Embodying the Western Woman

One of my Japanese co-workers who lived in America for 5 years recently gave me a book of comics about a single, expatriate living in Japan. The premise is that this guy comes to Japan and is suddenly transformed from a normal-to-nerdy Canadian dude into ‘Charisma Man’, every (Japanese) girl’s fantasy. Charisma Man goes 'from zero to hero' in the blink of an eye. While this concept may seem a little ironic, racist or ridiculous at first, I can attest to the fact that the story is at least partially rooted in truth. The creater of the strip lived in Japan, and I think the comic is incredibly insightful into the life and perspectives of gaijin (or foreigners) - especially western - living here. I definately think it is a clever social commentary, although as time goes on and I witness the ‘Charisma Man’ phenomenon more and more, I think I may actually be (secretly) starting to embody the persona of the "evil" western woman (charisma man's archnemesis).
I came to this realization last week when I attended a cultural event with some other foreigners and mostly Japanese people. The Japanese people I was with were very polite and sweet, but I almost became invisible (or at least had to take a back seat) when the women got a load of the foreign guy I was with.
At first I thought this could be a cultural difference. As my co-worker put it after a work party one night, ‘in America it is ladies first, but in Japan it is men first’ (originally followed by a ‘get used to it’!). This is a hierarchal society and things can be easier for men, but looking back in hindsight (always 20/20!), I am pretty certain it was the guy’s 'foreign charm’ (i.e. being western) and not just his maleness that gave him so much power and appeal. I do know several Japanese women whose Charisma-man-o-meter (sense of reality?) is in check, but they are the exception rather than the norm.
It is probably somewhat hypocritical for me to complain. I have without a doubt gotten special treatment because of my western appearance (both here and in other parts of Asia), but I still feel like the male factor brings it to a whole new level.

Here is a peek at the strip (click on the picture to enlarge it):

Charisma Man; Artists and Writers: Larry Rodney, Wayne Wilson, Glen Schroeder