What's it mean??

[dreamingxashley]

Ok Ive been wondering this for days. I see loads of pics of Japanese girls sticking up their fingers in that victory/peace sign. What does it mean?! Is there some cultural significance Im missing here?
Do they know what it means or are they just copying us Americans? Im pretty sure we're the ones that started it back after WW2 (victory), and it got turned into the "peace sign" during the Vietnam war...

[Vengeance]

I think! They think it's the peace sign, it's very common in Japan because it's cute and all that. Nothing wrong with it is there?

[dreamingxashley]

No I didnt say there was anything wrong with it. It was just bugging me because I didnt know what they were doing it for. But if its to be cute, then I can see that, because some of these girls look really cute doing it. ^^

[clay]

It stands for victory as in the Churchill 2 finger salute. I am not sure how it got to be used with photos, but this site helps clear up a few questions:
http://www.answers.com/topic/v-sign

It is quite possible some GIs in Japan shortly after war started a fad, but who knows?

[dreamingxashley]

Veeeeery iiinteresting! Thanks for the link.

[Ady001]

I don't agree with you webmaster. Japan lost the war right? And since they lost the war, the "V" sign could've meant otherwise...

[Datadog]

It's their way of distracting us while they plant little nukes all over the world in the form of Playstation Portables.

[Leeroy]

Clay is right. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill popularized the "V for victory salute." The hippy movement during the 60's made it synonymous with peace. Why the Japanese insist on doing it in EVERY photograph, I'll never know. Even when you're trying to get a "nice" picture they do it.

[KRed]

There is quite a funny book called something like "You know when you have been in Japan too long" or something like that, I think it touched on the reason for this. Will have to go down to the bookstore and buy it I think.