossom in spring. The wearing of kimono by the couple also matches the
surroundings perfectly, such as the shrine. 12 However, it appears that the “kimono” that
Perfect Couple provides to couples are, in reality, yukata, and it is rather inappropriate to
wear yukata during the autumn season and against the backdrop of falling maple leaves.13 A
closer look at the “yukata” worn by the bridegroom also proves to be disappointing.14 Far
from being an authentic montsuki worn by Japanese bridegrooms,15 the “yukata” provided by
Perfect Couple for Hong Kong bridegrooms is in fact the exact copy of a “montsuki” found
on the Taobao website in mainland China,16 in which the website is known for selling fake
products. The price of the “montsuki” is only 75 renminbi (excluding shipping costs), roughly
equivalent to 1000 Japanese yen.
On the contrary, L’amour Bride proves to be a more professional bridal-cum-photography
company in terms of the quality of kimono provided to the couples taking pre-wedding
photos. In one of their advertisements, L’amour Bride showcases a series of their past photos,
with two photos picturing the same couple in kimono, and the captions read, “Wearing our
Japanese wedding gown, evening gown, and kimono, and travelling to Japan for a unique
memory. Let us experience the romantic season!”17 Furthermore, the bridal company provides
some examples of surroundings, such as taking photos in a blue kimono under the backdrop
10
See Appendix I, Photo 6.
Interview conducted with Michelle Au in Cantonese on December 23, 2014, 5:40 pm, at the
Perfect Couple Bridal Shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.
12
See Appendix II, photos 5 to 6.
13
See Appendix II, photo 5.
14
See Appendix II, photos 3 to 5.
15
See Appendix II, photo 2.
16
See Appendix II, photo 1.
17
The original Chinese words of the advertisement are as follow: 「穿起我們的日本婚紗、晚
裝及和服晚裝，一起回日本留下最獨特的回憶。我們一起去感受浪漫的季節吧! The
English lines come from my own translation; see also Appendix II, photo 7.
11
Working Paper Series No, 9, Issue 4, 2016
4
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
of cherry blossom in the day time and the evening,18 in a red kimono by the autumn maple
leaves, 19 by the shrine, 20 with the captions: “Wearing traditional kimono by the Japanese
temple, this is the best moment.”21 Besides renting kimonos to couples for taking pre-wedding
photos in Japan, L’amour Bride also rents kimonos to couples who are holding wedding
banquets in Hong Kong. In their recent L’amour catwalk showcasing their wedding gowns,
the company has specifically exhibited some of their fusion evening gowns, which are
adapted from Japanese kimono. The designer of the dresses, Ceci Chung, explains that
wearing a kimono takes a long time, and it is impossible to spend an hour for the bride to
dress up in the Chinese wedding banquet, which often has a tight schedule. Therefore, she has
incorporated elements of kimono style into her design of the evening dresses for the Hong
Kong brides.22
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
4
CONCLUSION
Before drawing a conclusion, it is noteworthy to mention a few pseudo Japanese
imitations found in Hong Kong. For example, the 白い恋人 biscuits made in Hokkaido23
were transformed into a box of biscuits with similar packaging style, but named as “White
Melody Biscuits.”24 The salesperson of the snacks shop in Hong Kong told me that the taste
of “White Melody Biscuits” is 90% similar to the original 白い恋人 biscuits, but its price is
much cheaper. In addition, it is also interesting that one of the streets in Hong Kong is named
as 東京街, though its English translation is not Tokyo, but Tonkin instead.25
With this awareness of Chinese pseudo imitations of Japanese products and street
names in mind, it is not surprising to find that the adaptation of Japanese kimono in Hong
Kong society is merely a superficial one. In the aspects of Hong Kong pop music and
wedding culture, the authentic representation of Japanese kimono is hardly a main concern for
the adaptors. This reveals that most Hong Kong people lack a deep understanding of Japanese
culture, as they merely appropriate certain elements from the traditional Japanese costume
which seem transferrable to their own cultural context.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Professor Noriko Iijima for reading and commenting on my paper.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Ms. Miriam Lau Leung-che is a lecturer at Hong Kong Community College,
Polytechnic University, where she teaches academic English. She has published papers in
18
See Appendix II, photos 8, 12.
See Appendix II, photo 9.
20
See Appendix II, Photo 11.
21
The original Chinese words of the advertisement are as follow: 「在日式寺院穿起傳統日本
和服，總是最有感覺。」The English lines come from my own translation; see also Appendix
II, photo 10.
22
See Appendix II, photo 13.
23
See Appendix III, photo 1.
24
See Appendix III, photo 2.
25
See Appendix III, photos 3-4.
19
Working Paper Series No, 9, Issue 4, 2016
5
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Shakespeare Review and Nordlit, and she is currently doing her doctoral studies at the
Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham. She is also an amateur actress, and she has
acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in the United Kingdom.
REFERENCES
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Yamanaka, Norio. The book of kimono. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1982.
荘司礼子 (2010)。《きちんと着る着物のきほん―冠婚葬祭、茶席など、さまざまな
シーンに役立つ》。主婦の友生活 シリーズ。
木下勝博 (2009)。《はじめての着物単行本（ソフトカバー）》。
Working Paper Series No, 9, Issue 4, 2016
6
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Appendix I: Adaptation of Japanese kimono in the MTV of Hong Kong singers
Photos 1-4: 許志安 《如初》(2014)
(Andy Hui, “As if it is the beginning,” 2014)
Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGc-5R9nxbM
Micro film of Andy’s complicated relationship with the female model, who is the
younger sister of his deceased ex-lover:
《如初の京都劇場版》(“Theatrical mode of As if it is the beginning in Kyoto”)
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oW8CW8Y_ok
7
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photos 5-6: 容祖兒 《途徑北海道》，2012
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
（Joey Yung, “Passing by Hokkaido,” 2012）
Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMiD0rrtveI
Micro film of Joey falling in love with a Japanese man in Hokkaido:
《 遺 落 在 北 海 道 的 回 憶 》 (“Missing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4YLZCennQ
8
Memories
in
Hokkaido”)
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
許冠傑 《日本娃娃》(1987)
(Sam Hui, “Japanese doll”, 1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErGjJ-SjBQ4
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 7: “Last night I met a Japanese doll in a department store”
Photo 8: Her eyes are especially large, and her chin is thin.
9
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 9: A bit like Akina Nakamori, interesting and special, definitely Japanese.
Photo 10: Hello Konbanwa (good evening), how are you miss?
10
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 11: Watashi wa Hong Kong no matchy desu (I am Hong Kong’s
Matchy/Masahiko Kondō).
Photo 12: Anata wa totemo kawaii (You are very cute).
11
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 13: (I will) use Japanese to befriend her.
Photo 14: After marrying the Japanese doll, my status entirely changed.
12
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 15: (She will) wash the clothes, cook the soup, massage my back, and serve
me tea.
Photo 16: There is no need to fear 1997, (we will) live in Harajuku and start a
sushi bar.
13
sushi bar.
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 17: There is no need to fear 1997, (we will) live in Harajuku and start a
14
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Appendix II: Hong Kong couples dressed in “kimono” to take pre-wedding photos in
Japan
Photo 1: “Montuski” found on the Chinese Taobao website
https://world.taobao.com/item/524697186974.htm?fromSite=main&spm=a1z3o.76954
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
60.0.0.4Ruh6X
Photo 2: A real montsuki
http://blogpanienki.salon24.pl/552339,japonskie-kimona-meskie-plus-dodatki-cz-2
15
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 3: Hong Kong young couple dressed in yukata and taking pre-wedding
photos in Karuizawa – holding a fan
(Bridal company: Perfect Couple, Hong Kong)
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
https://www.facebook.com/Perfect.Couple.Wedding/?fref=ts
Photo 4: Playing with water (Bridal company: Perfect Couple, Hong Kong)
16
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 5: Ringing the bell (Bridal company: Perfect Couple, Hong Kong)
Photo 6: Outside the shrine (Bridal company: Perfect Couple, Hong Kong)
17
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 7: Advertisement of shooting pre-wedding photos in Japan
(Bridal company: L’amour Bride, Hong Kong)
https://www.facebook.com/wedding.lamour.bride/?fref=ts
穿起我們的日本婚紗、晚裝及和服晚裝，一起回日本留下最獨特的回憶。
我們一起去感受浪漫的季節吧！
(“Wearing our Japanese wedding gown, evening gown, and kimono, and travelling to
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Japan for a unique memory. Let us experience the romantic season!”)
Photo 8: “穿上傳統和服，感受櫻花氣氛”
(“Putting on traditional kimono, Experiencing the Atmosphere of Cherry
Blossom”)
(Bridal company: L’amour Bride, Hong Kong)
18
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 9: By the maple leaves (Bridal company: L’amour Bride, Hong Kong)
Photo 10: 日本櫻花／紅葉拍攝 (Photo shooting of Japanese cherry blossom and
maple leaves)
(Bridal company: L’amour Bride, Hong Kong)
在日式寺院穿起傳統日本和服，總是最有感覺。
(Wearing traditional kimono by the Japanese temple, this is the best moment.)
明年櫻花季節剛巧是複活節期間，所以教師們有幸地有機會去賞櫻及拍一輯櫻花婚
照，要把握時機了！
(Next year, the season of cherry blossom is situated in the Easter holiday, so teachers at
work have the chance to appreciate the cherry blossom while taking pre-wedding photos. It’s
time to grasp the moment!)
19
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 11: By the shrine (Bridal company: L’amour Bride, Hong Kong)
Photo 12: Cherry blossom by the night
(Bridal company: L’amour Bride, Hong Kong)
20
(Bridal company: L’amour Bride, Hong Kong)
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 13: Kimono-style evening gowns
21
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Appendix III: Imitation of Japanese products found in Hong Kong
Photo 1: 白い恋人 biscuits made in Hoikkado
Photo 2: White Melody Biscuits sold in Hong Kong
22
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 3: Tonkin Street (東京街) found in Hong Kong
CPCE Disclosure Authorized
Photo 4: The Chinese name is 東京街, while the English name is “Tonkin Street”
23