Description
This article is from the American misconceptions about Japan FAQ, by Tanaka Tomoyuki ez074520@dilbert.ucdavis.edu with numerous contributions by
others.
04 Japan: slant-eye Micky Mouse
"you know how Japanese have slanted eyes? well, I just heard
that even Micky Mouse in Tokyo Disneyland has slanted eyes."
ANSWER: probably false. (reliable information is sought.)
I've been to the Disneyland in Japan a few times and the
Disneyland in California many times. I'm sure that there is no
difference in how Micky Mouse is drawn in the two countries.
therefore, I strongly suspect the "slant-eye Micky Mouse" story
started as follows: those Americans with particularly strong
belief that "Asians have slated eyes" perceived Micky Mouse in
Japan with narrower, slanted eyes (see Section (2.1)). such
Americans reported their wonderful findings to their friends,
and thus the story spread as an urban legend.
this is such a catchy story, with many elements typical of
US media coverage of Japan.
--- Japanese copying American culture (Tokyo Disneyland is a
favorite example. see Section (2.6)).
--- the Japanese version is in some way different: exotic,
strange, ridiculous, confused, etc.
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ideology, Japan, American misconceptions, stereotypes
