Cultural views on the navel Early Japanese poems feature many references to the female navel. In some, the word "navel" actually refers to an indentation or hole instead of the belly button. The shape of the umbilicus of a newborn baby would be discussed at length. If a baby's navel points downward, the parents would brace themselves for a weakling child who will bring them woe. The thunder god Raijin, with his terrifying drums, great horns, and long tusks, was said to have an insatiable appetite for young navels, and mothers had to nag their youngsters constantly to keep themselves well covered up. Due to
Cultural views on the navel of baring the midriff but gluing a jewel on the navel was used in many other Hollywood films featuring belly dance sequences. Kim Novak wore a ruby in her navel for the film "Jeanne Eagels" (1957); saying in an interview, "they had to glue it in every time. I got a terrible infection from it." Marilyn Monroe, for a scene from "Some Like It Hot" (1959), wore a dress that revealed skin everywhere but had a tiny piece of fabric to hide her navel. (The film was condemned by the National Legion of Decency, but for other reasons.) By the