Does anybody know why Japanese make the peace sign whenever they take pictures?

Also, I've heard that the custom is spreading to other countries. Can anybody at this international forum confirm that?

kiyometa mizu wrote:

Does anybody know why Japanese make the peace sign whenever they take pictures? Also, I've heard that the custom is spreading to other countries. Can anybody at this international forum confirm that?

I brought this up a while back on my gal's thread since she does it a lot, and the basic answer was that it was trendy/cool/etc... No profound significance, really...

I find it cute

The peace sign goes back to WWII. Winston Churchill used the 'V' sign as a V for Victory Later it was the V for Peace.

I don't know when it became revived in Japan as the peace sign but they also do it in Korea. At least, in the entertainment business in publicity photos.

I like it. There is also an 'L" for Love sign which I have seen done in the Taiwan dramas. I like that also.

Peg

brad2 wrote:

The peace sign goes back to WWII. Winston Churchill used the 'V' sign as a V for Victory Later it was the V for Peace. I don't know when it became revived in Japan as the peace sign but they also do it in Korea. At least, in the entertainment business in publicity photos.

You're right.

bmwracer wrote:

I brought this up a while back on my gal's thread since she does it a lot, and the basic answer was that it was trendy/cool/etc... No profound significance, really...

Pretty much it too!
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http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=popvox&id=358&page=17

This should shed some light on it. Tho... the gist of it is they don't
know why they do it exactly or who invented it... ^_^Y HUzZAAH!

Fuuj wrote:

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=popvox&id=358&page=17 This should shed some light on it. Tho... the gist of it is they don't know why they do it exactly or who invented it... ^_^Y HUzZAAH!

Heh. Their responese were so gay. With dumb ass responese like that, it's one more reason why Japanese shouldn't make the peace sign. Besides looking gay.
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ahochaude wrote:

Heh. Their responese were so gay. With dumb ass responese like that, it's one more reason why Japanese shouldn't make the peace sign. Besides looking gay.

i don't know, i think the "pisu-pozu" is better than the "are" look when you get your picture taken.
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Here's my Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/kwan1?ref=profile

So they don't know where it came from or when it started but they do know that it means "peace"...
Also, it's trendy, and the entertainment world in Korea does it, too.

Very interesting. Well, thanks, everybody.


Incidentally, I think it's a cute gesture -though I wouldn't do it myself.

You know, I used to just think this was a fob thing.......... but now everytime i see celebrities in the US in pictures, they're making the peace sign also. What's with the resurgence in America? And I think in Japan, the peace sign is actually a "V" for victory, but don't quote me on that. =x

mvc wrote:

everytime i see celebrities in the US in pictures, they're making the peace sign also.

I think the rap/hip-hop crowd does it quite a bit: "Peace Out...."

mvc wrote:

You know, I used to just think this was a fob thing.......... but now everytime i see celebrities in the US in pictures, they're making the peace sign also. What's with the resurgence in America? And I think in Japan, the peace sign is actually a "V" for victory, but don't quote me on that. =x

You're correct.

Japan's "peace sign" is actually the pointer finger and middle finger held together.
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kiyometa mizu wrote:

Does anybody know why Japanese make the peace sign whenever they take pictures?

nobody knows.. not even the japanese.. man go ask some japnese ppl.. and u will get varied answers.. man none of my japanese friends know, and those girls DO IT ALL TIME!...

kiyometa mizu wrote:

Also, I've heard that the custom is spreading to other countries. Can anybody at this international forum confirm that?

the heck!?... what happened to the good old 'finger'?

*edit* i see Fuuj already answered.. and with that article 2, hey i remeber reading that its from March 12, 2003 lol... but hey JPANATODAY is the SH!T.. especialy the wai wai section..lol!

mvc wrote:

And I think in Japan, the peace sign is actually a "V" for victory, but don't quote me on that. =x

I had a friend from Japan who would always say "Veeeeeeee!" While having her picture taken, so that victory idea makes alot of sense.

Ushiroyubi wrote:

You're correct. Japan's "peace sign" is actually the pointer finger and middle finger held together.

And I think it actually looks better than the hippie V peace sign.
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Glad to see an explanation. I go to a lot of Dodgers games(Ganbaru Nomo-san!!!) and there are always Japanese tourists taking pictures, and I could never figure out why they were showing the peace sign.

Hey....just found this explanation on the net

http://www.nisbett.com/symbols/peace_sign.htm

It's a little disturbing.
Dunno if it's true or not. Read it & give comments

damex wrote:

Hey....just found this explanation on the net http://www.nisbett.com/symbols/peace_sign.htm It's a little disturbing. Dunno if it's true or not. Read it & give comments

That is soooo lame. It's from the "Christian Resource Center..." Sounds like one of those holier-than-thou, Puritanical societies that finds evil in just about anything and everything...

gaijin mark wrote:

(Ganbaru Nomo-san!!!)

He's been put on the DL, 'cause he's been getting shelled by every team he faces this year...

Yeah, I know, but I still like Nomo better than Ishii. That guy drives me crazy, too many walks!!!