I’ve written before about Japan’s extensive cultural heritage. I’ve visited many famous historical sites, such as Kyoto and Ise, and posted about them. I’ve also written about the quirky side of Japan; the side that likes drinking beer on the train at 8:00 on a Sunday morning. What I haven’t written about is the other OTHER side of Japan. The side that no Western mind will ever be able to comprehend. And, no, I’m not talking about my wife.
You may have encountered it before. When first confronted by this fascinating facet of Japanese culture, many people simply shut down their cognitive process completely and pretend nothing happened. Others, though, are able to maintain coherence and ask themselves questions about what they have just seen. Important, meaningful questions such as “Huh?” and “Whaaaa…..?” My own first encounter happened when I was a university student and was actually one of my first introductions to the country of Japan.
I still remember it clearly. One day, my brother come to my dorm room and told me there was this YouTube clip that I just had to watch. “Oh great,” I thought. “Another monkey falling out of a tree.” And yet I was encouraged by the enormous grin on his face. What proceeded is still difficult for me to describe. Only years of careful and methodical assessment of the video have given me the ability to put anything down in words. It was a music video of a group of grown men dressed in skin-colored underwear with leaves pasted over the naughty bits. They were singing a song called “Yatta!” which, directly translated, means “did.” In the context of the song, though, it means something more along the lines of “Yeah!” or “All right!” Also, there are random images of ostriches and food floating in space.
And that’s all I’ve got. I must have watched the clip at least a hundred times that first day. Partially because it was hilarious, but mostly because even after a hundred times, I still had no idea what I was watching. Writing a detailed description would be next to impossible. After all, how do you describe the indescribable? In most cases, you can’t, which is why I will let this latest manifestation of the weirdness of Japan speak for itself. The only preface I will give is that this is part of a very popular children’s TV show here in Japan. Enjoy!
Yep. You just watched that. Don’t try to unsee it, because you can’t. I know you probably have several questions, so I will address them. Yes, that is a man, and yes, those are heart-shaped farts. The song is called “Onara wa hazukashikunai yo,” which means “There’s no shame in farting.” Apparently, it’s a song teaching little girls that farting is OK. I’ve lived in Japan more than two years now, and it’s still not enough to prepare me for things like this. I have no idea why this exists. Below, I’ve included a full translation of the song, but be warned: reading it will only make you even more confused than you already are. If this is your first exposure to something like this, I will say what my wife says to me every time we encounter something like this: “Welcome to Japan!”
This is their album cover
There’s no shame in farting
Don’t hesitate to pa-pe-pi-poo
Go ahead and pa-pe-pi-poo
It comes when it comes, even for girls
pa pi poo pe poo poo poo poo
Don’t hesitate to pa-pe-pi-poo
Go ahead and pa-pe-pi-poo
O-na-ra-buri (Oh! Nice! Lovely!)
(Note: Onara = fart, buri = poop. When put together apparently it sounds like Oh! Nice! Lovely!)
My step up poo poo poo poo
Even girls fart
10 to 20 times a day
So don’t make rules for farting
Everyone’s stomach cries SOS
Please darling
forgive me, I think it’s coming
Listen darling
3 2 1 then poo poo poopoo
Don’t hesitate to pa-pe-pi-poo
Go ahead and pa-pe-pi-poo
It comes when it comes, even for girls
pa pi poo pe poo poo poo poo
Don’t hesitate to pa-pe-pi-poo
Go ahead and pa-pe-pi-poo
O-na-ra-buri (Oh! Nice! Lovely!)
My step up poo poo poo poo
O-na-ra-buri (Oh! Nice! Lovely!)
My step up poo poo poo poo
