Beauty Up: Exploring Contemporary Japanese Body Aesthetics

Beauty Up examines contemporary Japanese beauty culture and body aesthetics through ethnographic research conducted in Tokyo during the 1990s and early 2000s. The book focuses on beauty clinics, aesthetic salons, cosmetic surgery, and consumer practices related to appearance and self-presentation. Laura Miller investigates the intersection of gender, class, and beauty labor in Japanese society through extensive fieldwork and analysis of media, advertising, and popular culture. Her research includes interviews with practitioners and consumers in the beauty industry, along with examination of magazines, advertisements, and beauty manuals. The text explores specific beauty practices like skin whitening, facial massage, hair removal, and cosmetic procedures within their cultural and historical contexts. Miller documents the evolution of Japanese aesthetic ideals and beauty work while analyzing how Western influences have shaped modern practices. The book contributes to scholarly discussions about embodiment, consumer culture, and identity formation in contemporary Japan. Through its investigation of beauty practices, the work reveals broader patterns about social expectations, gender roles, and cultural values in Japanese society.

Readers found this ethnographic study provided detailed insights into Japanese beauty culture and aesthetics, particularly around makeup, body modification practices, and beauty work performed by both men and women. Readers appreciated: - Thorough research and fieldwork observations - Analysis of beauty industry marketing and media - Discussion of male beauty practices - Clear explanations of cultural context Common criticisms: - Academic writing style can be dense - Some sections feel repetitive - Limited coverage of certain topics like tattoos - High price point for length Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (15 ratings) Amazon: 5/5 (2 ratings) One academic reviewer noted the book "fills an important gap in literature on Japanese body aesthetics." A graduate student praised the "detailed examples from advertising and popular media" but found some theoretical sections "unnecessarily complex." Several readers mentioned wanting more photographs and visual examples to accompany the text.

Japanese Fashion: A Cultural History by Barbara Sato Documents the evolution of fashion practices in Japan through the lens of gender, class, and cultural identity.

The Body in Japanese Culture by Michael Ashkenazi and Jeanne Jacob Examines Japanese concepts of the body through history, medicine, martial arts, and social practices.

Making Faces: Performing Race in Fashion Magazines by Elizabeth Wissinger Analyzes beauty standards, racial representation, and the fashion industry's influence on body ideals in global media.

Re-Made in Japan by Joseph J. Tobin Charts the transformation of Western products and practices into Japanese cultural forms through consumption and adaptation.

The Face of Fashion by Jennifer Craik Maps the connections between cultural identity, social status, and beauty practices in modern consumer societies.

🔹 Laura Miller's research for "Beauty Up" included working as a participant-observer in Japanese beauty salons, giving her firsthand experience with the treatments and practices she describes. 🔹 The book explores how Japanese beauty practices blend traditional concepts like "bihada" (beautiful skin) with modern technologies and Western influences. 🔹 Following World War II, Japanese beauty culture underwent significant changes as American-style makeup and beauty practices were introduced alongside occupation forces. 🔹 The concept of "esute" (aesthetic salons) in Japan differs from Western beauty salons, offering unique treatments like face-slapping massage and electric muscle stimulation. 🔹 Author Laura Miller is a professor of Japanese Studies and Anthropology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and has spent over two decades studying Japanese popular culture and gender issues.