Japan’s Top Producer of Ugly Women: Gunma*

by

*Paraphrased translation of 「ブスの産地」日本一は「群馬県」 from the Shukan Shincho website.

Shingo Mama According to a recent online poll conducted by Livedoor, a Japan-based internet service provider, the women of Gunma Prefecture (群馬県) are the most unattractive in Japan. Ouch. That’s right, out of Japan’s 47 prefectures, Gunma, located in the middle of the Japanese archipelago, placed dead last.

Of course, the men of Gunma had something to say about the poll. Some “were not surprised about the results”. One college student observed, “Now that you mention it, there aren’t many pretty women in Gunma”. Others, such as those who work in the Gunma Prefectural Government, found the poll to be a bit more upsetting.

One such official dismissed the unofficial results, speculating that “not a lot of people from Gunma voted”. Probably true, but it must be noted that these findings, however unscientific, aren’t unique. In a 1993 survey as well, Gunma Prefecture came in last in terms of female beauty. Double ouch.

Honestly, though, I’m not sure it even matters. Somebody had to come in last, after all. I’m sure there are some very lovely ladies who reside in the prefecture—but it probably still hurts for Gunma-ites because it’s their second time on the bottom of such a list. Still, I wonder, what would you do if your state or prefecture came in last on a similar poll? Would you laugh? Would you cry?

I think a person’s reaction to their state being labeled “Home of the Least Beautiful Women” depends on two things: how personally they take it, and how much pride they have in their state in general… I think I would be pretty miffed on behalf of Hawaii if it ever happened to us D:

Source: MSN Mainichi Daily News (a bit redundant, no?)

Oh, and if you’re wondering who came in as being “most pretty”, the top 5 are as follows: Akita, Tokyo, Hokkaido, Kyoto, and Okinawa. I’m sure the women there are feeling pretty smug right now.

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  • http://www.vietamins.com Viet

    In other news Gunma is #1 in percentage of ugly women getting laid.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Always looking on the sunny side, eh, Viet?

  • Stacia

    So…why does Japan have all these random surveys? …or do we have them here as well? I’ve never seen surveys like that.

    I think I’d laught if I lived in the state of least beautiful women….but it’s true, someone had to come last and it just so happened they did. Such a sad day for them.

  • http://www.vietamins.com Viet

    In other news Gunma is #1 in percentage of ugly women getting laid.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Always looking on the sunny side, eh, Viet?

  • Stacia

    So…why does Japan have all these random surveys? …or do we have them here as well? I’ve never seen surveys like that.

    I think I’d laught if I lived in the state of least beautiful women….but it’s true, someone had to come last and it just so happened they did. Such a sad day for them.

  • Onimusha Nosferatu

    that guy kinda looks like shingo mama.

  • Mathias

    Wow that’s mean. But i don’t trust any statistic or survey. Unless you really have asked every single person living there, you can’t be sure that it’s representative, can you?
    Apart from that, whether you find people attractive or not is highly subjective.

    However, regarding Viet’s comment: LOL ^^

  • Onimusha Nosferatu

    that guy kinda looks like shingo mama.

  • Mathias

    Wow that’s mean. But i don’t trust any statistic or survey. Unless you really have asked every single person living there, you can’t be sure that it’s representative, can you?
    Apart from that, whether you find people attractive or not is highly subjective.

    However, regarding Viet’s comment: LOL ^^

  • Ryohei Kitamura

    that i can affirm too, i saw a lot of gals trying to make it up to the ladder here in yokohama, they want to be singer or actrice, man you have to see the face of the gymleaders and the actor leaders it was like this—-> ? ?
    ?(O_O’)? ?
    ? ? ?

    they didn’t knew what to say to the gals should they say get the hell outta here or should they say here is the number of the dentist,the hairdresser and the extreme make over?

    i think if i was one of the leaders i would say please i cannot hire more people to train, can you please go somewhere else onegaiiiiishimasuuuuuu??????????

    but that wouldn’t be good either i guess (__ __’)

  • Dan

    Here’s the thing. I wonder how Japan’s supposed most “unattractive” town to America’s most “unattractive” town. I would imagine that we would have them beat by miles. There’s some stuff that we have here that you just don’t see in Japan (i.e. women in oversized Mickey Mouse t-shirts and tights).

    No offense to the Midwest, or anything…

  • Ryohei Kitamura

    that i can affirm too, i saw a lot of gals trying to make it up to the ladder here in yokohama, they want to be singer or actrice, man you have to see the face of the gymleaders and the actor leaders it was like this—-> ? ?
    ?(O_O’)? ?
    ? ? ?

    they didn’t knew what to say to the gals should they say get the hell outta here or should they say here is the number of the dentist,the hairdresser and the extreme make over?

    i think if i was one of the leaders i would say please i cannot hire more people to train, can you please go somewhere else onegaiiiiishimasuuuuuu??????????

    but that wouldn’t be good either i guess (__ __’)

  • Hachi Gatsu

    Well, my state is known for drinking the most beer than anyone else (Wisconsin)…so, I guess it really doesn’t matter if they’re ugly here or not, everyones got beer goggles here lol!

  • Dan

    Here’s the thing. I wonder how Japan’s supposed most “unattractive” town to America’s most “unattractive” town. I would imagine that we would have them beat by miles. There’s some stuff that we have here that you just don’t see in Japan (i.e. women in oversized Mickey Mouse t-shirts and tights).

    No offense to the Midwest, or anything…

  • Hachi Gatsu

    Well, my state is known for drinking the most beer than anyone else (Wisconsin)…so, I guess it really doesn’t matter if they’re ugly here or not, everyones got beer goggles here lol!

  • Kurisu

    I always thought those Hokkaido country women were pretty attractive. Who else could milk a cow and look good at it, at the same time? lol jk

  • Nel

    The previous comments are really funny (especially Viet’s one).
    Anyway, what kind of survey is that ?? I feel sorry for those women, lol (and I agree with you Erin, there must be some gunma women with an inner beauty…at least I hope for them) but I have to admit that if I were in a state that had came last in a poll of that kind, I’d be a trifle upset (but not at the point to be in need to find the person who had the idea to do such a poll and let him know about my anger…) after I’d laugh about it… But I wonder, are there a lot of single women in Gunma because of that ? (ok they’re #1 for getting laid but, still)

  • Kurisu

    I always thought those Hokkaido country women were pretty attractive. Who else could milk a cow and look good at it, at the same time? lol jk

  • Nel

    The previous comments are really funny (especially Viet’s one).
    Anyway, what kind of survey is that ?? I feel sorry for those women, lol (and I agree with you Erin, there must be some gunma women with an inner beauty…at least I hope for them) but I have to admit that if I were in a state that had came last in a poll of that kind, I’d be a trifle upset (but not at the point to be in need to find the person who had the idea to do such a poll and let him know about my anger…) after I’d laugh about it… But I wonder, are there a lot of single women in Gunma because of that ? (ok they’re #1 for getting laid but, still)

  • nick

    in my experience, women of osaka have been more beautiful than kyoto and kyoto women more attractive than tokyo women, or should i say i saw more of them in one place than the other. at any rate, all 3 places had alot more beautiful women than i’m used to seeing and it almost gave me a heart attack

  • Rebekah

    I’d be pissed if Michigan came in last on a “Which state has the prettiest women?”. Not because it’s my state or anything, but a ton of the women I see daily are really pretty. Plus, Michigan already holds the title of the fattest state, do we really ugly on top of that?

  • nick

    in my experience, women of osaka have been more beautiful than kyoto and kyoto women more attractive than tokyo women, or should i say i saw more of them in one place than the other. at any rate, all 3 places had alot more beautiful women than i’m used to seeing and it almost gave me a heart attack

  • http://rizkypuji.livejournal.com miya

    hehehehe.. this is so random *lols*
    and yeah, that guy looks like a cross between shingo mama and whatshisname-the-twin-brother XD

  • Rebekah

    I’d be pissed if Michigan came in last on a “Which state has the prettiest women?”. Not because it’s my state or anything, but a ton of the women I see daily are really pretty. Plus, Michigan already holds the title of the fattest state, do we really ugly on top of that?

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Yep, it’s Shingo-Mama.

  • http://rizkypuji.livejournal.com miya

    hehehehe.. this is so random *lols*
    and yeah, that guy looks like a cross between shingo mama and whatshisname-the-twin-brother XD

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Yep, it’s Shingo-Mama.

  • Adara

    my question is, who f***ing cares? =/
    and, too, where’s the results for the “most attractive males” prefecture? let’s harass those guys. I sometimes feel bad for Japanese women because objectification/infantilisation/discrimination is so much more humiliating and pervasive in Japan than it is in the US.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Adara:

    Honestly… I’m not sure anybody outside of the citizens of the top and bottom prefectures really cares. Still, I did want to see what other people thought about the fact that a poll like this was even conducted. While I feel that this survey was completely pointless and rude, I have to admit that I would probably care if a similar study was done in the US and my state came in last.

  • jjjjjj

    wait, koichi lives in hawaii now. on oahu. i thought he was vacationing. where can i find you.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    jjjjjj:

    I live on Oahu, not Koichi D:

  • Adara

    my question is, who f***ing cares? =/
    and, too, where’s the results for the “most attractive males” prefecture? let’s harass those guys. I sometimes feel bad for Japanese women because objectification/infantilisation/discrimination is so much more humiliating and pervasive in Japan than it is in the US.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Adara:

    Honestly… I’m not sure anybody outside of the citizens of the top and bottom prefectures really cares. Still, I did want to see what other people thought about the fact that a poll like this was even conducted. While I feel that this survey was completely pointless and rude, I have to admit that I would probably care if a similar study was done in the US and my state came in last.

  • jjjjjj

    wait, koichi lives in hawaii now. on oahu. i thought he was vacationing. where can i find you.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    jjjjjj:

    I live on Oahu, not Koichi D:

  • Jamar

    Despite not actually living in Japan and having only been to Tokyo for a week once as a tourist, I randomly threw in a vote for Okayama (not that it helped much). It was a pain to sign up, though- I had a livedoor e-mail account but I had to supply additional information, I think, for Livedoor Research (the group that did this survey). Apparently I’m supposed to get something for doing these surveys, but I haven’t got anything yet.

    Interesting that 37% of people said “no preference/don’t know”, though. Also interesting that apart from Tokyo, Akita, Hokkaido, Okinawa, and, all the other prefectures each got about 0.3%-2% of the vote each.

  • Jamar

    Despite not actually living in Japan and having only been to Tokyo for a week once as a tourist, I randomly threw in a vote for Okayama (not that it helped much). It was a pain to sign up, though- I had a livedoor e-mail account but I had to supply additional information, I think, for Livedoor Research (the group that did this survey). Apparently I’m supposed to get something for doing these surveys, but I haven’t got anything yet.

    Interesting that 37% of people said “no preference/don’t know”, though. Also interesting that apart from Tokyo, Akita, Hokkaido, Okinawa, and, all the other prefectures each got about 0.3%-2% of the vote each.

  • chicken

    Dan has a point. Being from Kansas, I see things in public that should be X-rated (not in terms of sexual content, but in terms of gross vulgarity).

    Regardless, what is beautiful is rather subjective. Does the phrase “acquired taste” apply only to foods? Perhaps I’m a total freak, but I’ve never been into the whole ‘model’ look because of the baggage that comes with that personality. I would like to carry on a good conversation with my mate more than most other things–particularly when we’re 85.

  • chicken

    Dan has a point. Being from Kansas, I see things in public that should be X-rated (not in terms of sexual content, but in terms of gross vulgarity).

    Regardless, what is beautiful is rather subjective. Does the phrase “acquired taste” apply only to foods? Perhaps I’m a total freak, but I’ve never been into the whole ‘model’ look because of the baggage that comes with that personality. I would like to carry on a good conversation with my mate more than most other things–particularly when we’re 85.

  • DH

    Alright, I lived in Gunma for several years (now living in San Francisco, originally from Norway) and can confirm this myth. Relative to Japan, Gunma girls just aren’t that hot. Mind you, I’d take a Gunma girl over an Arkansas, USA girl instantly. And also, it varies across the prefecture; in Takasaki the selection is decent, while more remote cities like Kiryu leave something to be desired.

    That said, Gunma people are otherwise awesome. They’re hands-down the nicest Japanese people I’ve met. Despite being one of the only white guys in my village, I always felt welcome; they encouraged me to participate in their festivals, said ‘ohayo!’ in passing on the street, and I was constantly invited to dinners around town; I understand this is a pipe-dream in some areas of Japan. It’s a wonderful place to live.

    Honestly, I kind of want to go back. But these SF girls? Smokin.

  • DH

    Alright, I lived in Gunma for several years (now living in San Francisco, originally from Norway) and can confirm this myth. Relative to Japan, Gunma girls just aren’t that hot. Mind you, I’d take a Gunma girl over an Arkansas, USA girl instantly. And also, it varies across the prefecture; in Takasaki the selection is decent, while more remote cities like Kiryu leave something to be desired.

    That said, Gunma people are otherwise awesome. They’re hands-down the nicest Japanese people I’ve met. Despite being one of the only white guys in my village, I always felt welcome; they encouraged me to participate in their festivals, said ‘ohayo!’ in passing on the street, and I was constantly invited to dinners around town; I understand this is a pipe-dream in some areas of Japan. It’s a wonderful place to live.

    Honestly, I kind of want to go back. But these SF girls? Smokin.

  • http://www.anime-planet.com SlaserX

    ♪If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life
    Never make a pretty women your wife
    Go for my personal point of view
    Get an ugly girl to marry you♪

    Maybe the women of Gunma are the happiest?

    I could make a joke about drifting, but out of respect for Keiko Kitagawa, despite her bad decisions, I am not going there.

  • http://www.anime-planet.com SlaserX

    ♪If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life
    Never make a pretty women your wife
    Go for my personal point of view
    Get an ugly girl to marry you♪

    Maybe the women of Gunma are the happiest?

    I could make a joke about drifting, but out of respect for Keiko Kitagawa, despite her bad decisions, I am not going there.

  • Kaijiru

    At what DH said, thank you. I’ll actually be sure to visit Gunma when I do visit Japan. Nothing cheers me up more than nice people.

  • Kaijiru

    At what DH said, thank you. I’ll actually be sure to visit Gunma when I do visit Japan. Nothing cheers me up more than nice people.

  • Hannah

    Ooh, Shingo Mama

  • Hannah

    Ooh, Shingo Mama

  • lonna

    i forgot about shingo mama! So funny!! I love Japan :D

  • lonna

    i forgot about shingo mama! So funny!! I love Japan :D

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