B is for "Burriko"

Definition of "Burriko" from Urban Dictionary

"Japanese woman of a certain age who looks and acts much younger. Given that it's often hard to identify the age of asian women anyway it can be difficult to spot a burriko."

Another site adds: "They act cute and act like they don't have much of a mind of their own" and somehow Japanese men find them attractive.

Case in point: The originator, 松田聖子 Seiko Matsuda.

Evidence: 43 years old and this is how she dresses.



I am a fan of Seiko (not a huge one) but am sometimes embarassed to admit that. However, I have to protest that I was a fan when she was in her teens and 20s, not when she is still trying so hard to be cute at 43 years old. Overall, I find it all quite disturbing.

That being said, she has a serious mind of her own and has been a true professional in manipulating her career and the press into achieving what she wants. Afterall, how many 43 year olds look like this?



There has been much discussion lately because Seiko is holding her first overseas concert and in an attempt to endear herself to the Mandarin speaking fans, she is not only busy trying to pick up the difficult language, but also releasing a Chinese album of her hits. According to the reports, she tried to sing a verse of her signature song "赤いスイートピー" in Mandarin, and everyone in the press conference had "What the f**k is she singing" written all over their faces. It was only when the translator interpreted it, that all heaved a sigh of relief. Maybe they were afraid that she was revealing something important, like her botox or cosmetic surgery secrets and they didn't understand, or simply just that her singing is so bad that they couldn't make out if she was singing or trying to say something?

I have also just read that it is going to be a mini album. Thank God for that. Maybe one song will be sufficient. Judging from her recent album covers of "Sunshine" and "Fairy" (great album names when you turn 43), where she looked like a "sex worker" (comment from John when he saw the cover) and "flower fairy", one wonders what her Chinese album cover will look like. Danny joked if it was going to be called "Mandarin Oranges" and I added that maybe she would have Mandarin oranges hanging off her hair and an angpow in her hand, so that if it doesn't sell well, it can be remarketed as a Chinese New Year album.




To us, she is crazy because it is an impossible task that will only bring on terrible reviews, but for attention hungry Seiko, any publicity is good. I can only pray for her fans that she will not sing too many Mandarin songs during her concert because that is not why anyone would go see the concert.

One has to take their hats off to her for trying so hard, and hopefully, she will not pick up enough Mandarin to know what the Taipei Press is saying about her visit yesterday. Tien has done a great job in placing links to all the reports (unfortunately all in Mandarin), but they have used two derogatory terms to describe her: "不老妖姬" & "日本不死的魔女", which I found hilarious. They both literally translate into the "Eternal (more harshly as in Never-Dying) Witch". It is terrible for them to use such terms but people who hate her would probably agree, like our dear friend, Eugin and my other friend, Shige.

For me, I guess we all have a lesson to learn from here. One that we are never too old to try new tricks and no matter how impossible the task may seem, we have to move on in face of all negative comments. To disgregard insults and do whatever makes us happy (which is what Seiko said, that "This is one of her biggest achievements for her 25th anniversary and she wants to do whatever makes her happy"), and lastly, to "stay in love" (helps if your lover is your manager who is 10 years younger).

However, that being said, never try to be something we are not, especially when it comes to mutton dressed up as lamb.