Veggie Boys vs. Carnivore Men

I guess it was inevitable: the species of Japanese males who have come to be known as “grass-eating men” (sōshoku danshi) now have their own beauty brand: VegeBoy! Guys who obsess about every little facial imperfection can now chase pulchritude without furtively buying any pastel packaged products! The VegeBoy line includes everything from facial masks to eye cream, and is sold in mainstream beauty departments in places like Shibuya Loft.

I’m not sure I buy some of the conclusions of the study that brought “Herbivore Men” into the spotlight (that they aren’t interested in women, for example – don’t get me started on how the economy in Japan has been disrupting normal patterns of dating, marriage and childbearing for a generation now <SNORE>) but the emergence of a brand that proudly trumpets “vegetarian man” shows how a label that started out being something of an insult has now been embraced and turned into a uniquely Japanese subculture.

Of course, Carnivore Men still exist, in numbers great enough to support beauty brands of their own. For example, how’s a man to keep his mohawk stiff if he runs out of…

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 The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon

“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist

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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had