I first bought Japanese magazines to improve my vocabulary grasp of the language. The words in magazines are used to describe fashion, feelings, and to give advice. These words are not the norm in textbooks.
As time goes by, I am convinced that the layout and the information given are more interesting and purer in content. It's easy to see how all Singapore fashion magazines highlight on how to achieve sexual highs. But Japanese magazines do not. At least they did not until these 3 or 4 years. Now the Japanese magazines also have a few pages on what men and women like about courtship and hence, one or two sections may mention their preference in men and women. However, it's more of the psychology of men and women rather than the physical sexual appetites. One example is (at this juncture, I stopped typing to flip through the magazines to find an example... it's not easy to locate one) "No boyfriend to spend Christmas with this year! How would I know that an acquaintance I made is interested in me?"
Such topics are the focus in the 5 pages out of the 300 pages of a magazine. What is in the rest of the magazine?
- how to dress this season
- how people dress on the streets
- how to wear the kimono (seasonal)
- how to make-up/ do your hair
- accessories of different provinces
- exercises for desk-bound/ city folks
- cooking
- how to use space in a tiny apartment
- advertisements
And I love their freebies! See, this is the bag from Paul & Joe (famous Japanese cosmetic brand) I received from this magazine in the photograph!
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