As much as I want to be outrageously snarky in this post, I don’t think I can bring myself to do it. After all, social anxiety disorder is pretty serious stuff, especially in Japan, the birthplace of the hikikomori (引き籠もり or “pulling away”) phenomenon. In an attempt to help out those who are uncomfortable in social situations, Avex has introduced a DVD titled Miterudake (ミテルだけ) or “Just Looking”. The DVD is labeled as “interactive”, but there are really only two activities that users are expected to perform:
1. Choose one of fifty relatively-diverse women
2. Endure them staring at you for about a minute (eyes up, boys)
3. Repeat (does this count as an activity?)
So basically, the only purpose of the DVD is, as its creator states, 「人と目を合わすこと」, or to help people “adapt to others”. As weird and pointless as it may seem, I can’t deny that there are people out there who do have a major fear that they’re constantly being judged by others. Still, I think it might be more cost effective to just realize that most people aren’t actually staring at you in real life (especially not in Japan, where a lot of “normal” people still find sustained direct eye contact to be rude) than to go and buy a $25 DVD. Or you could just find a picture of the Mona Lisa.
But hey, whatever floats your boat. I’m certainly not one to tell other people how to manage their neuroses. One thing I can say for sure about this DVD, though, is that it’s bound to act as inspiration for many x-rated spin-offs. You just wait and see–in the next few months, scores of new AV DVDs will hit shelves of sketchy Akihabara porn shops with similar premises and similar titles (“Just ____ing”). Come on, it’s Japan. You know it’s true.
Anyway, sorry this article was a bit boring. To make up for the lack of entertaining sarcasm, here are some links to more Miterudake clips and spoofs on the Youtube and NicoNico Douga. You can also find more clips on the Miterudake website (as well as links to the personal blogs of some of the women, which is kind of creepy).
EDIT: It turns out Miterudake could be a lot weirder than I first thought.
EDIT 2: Here’s a video from Koichi. Thanks, Ko.
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It's pretty... interesting.
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Interesting find Erin, by the way! XD I find it amazing that something like this exists >> I was half expecting them to try and scare me half-way through like they do in those evil youtube videos.
Edit: I just watched the second video. Was that guy enjoying a movie with the DVD? Now we just need to somehow attach an LCD screen to those life-like dolls....
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He was freakin talking to the screen as if she was actually there? And sleepin with it, AND talking to it!!!
I'm sorry, I don't mean to make fun of the hikikomori, because I know what it's like to be socially retarded, but this is just crossing the line a little bit. I don't see how this DVD can help any of them get out of their rooms and get a real life, if anything it's just another reason to keep themselves locked up in their rooms.
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I just can't help but wonder if these staring women hold interesting conversations <_< This guy seems to love spending time with them. Maybe he's on to something?
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These habits must be broken if you wish to make it in the socially inept Japanese DVD scene.
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People staring at you non stop....UGH.
The old lady scares me and those twins remind me of the shining O.o
They are soooooo going to turn this into a porn because as soon as I saw the picture that is what I thought it was...and I was very confused why the old lady was in it....
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