
Sometimes you have to search outside the box to find what you’ve been hunting for.
All cultures have their own standard of beauty, and Japan is no exception. Among the typical list of “ideal woman” attributes are things like pale skin, big eyes, slender arms and legs, and a…small face? That’s right, the size of your face can also play a factor in your cuteness. Small faces are thought to appear more cute and feminine in Japanese culture.
So, when you compile all of these elements into a big old “Ideal Woman Qualifications” checklist, your choices are pretty limited. Thankfully, Japanese Twitter users have helped us uncover The One. Prepare yourself to be amazed. Feast your eyes on this…
▼ Ta da!
…praying mantis.
https://twitter.com/_Aym1020_/status/746692177426669568Yep, this is the body you’ve been longing for. A praying mantis has many attractive features, including (but not limited to):
“Small face
Sharp features
Large eyes
Slender arms
Slender legs
Exquisite proportions”
This praying mantis strikes a coquettish pose reminiscent of Japanese gyaru fashion.
The initial Tweet quickly grew in popularity and continued to elicit responses that were both funny and eerily accurate.
“She’s a supermodel!”
“But she has no chest…!”
“You should add ‘can eat meat without gaining any weight.'”
“Don’t female praying mantises eat the males after they mate?”
“I guess that makes her super nikushokukei.”
You could say female mantises are man eaters in the truest sense of the word.
This may be a (hilarious) representation of Japanese beauty ideals, but this certainly isn’t the Ultimate Body Type. In fact, netizens have bickered over whether the slim, long-legged type or the slightly more curvy and busty type of girl was considered the Japanese beauty standard.
But in the end, we all know that it’s inner beauty and happiness that counts, right?
Or…maybe we should all just start idolizing the praying mantis.
Sources: JIN, Twitter, RocketNews24
Images: Twitter, Wikimedia Commons


Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Sega opening 65th anniversary store in downtotn Tokyo with deep-cut game merch
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Viral tweet suggests Japanese convenience store ripping off customers with donuts, so we investigate
Studio Ghibli releases crystal glass paperweights featuring Totoro and the Catbus
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Sega opening 65th anniversary store in downtotn Tokyo with deep-cut game merch
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Viral tweet suggests Japanese convenience store ripping off customers with donuts, so we investigate
Studio Ghibli releases crystal glass paperweights featuring Totoro and the Catbus
Studio Ghibli releases new anime keychains that are like miniature figurines
Lipton releases… Pudding Milk Tea in Japan?!?
Retro-style Evangelion T-shirts coming to Uniqlo sister brand GU[Photos]
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Dorayaki from 89-year-old Japanese confectionery shop is one of the best sweets hidden in Tokyo
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Studio Ghibli releases new anime keychains that are like miniature figurines
Lipton releases… Pudding Milk Tea in Japan?!?
Retro-style Evangelion T-shirts coming to Uniqlo sister brand GU[Photos]
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Dorayaki from 89-year-old Japanese confectionery shop is one of the best sweets hidden in Tokyo
Japanese people share 11 amusing tales relating to pregnancy and childbirth
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Bandai cancels gacha/blind-buy system for anime cosmetics, will let fans choose what they buy
Japan’s Mister Donut Japan tries its hand at Taiwanese-style street food donuts
Shinto shrine will bless your bike helmet and give you a sacred bike helmet stamp
Live-action Ghibli Princess Mononoke stage play tickets are now on sale
Only five branches of Japan’s beef bowl giant Matsuya serve milk shakes, but how do they taste?
War in Iran threatening Japan’s pudding production