INTERESTING JAPANESE MAGAZINE #14

"ARMS"

In this magazine you will find:

Fake guns that look real.

3d animations of imaginary guns that look MORE real than the 'real' fake guns (OR the real 'real' guns).

Real guns that look like crazy fake science fiction guns

Lovingly crafted, totally accurate life-size models of imaginary Anime guns

Silencers, laser sights, barrel-mounted flashlights and other REAL accessories for GUNS THAT ARE FAKE.

Welcome to the Bizarro World of Japanese "military fetish."

Of course, you could say, "well, the American version is just as wacky, what with the Nazi memorabilia at all the gun shows, plus the fact that the American version, you know, kills people."

True.

But that's exactly WHY the japan version is so different and weird. With some of the strictest anti-gun laws on the planet, the 'military fetish' guys can NOT have real guns. So their whole idea of guns is based ONE HUNDRED PERCENT on fantasy. Which leads to a contradiction: the Japanese fans are even more obsessive about the make, model, and millimeters of their favorite guns than the American guys, but they are absolutely not concerned about the actual PURPOSE of guns (i.e. killing some mother's son). Knowing 1,001 facts about guns is like knowing the STR and HP of your favorite D&D character: Totally abstract data.

So what, exactly do Japanese gun collectors buy? Paintball guns. Or bb guns with electric air pumps. And they stage mock battles. They buy military dolls with so many fashion accessories they put Barbie to shame ("does your 1942 PanzerKommander have the red trim on the holster like mine?") combat boots, hats, and other 'survival gear.' And of course they buy gun-filled video games.

Guns are just like real-life video game props, not actual devices for murder.

This issue of ARMS magazine takes this mind-warp to its logical conclusion:

The issue is dedicated to 'real' guns modeled after video game guns! (of course, the 'unreal' Anime gun fires bullets and kills Anime people, whereas the 'real' gun is merely a model which couldn't hurt a fly, so which is more real?)

Above: real person imitating fictional person, holding fake gun imitating real gun (which is to say, it's a 'real' gun in the unreal anime, but the anime creator based it on a 'real' REAL gun)

If your head hurts at this point, it's not because you've been capped by some gat-toting hoodlums, it's because you've BEEN BUSHWACKED BY POSTMODERNISM.

The Jason mask, wrestling mask, etc. on these guys shows their "It's all in fun, folks" spirit. But would you believe none of those guns could hurt you?

below, which guns are real and which are anime??