Good evening! This is my commentary about the globally popular Netflix show, Terrace House. I observe how the six strangers living together interact, and I analyze the impression they make on Japanese viewers. This blog represents my unhealthy obsession for the show and my first-hand understanding of Japanese culture as someone who was born and raised in Japan. There is no bias at all in my analysis…or at least, I try!
In my previous article, I talked about how the love triangle involving Kenny, Risako, and Haruka made the relationship between the latter two extremely tense. What made matters worse was that neither of them seemed to have made an effort to improve the situation, despite the advice they received from others.
The cynical side of you
Kaori, caught between their rivalry, was stressed out. She seemed exhausted at times but maintained her calm, older-sister vibe that Haruka and Risako (mostly Haruka) depended on. On top of this drama, she had much more riding on her shoulders, but I’ll get to that later.
As a result, Kaori reached her limit and spilled out her “dark side” in this episode. This surprised and excited some viewers, as it seemed out of character.
The scene in question was when Kaori talks to Shohei about her stressful situation with the other girls. She says that she doesn’t want to pick a side, so she just gives noncommittal responses to them when they talk about their romantic interests. And then she drops the bomb:
で、あ、だんだんこいつ聞くだけでつまんねえな、と思われて捨てられていくのを待ってる。(De, a, dan’dan koitsu kiku dakede tsuman’nē na, to omowarete suterarete ikuno wo matteru.)
My translation: And, I’m waiting for them to eventually think, “Oh, this person only listens to what I say, she’s so lame,” and toss me aside.
Simply put, Kaori preferred to be left alone because she didn’t want to deal with their drama. Some found this statement to be cold, especially since Kaori appeared to be cheerful and friendly so far.
However, what also surprised the viewers was how she said it. Let’s break it down a bit.
こいつ (koitsu) is a crude and masculine way of saying この人 (konohito, this person). The impact of the word koitsu varies quite significantly depending on the context and tone of the speaker. The meaning can be anything from a friendly “this guy/bastard” to something far more vulgar. In this particular instance, she isn’t swearing per se, but there is definitely a negative nuance that is lost in translation.
つまんねえ(tsuman’nē), is also considered to be an unsophisticated and “unladylike” and way of saying つまらない (tsumaranai, boring). The unsophisticated way of speaking changes the nuance from a simple boring to a harsher version (i.e. “boring as %$@#”). The expression is often associated with “bad” kids, so if a woman above the age of 22 were to say tsuman’nē, people are taken aback and judge her for being ill-mannered.
This particular sentence from her was a reality check for viewers. Up until then, they had held a somewhat unrealistic image of Kaori as the epitome of a rich, elegant, and well-educated woman who can do no wrong. However, despite her uncouth language and cold statement, most viewers took it positively, stating that they were happy to see a more human and “commoner” side of Kaori.
Perhaps one of the reasons that Kaori felt the need to maintain a friendly presence and avoid conflict at all cost was because she had her career at stake. On top of that, Kaori is actually signed to one of Japan’s most renowned talent agency called Cent Force. This agency generally represents news anchors and reporters, and it appears that Kaori is the only illustrator there. If she were to screw up, not only would it affect her career as an individual, but it could also impact her agency and client’s reputation. No wonder Kaori was stressed!
Terrace House is a good way to boost recognition but one tiny mishap can make or break their career. When keeping this in mind, you begin to truly appreciate those more “real” moments caught on camera, even though it can be stressful or cringy to watch.
Womanly consideration
Speaking of unladylike mannerism, let’s talk about Haruka’s behavior during her date with Kenny.
You may be surprised to learn that her behavior was negatively viewed even among female viewers. Some of the most popular comments on Girls Channel — a Japanese forum for women — was that Haruka needed to back up a bit and be more considerate if she wanted to pursue this relationship.
Commenters pointed out two major problems with her behavior. I’ll go ahead and say that I don’t necessarily share these opinions, but it should give you some perspective.
First was Haruka’s choice to bring her date to a place that she frequents. Many Japanese people expect men to steer the date. One aspect of that is the guy taking his date to one of “his spots” so that he can show her a great time. For some, the roles are clearly defined. For Haruka to put Kenny in an environment where he is a complete outsider was a misstep, as it could have made him feel uncomfortable and emasculated.
The second issue was how Haruka criticized him for drunkenly stating that he didn’t have the motivation to play on stage. She didn’t beat around the bush nor sugar coat her words and told him off for saying something so unprofessional. She was also pointing at him while criticizing him, which is an extremely rude gesture in any setting.
Viewers felt that this was too confrontational and that she should have taken the back seat to the man, or as we say in Japanese, 男を立てる (otoko wo tateru). Some also commented that she needed to provide a sense of comfort to Kenny if she wanted to be liked.
Taking the comments into consideration, the more suitable approach would have been to say something along the lines of: “Hey Kenny…There’s something I wanted to ask. I don’t know if you remember, but the other day you were so drunk, and you blurted out that you didn’t have the motivation to perform on stage. That made me worry about you a just little because you’re so cool when you’re playing the guitar, and I’d be so sad if I can’t see you perform anymore….*stares at him with dreamy eyes*” Okay, that might be a bit too much, but you get the idea.
I don’t know if her behavior during this date had any impact on Kenny’s feelings towards Haruka, but considering his conservative romantic preference, I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.
Let me be clear that the above opinions are not shared by everyone in Japan! Many people find Haruka’s behavior refreshing and attractive (like Shohei!) Gender roles are indeed breaking down, but there is still a long way to go, especially in the dating scene. Dating is a more private and intimate part of people’s lives, and this is where their true expectations and/or internalized sexism tends to reveal itself.
The comments on Girls Channel are a perfect example of that. I found it amusing that the same crowd that was furious about Kenny’s “misogynistic” comment also found fault with Haruka’s “unladylike” behavior. It could be that the people that commented were completely different in each episode but still… Talk about double-standards, eh?
As always, thanks for reading. Feel free to leave any thoughts or questions in the comments section.
See you very soon!
