{{Not verified|date=March 2007}}

[[Image:Lafcadio hearn.jpg|right|thumb|[[Lafcadio Hearn]], aka Koizumi Yakumo, a notable scholar and author well known for his strong interest in Japanese culture and books on Japan.]]

A '''Japanophile''' (also known as a '''Nipponophile''') is a non-[[Japanese people|Japanese]] person with a strong interest in one or more aspects of [[Japan]] or [[Culture of Japan|Japanese culture]]. The word describes individuals who fall in one or more of the following categories:

* Scholars on the [[History of Japan]]
* Students of the [[Japanese language]]
* Scholars on the [[Sociology]] of Japan
* Fans of a particular aspect of Japanese culture

Today, Japanophilia is becoming more common around the world, {{cn}} with the popularization of many Japanese cultural exports and Japanese pop culture, such as [[Zen Buddhism]], [[Japanese food]], [[J-Horror]], [[J-Pop]], [[anime]], [[manga]], and [[video game]]s. However, a strain of it has existed since the days of [[Lafcadio Hearn]], an Irish-American author who made his home in Japan in the 19th century. His writings were the first to introduce Japan's unique culture, folk beliefs, and practices to the wider world, and served as the inspiration for many Japanophiles in the West.

In Asia, some Japanophiles exist in [[South Korea]], [[mainland China]], [[Taiwan]], [[Hong Kong]], especially among youths.{{Fact|date=March 2007}}

==See also==
* [[Japonism]]
* [[Asiaphile]]
* [[Orientalism]]
* [[Otaku]]

==External links==
{{wiktionary}}
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A33261-2003Dec26?language=printer "Japan's Empire of Cool"], Washington Post

[[Category:Japan in non-Japanese culture]]
[[Category:Subcultures]]

[[ko:친일파]]
[[ja:親日派]]
[[sv:Japanofil]]
[[zh:亲日派]]

Masaki Sumitani

2006-12-01T01:12:55Z

Repku: /* Criticisms */

[[Image:Hardgay.jpg|thumb|250px|A picture of Hard Gay in action, taken from the [[Japanese media|Japanese television]] show [[:ja:爆笑問題のバク天!|Bakuten]]. The purple text reads, "Welcome to the 'Hard Gay' stand." ('Stand' being short for ガソリンスタンド gasoline stand or gasoline station)]]

'''Razor Ramon HG''' (レイザーラモン HG、occasionally Razor Ramon Sumitani) is the performing name of '''Masaki Sumitani''' (住谷正樹 Sumitani Masaki), a [[list of Japanese comedians|Japanese comedian]], [[wrestler]] and ''[[tarento]]'' ("talent"). His act gained national attention and popularity when featured on the "[[Bakusho Mondai|Bakushō Mondai]] no Bakuten!" (Daibakuten) Saturday [[variety show]] on [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS Television]] in [[Japan]], in [[2005]]. He should not be confused with American professional wrestler [[Scott Hall]], whose use of the "Razor Ramon" stage name predates Sumitani's. Although the [[WWE]] has trademarked the name "Razor Ramon" they have not responded against HG using the name Razor Ramon HG.

==Early career==
Masaki Sumitani was born [[December 18]], [[1975]] in [[Kakogawa, Hyogo|Harima]], [[Hyogo Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. After graduating from Higashi Kakogawa High School, he entered [[Doshisha University]] and majored in [[Commerce]]. While at college he picked up wrestling as a hobby, and soon joined the Doshisha Professional Wrestling Alliance (DWA). Under his performing name “GiveUp Sumitani,” he won the heavy class Kyoto pro-wrestling championship co-hosted by DWA and the Ritsumeikan Wrestling Alliance (RWA) of nearby [[Ritsumeikan University]] in [[Kyoto]].

It was through wrestling in their college years, that Sumitani met [[Makoto Izubuchi]], with whom he would later form the comedy duo "Razor Ramon" in [[1997]]. During their college years, Razor Ramon won the "Fukuwarai award" in the Imamiya Kids' Ebisu Manzai Contest, and gained experience on the stage through the audition live performance “SABUKI” at "[[2chome-gekijo]]", an [[Osaka]] comedy club opened by the [[Yoshimoto Kogyo]] comedy troupe at which many comedians from the [[Kansai]] area start their career.

After completing his university education, Sumitani got a job at CO-OP KOBE, as a grocery delivery man. His desire to pursue a career as a professional comedian led him to quit his job after four months, when he joined [[Yoshimoto Kogyo]] with his partner Makoto Izubuchi. "Razor Ramon" made their TV debut in 1999, and won the "Judges Special Award" in the "ABC Owarai (Comedy) Grand-Prix" in 2000. Both Sumitani and Izubuchi joined the Yoshimoto Kogyo-produced program [[Yoshimoto Shin-kigeki]], one of the most popular comedy stage acts in Japan, in 2001, often playing [[yakuza]], [[salaryman]], [[udon]] restaurant owners, construction workers, and others.

Sumitani continued his wrestling aspirations in late 2005, working in the comedically off-beat [[HUSTLE]] promotion and defeating [[Yinling|Yinling the Erotic Terrorist]] in his debut match; he has since gone to team with [[Naoya Ogawa]] and [[Yoshihiro Tajiri]] in leading the HUSTLE Army against [[Nobuhiko Takada|Generalissimo Takada]]'s Monster Army.

The most well-known character developed and portrayed by Sumitani is '''Hard Gay''' (ハードゲイ), introduced in 2002, as whom he finally rose to national prominence in 2005. While the official name is "Razor Ramon HG", he is most frequently known as "Hard Gay", or simply HG. Dressing in a tight black [[leather]] outfit reminiscent of the [[Tom of Finland]] art, he goes around performing acts of charity (''yonaoshi'', "social improvement") for unsuspecting bystanders while performing trademark [[pelvic thrust]]s and vocalisations, often accompanied by "[[Livin' La Vida Loca]]" by [[Ricky Martin]].

According to some accounts the name Hard Gay was the suggestion of Sumitani's senior comedian in the Yoshimoto Kogyo group, [[Kendo Kobayashi]], in reference to his "hard" dancing. The name has also been described as a pun on 芸, "gei", which means "skill" or "art". However, to develop his character, Sumitani visited gay bars in Doyama-cho, [[Osaka]]’s biggest gay area, and his costume, which consists of hot pants, a small vest, and cap, all in black leather, along with aviator sunglasses, was purchased at a shop called "VFTQ" in Minami-Horie, Osaka, which specializes in gay fashion.

Hard Gay makes regular use of a number of [[catch phrase]]s in his act; he usually makes his entrance in front of the camera shouting "Dōmō Hādogei dēsu" (Hello, this is Hard Gay), with arms thrust out and a spin afterwards. His self-introduction is then followed by his famous “dance” moves. He often shouts "Fuuuuuu" (フゥ～!) or "Foohhhh!" (フォー！), a [[running joke]] in his performances. He often stops people saying unfavourable things to him by shouting “sei sei sei sei sei” with his palm in front of the person’s face. Whether this means anything is debatable, although Sumitani has commented that “sei sei” is something that comes out from his mouth when he is not happy, and that he does not mean "''[[Wiktionary:say|say]]''" as in to [[Speech|speak something]], although one might compare this action to the popular "Talk to the hand". A possible interpretation might be that the origin lies in the word "urusai" (lit. noisy, meaning "be quiet!"), which is often pronounced ''urusē'' うるせー in [[Kansai dialect]], shortened to "sei". Another theory is the word "sei" written by [[kanji]] 静, meaning "quiet".　Also, "sei" 性, means "sex" or "gender" in Japanese.

He recently started working with "Razor Ramon" [[manzai]] partner Makoto Izubuchi again, with Izubuchi taking the name [[Makoto Izubuchi|Razor Ramon RG]] (RG meaning "Real Gay"). He was brought in on the gimmick after it gained immense popularity. Izubuchi's character wasn't nearly as well received as Sumitani's, and has since faded into obscurity.

It is now common knowledge that Hard Gay is not in fact homosexual nor particularly outrageous, but a rather ordinary male comedian who is merely milking a character that led him to success. Television programs in which he has appeared have increasingly made reference to this, and he himself has significantly reduced his "comic" gay mannerisms in live appearances on variety and other types of programs. While this initially increased his popularity, it remains to be seen how long he can remain viable as the Hard Gay persona. His recent marriage, as is the case with [[tarento]] that get married in the midst of their careers, has caused a decline in his appearances and popularity.

==Criticisms==
Sumitani is not [[gay]]; His supposed [[homosexuality]] was exposed as a gimmick when he was caught in the midst of a date, with Japanese actress and swimsuit model [[Anna Suzuki]], whom he has since married[http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060810p2a00m0et010000c.html] He has been criticised for his stereotypical depiction of gay men and for building a career on parodying a social minority with "bizarre and extreme" antics [http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200512170192.html]. Hard Gay is not as popular among Japanese gays, and his best-selling book did not sell well in gay areas.{{fact}}

A spokesperson for the Hokkaido Sexual Minority Association Sapporo Meeting, a support group for gay, lesbian and transgender people, has said that "Hard Gay's acceptance by the Japanese public shows me that there is a strong tendency here to see homosexuality as something to be laughed at. That is sad" [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20060319x1.html].

Openly lesbian Osaka Prefectural Assemblywoman [[Kanako Otsuji]] has been quoted as saying:

<blockquote>[The way the media treats sexual minorities] makes me angry. This morning I saw [comedian] Razor Ramon for the first time. I never watch TV. I'd only heard about him. He's not homosexual. He just uses gayness for his act, to make people laugh. I'm afraid that people will get the idea that gay people are all like that, yelling and pumping their hips[http://humanrightsjapan.blogspot.com/2005_10_01_humanrightsjapan_archive.html].</blockquote>



==Retirement==
Daily Sports in Japan reports that Razor Ramon HG is retiring from pro wrestling after [[Hustle Mania]], which takes place 11/23 at [[Yokohama Arena]]. His retirement match is against [[The Esperanza]].

==Notes of interest==
* The famous Japanese soccer player [[Hidetoshi Nakata]] was famously genuinely mistaken for Razor Ramon HG as he got off a plane in Japan. Nakata was wearing dark sunglasses at the time.
* Mixed martial artist [[Kazushi Sakuraba]] dressed up as Hard Gay as part of his ring entrance at the [[PRIDE]] Itadaki 2005 event.
* Sumitani released his first single entitled "Young Man" on February 8, 2006, which is a Japanese rendition of the [[Village People]]'s song "[[YMCA (song)|YMCA]]".
* Razor Ramon HG made a small cameo in the May 2006 chapter of [[Gantz]] (chapter 233), shown on a television in Kurono Kei's apartment.
* He also made a small cameo in Episode 12 of [[Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu]], at 2:29, with [[Akihiro Miwa]].
* Some of the characters in the Japanese drama series '1 litre of tears' imitate Razor Ramon HG's signature pose and exclamations in episode 6.
* HG claims that he has gay friends.
* He is often compared to British comedian, [[Sacha Baron Cohen]]. Although Cohen interviews people in character, HG attempts to support people in character.
* He is a regular performer with the [[HUSTLE]] Pro Wrestling group
* The registration of his marriage to Anna Suzuki was announced on Thursday, [[August 10]], [[2006]]. Suzuki has stated she will end her modelling career after her commitments are finished and concentrate on starting a family.
* In the anime [[Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan]], the main character tells his love interest Dokuro in the final episode, "I'll become gay for you, Dokuro! Hard Gay!"

==Name Variants==
Due to the lack of an L [[phoneme]] in Japanese ('R' and 'L' are equivalent in transliteration from English) and similarity between 'er' and 'or' in English, '''Hard Gay''' has a number of commonly used variants on official and fan sites. Even official '''Hard Gay''' merchandise has been known to use less common variants. The following have wide usage on the internet or appear on official merchandise and are listed in approximate order by popularity. Since '''Hard Gay''' also is commonly used for homosexual pornography, it is difficult to assess popularity of this name.
* Laser Ramon
* Razor Ramon
* Razor Ramon Hard Gay
* Razor Ramon HG (variant used in the press)
* Razor Ramon Sumitani
* Razor Ramon Sumitani HG
* Razer Ramon
* Lasor Ramon
* Layzer Ramon

==References==
* [http://www.fandango.co.jp/talent_prf/action/TalentProfileDetailSearchAction?unitId=20226&talentId=0 Fandango Bio]

==External links==
* {{en icon}} [http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/face/archive/news/2005/20050720p2g00m0dm024000c.html MSN-Mainichi Daily News:Razor Ramon slices along Japan’s cutting edge]
* {{en icon}} [http://www.videouncovered.com/adds/play_page.php?id_char=bakuten Videos of Razor Ramon HG]
* {{en icon}} [http://www.thejapanesearecrazy.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=4&id=14&Itemid=27 Razer Ramon Videos (Categorized)]
* {{en icon}} [http://www.razoramon.com Bakafish Translations] – Website for the subtitled HG clips.
* {{es icon}} [http://www.kuraku-fansub.net Kuraku no Fansub] Website for the subtitled HG clips in spanish.
* [http://www.hard-gay.org Hard-Gay.org] Hard Gay website with various high and low quality clips.

[[Category:Japanese comedians|Sumitani, Masaki]]
[[Category:Japanese professional wrestlers|Sumitani, Masaki]]
[[Category:1975 births|Sumitani, Masaki]]
[[Category:Living people|Sumitani, Masaki]]
[[Category:People from Hyōgo Prefecture|Sumitani, Masaki]]

[[es:Masaki Sumitani]]
[[fr:Masaki Sumitani]]
[[ja:住谷正樹]]