Why do the Japanese give a peace sign when having their photo taken?
Contrary to what we think, Japanese tourists are not giving a peace sign when having their picture take. Rather, they are merely requesting that the photographer take two photographs, instead of one. Michelle Berkowitz, Woollahra I asked a Japanese friend this question and she said `I don’t know … but always’. Kirilee Dagg, Cowra The Japanese, like us, are suckers for American culture. During the 1972 Winter Olympics, a crowd-pleasing US skater and peacenik, Janet Lynn, used it. The V became a part of popular culture in Japan and, subsequently, throughout Asia. Some Westerners use it above the heads of others being photographed to suggest they are donkeys or cuckolds. Paul Roberts, Lake Cathie I presume because theyre asking for a second copy. Alex Abbey, Parkes Tokyo friends assure me that the two-fingered sign ubiquitous in photographs of Japanese is more of an expression of cool than anything to do with peace. They say that the closest thing to a literal translation of the gesture
