Pantsu, Fundoshi

The Japanese seem obsessed with Lolitas. Schoolgirls seem to be the choice for representing Japan on the Internet. That obsession--which will get you arrested and publicly shamed in America--does present opportunity for us to learn about Japanese lingerie styles and history--at least a little. There is even distinction between the anime sexuality and child pornography. For more discussion see Loli in the Urban Dictionary.

This image presents a Loli in fundoshi.

Loli: (Noun - plural: loli or lolis); Sounds like "lowly", not "lolly".

"In Japan, panties are commonly depicted as adding a highly flirtatious, naughty element to a female's persona." cite

Pantsu: "The japanese word for "panties" (panties in a japanese accent) that since Chii from the series Chobits (CLAMP) has said, has spiraled into another form of slang for wannabe-asian otakus. Other examples of these incidents are phrases like 'kawaii desu' and 'konnichiwa.' 'Chii wears pantsu!' " cite (urban dictionary)

This seems to a recently developed slang term.

"Thongs are worn by slutty girls, regular pantsu is [sic] worn by innocent pure girls." this quote is from a forum where Japanese girls and their underwear is discussed. By the comments, the posters are as naive and lonely as the guys who post to the same type of forums in the US. However, it reveals something about the attitudes toward sexual purity--indeed, purity in everything--prevalent in Japan.

female characters bereft of pantsu, or in technical language, in a state of “nopan” (no pantsu).

the 褌 / fundoshi, or loincloth: "that most alluring of traditional undergarments, the 褌 / fundoshi, or loincloth, an item of apparel which manages to be at once ancient and rather modern in appearance.

Although fundoshi are usually thought of as exclusively male apparel, it appears that historically they have seen plenty of (normal) female use at various times, so the hungry depictions we see so often are not quite so fanciful as we might at first think.

Even so, it seems traditionally no underwear as such was often worn by ladies."

"The makers of the women’s fundoshi have renamed their product pendre shorts
(パンドルショーツ), using the French verb for “hang” to give the underwear an feminine image." cite

UCLA Undie Run

Wednesday night , 10 December 2008 UCLA students prepare for the Undie Run. The tension-reducing event, in which students make a midnight run across campus in their underwear, has become a finals week tradition at UCLA. Photos.

Bettie Page Obit

Bettie (or Betty) Page, the model widely credited as the prototype modern pin-up, died at 6:41pm PST Thursday, 11 December 2008 at the age of 85. She completed her battle with morality and mental illness with pneumonia and heart failure.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bettie Page, the 1950s secretary-turned-model whose controversial photographs in skimpy attire or none at all helped set the stage for the 1960s sexual revolution, died Thursday. She was 85."

"I want to be remembered as a woman who changed people's perspectives concerning nudity in its natural form." (Betty Page in 2006, age 83).

"A cult figure, Page was most famous for the estimated 20,000 4-by-5-inch black-and-white glossy photographs taken by amateur shutterbugs from 1949 to 1957. The photos showed her in high heels and bikinis or negligees, bondage apparel -- or nothing at all."

"Funeral Service will be Tuesday Dec 16 at Westwood Memorial Cemetery in a PRIVATE CEREMONY."

LINKS:

• The Infectious Bettie Page

NOTES:

As I've read this story I can feel the frustration of a little girl who tried hard to out-distance her demons (poverty, hopes for the rescuing abilities of religion, abusive misogyny) only to fall prey to them in the end. This despite the help of talent, good looks and powerful friends.

Pumpkin Bra

I wanted to add this picture of a fun bra--probably not very useful after a couple days--for your viewing pleasure. I'd add the original link if i could remember it. Had some trouble posting this picture when found--bandwidth is necessary & you really miss it when gone...