Taiwanese Candidate Uses Moe Character Image on Campaign Poster
Now moe start invading the political world
This time it's from Taiwan, not Japan. Chien Yu-yen (簡余晏) is a 44-year-old city councillor of Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. Currently she is running for Legislative Yuan, the unicameral legislature of Taiwan. The vote will be taken on January 14, 2012. Her unique campaign style has attracted attention from the media, especially from the Japanese. She uses moe bishoujo character images of her own on the campaign poster and other materials.
Perhaps this is a good idea to appeal to young Taiwanese voters who are fond of Japanese pop-culture. But does the moe character image make the voters in Taiwan to really support her?
What do you think?
Chien Yu-yen with her campaign poster
Promotional fans
image/source: mainichi, Chien Yu-yan's official blog
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25 Comments
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first thing that popped into my mind when I read the title was that this will never end well, but you know what this could be a brilliant idea, should check back when the elections are done
how is that really moe~... i find the woman to be more sexy then cute/innocent but that's me
Interesting approach, but I doubt many people will take her seriously...
So basic anime-style drawing of a person = moe... >_>
11/27/11 by justme8800
In the land of crunchyroll news, that seems to be the case. Also, every single summary needs to explain that there is "more after the jump." Just in case, y'know, somebody who's never used the internet before happens to read it.
11/27/11 by TerraGamerX
I don't get why you're being condescending. Did you have a look at the source article? "Moe" was used there too. Indeed the image technically not moe, but that is definitely the mindset the campaigners were going for.
11/28/11 by justme8800
I'm being critical because I used to really like CR News, and I want to make it clear to them that some of their recent style choices need rethinking.
"Moe" is an ethereal slang term that's difficult to nail down a definition for. Ask ten different otaku what it means to be moe, and you'll get ten different answers. I'm not vain enough to say that my ideas are unequivocal, but for starters it's understood that moe relates to character, not art style. Mainstream media like Mainichi Shimbun can't use "moe" in the same way that USA Today can't declare something "l33t." It can only result in cringing and mocking from the in crowd.
I don't expect Mainichi or the Thai politician to know any better, but I would expect Crunchyroll to have a grasp on this. They've run like half a dozen stories in the last week about "moe" things that really aren't. If I didn't know better, I would think they're abusing the word to get more page views.
"Moe" is an ethereal slang term that's difficult to nail down a definition for. Ask ten different otaku what it means to be moe, and you'll get ten different answers. I'm not vain enough to say that my ideas are unequivocal, but for starters it's understood that moe relates to character, not art style. Mainstream media like Mainichi Shimbun can't use "moe" in the same way that USA Today can't declare something "l33t." It can only result in cringing and mocking from the in crowd.
I don't expect Mainichi or the Thai politician to know any better, but I would expect Crunchyroll to have a grasp on this. They've run like half a dozen stories in the last week about "moe" things that really aren't. If I didn't know better, I would think they're abusing the word to get more page views.
11/28/11 by TerraGamerX
What bothers me is you're accusing CR News. Most of what they do is aggregate and relay news. The source article on Mainichi declares "moe", and that is what they have relayed here. As I emphasized, the campaigners probably had the mindset of following suit of all the other things that have moe mascots. The resulting work is not innately moe, but for categorical purposes, that is where their efforts fit. It wouldn't be fair for CR's relaying to throw in a word "political campaign 'tries' to use moe". And for the purpose of networking news articles, the mindset these campaigners have reasonably matches the content you'll find in other "moe" articles, so it is reasonable to throw it into that group for the purpose of discovery.
11/29/11 by justme8800
Yes, I suppose I am accusing CR News. (And not you, in case it wasn't clear; you make interesting, articulate, and valid points. I don't mean to contradict you, I just mean to clarify why I take the position I do.)
CR News isn't trying to be a simple news aggregator, and neither I nor anyone else wants it to be one. It's a full-on blog, every unquoted word in every story is typed by a CR editor or correspondent. I started reading because the content matches my interests, there wasn't too much wasteful cruft, and it (ironically) wasn't condescending towards its audience (unlike many other English publications targeting otaku).
I don't read Mainichi, I'm not as comfortable commenting in Japanese, and I doubt they're interested in hearing a pedantic superficial complaint about a word that's poorly defined in the first place. However, I do read CR News, and this they do care about feedback readers like me can offer. That's why I'm still here, despite the fact that CR isn't perfect: they want to improve. Even if it sometimes doesn't seem like it: That bloody popup in the lower right that won't stay gone no matter how many times you curse at it. The word "jump" appearing at the end of every summary like a blasted punctuation mark. The camel's straw "moe."
I don't think it's too much to expect from CR to, in the process of rewriting the entire article, recognize that maybe a more general adjective like "bishoujo" or "anime" would be more appropriate. After all, understanding anime and otaku is something they're professionals at. Also, I seriously doubt that a politician actually wants to be seen as "moe," what with the klutzy and childish connotations the word carries. It reminds me of that Canadian health agency that sought to launch a hentai campaign for kids' dental hygiene, not realizing that that term isn't a synonym for "Japanese style cartoon."
I'm not attacking CR News for the sake of vitriol, I'm trying to give them intelligent and constructive criticism. I hope they're listening.
CR News isn't trying to be a simple news aggregator, and neither I nor anyone else wants it to be one. It's a full-on blog, every unquoted word in every story is typed by a CR editor or correspondent. I started reading because the content matches my interests, there wasn't too much wasteful cruft, and it (ironically) wasn't condescending towards its audience (unlike many other English publications targeting otaku).
I don't read Mainichi, I'm not as comfortable commenting in Japanese, and I doubt they're interested in hearing a pedantic superficial complaint about a word that's poorly defined in the first place. However, I do read CR News, and this they do care about feedback readers like me can offer. That's why I'm still here, despite the fact that CR isn't perfect: they want to improve. Even if it sometimes doesn't seem like it: That bloody popup in the lower right that won't stay gone no matter how many times you curse at it. The word "jump" appearing at the end of every summary like a blasted punctuation mark. The camel's straw "moe."
I don't think it's too much to expect from CR to, in the process of rewriting the entire article, recognize that maybe a more general adjective like "bishoujo" or "anime" would be more appropriate. After all, understanding anime and otaku is something they're professionals at. Also, I seriously doubt that a politician actually wants to be seen as "moe," what with the klutzy and childish connotations the word carries. It reminds me of that Canadian health agency that sought to launch a hentai campaign for kids' dental hygiene, not realizing that that term isn't a synonym for "Japanese style cartoon."
I'm not attacking CR News for the sake of vitriol, I'm trying to give them intelligent and constructive criticism. I hope they're listening.
11/29/11 by TerraGamerX
Well, to that end, I'd like to think they've probably taken your feedback to heart. It seems in line with other efforts of accuracy. In aiming for speed, it's probably easier to stick to what the source article said, but from the start the statement earned "it's not moe" comments which can be considered as less focused on the proper content at hand.
Within the tags, however, it still seems appropriate for "moe" to be as a tag. It seems more in line with news like the preceding "Anzai Tamaki, Moe Mascot Girl for Slinging Work" than other recurring news themes, and there aren't many expectable traits here to make a new tag.
Within the tags, however, it still seems appropriate for "moe" to be as a tag. It seems more in line with news like the preceding "Anzai Tamaki, Moe Mascot Girl for Slinging Work" than other recurring news themes, and there aren't many expectable traits here to make a new tag.
Like Andy said,The only problem I see is that I can't help but wonder if people will take her seriously. Somehow that kind of art doesn't seem to fit in with that kind of position.
However, it could work. It all depends on what the public opinion is.
However, it could work. It all depends on what the public opinion is.
lol yep all depends on the public
It's definitely an interesting approach. I just wonder if it will turn out well for her.
what will she do? approve online streaming website whether it's illegal or not? *somebody do this*
surely this will make her 'famous' but even though i am an anime fan i doubt i would vote for her if i were Taiwanese
surely this will make her 'famous' but even though i am an anime fan i doubt i would vote for her if i were Taiwanese
11/27/11 by kitsuneshoujo
This would never work in the US, but I can totally see it happening over there. ;) Also thats not moe, thats just anime. Please stop over-using the word. Its getting to be like "racist" everyone uses that word for everything just about. lol
Please stop misinforming others with incorrect information. By definition, moe would be considered more appropriate than anime in this title/sentence.
2/8/12 by XxNaruTheNarcissistxX
I dunno, I'd have to agree with kitsuneshoujo. Upon first seeing the image, I didnt quite get that moeish feeling.
First thing that popped into my mind was that I'm Taiwanese...
Ok, big deal. When it happens in the US THEN I will be shocked. HEY HEY HEY, I got an idea. I will make a run for congress and get permission to use an anime character in my campaign. I am 100% in support of promoting anime. The industry needs it.
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