Posted February 14th, 2008 by Peter · 2 Comments
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Purikura? Purikura is a term of Japanese origin meaning either a photo sticker booth or the product of such a photo booth. Now what is so appealing about taking pictures in a booth? Why not go outside with your friends? There is a mystique, ambiance, magical feel that an Asian receives from using a touch screen to decorate their own pictures. It’s fun adding a flower or star to their best friend’s face. Asians spend hours decorating their pictures, and then they are printed and stuck onto things.
Why else take photo booth pictures? Anonymity. You can get away with anything in a photo booth. No body knows what’s happening. It’s a babe magnet. If you care that much about your looks that you would spend hours adding effects, why wouldn’t an equally image-conscience person want to spend time with you? It’s a win win situation.
However, most Asian people will never lie about wanting to be Japanese. Who wouldn’t want to be able to read a good manga in its purest form. (Though the syntax is quite different) Did I mention that Asian people love to watch Japanese cartoons? This plays on the fact that Asian people love Japan! How much more Japanese is Purikura!?
“If you find yourself in an awkward silence with white people, just mention how you want to go to Japan. They will immediately begin talking about how their trip to Japan, or their favorite stuff from Japan, but it will be entirely about them. This is useful as you no longer have to talk, and they will like you for letting them talk about themselves. ” -Stuff White People Like
If you ever hang out with asian people, this is not an entirely new topic. Asians love to take pictures with their friends. It is evident in the elders and younger generations. At a restaurant, you will always first hear “3, 2, 1…” from asians. The sentimentality of the moment is too important to outweigh the obvious. (eating one’s food). To asians, pictures may mean even more than a thousand words. They connect people, and hold so many secrets. Remember the next time you see a photo booth to enter it. You too can experience Purikura!