JapanForum.com - what's bad in japan?

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- - what's bad in japan? (https://www.japanforum.com/forum/living-japan/1843-whats-bad-japan.html)

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Originally Posted by MMM (Post 546914)

I lived there for three+ years in the 90s and spend about 4 to 6 weeks a year there.

Ahh thank you just trying to get a sense of who is talking bullshit and who knows their facts. Like I mentioned before i have been to Japan numerous times for 3 or 4 weeks at a time but have never lived there but i always learn something new when i go. I am considering trying to live there for a couple of years but my Japanese is piss poor at best i can stumble my way through for the most part but i would feel uncomfortable living in any country and not knowing the language its just polite.

If you dont mind me asking what do you do for living that requires you to travel?

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Originally Posted by emiluvsjmusic (Post 547124)

Well i'm half japanese, and EVERYONE could tell just by looking at me...
but if you look asian they might not tell by the colour of your skin, it could be more the facial features and height
oh and there are japanese people who have quite dark skin

Okay, thanks.

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Originally Posted by Nyororin (Post 24452)

Japan is a country, just like any other country in the world. There are good things and there are bad things. There are kind people and there are rude people. I seriously doubt there is any country in the world that everything is perfect in.

One particular thing I don`t like about the way Gloobey worded things is that he said it in a way that bashes Japanese *culture*. Cultures are different the world over - No culture is *right* or *wrong*. It`s just the way that society has developed. To interpret cultural differences as rude or insincere is, to put it frankly, racist. You`re saying that YOUR way of doing things is superior, and that you`re doing it right... Anything other than that is wrong.

The biggest thing I dislike about Japan is having to encounter westerners who think they know everything, and interpret it all as racism or discrimination to suit their own views. :mtongue:

I personally live in a fairly large metropolitan area, and have lived in the countryside... And I have NEVER encountered anything I would consider racism. A few people have looked at me strangely, but when you walk into a tiny family-run shop in the middle of the mountains and look drastically different from everyone else, I think it`s a bit to be expected. Oh, and I have been asked a few times if I could speak Japanese.

If people are avoiding so much as sitting near you on the train.... Maybe there is more of a problem with you than your race. I`ve never been treated any differently than any other person on trains and buses. Or maybe you haven`t noticed that most everyone avoids sitting next to anyone if they don`t have to...

As for other "bad" stuff... The idiotic amount of money spent on building new roads that really have no meaning each year. And the lack of connection those in the government have with reality. (The White Collar Exemption reducing overtime!? You`ve got to be kidding...) As a driver, I hate taxis. They`ll literally run right into you to get ahead.

I really feel for you. They do treat women horribly and I have seen it on a video my friend had when they went to Japan. They caught so many horrible things in normal living, I hated this one part which showed a two face part, literally some people will wave and look happy when a camera is confronted to their face, but when my friend turned the camera around to the passing people (the ones that smiled and waved) they got scowls and ugly faces. I guess they did not realize the filming was still going on. But that is some people of course, some of their experiences in this country were good. But you could tell that the people did not like to talk back to them.
Their culture is so strict that they have to act a certain way towards foreigners if confronted by them. Basically it is a shaw covering the community to its real problems. Japan is okay to visit, I aspire to visit some day. But be aware that your visit may not be one of the best. They are racist they are sexist, and most of their personalities are very ugly.
One thing I recommend before going is to make friends via pen-pal first. It will help break barriers with the culture and take away bitterness as being a pen-pal simply means you are learning about someone's country and they are learning about yours. Their family will welcome you and friends, but do not expect for everyone to want you around. The japanese do not want anyone to embarrass them and will happily ignore you when they get the chance.
I just wish everyone to be safe and have a good experience, knowing that this kind of experience is rare, especially in such a congested community. Remember get a pen-pal to help you "feel" like you somewhat belong to enjoy your experience. Ask about customs and what is expected before you embarrass your pen-pal and yourself. This is just a simple truth.

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Originally Posted by Sinestra (Post 547155)

If you dont mind me asking what do you do for living that requires you to travel?

I am a freelance translator, so I am not exactly "required" to travel, but I make my own schedule.

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Originally Posted by Anubis_Jill (Post 547415)

I really feel for you.

Why? Nyororin prefers life in Japan over the US.

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Originally Posted by Anubis_Jill (Post 547415)

They do treat women horribly

What? What are you talking about.

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Originally Posted by Anubis_Jill (Post 547415)

Their culture is so strict that they have to act a certain way towards foreigners if confronted by them.

Nothing in Japaneses culture dictates how to speak to foreigners.

And why are foreigners "confronting" people?

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Originally Posted by Anubis_Jill (Post 547415)

Basically it is a shaw covering the community to its real problems. Japan is okay to visit, I aspire to visit some day. But be aware that your visit may not be one of the best. They are racist they are sexist, and most of their personalities are very ugly.

You are the one who sounds racist. I will assume your statements come from ignorance. The Japan you describe exists only in Internet forums. It is an ugly fantasy based no where near reality.

Why would you aspire to visit such a horrible place?

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Originally Posted by Anubis_Jill (Post 547415)

One thing I recommend before going is to make friends via pen-pal first. It will help break barriers with the culture and take away bitterness as being a pen-pal simply means you are learning about someone's country and they are learning about yours. Their family will welcome you and friends, but do not expect for everyone to want you around.

Have you taken your own advice yet?

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Originally Posted by Anubis_Jill (Post 547415)

The japanese do not want anyone to embarrass them and will happily ignore you when they get the chance.

Absolutely based on nothing near reality.

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Originally Posted by Anubis_Jill (Post 547415)

I just wish everyone to be safe and have a good experience, knowing that this kind of experience is rare, especially in such a congested community.

The is no comment I can make to decribe my disbelief that someone could honestly be this ignorant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anubis_Jill (Post 547415)

Remember get a pen-pal to help you "feel" like you somewhat belong to enjoy your experience. Ask about customs and what is expected before you embarrass your pen-pal and yourself. This is just a simple truth.

[/quote]

This is 100% bullshit. I cannot beleive anyone would honestly beleive this, so I guess the joke is on me.

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Originally Posted by MMM (Post 547430)

I am a freelance translator, so I am not exactly "required" to travel, but I make my own schedule.

Cool thanks hope i wasn't being too intrusive.

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Originally Posted by Sinestra (Post 547450)

Cool thanks hope i wasn't being too intrusive.

Not at all...

I pretty much agee with MMM on thi thread. as I stated before, I don't think racism is the propblem in Japan. Sometimes J-folk are shy or just don't want to deal with a foreigne because foreigners usually don't know Japanese or the rules of engagement. Japanese people soemtimes feel uncomfortable outside thier comfort zone as far as language and interaction.

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Originally Posted by Paul11 (Post 547613)

I don't always like dealing with people in America that don't speak English. That doesn't make me racist, just not very helpful.

This message left me raising my eyebrows so much I wasn`t even sure who I should reply to - The original, or MMM`s reply. At first, I didn`t look at the quoted text and figured it was to one of the complaining posts... Never imagined it was to ME.

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Originally Posted by Anubis_Jill (Post 547415)

I really feel for you.

You REALLY need to clarify on this, because as MMM said - I`m perfectly happy living in Japan, have lived here almost 10 years now, and have absolutely no intent to leave. Do you feel for me because I live here? Because I`m happy living here?

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They do treat women horribly and I have seen it on a video my friend had when they went to Japan.

Clarify on this one too - Last time I checked, not only was I not ethnically Japanese but also female. The "mistreatment of women" topic has been brought up multiple times, and covered in depth. I think that the assumption that women are incapable of making their own choices about their life paths and are being "oppressed" is pretty sexist to begin with.

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They caught so many horrible things in normal living, I hated this one part which showed a two face part, literally some people will wave and look happy when a camera is confronted to their face, but when my friend turned the camera around to the passing people (the ones that smiled and waved) they got scowls and ugly faces. I guess they did not realize the filming was still going on.

So... You would just be thrilled to have a camera randomly shoved in your face? Especially if you couldn`t understand what it was about, and were given no explanation later?

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But that is some people of course, some of their experiences in this country were good. But you could tell that the people did not like to talk back to them.

Ever consider that maybe they couldn`t speak English well? Here is a good thing to try - Walk up to people in your town and randomly ask them questions in a language they aren`t really good at (or flat out don`t know hardly any of). See how many people hang around and are happy to carry on a conversation.

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Their culture is so strict that they have to act a certain way towards foreigners if confronted by them.

Really? Wow. I`m sure this is news to most, if not all, of the native Japanese population.

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They are racist they are sexist, and most of their personalities are very ugly.

How very knowledgeable you present yourself, having never been here and only looking at second hand information. :rolleyes:

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Their family will welcome you and friends, but do not expect for everyone to want you around. The japanese do not want anyone to embarrass them and will happily ignore you when they get the chance.

Substitute "People" for "The Japanese" in this instance, and "others who make random assumptions about them" for "anyone" - and it is accurate. Expecting everyone to fawn over you and love you on first sight is a bit unrealistic, don`t you think? Especially when you`re carrying these inaccurate preconceptions around.

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I just wish everyone to be safe and have a good experience, knowing that this kind of experience is rare, especially in such a congested community.

How about actually visiting somewhere, without looking for evidence of a "dark side"?