Stare-apy for the Socially Inept (+ Edits)

by 80 Comments

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)

[yframe url='www.youtube.com/watch?v=A12dH72757U']


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: Here’s a video from Koichi. Thanks, Ko.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muGL99W6v6o']

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  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    I might need the old woman. Old ladies scare me sometimes. Also…why can’t they have any smiling women? If I need help with social anxiety, I’d at least like them to be happy about it.

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    For everyone’s social anxiety

  • http://tofugu.com Tofugu_Erin

    Well, if you’re a nervous, twitchy, and possibly sweaty guy who feels uncomfortable in public, chances are slim that you’re going to get a lot of girls smiling at you.

  • http://tofugu.com Tofugu_Erin

    Personally, I think having twins in there is cheating.

  • http://tofugu.com Tofugu_Erin

    Terrifying.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/CHESTERlikesSUBARU Chester_King

    I couldn’t do it.. my eyes felt like cannon balls and immediately drooped to the bottom of the video. I blame her tailor.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Viet

    I won.. She blinked first.

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    lol, you get comment points for that.

  • ghindo

    Make a DVD of that and you will be a very rich man.

  • The_Meganator

    I wouldn’t be able to watch that dvd at all.
    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….

  • keikan16

    Koichi, your video was good but it looked like you lost it toward the end……..that other video was bizzare…….I think I helped her rather than her helping me..

  • http://www.michaelburnner.com oo0speed0oo

    As i’m watching this video, I thought an alien head was going to pop out of nowhere and try to scare me. I would say this video is extremely pointless, but as i’m watching the video… I wanted her to stop looking at me. “What are you staring at?!” I just think thats the New York side of me coming out…..

  • http://tofugu.com Tofugu_Erin

    Make sure you check out the video I just added to the bottom of this post.

    It’s pretty… interesting.

  • ghindo

    Is it bad that I was surprised that there is a black girl included in the series?

  • http://rimkaizumo.deviantart.com/ Rimka

    I think after viewing this I am ready to take on anyone and anything! (Except for maybe those old ladies, oh my) Thanks Koichi ;D

    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….

  • http://jinxmetillidie13.deviantart.com JinxME13

    ok this is the creepiest think i’ve ever seen. But sadly enough i have a friend with a problem with people staring at her… so i’m showing this to her, so just maybe it’ll help her out a bit
    thank you tofugu *thumbs up* ;D

  • http://aruri.deviantart.com 8Dhi

    Oh I see… so this is like training wheels for meeting women… _D_

  • HaileyPoo

    Thats interesting….

  • Sougen02

    It’s not so awkward for me. Maybe because I myself get a twisted enjoyment out of watching people figgit as I stare at them for minutes at a time xD

    But the video of the little girl was a little… 0_0 *chills*
    Lol

  • http://inventorspot.com/writers/steve_levenstein WordsnCollision

    Like so many examples of so-called “Japanese weirdness”, this one starts with the best of intentions yet soon slides off into a parallel universe of disturbing creeposity. I love it!

  • Livvi_Spatula

    OMG the end of that video had me rolling on the floor in hysterics. I would totally watch that for hours.

  • mmnessa

    And here I was thinking it couldn’t get any creepier than mom cafe………

  • mmnessa

    No it isn’t bad. I looked twice just to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me.

  • mmnessa

    Listen, you don’t know how hard it can be for a fully grown adult to approach a little girl, they are mean, selfish and spoiled, and did I mention they can be mean? (sarcasm. Sorry I just can’t get over the fact that someone is actually going to buy this DVD)

  • Hannah

    It makes sense to have pretty girls staring at you is so that you can get used to being around people who are not socially inept– but I think at the end of each video, the lady should smile encouragingly to show you that you’ve done a good job. ^.^

  • mmnessa

    enjoying a movie with the DVD???
    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.

  • emiko

    doesn’t sitting at home on a friday night watching ‘just looking’ make you more socially inept . . . people could go some place with other real people instead of just staying home, alone, watching someone stare at you. . . not to mention the fact that you’ll probably have nightmares later and need some serious therapy . . .

  • http://rimkaizumo.deviantart.com/ Rimka

    Yes, I too used to be very “socially retarded” as you put it. I still find this so very amusing though XD I don’t see how it could really help, personally it would just creep the hell out of me o_o; and already does.. >_>;

    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?

  • http://www.goddesscarlie.com GoddessCarlie

    I love Koichi’s video, it is probably my favourite so far!

  • WOTDsctoo

    Hey now…a smile sneaking in at the end…?

    These habits must be broken if you wish to make it in the socially inept Japanese DVD scene.

  • Jesse

    HAHAHA!!! Magibon… Very Awkward.

  • paranoid

    Seesmic video reply from Disqus.

  • http://youtube.com/profile?user=chokudori クリス

    If it weren’t for the blinking, I could swear I was just staring at a single picture slide show. I also found the little girl in the last video a little creepy, and no I’m not talking about Koichi, haha j/k, but seriously, if that camera panned down, the little girl would most likely be holding an axe. What would be even more creepier is if the eyes were following your movements.

    This also reminds me of those videos that Jessica Alba made on her Celebrity MySpace page challenging people to a staring contest. If you want to do a staring contest with the Dark Angel herself, check out her page. If nothing turns up, try googling.

  • http://youtube.com/profile?user=chokudori クリス

    Here you go Viet, try a staring contest with Jessica Alba. When she busts a smirk, let me know if she got a reaction out of you. Also the video is a give away, so if you can keep your eyes from blinking for about 2 minutes, you win…

  • http://TheUnderC.com asagao

    I can actually see the extreme benefit in this as I am very socially awkward, and although I have people that I hang out with, aside from going out for tennis, I don’t really socialize with others. It might not be hard for most but there are some of us who really can’t go outside, write, or even speak to others and not feel like they’re being or will be judged. >.< So I agree, I think it’s nice that there are people making new (although somewhat strange) ways to help with anxieties. Even if people twist them, the real ones will still exist to offer some help.
    Secondly, yeah, that lil girl was creepy… very creepy.

  • http://whycantileavethisblank.gov Djarno

    Maybe we could elimate racism if they did the exact same thing here in the US except with all black people. If it really cures social anxienty disorder, it might be crazy enough to work. More likely the NAACP/ACLU would slap the creator with a massive lawsuit.

  • http://whycantileavethisblank.gov Djarno

    Why worry about the socially awkward (the spelling of that word really fits its definition)? As long as they do their work, pay their taxes and wear deodorate, what’s the big deal? If people don’t treat them like crap, then they’ll probably (88.5% chance) go postal on a group of random strangers rather than family, friends, or coworkers. I’m kidding about that last sentence…they don’t have any friends.

  • Vier

    I used this as a test to see how long I could go without looking at that girls…..

    Anyways, I’ve had great results and fell comfortable not getting caught by girls anymore

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/CHESTERlikesSUBARU Chester_King

    On a side note (as in…. to the right) I noticed that Dragon Dynasty.com is advertising !
    Does it help if each of us clicks on it sixteen-thousand times ? I’m up to three…..

    * update…. it’s disappeared ? wha? *

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    Hey Chester,
    We only want people to click when they are genuinely interested in a product. Otherwise, we can get in trouble and possibly get kicked out of the program.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/CHESTERlikesSUBARU Chester_King

    Lol… yeah, it was a joke but someone might think that to be the case.

    My bad…..

  • Rebekah

    I actually have social anxiety disorder, and I still can’t see the point of the DVD. If anything, wouldn’t it make people even more reclusive?
    I never stare at people for long periods or time, or worry about them staring at me. So the DVD seems really pointless, IMO.

  • kevinnwhat

    “Choose one of fifty relatively-diverse women”

    lmao theres one black woman, what the heck haahha
    is that the only nonjapanese character?

  • http://tofugu.com Tofugu_Erin

    No. There are like 3-4, maybe. I couldn’t very well put in all 50 women, though, right? Check out the official link in the last paragraph to see all the women.

  • http://usagii-pyon.livejournal.com/ うさぎギャル

    I feel inspired to create my own dvd :D

  • Autolycus

    Awww it seems as if the Youtube clips were taken down ;_;

  • Linnéa

    Wonder why they only have females watching you…

  • http://TheUnderC.com asagao

    That’s a good question. You would think they’d have ones for everyone.

  • Khai

    Hi everybody! ^_^ I am new to this site but I have been following Koichi’s vids on Youtube for quite some time now. I finally decided to check out Tofugu and I really like it. Keep it up all of you! Oh, and I finished Japanese 1 in High School as a Freshmen and I am going to start Japanese 2 as a sophmore. Anyway, enough about me, lol, interesting topic this is but very awkard, haha.

  • Simaldeff

    This is sooooo starting a new trend of weird vids on the various TUBES out there … all using this ミテルダケ format … it could actually become fun. Let’s see how this develops.
    2 things :
    - Koichi your vid in EDIT 2 is hilarious.
    - Why did they take a A. Ueto look-alike for the end of the advertisment …. now I want to buy the DVD, even though I’m not socially akward …well, I think I’m not.

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