Japanese Boys Approaching Assless Yaoi Ideal?

Via Jezebel, a report in the International Herald-Tribune confirms what Spike Spiegel fans have known all along: among Japanese hipster guys, shockingly thin is shockingly in. According to the piece, male fashions are designed for an ever-narrower physique, perhaps rewarding an increasingly vulnerable notion of manhood.

Now, if Fox News has taught us anything, it's that changing cultural values are to be blamed on aspects of pop culture that we don't understand. Personally, I'm going to blame those comic books all the kids are reading nowadays, with the oversensitive boys and the long hair, and the gayness (see illustration, above). It's givin' 'em ideas.

The Herald-Tribute quotes super emo youth Junichi Shirakawa:

"Frankly, I think women should be in the driver's seat. Society and relationships work better that way," he said. Shirakawa likes to wear his girlfriend's clothes and often shows up for work wearing her blouse and jeans, to the general approval of his co-workers.

A skinny 25-year-old boy wearing his girlfriend's clothes to work? That's... er... disturbingly sexy. But even more disturbing than the sexiness is the body dysmorphia. Male or female, it's never all right to starve yourself for fashion.

Japan, please don't get me wrong, we love you! But would you please eat something? Seriously, you're scaring us.