1/10/2016 J-Pop Band Ladybaby Releases Music [VIDEO] ‘Nippon Manju’: Is It Offensive Or Amazing? : News : Daily Offbeat

http://www.dailyoffbeat.com/articles/9442/20150708/jpop-band-ladybaby-nippon-manju-music-video.htm 1/4

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The J­pop band, Ladybaby, released a new video called “Nippon Manju” featuring

Ladybird over Fourth of July weekend. 

Although the new music video is meant to be an ode to all things the band loves about

Japan, there’s debate whether the clip is offensive or amazing. 

The J­pop group features two young ladies, Rie Kaneko and Rei Kuromiya, known as

“kawaii” (“cute”) idols and Ladybeard, a cross­dressing singer and professional

wrestler from Australia who has been performing in Japan since 2013, according to

The Huffington Post. Ladybeard reportedly formed Ladybaby earlier this year with the

teen singers. 

J­Pop Band Ladybaby Releases Music [VIDEO]

‘Nippon Manju’: Is It Offensive Or Amazing?By Ji Hyun Joo 08 Jul '15 15:52pm

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1/10/2016 J-Pop Band Ladybaby Releases Music [VIDEO] ‘Nippon Manju’: Is It Offensive Or Amazing? : News : Daily Offbeat

http://www.dailyoffbeat.com/articles/9442/20150708/jpop-band-ladybaby-nippon-manju-music-video.htm 2/4

LADYBABY / Nippon Manju Music Clip

The video is seemingly meant to be a satire on Japanese culture, playing on the

“cuteness” of everything and how that concept sells incredibly well internationally.

However, in the midst of delivering its message, the video relies heavily on the

stereotypes that are often associated with Asian women. 

Even though the adorableness of the women portrayed in the video is part of the

creative direction of Ladybaby, it can’t be ignored that Asian women are often seen in

this light of being literal lady “babies.” Unfortunately, that aspect is overlooked in this

video possibly due to the mix of metal and pop. 

“It sort of feels like the women are being portrayed in an ignorant way in the video.

The point of the video is cool, but I don’t think they had to go so far,” stated Cornell

University student Michelle Jee. 

“Nippon Manju” has garnered over 1 million views thus far, successfully showing us

the wonders of Japan and all it has to offer, but confusing us all at the same time. 

It begs the question: Was all the “cuteness” really necessary? 

We must not underestimate the musical skills of the two ladies that star in the video.

They’re not just two “cute” girls. 

Kaneko and Kuromiya are winners of the Miss iD2015 idol audition contest, according

to the publication eRocketNews. As talented as they are, Kaneko and Kuromiya have

found a forever fan through the release of this music video. 

“I just quit my job to follow these guys on tour for the rest of my life,” commented

Facebook user Jason Ast. 

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1/10/2016 J-Pop Band Ladybaby Releases Music [VIDEO] ‘Nippon Manju’: Is It Offensive Or Amazing? : News : Daily Offbeat

http://www.dailyoffbeat.com/articles/9442/20150708/jpop-band-ladybaby-nippon-manju-music-video.htm 3/4

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1/10/2016 J-Pop Band Ladybaby Releases Music [VIDEO] ‘Nippon Manju’: Is It Offensive Or Amazing? : News : Daily Offbeat

http://www.dailyoffbeat.com/articles/9442/20150708/jpop-band-ladybaby-nippon-manju-music-video.htm 4/4

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