''Yamato nadeshiko'' ( or ) is a

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

term meaning the "

personification Personification is the representation of a thing or abstraction as a person, often as an embodiment or incarnation. In the arts, many things are commonly personified, including: places, especially cities, National personification, countries, an ...

of an idealized Japanese woman." The term is the archetype of conservative and traditional

femininity Femininity (also called womanliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and Gender roles, roles generally associated with women and girls. Femininity can be understood as Social construction of gender, socially constructed, and there is also s ...

Name origin and connotations

Yamato was originally the area around today's Sakurai, Nara, Sakurai City in Nara Prefecture of Japan, which became Yamato Province and by extension a Names of Japan, name for the whole of Japan. Yamato is also the dynastic name of the ruling Imperial ...

'' ( 大和) was an ancient name for Japan and, therefore, has nationalistic connotations. The name also contains a floral metaphor. The word ''nadeshiko'' refers to ''

Dianthus superbus ''Dianthus superbus'', the fringed pink or large pink, is a species of ''Dianthus'' native to Europe and northern Asia, from France north to arctic Norway, and east to Japan; in the south of its range, it occurs at high altitudes, up to 2,400 m. ...

'', a frilled pink carnation. The word ''nadeshiko'' (撫子) also means beloved or dear child (lit. "child being petted"). The combination of these two meanings indicates a flower of the Japanese nation, that is, a standard of female beauty that is uniquely Japanese. While the term refers to the Japanese ideals of femininity, possessing grace and beauty, it also describes the ''Yamato nadeshiko'''s inner strength. She exhibits delicacy and deference, as well as quiet determination. Both dignified and modest, the ''Yamato nadeshiko'' is believed to embody characteristics of delicacy and fragility, as well as elegance and sturdiness. Though outwardly submissive and obedient, she is internally strong. As the ''Yamato nadeshiko'' is one of mature character, she has a nurturing yet uncompromising personality.

Modern use of the term

The term ''Yamato nadeshiko'' is often used to describe a demure young woman and, in a contemporary context, nostalgically of women with good traits which are perceived as being increasingly rare.

Modern media

Though ''Yamato nadeshiko'' is no longer considered an ideal for women to reach for, it's still referenced in pop culture media such as novels, manga, anime, TV dramas, and movies. It is typically used to refer to female characters that possess traits of maturity, modesty, gentleness, grace, uncompromising determination, while also being nurturing. The ''Yamato nadeshiko'' character type is often portrayed in anime. Attractive due to having a more mature personality than the other characters, she is often slightly older, sometimes even represented as a teacher or a mother. Her appeal lies in her sexual maturity and traditional Japanese virtues of a caring yet subservient nature.

''Nadeshiko Japan (なでしこジャパン)''

The official nickname of the

Japan women's national football team The , commonly known as Yamato nadeshiko, Nadeshiko Japan (なでしこジャパン), represents Japan in women's association football and is run by the Japan Football Association (JFA). One of the two countries to win every FIFA competition an ...

is '' Nadeshiko Japan (なでしこジャパン)'', which was derived from ''Yamato nadeshiko''. Despite being more successful than their male counterparts, ''Samurai Blue (''サムライ・ブルー), ''Nadeshiko Japan'' gets significantly less recognition; instead, the media trivializes their impressive skills and success by emphasizing the femininity of the members of ''Nadeshiko Japan''. For example, although they emerged as champions at the 2011 FIFA World Cup, the team was bombarded with comments about their "femininity" or "lack thereof." In order to combat the assumed incompatibility of sports and women, in 2004 the Japanese Football Association chose the nickname based on a contest of around 2,700 entries. It was chosen because it embodies femininity and athleticism, features presented in the media as contradictory, as well as a nationalistic identity. The team's decision to keep the name was to promote the "hidden image" of strength and boldness that the ''Yamato nadeshiko'' possesses.

References

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External links and references