Lost in Translation

January 11th, 2010

How it feels to blend seamlessly into Japanese culture.

(submitted by Zach)

Tags: , ,

51 Responses to “Lost in Translation”

  1. Nan says:

    Looking at that poor man’s face makes me incredibly sad.
    Love the kids’ skin art.

  2. durhay says:

    Ah, the infamous Spiderman-Pirate Clan.

  3. Emma says:

    Is that a skull and spider web on the two boys’ arms, or am I just seeing things?

  4. L. says:

    Some couples will do every thing to avoid getting red-haired kids.

    • Bonnie says:

      Sorry, I don’t get it. Please explain.

      • KK says:

        It’s a reference to South Park, in an episode where they discuss “ginger kids”, aka, kids with red hair and freckles, and the only way to avoid having kids that look this way is to marry someone japanese, because they cannot carry the recessive gene.

        I thought it was a win, L!

  5. geek says:

    My coworker’s son is leaving for Japan for 3 months on Saturday. I pray he dresses like this every single day he is there.

  6. Steve says:

    Okay, so has anyone noticed the tattoos on the kids?

  7. USAFwife says:

    ha, ha! I have seen this type of picture in so many military homes. It seams like no one can get out of being stationed in Japan without getting their portrait done this way. It’s always weird and so wrong!

  8. D. says:

    Been there, done that. In kimono, no less.

  9. Michelle C says:

    Little dude on the right is waaay too cool for this. He is planning his next mischief, I can assure you.

  10. Zach says:

    I’m one of the kids, and even I didn’t notice the tattoos until you pointed them out.

  11. Mike says:

    Has anyone seen Beverly Hills Ninja? Because the youngest kid looks like he could have played the young Chris Farley character in that movie.

  12. MaDBooM says:

    I think I’m nerdy-japanese, I think I’m nerdy-japanese, I really think so…

  13. john in co says:

    Maybe this dad should hook up with the all-natural pregnant lady from a few days ago. They have the same expression.

  14. Tim says:

    Well, you’re partly right…they just look lost.

  15. Candy says:

    A) Love how the youngest child is gnawing on a num-chuck (sp?) type object with his eyes crossed

    B) This is one family that took ShoGun to a whole ‘nother level

    C) You just know the dad is no longer in the “picture” so to speak

  16. Whoa says:

    Look eye! Always look eye!

  17. Bleah! says:

    It looks like everybody except Mom forgot to put on their pants.

  18. Ken says:

    So very… uncomfortable. Aren’t Kimonos supposed to be comfortable.

    • PromisedPlanet says:

      They’re typically made for Japanese-sized bodies. When put on American bodies, they need to be wrapped so tightly to cover the naughty parts that they’re, well, uncomfortable.

  19. binkymae says:

    The cheap Japanese copycat film, “Not Without My Sons” was not quite the box office success that “Not Without my Daughter” had been.

  20. Ginitas says:

    I love how they thought giving all three boys bowl cuts would make them fit in better :-)

  21. CarpoolMom says:

    Dad looks like he’s sitting on the toilet.

  22. JJ says:

    Let’s all be thankful Dad put his knees together. The typical male sitting with knees wide apart would have added a whole new layer of awkward.

    • Leah says:

      Yup, my husband couldn’t grasp this when we went “native” in Japan –his boxers are visible in every picture from our Ryokan visit. Of course, I had to wear mens sandals b/c my feet are too big. Giant Gaijins in Japan = ALWAYS AWKWARD : )

      • ReginaPhalange says:

        Yikes! At least he was *wearing* boxers.

        Anyone remember that one episode of Friends with Phoebe’s boyfriend in the shorts…

  23. MJ Klein says:

    Mom’s eyes are closed, and they still chose this photo. that tells us how bad the other shots were!

  24. carol says:

    Dad looks like he’s about 2 seconds away from snapping.

  25. JustMarian says:

    I’m actually guessing this is a missionary family photo. No one else thought of this?

  26. Zach says:

    Fortunately, I don’t come from a military or missionary background. This photo was taken a few months after we returned home from a 3 week family vacation to Japan, where we stayed with a wonderful family that my mom had been corresponding with for years.

    My grandparents had the good fortune to buy a home built by a wealthy orientalist at the bottom of the real estate market in the 1970’s, and it came with an authentic Japanese-style sitting room. It took my mom about 3 hours to get us all dressed up and posed for the shot. As you’ve all noticed, we weren’t too excited about it.

    I’m the kid with the glasses
    All I’m going to say as far as my dad’s concerned is that it’s amazing how much information a single photograph can convey… ;)

  27. Les says:

    At least the boys are having fun.

  28. Tim S says:

    The Obi looks a little bathrob-ie.

  29. B says:

    Just found the site. Very, very funny!

  30. Sarah says:

    The Easternization of America?

  31. Bella says:

    The dads face looks like “wt*?”

  32. Buster Blass says:

    Extremely! drooling

  33. Bella says:

    Dad never did like to wear the pants

  34. James says:

    WHAT!! I WILL KUNG FU you in the FACE!!

Leave a Reply