Ayu's image and Cosmetic Surgery

[SheFliesHigher]

Please don't respond with, "uuugghhh not THIS again!"

I am currently studying abroad in Japan, at a college called Kansai Gaidai. One of the lecture classes I am taking is called "The Body & Communication in Japan". Our current topic of discussion is the image of beauty in Japan and cosmetic surgery. For the lecture about cosmetic surgery, he had a big newspaper ad featuring Ayu hanging on the chalkboard. It was that Panasonic camera one which featured an image of her entire body-- she had short hair and was wearing a tight white top and skirt that bared a lot of skin (I attached the image at the end of this post) Anyway, he asked if people thought she had had cosmetic surgery, and I was the only one who would outright say "no". Everyone else was either silent or said she "definitely" had some surgery. He asked if people thought she was beautiful....the class was silent. One girl said, "She WAS....until she had all that stuff done."

That statement made me really mad. All that stuff done? She makes it sound like Ayumi has become some kind of Frankenstein monster with no parts of her own anymore. I would concede to Ayumi having had eye surgery to make her eyes bigger, but that's it. Being a big fan and all, I have seen countless images of Ayu at different stages of her life, seen her on live TV shows and the like...I think I have a very good idea of what Ayu looks like. And I don't see what someone could mean by "all that stuff done"...I see no changes in her body that would indicate cosmetic surgery. It just seems to me that people want to accuse Ayu of cosmetic surgery just because she is a celebrity and ALL celebrities have had some kind of work done, right... I think airbrushing and computer editing plays a much bigger role in Ayu's image than surgery does, but that's my opinion.

Nevertheless, the main issue for me is not so much the argument that Ayu has had cosmetic surgery, it's how people seem to feel about her. Like I said, the class was DEAD SILENT when asked if Ayu is a beautiful person. And people who did express opinions expressed negative and critical ones. The class is made up of mostly exchange students but there is also a good handful of Japanese students as well. I know Ayu is no longer at her prime, but I have to admit it hurt me to see that people have such a "blah" attitude towards her.

Of course people are entitled to their opinions, and I'm not going to yell at anyone for not loving Ayu. But I guess that class just made me feel a little sad. I dunno, after reading what I have just typed (it was a lot ) what do think? I suppose I just want some other Ayu fans to discuss this with.

[truehappiness]

Well, that picture isn't exactly one of the better ones of her photos..

About them being silent... it's not really that surprising. A lot of people have seen the pictures of her in on my way/off my day where her hair looks like the HEAVEN hair and they say 'oo she's pretty!'.

It depends on how you see her, or to be more truthful, how you see anyone. People sometimes have the pictures where they look like '?' and sometimes they have the most BEAUTIFUL pictures.. That Panasonic picture just doesn't do Ayu any justice at all.

And that girl has no goddang clarification on anything she said really. Her boobs are still small... her body is the same. It's just her face that people are like 'wuh' about. My take on it is that she lost weight and her face lost some of its roundness. Also, some of her photos where her eyes are extremely huge.. are indeed edited to make the eyes look GIGANTIC. The thing about it is, if you have Ayu next to someone with big eyes, her eyes look bigger..

But over the past 7 years.. Ayu has not had any statements or defense against the 'surgery!' thing. Perhaps either she does not want to confront them, or she's just okay with it being 'obvious.' But imho, she hasn't had much done to her.

[most korean stars do more surgery than Ayu times ten! x.x]

[walking proud]

Uugh, not this again. I'm sorry, but this gets really old- and it's been brought up so many times..

[SheFliesHigher]

I totally agree that that particular image does not do Ayu justice at all....I think it objectifies her for one thing, but also she looks very stiff and seems to lack human warmth.

I also think that since that image is an advertisement whose purpose is to emphasize "perfect" and "slim" qualities (that's what the Japanese says), it was obviously airbrushed and edited to look as "perfect" as possible. I don't think it's a good image to judge Ayu's appearance on. Since it looks so "fake" I am sure my professor brought it in because he feels it proves his point about the popularity of cosmetic surgery in Japan. Honestly, I think it only proves the tendency to craft images in order to sell your ideas / product.

Originally Posted by walking proud

Uugh, not this again. I'm sorry, but this gets really old- and it's been brought up so many times..

I want to thank you for two things:
(1) reading my first post,
(2) giving such a helpful comment.

[hallelujah_united]

I agree, that probably has to be one of the worst pics of Ayu I've ever seen. She looks so humanoid-ish.

And about your class, I didn't think that a group of people could be so cynical together. Sure she does look too good sometimes to be true, but they refuse to believe that some people just grow up to be that beautiful? That's being too narrow-minded in my opinion.

Your professor could have brought a picture of someone who has been certified to have had cosmetic surgery though instead of Ayu's, that way there wouldn't have been any hidden implications of Ayu having done cosmetic surgery before she says it herself.

[SheFliesHigher]

Originally Posted by hallelujah_united

Your professor could have brought a picture of someone who has been certified to have had cosmetic surgery though instead of Ayu's, that way there wouldn't have been any hidden implications of Ayu having done cosmetic surgery before she says it herself.

Seriously though....for whatever reason, my prof. also seems to be pretty convinced that Ayu has had lots of work done...but if he's just looking at that picture, no wonder he thinks that.

I guess what annoys me the most is the people who are so adamant in their opinion that Ayu is totally fake are the ones who I am sure have done no research about her. They just hate her for whatever reason and that is all they need.

[truehappiness]

The thing about Ayu is that she doesn't even look japanese to many people~ as well as the fact that her eyes are sort of like O______O almonds.

Some people are like 'Is she Japanese?' when they see my ayu-filled covers on my binder~ :p

Think of it like.. Britney Spears has no boobs. Britney Spears gets boobs. Fans think she didn't get implants. People think she got implants. A while passes and she admits it sort of by saying she had 'leg surgery.'

However, in Ayu's case the change was most likely done before her career even started, for her eyes were about the same size. All that seems different is that after Boys&Girls, her image sort of shifted from short brown hair, quiet japanese girl, to this phenomenon that swept through Japan.

Most of the belief that Ayu has gotten surgery is that she has changed so dramatically from when she was a child.. that she doesn't even 'look the same.' For the longest time most, if not all of the Japanese people.. have thought this.

'Ayu is so <3' -- me

'Ayu.. has had a nose job and all that >>' -- japanese girl

Very disappointing for people to say things that have never had any sort of physical proof. Then again, in Japan is it common for such things to be admitted by the person in question? x.x

[SheFliesHigher]

"Leg surgery"? Heehee....how does that relate to breast implants?

It's true that Ayu's image has changed quite a lot. I can see how that would lead people to believe she has had all kinds of work done.

But even so, it hasn't changed so it's like...."Ayu is 50 pounds skinnier! Her boobs increased two cup sizes! Her nose points in a different direction!" It's mostly her hair and fashion that have changed so much.

I have had people remark to me that Ayu doesn't look Japanese. I think it's mostly because people don't expect a Japanese person to have light hair and big eyes. Or whatever.

I don't think it's common for celebrities in Japan to admit to cosmetic surgery, but it doesn't seem common for celebrities to admit to it in the US (my home country) either. It seems like the only time celebs will make any comments about it is when they vehemently say "NO!" Usually people like to make "no comment"....and in that case everyone always thinks that they are avoiding telling the truth. =X

[*Petit*]

I think that people forget easily that pictures in magazines and related are often more closely related to art photos and painting in how much they resemble the real person. On some TV show I saw some make up artist said that the magazine photos ARE pieces of art, it takes a LOT of work boefore the picture is taken, and a lot of work afterwords to alter the picture itself.

I can't help to think that your professor is rather dumb in that departement when he suggested that someone has had surgery from a photo in which the person is obiously altered to look like a doll, machine or robot.

[Qt Mashi]

to tell you the truth i think Ayu has had eye and nose surgery but i'm fine with that, even if Ayu had more surgeries it doesnt change a thing.

i used to hate singers who had surgeries and i remember liking a different singer before Ayu and people told me she's had surgery and i just kept denying it like i can't accept the fact that my favourte artists had surgery so i might become ashamed....

but since becoming an Ayu fan and people telling me Ayu had surgery i just don't care, i don't deny it i just say "ok if that's what u think" because it won't change a thing about how i feel about Ayu!

from listening to Ayu's song i've learnt not to deny things i can't accept i will just love the things i love with no shame!

[Manross]

Hmmmm...i'll be pretty mad if i were to sat there and hear them giving negative comments. I dun care if Ayu has done cosmetic surgery or not, as long as Ayu still makes gd songs, gd lyrics, and stay healthy, im happy...Yep! And besides, i respect and like her by her music/lyrics talents not realli her look.

[Nikki]

This can be discussed over and over again. If Ayu would admit she has had surgery there will be reactions like 'I knew it!', but if she would deny it there'll be people who still think she has had it anyway. Some people just want to believe she has had it, but you have to keep in mind that there's a lot you can do with make-up and airbrushing.

I honestly don't care whether she has had surgery or not, I wouldn't think less of her if she has. The music industry is a tough business where looks are important.

[SheFliesHigher]

Originally Posted by Qt Mashi

to tell you the truth i think Ayu has had eye and nose surgery but i'm fine with that, even if Ayu had more surgeries it doesnt change a thing.

i used to hate singers who had surgeries and i remember liking a different singer before Ayu and people told me she's had surgery and i just kept denying it like i can't accept the fact that my favourte artists had surgery so i might become ashamed....

but since becoming an Ayu fan and people telling me Ayu had surgery i just don't care, i don't deny it i just say "ok if that's what u think" because it won't change a thing about how i feel about Ayu!

from listening to Ayu's song i've learnt not to deny things i can't accept i will just love the things i love with no shame!

I certainly would not be upset either. That's a good message to take from her songs, QT! I just get annoyed when people say things like "she used to be beautiful, until she had all that work done."

I think Ayu is beautiful regardless....I hated to see the silent reaction of my classmates.

[ImpactBreaker]

SFH, look at ayu's new Panasonic poster thread and you'll have a better insight on this: ayu has a fake collage hair made by computer CG and some people even think it's real
The panasonic adds are usually extremely airbrushed, ayu has no pores, no pimples, her skin looks extremely fake and has a weird shine. In some of the adds you wonder whether the whole image was made on a computer through a 3D model or if it's just ayu airbrushed so fake they might look like.

[elepop]

WTF? Why did they have to use that picture? Hello? That picture is like, completely photoshopped! If they are going to judge someone, take a real picture. Not one from an ad, or one from a magazine. Gee. How the hell could have she "done it all"? I don't get it. Either they are Ayu-haters or they are jealous. Because anybody with eyes and a little bit of decency will obviously see they there haven't been a lot of changes in her face or body? No, I rephrase, there's practically nothing different. (except for the teeth) I'm sorry to say that, but you have to really have major eye problem to think Ayu has done cosmetic surgery everywhere. That's just non-sense.

I won't believe any fo this surgery stories unless there's obvious prove.

[SheFliesHigher]

The both of you are so right, choosing that particular image to show just seems so cheap. Of course the advertisers will make Ayu look as "perfect" as possible for the benefit of their product...

Asongforxx, thanks for that reaction. I needed to hear someone else's irritation towards the whole thing. ^_^

[Indie]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Think of it like.. Britney Spears has no boobs. Britney Spears gets boobs. Fans think she didn't get implants. People think she got implants. A while passes and she admits it sort of by saying she had 'leg surgery.'

same with Ayu, if you knew more about britney, heck even if you had only looked at more pics of britney instead of just making your mind about the subject right away you would've noticed she hasn't had any brest implants, and that "leg surgery", which I doubt was real BTW, was just a way to get out of finishing a tour (I do think she had a nose job though)

I think the majority of people around the world are underestimating the huge role airbrushing plays in celebrities' public lives, even papparazzi pictures get airbrushed nowadays...

[elepop]

Originally Posted by Indie

same with Ayu, if you knew more about britney, heck even if you had only looked at more pics of britney instead of just making your mind about the subject right away you would've noticed she hasn't had any brest implants, and that "leg surgery", which I doubt was real BTW, was just a way to get out of finishing a tour (I do think she had a nose job though)

I think the majority of people around the world are underestimating the huge role airbrushing plays in celebrities' public lives, even papparazzi pictures get airbrushed nowadays...

I agree about the Britney thing. The thing is, people said she had breast implants by looking at magazine photoshoots! If you look at her paparazzi pictures, you can cleary see that her breast has always looked normal. And kinda saggy, lol.

Originally Posted by Indie

same with Ayu, if you knew more about britney, heck even if you had only looked at more pics of britney instead of just making your mind about the subject right away you would've noticed she hasn't had any brest implants, and that "leg surgery", which I doubt was real BTW, was just a way to get out of finishing a tour (I do think she had a nose job though)

I think the majority of people around the world are underestimating the huge role airbrushing plays in celebrities' public lives, even papparazzi pictures get airbrushed nowadays...

Britney did have problem leg at the time she supposedly "first got implants" (I think she's all real, she wasn't exactly as thin as she was when she started out). She was in the hospital for a recurring knee problem, which is a pretty well-known fact amongst her fans, but others claimed that she was there for cosmetic surgery. The same leg problem ruined that video shoot she had with Snoop Dogg.

Anyways, back to the pic of Ayumi that was shown in the class, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that that picture was very heavily airbrushed. I think all her Panasonic shoots are very heavily airbrushed, so it makes her look very fake.
Also, people underestimate the power of make-up as well. A little make-up goes a long way, and in Ayumi's case, a LOT of make-up goes really far.

[Kikaru]

Looking at the panasonic photo, the image was suppose to be extremely airbrushed and making her look like a doll. Anyone with decent eyes realize that. Do they ever watch heyx3? It seems like your professor is basing the who thing on an ad. Maybe he should show an old and new episode of heyx3 or something and it will show that she hasn't really changed. Also the hairstyle and its colour can really change how a person looks. Also the loss of baby fat.

Sometimes I wish people will accept the fact that a person can be beautiful without surgery. In my school (and I live in America), every time someone said "so and so celebrity is beautiful", someone will reply with "well, they got surgery". It annoys me like no tommorrow.