Uchimata!

If you google “uchimata” you will likely find many more articles about “uchi mata” (a judo technique) than about “uchimata” (pigeon-toed stances and gaits).

I don’t give a rat’s ass about judo but I have long wondered why so many Japanese women seem to be pigeon-toed.

I never lived in Japan but I traveled there often enough on business to notice that something weird seemed to be going on with the way Japanese women stood and walked.

In particular, I immediately noticed on my first visit to Japan that there seemed to be a high incidence of conspicuously pigeon-toe, particularly among Japanese women.

I have long suspected that Japanese uchimata is intentional rather than a medical condition (but I’m neither a doctor nor a fashion expert). Last night while waiting for my hay-fever medication to kick-in, I recalled my irritated fascination with uchimata and did a little online research.

https://vimeo.com/340188736

https://youtu.be/LsPKso2_eJ8

http://www.ageekinjapan.com/japanese-gir…

https://injapan.gaijinpot.com/play/cultu…

Plenty of other people have the same impression I had about the stance and gait of so many Japanese women. The consensus is that uchimata is, more often than not, intentional, an affectation based on a hopelessly absurd and misplaced desire to appear cute and childlike.

Uchimata doesn’t do anything for me. I think the uchimata stance and walk is about as sexy and alluring as polio or a bad case of scoliosis.

But I pride myself on having an open mind. I will gladly reconsider my views when a Japanese women with a serious case of uchimata wins the 100 meter sprint in the Olympics.