Japanese Deodorant
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86)
Sat 2008/05/03 22:19
When I first came to Japan, I was extremely surprised that men didn't have a custom of using deodorant. All I saw on TV or in posters were deodorant for women. The pharmacy's were filled with deodorant packaged and marketed for women only and were in the womens section. Did feel kinda odd picking up a can of pink deodorant but soon got used to it ^^;
As men didn't use deodorant over here, getting on a train filled with sweaty smelly school boys and salary men was not a particularly nice experience. Maybe they were brought up to think that they didnt smell or that using deodorant was embarrassing?
Back in the UK, men using deodorant was normal and there were plenty of brands marketed and packaged for men.
These days in Japan however, some cosmetics companies have started to make deodorant targeted at men but only a few meaning that smelly train carriages will be around for a bit longer.
When you was in Tokyo, did you encounter the surrounded-by-smelly-men-on-train situation? Are men in general smelly in your region?
As for the CM, there are loads of the CM but could only find the one below which I posted before.
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Sun 04/27 21:50 comments (110)
Lasersword operator
in germany it's normal to use deodorant, <3 my Axe-deodorant^^ i would die in a train with smelly guys/girls!!!
(ID #180462) Posted on 2008/05/03 22:30
Mediadesigner
yes, AXE ftw :) saw that commercial a while ago and was all wtf?! ... Japanese commercials never cease to amaze me ... or creep me out ... or just plain wtf?! ;)
(ID #180466) Posted on 2008/05/03 22:40
Seconded. AXE for the way!! >_<
(ID #180512) Posted on 2008/05/03 23:31
Ha, Rexona. I'm just glad I'm really bad at smelling.
(ID #180605) Posted on 2008/05/04 00:45
Lasersword operator
hahahaha^^
(ID #181191) Posted on 2008/05/04 23:40
Photographer/Night Auditor
I wouldn't say we (being men) smell like spring flowers but we do take care of our BO when we are out and about because the ladies definitely don't like the smell of BO.
(ID #180464) Posted on 2008/05/03 22:35
Well, if ladies did like BO, it would be quite the surprising thing. ^^; But really, certain men should learn how to take care of themselves (showers, deo, but also shaving, etc.). If not to please others it should be done in the name of body hygiene.
(ID #180482) Posted on 2008/05/03 23:03
Actually some girls do like BO. It's a prehistoric thing. Pheromones and such. I still wear deo for the sake of everybidy else, though. ^_^
(ID #194259) Posted on 2008/05/23 06:04
Most men where D.O. for their B.O., but you always have a few that don't.
(ID #180557) Posted on 2008/05/04 00:04
Ewww, my desire to visit Japan has been taken down a peg >.>;;;; I use Sure for Men~ Not fragrant but keeps me dry when doing sports ^^v I remember in school we used to try out each other's deodorants after PE (spray on ones, not the roll-ons O.O;;;;).
(ID #180470) Posted on 2008/05/03 22:48
comicreader & robobuilder
ist about hard work! ^_^
(ID #180474) Posted on 2008/05/03 22:54
Programmer/IT/Student
O.o wow, never knew that. Yeah here, pretty much everyone uses deodorant, it's absolutely necessary. I have run into quite a few people that either don't use deodorant or just don't take showers, it makes me wanna gag. =/ Sometimes it gets REALLY bad at cons, small event room + summer time + a lot of people who tend to not take showers packed into that room = stink that can kill.
(ID #180475) Posted on 2008/05/03 22:56
The last time I went to a con I made a point of showering every morning before heading out and liberally applying deodorant. I really really didn't want to be the smelly con guy.
(ID #180532) Posted on 2008/05/03 23:47
Programmer/IT/Student
Lol, exactly. I do the same. xD Especially since con days tend to be real long.
(ID #180752) Posted on 2008/05/04 07:00
IT-Architect, SysAdmin, WebDesign and Coding, Virtualization (VMware + NetApp)
I usualy went by taxi or foot around in Tokyo as 8-10 years ago i was totaly afraid of kanjis and also missing a train or geting in the wrong one etc. (back then i didnt have had the expierience to live in a big city, i was a cow-village girl - ugh! Also i didnt even check the train stations out to see if they have or have not english signs lol... yea i was young... ^^) So... no i didn't have that expierience in Tokyo, however i did have it in germany. ;) Even though males here tend to use deodorant, not all do... so on loaded trains it can get really iky here too. Hmm they have only pink deos in Tokyo? Girls deos here tend to have colours from white to pink and light blue, depending on the brand and what kind of deo. Maybe you should buy a load of mens deo when you are in germany. ;) Imagine a blind groper on a train that thinks you are a girl just cause your deo... uhh huu! (I actually would die to read that in the newspaper!)
(ID #180477) Posted on 2008/05/03 22:57
Personally I don't think I smell and I don't use deodorants since I don't sweat much even during effort (Thank you, my parents! Thank you genetics!), and my sense of smell is really weak, so I can't answer your question. As long as people regularly take showers it should be okay, anyway.
(ID #180479) Posted on 2008/05/03 22:59
It's so hot here right now that with just the fan running, in the morning when I wake up, I'm stuck to my bed :(. Need two baths a day to stay human. And yes, a very small minority of my country's population chooses to use deo. No small wonder then, we have ads that ask to you to lift your arms in public transport to get more breathing space :D.
(ID #180488) Posted on 2008/05/03 23:10
Student in Japanese language and culture.
Waoh! O_o That's unthinkable in France. Here everyone use deodorant (btw deodorant is a french word ^^). I didn't know that side of Japan.
(ID #180494) Posted on 2008/05/03 23:16
I could have sworn some time ago deodorant wasn't used in France. Or maybe that was the shaved arm pit thing...
(ID #180572) Posted on 2008/05/04 00:14
Hotdog Repairman
I was in Japan during the fall, so I didn't encounter alot of sweaty people. That unfortunately also meant the girls weren't dressed as skanky. Surprised to hear men don't use deoderant there as Tokyo stores were marketing men's makeup & facial treatments when I was there which is almost nonexistent here. I live in a cool, dry climate so while BO does exist it's managable.
(ID #180499) Posted on 2008/05/03 23:21
Student and full-time otaku
I'm happy to report I've never been so close to a dude that I could smell him. But overhere, everyone's on the Deo, so no harm I guess. Although I never knew that this was something uncommon in Japan.
(ID #180527) Posted on 2008/05/03 23:43
I don't really go around and smell on other people, but most of my friends are using deodorant. Most of the people are using it here in Sweden I guess.
(ID #180528) Posted on 2008/05/03 23:44
Maybe Japanese women prefer men with bad body odor? :P
(ID #180534) Posted on 2008/05/03 23:49
That's also depends on what kind of men they are.
(ID #180681) Posted on 2008/05/04 03:58
I'm allergic to most deodorant ;_; I have to use a very specific type of roll on, so I have large stocks of it :P Here in SA anyone who can afford deodorant normally wears it, though there are many people who, far from not wearing deodorant, don't even bath or shower regularly, fortunately they are not really in my area. ~_~
(ID #180562) Posted on 2008/05/04 00:06
Part trooper, part -timer, 100% loser...
GOOD!
(ID #180567) Posted on 2008/05/04 00:10
Full-time student へへ
it's not really a problem now, but in a month or two when summer comes.... *phew*. come to think of it, axe debuted quite recently in japan too. i remember the corny commercials on tv.
(ID #180568) Posted on 2008/05/04 00:10
I'm pretty sure it was covered by someone else, but just out everyone here uses deodorant. It's all about Old Spice High Endurance or Red Zone depending on your activities.
(ID #180574) Posted on 2008/05/04 00:17
Kokoro Kotonoha's personal trainer
Why does the old woman in the picture look like Mrs. Doubtfire? Lulz
(ID #180582) Posted on 2008/05/04 00:22
Here in Singapore it's pretty common for guys to have deodorants. And I'm pretty sure there are advertisements running for men deodorants. Even perfumes, cosmetics and etc... Personally I'm using an Adidas DO. Not particularly fussed with the brand as I only use it when I need it. Like times I go for workouts or games.
(ID #180598) Posted on 2008/05/04 00:41
Engineer by weekdays, Hikki by weekends
Japanese males must be proud of their manly smell, the sweat of youth etc etc :D *I myself use deodorant once in a while
(ID #180603) Posted on 2008/05/04 00:44
Yeh my host brother had a bit of a laugh when I first used deodorant. It's weird though considering how metrosexual japanese men are. They sure groom their eyebrows but they dont use deodorant
(ID #180623) Posted on 2008/05/04 01:30
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:54)
Strange thing is while in Japan I didn't find anyone smelly while packed like sardines in a rushhour train. must have been real lucky then. ^^
(ID #180630) Posted on 2008/05/04 01:52
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:54)
I believe I mentioned this on a previous comment, however I was fortunate enough to be jammed into an elevator full of school girls while going up tokyo tower. ^^ smelled really nice. ^^; can't remember how many sumimasen I said while the elevator was going up.
(ID #180635) Posted on 2008/05/04 01:57
Unfortunately, I'm usually the smelly one (even though I'm a girl, and most definitely use deodorant), especially after I slipped and fell in a puddle of tuna blood at the Tsukiji fish market. I got a very wide berth on the train after that.
(ID #180638) Posted on 2008/05/04 02:09
Photography, Dealer,computer student
we use Axe so no smelly guys here
(ID #180643) Posted on 2008/05/04 02:20
here IN PAK its normal for everyone to use deodorants perfumes. i think its a healthy habit . wonder what is wrong with Japanese boys. i feel bad if i forget to put on deoderant and i know i will sweat
(ID #180648) Posted on 2008/05/04 02:27
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
the men here smells like deodorant... just kidding LOL I think in asia due to the hot humid weather the men (even women ^^;;; ) tend to smell of sweat and stuff esp if they don't use deodorant. In vancouver however there is definitely a large variety of deodorant for men, as for singapore I can't remember LOL But what can smell really bad = perfume and sweat *passes out*
(ID #180652) Posted on 2008/05/04 02:32
Chef, Full fledged Otaku, Full time Observer.....
perfume+sweat+compact space"eg train"= toxic nerve gas... best biohazardous material...
(ID #180714) Posted on 2008/05/04 05:07
I agree that deodorant rules. One thing that annoys me, however, is when people use large amounts after physical exertion without washing first. Just makes it smell even worse.
(ID #180654) Posted on 2008/05/04 02:35
Ah yes Rexona because "It won't let you down" >o<
(ID #180662) Posted on 2008/05/04 03:00
aspiring to become a doujin and graphics artist cum lawyer
dewm. the old lady looks like mrs. doubtfire....or maybe it's just moi? (-~-)"""
(ID #180667) Posted on 2008/05/04 03:22
Online Shop
I always encountered bad smelling train filled with men when I was in Tokyo but that's to be expected riding the train to Akihabara ^^; But it gets even worse riding the first train of the day heading to Comic Market and on way back home from Comic Market as well, the horror... Some men in USA are pretty bad, I've encountered many sweaty and smelly men in universities and some events such as Anime Expo & E3. It's not about them using deodorant, people just don't take shower period -_- I take shower regularly while in Japan and I begin to think if people who smells bad don't feel bad about how bad they smell or how sticky their body is. Maybe your senses get dull when you are in such a state for so long and you don't care anymore? I wouldn't want to find out by getting dirty though.
(ID #180676) Posted on 2008/05/04 03:39
Assembly line worker, nationally certified madman
You are right about the senses of a personen getting dull. Years ago I was one of those smelly guys too. I avoided the shower whenever possible and please don't ask me about deodorant. Even the toothbrush was a mortal enemy of mine. Even my room smelled very funny (i don't know if the word funny really applies here. my mother never thought of it as 'funny'). I admit it, I was a very extreme case of a late bloomer. But today? man I hate it when I don't shower in the morning aafter getting up. Sicne I tend to sweat alot and since I also hate the feeling of sweat on my body I shower quite often when it's hot outside, at least everytime after I want out. I'm all out of deodorant? Crap, that's an international disaster. My apartment smells? Time for extreme measures (extreme cleaning, that is. I mean REALLY extreme). And if someone else smell on the Bus or on my workplace? Hell, I need a shotgun!
(ID #180761) Posted on 2008/05/04 07:23
Student artist
I guess lots of men think sweaty salty smell is a new trend?
(ID #180678) Posted on 2008/05/04 03:54
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Have never used a deodorant in my life. I can remember only one or two times touching a deodorant, but not using. It was my sister's if I'm not mistaken, bit fuzzy the memory is, since it's a childhood memory. ^^
(ID #180692) Posted on 2008/05/04 04:22
Visual Communications and Web 2.0
that old lady is kind of creepy hehehe but funny commercial. I love how random a lot of Japanese TV ads tent to be.
(ID #180696) Posted on 2008/05/04 04:38
~Undine~
Japanese males usually do not wear/use deodorant? That's terrible! That must really stink! Over here (Belgium) nearly everyone uses deodorant, people who do not are considered as unhygienic (or are destitute).
(ID #180709) Posted on 2008/05/04 05:00
IT Student, Web-dev intern
I found it kinda annoying too having to use those really small axe (amount of alcohol 48ml? couldn't find any other amount indication) bottles you can get from local kombini (check them out Danny, supermarkets too).. but at least there are some options for men too it seems. I'm currently in Kanagawa. Too bad, AXE seems to be the only option for men here. Would like to have the bigger bottle too..and the options are really scarce, because you can only get them from Axe specific rack and they're usually out of the smell you want your armpits to smell like..
(ID #180719) Posted on 2008/05/04 05:23
JR. College Student
My body retains such little heat that I don't sweat very often in the first place... but sometimes even regardless I use deodorant. Just in case. But not very often...
(ID #180737) Posted on 2008/05/04 06:06
freelance photographer
All people smell, when I was in Tokyo I was lucky not to cathc a smelly crouded train, the day I had to enter a crouded train was raining so everyone was covered with plastic smelled like poliestirene armor.
(ID #180738) Posted on 2008/05/04 06:09
freelance photographer
sorry -> catch ->Train
(ID #180740) Posted on 2008/05/04 06:12
Assembly line worker, nationally certified madman
Oh gawd, that reminds me of my workplace. Back when I was working for Auto 5000 we had 2 guys on our assembly line who smelled particually bad. I mean no one there smelled like a bouquet of roses because of the work and the high temperatures in the hall but we tried to keep it at a minimum. But those guys? Hell! One of them was in another team on the line and we borrowed him because too many guys in our team were either sick or on vacation and I had to work with that guy for 3 full rounds. I always held my breath when he was in smelling-range. I think I would have pucked sooner or later if I didn't. That other guy was in our team for a couple of days and the good thing was that my seat in the team room was far away from him. That guy smelled even worse so we always send him into the storage area. I mean he always wore the same pullover for work. And I mean like: every single, friggin day. But now that I work for VW again (which means that I also work on another assembly line now) I don't have to bother with these guys anymore.
(ID #180753) Posted on 2008/05/04 07:09
I don't use deo unless going to a party, but i think it is really lack of shower that is the main problem, cause i shower every morning and after workouts and im pretty sure i don't smell even though i don't use deo.
(ID #180766) Posted on 2008/05/04 07:58
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
Phew! I'm kinda glad I went to Japan while it was still very cold... :P Anyways, here in Brazil it's pretty standard for men to use deodorants and perfume... but if you take buses or trains, chances are you are going to have to live with BO all over the place. While there are many people who does take pretty good care related to hygiene, lots of people also don't... And since there are some places in Brazil which are hot almost all year round...
(ID #180778) Posted on 2008/05/04 09:05
Student
Here, people use TOO MUCH deodorant. Guys in high school and middle school (and plenty of college students too, I bet) pretty much bathe in AXE or TAG. Or, people spray the stuff in hallways or in public. It's pretty gross. Makes you get dizzy XD.
(ID #180801) Posted on 2008/05/04 09:48
Deodorant really common where I live. Most people I know have a can of Axe in their bags so they can spray themsleves down every once in a while. Regarding smelly people on the bus/train, people with too much Axe/Tag/Scented Deodorant produce the same effect...makes me want to puke.
(ID #180824) Posted on 2008/05/04 10:11
Student
Well it depends, there are men that use loads of deodorant and perfume and those that smell like they haven't taken a bath in a week. I like always wearing at least deodorant since I don't want the girls to fall unconscious by the way I smell XD (smell bad, they can fall if I smell nice XD)
(ID #180835) Posted on 2008/05/04 10:41
Software Engineer
The deodorant sold here sucks though, i find it terrible so i stock up when i'm back in Australia or ask people to bring it here when they visit.
(ID #180866) Posted on 2008/05/04 12:09
Leisure Consultant, Writer, Webmaster
Forget that, just get Axe and be done with it. Japanese men don't really wear deodorant though which I thought was pretty weird.
(ID #180875) Posted on 2008/05/04 12:27
Student Engineer
That's very interesting that the male portion of the Japanese population doesn't use deoderant. Personally I use Old Spice because it is the only stuff that really works. I have tried Axe, but it only covers up a guy's smell and second, I have never had it work where it protects against sweat. Old spice works, smells great, and I have been told by many folk of the female portion of the population in the USA that axe makes them gag.
(ID #180893) Posted on 2008/05/04 12:53
filmaker
i didnnt really go around sniffing mens armpits...maids on the other hand...
(ID #180927) Posted on 2008/05/04 14:05
I can't understand why anyone wouldn't used deodorant. Do they somehow think their "natural" smell increases their pheromone count? I always use deodorant, and I prefer the Gillette gel type which does wonders. I don't like the crazy locker-room spray-on ones though, they remind me of disgusting high school change rooms.
(ID #181017) Posted on 2008/05/04 16:17
Student by day, Superhero by night.
I actually got myself some DHC deodorant from Japan when I was there last month. It says 'for Men' on the can. So I guess at least some men in Japan uses deodorant.
(ID #181018) Posted on 2008/05/04 16:18
Polytechnic Senior, Bronze Lifesaving Trainee, Mech Designer, Pokemon Indexer.
I don't smell anything in my region ^_^ Well, during my secondary school years when I get on the bus at this one specific time there would always be a group of really sweaty students, from a football club, I think. And then the odor... I don't have a sweat fetish so I was like >__<.
(ID #181024) Posted on 2008/05/04 16:26
It depends on who's on the subway here for smell, sometimes you get on and an unfortunate homeless person is also there with you and well...they aren't nearly as clean as they are in Japan. :(
(ID #181035) Posted on 2008/05/04 16:50
it varies... pretty much most people smell of deodorant, i think the only problem with using deodorant is the excessive smell. people naturally emit pheromones in order to attract the opposite gender. That could be a reason why they don't really market deodorant for men there, or i could be completely wrong and they just think its inappropriate.
(ID #181077) Posted on 2008/05/04 18:40
O_o wow, I always was under impression that japanese are very clean (since they even have those high-tech toilets), but wow... I'd hate to be stuck in peak hour rush in summer. Over here D.O is pretty standard for everyone to use.
(ID #181098) Posted on 2008/05/04 19:27
Wow that commercial blew my mind. All I can say is WTF. With big neon letters.
(ID #181119) Posted on 2008/05/04 20:20
Most polish blokes are aware of their stench, so there is no way one would never use a deodorant in a lifetime ^^
(ID #181184) Posted on 2008/05/04 23:14
maybe here there are more deodorant for men that for women. and anyway it isn't a good thing go somewhere with a bad smell on.
(ID #181199) Posted on 2008/05/04 23:54
AG+ it's my favotire deodorant! When i was in japan for first time i discover that and now i ask ever to parents of my wife to send me from japan. That AG+ is better. I use it this morning too! In italy we don't have a deodorant like that.
(ID #181250) Posted on 2008/05/05 01:12
オタク all day long
There is actually men smell like Spring Flowers?? Arienai!!
(ID #181699) Posted on 2008/05/05 16:03
i'd make suffocating noises if i were caught in middle of a bunch of smelly guys! my first thought would be to cover my face with my hanky. Dont know why, but i cant stand the smell of my own sweat, so i tend to use deo or a perfume everyday.
(ID #181999) Posted on 2008/05/06 03:47
Seems to be a lot more in terms of male deodorant these days though. Gatsby has a whole line of male deodorant spray out now that you can find almost anywhere. Now its just the task of getting Japanese males to apply the damn stuff!
(ID #182041) Posted on 2008/05/06 06:03
hehe i also use Axe ^^
(ID #182256) Posted on 2008/05/06 13:02
ZOMG!! Japanese men dont use deoderant! I started using deoderant since I was 10! Wow....They dont use deoderant.
(ID #182515) Posted on 2008/05/07 00:20
Blogger, Figure collector, Baby Photographer?
i'm honestly horrified by this, not wearing deodorant here is so taboo! I can't possibly even imagine going into a train if people smell that bad! oh well it'll be a sacrifice i have to make for whenever i do make my trip to japan
(ID #182904) Posted on 2008/05/07 16:29
Fledgling repowriter
The most crowded trains I have ridden in Tokyo were the JR Sobu line from Akiba to Ryogoku; and the JR Yokohama line from Higashi-Konagawa to Kozukue (on the day of the Club World Cup final). I was seriously shoved deeper into the car on that day; but I did not detect any unbearable odors. I have no problem using a "women's" deodorant. Pink is one of my favorite colors. 3=) [We're all pink on the inside.] It has been 30 years since I ceased using aerosol deodorants. I had to revert to roll-ons back then. Nowadays it is easier to find non-aerosol anti-perspirants | deodorants. That's a major difference. Deodorants only mask the stench; anti-perspirants work to minimize you sweating. I generally buy the 70g solid at the dollar store. I would think this should be a staple at the ¥99 shop.
(ID #183256) Posted on 2008/05/08 05:25
The heat has only just begun and i've noticed some unpleasant smells on the train, already. I was well warned before coming to Japan to stock up on deodorant. Even the women's deodorant isn't that great when it comes to the intense heat+humidity of Tokyo in the summer.
(ID #183517) Posted on 2008/05/08 14:01
You need it in the train.
(ID #183888) Posted on 2008/05/09 05:24
Nameless company executive
When I lived in Okayama...the realization that I wouldn't find deodorant here didn't occur to me till I ran out. I am thankful I had time to return to the States for the winter holidays to stock up. But it could be worse...smelly salarymen on a train is not as bad as smelly, sweaty otaku at Comic Market.
(ID #184241) Posted on 2008/05/09 17:17
i was reading "The Times" (reputable British newspaper) and there was an artical where it said that Asian men don't produce the same chemicals notably most of the smelly ones in their sweat, unlike other racial groups.
(ID #202323) Posted on 2008/06/02 08:44
wow! the things they don't tell you in the travel guide. no men's deodorant? seems strange to me, for a country so concerned with bathing and such.
(ID #226948) Posted on 2008/07/01 16:55
Mad scientist
In Holland, all the guys wear like waay too much deodorant... When someone walks by, you suffocate from the smell of perfume (or at least with some people). The men here wear more cholome then the women I think... ^^;
(ID #616181) Posted on 2009/05/22 06:10
Accounting Technician
the guys I work with are not the most hygenic lot
(ID #626757) Posted on 2009/05/30 13:20
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