NationStates Jolt Archive

I dunno, I always connected the obsession many people have with Japan with their obession with anime. But it seems like this country is more technologically advanced than the U.S., among other things. (Yeah technology attracts me, even if I can't really afford it)

So, I've heard mixed things about Japan. I've heard it's a craphole, I've heard it's where people want to move to, etc. etc.

I mean, I know their economy is supposedly doing pretty well...

Anyone know? Is Japan all it's cracked up to be?

I dunno, I always connected the obsession many people have with Japan with their obession with anime. But it seems like this country is more technologically advanced than the U.S., among other things. (Yeah technology attracts me, even if I can't really afford it)

So, I've heard mixed things about Japan. I've heard it's a craphole, I've heard it's where people want to move to, etc. etc.

I mean, I know their economy is supposedly doing pretty well...

Anyone know? Is Japan all it's cracked up to be?
:D You would never have asked the question had you been to Akihabara. LOL. No seriously, it is beautiful, it has a long interesting history, and a strong culture. It has its problems, but I'm not sad that I've been there twice.

I'm not a fan of the whole Japanese obsession, but westerners have a long history of fascination with Asian culture that shows no signs of slowing down

Their soccer teams have gone downhill since 2002 though.

The economy has just returned from a 10 year dip in a septic tank, when they would lend out money at 0.0% interest.

In most major cities you see LEGIONS of homeless people. Betcha didn't see that from manga, anime or giant robot drama.

They have no taste for foreigners. Expect to not be able to access all buildings If you vacation there. Bathhouses and other traditional places are often off-limits to people who dont know the customs surrounding them.

S.Korea moved ahead of japan in technology several years ago.

That said, its very beautiful (even if a little smoggy) and has many freindly people. Just stay in areas where "tourists" are expected and you'll be fine.

too much engrish over there.

Japan is a fascinating culture to study.

From Karoshi to Hikikomori, their social rigidity has caused loads and loads of problems.
[Kinda funny (in a pathetic sort of way) that they're so endemic they even have a name for these social problems]

At the same time, they have incredible creativity in some areas and are totally obsessed with whatever's the latest gimmic.

A lot of the young take the opportunity to travel to other places, not only for study, but also to do all the things Japanese society wouldn't allow them. I had a Japanese flatmate a few years ago. When I first met him, he had hair down to his butt and was sleeping in his car. He was supposedly going to a Language school to learn English, but mostly just partying almost every night.
If he had acted like that back home, he would have brought a massive amount of shame and loss of face to his parents.

Yeah, that's what I hear. They're very technologically advanced, have some entertaining (but rarely great) animation, and excellent education. At the same time, they're racist as hell, very hierarchical and socially strict, and I have to wonder about a society where ero-guro is a commercially viable product. I hear psychological issues and pædophilia are rampant there, too.

They have no taste for foreigners. Expect to not be able to access all buildings If you vacation there. Bathhouses and other traditional places are often off-limits to people who dont know the customs surrounding them.

S.Korea moved ahead of japan in technology several years ago.

That said, its very beautiful (even if a little smoggy) and has many freindly people. Just stay in areas where "tourists" are expected and you'll be fine.

BULLSHIT! I went to A Japanese Bathhouse, and only ate at McDonalds once. Everyone there is extremley friendly. There is no crime, everyone is polite, the JR line is lightyears ahead of our American crap. Vending machines are everywhere and the coke cans are almost 2/3 bigger than ours. When you go to a restaurant, they have BOTTLED COKE! The sick people where flu masks, there are smiling girls to hand out tissues. Pachinko parlours kick ass.

Ok, I'm just rambling.

But your "off-limit tourist" stuff is as innacurate as a smoothbore gun. I went to several temples and shrines and a bathhouse (as I mentioned earlier)

And they don't like tourists? My cousin and I were walking to a train station and four Japanese girls came up to us and asked if they could take picures of us with them.

Geeze, get facts strait.

I dunno, I always connected the obsession many people have with Japan with their obession with anime. But it seems like this country is more technologically advanced than the U.S., among other things. (Yeah technology attracts me, even if I can't really afford it)

So, I've heard mixed things about Japan. I've heard it's a craphole, I've heard it's where people want to move to, etc. etc.

I mean, I know their economy is supposedly doing pretty well...

Anyone know? Is Japan all it's cracked up to be?
Japan is unique, is about the best way I can put it. They retain much of their pre-industrial cultural mannerisms, but with a high-tech society. True, as with all nations there are "crapholes," but most of the cities are clean and well-maintained, and their high-speed public transport is ( IMHO ) the best in the world.

There is no crime ...
You were speaking of "BULLSHIT?" :D

Yeah, that's what I hear. They're very technologically advanced, have some entertaining (but rarely great) animation, and excellent education. At the same time, they're racist as hell, very hierarchical and socially strict, and I have to wonder about a society where ero-guro is a commercially viable product. I hear psychological issues and pædophilia are rampant there, too.
The same people who brought you Origami and flower-arranging also bring you Bukkaie. As with most peoples, they're a seething mass of contradicions.

There is no crime...
Geeze, get facts strait.
Righhhhtttt....The Yakuza was invented as a marketing gimick to attract more tourists, wasn't it?

Righhhhtttt....The Yakuza was invented as a marketing gimick to attract more tourists, wasn't it?
I find it amusing that the Japanese were able to invent a more effecient form of Mafia :P
Of course, the Russians have them beat hands down for persistancy, viciousness and sheer bloody mindedness, which counts for a lot in the world of crime.

But I do find it curious, if somebody in Russia were to produce a new variety of animation that became insanely popular, do you think people would become as fascinated by Russia as they are by Japan? It can hardly be said that Russian history is not interesting, IMO, its at LEAST as interesting as Japans.
Prior to the Mongol invasion, Kiev was more advanced than most of Europe. Rather amusing, eh? Those silly Russians (or Rus, rather) were more civilized than people living in Paris...well...thats not to hard, so lets say people living in Rome :P

*sigh*
It just annoys me slightly that all the classess on Russian history in the colleges/universities around here are for Soviet-era stuff, whereas Japan has classess out the wazoo.
*grumble grumble*

Ill be leaving now :P

Righhhhtttt....The Yakuza was invented as a marketing gimick to attract more tourists, wasn't it?

Oh piff, you know what I mean.

It's easily safer than America and Europe and probably any other first world nation.

Yeah, I hook the whole Japanese culture thing in the US with anime and manga, which are relatively modern. Some guy said that western culture have had a long obsession with it and there aren't any signs of it calming down. He was completely correct. But there are two sides to that, you see, they love our art, too.

Oh yeah, I'm totally into the anime thing.

Yeah, I hook the whole Japanese culture thing in the US with anime and manga, which are relatively modern. Some guy said that western culture have had a long obsession with it and there aren't any signs of it calming down. He was completely correct. But there are two sides to that, you see, they love our art, too.

Oh yeah, I'm totally into the anime thing.

Yeah, but it really is silly when you get down to it. Anime tends to be of better quality than Western animation (not that that's saying much), but in all honesty, it has limits. Even at its best, it's hardly fine art and at its worse, it can be downright nauseating.

I heard people in Japan buy those fancy toliets because they think Americans have them.

BULLSHIT! I went to A Japanese Bathhouse, and only ate at McDonalds once. Everyone there is extremley friendly. There is no crime, everyone is polite, the JR line is lightyears ahead of our American crap. Vending machines are everywhere and the coke cans are almost 2/3 bigger than ours. When you go to a restaurant, they have BOTTLED COKE! The sick people where flu masks, there are smiling girls to hand out tissues. Pachinko parlours kick ass.

Ok, I'm just rambling.

But your "off-limit tourist" stuff is as innacurate as a smoothbore gun. I went to several temples and shrines and a bathhouse (as I mentioned earlier)

And they don't like tourists? My cousin and I were walking to a train station and four Japanese girls came up to us and asked if they could take picures of us with them.

Geeze, get facts strait.

Sorry, but they've even had court cases about the Bathouse regulations. You just need to look them up. NO CRIME!? You're off your rocker.

Japan is okay I wouldn't say its a great place to be (especially the cities) but once you get out the city its a good place. though I wouldn't say its on my top list of travel destinations (if your going to visit try to stay away from young Japanese women)

then again I've never been into the whole high tech area or the Japanese cartoons

Japan cracked up? I knew they were on the Pacific Rim, but I didn't know the tectonic activity was that bad.

It's definitely not the paradise that anime obssesed fanboys make it out to be, for example; Tokyo is pretty fugly, but at least it's clean. Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there, that's for sure.

(if your going to visit try to stay away from young Japanese women)

Why?

I heard people in Japan buy those fancy toliets because they think Americans have them.
Good, no more of those squat toilets. I don't have the balance OR coordination to accomplish that. Give me a nice sit down bowl any day.

Yeah, but it really is silly when you get down to it. Anime tends to be of better quality than Western animation (not that that's saying much), but in all honesty, it has limits. Even at its best, it's hardly fine art and at its worse, it can be downright nauseating.
That can be aurgued. ;)

Yeah, but it really is silly when you get down to it. Anime tends to be of better quality than Western animation (not that that's saying much), but in all honesty, it has limits. Even at its best, it's hardly fine art and at its worse, it can be downright nauseating.

I really like alot of American comic culture (And some British too), but we dont usually go to the trouble of animating it, and certainly not animating the more serious ones (With the exception of some old HBO series'). I personally consider Myazaki to be the only one I truly respect, while the western world has Alan Moore; who is much lesss known simply because his comics are far from the bubbly dreamy quality myazaki produces.

Some Brilliant western comics include "V for Vendetta" and certainly "100 bullets" as well as literally world famous superheroes. Also, Id much rather raise my kids on subtly clever shows like Animaniacs (Pinky and the brain, The Goodfeathers, etc) and silly classics like Darkqueen Duck than the drivel that passes for afternoon cartoons these days.

Still by and large the best comic book is the world is the (British?) "Sandman". Which is known for its dark complicated themes and intellect.

Yea...Im a nerd.

I dunno, I always connected the obsession many people have with Japan with their obession with anime. But it seems like this country is more technologically advanced than the U.S., among other things. (Yeah technology attracts me, even if I can't really afford it)

So, I've heard mixed things about Japan. I've heard it's a craphole, I've heard it's where people want to move to, etc. etc.

I mean, I know their economy is supposedly doing pretty well...

Anyone know? Is Japan all it's cracked up to be?

hell yeah. i love japanese shows. i saw this japanese kid's show, and i have to say- a work of art :eek: . even i learned something off it, kids in japan are getting a great push toards learning, no wonder they're so smart... when i was 7 i hobbled around with a bean bag over my head saying "look, i'm a mushroom"......:(

hell yeah. i love japanese shows. i saw this japanese kid's show, and i have to say- a work of art :eek: . even i learned something off it, kids in japan are getting a great push toards learning, no wonder they're so smart... when i was 7 i hobbled around with a bean bag over my head saying "look, i'm a mushroom"......:(
When I was 7 I was so confused with teachers telling me that drugs were bad and illegal and to never do them that I needed the teacher to explain to me why exactly wasn't the store Sav-on Drugs wasn't a giant illegal corporation.

When I was 7 I was so confused with teachers telling me that drugs were bad and illegal and to never do them that I needed the teacher to explain to me why exactly wasn't the store Sav-on Drugs wasn't a giant illegal corporation.

yeah... pfft. i was a mushroom :cool:
you just cant beat that....

yeah... pfft. i was a mushroom :cool:
you just cant beat that....
I'm...not sure I WANT to beat that :eek:

When I was 7 I was so confused with teachers telling me that drugs were bad and illegal and to never do them that I needed the teacher to explain to me why exactly wasn't the store Sav-on Drugs wasn't a giant illegal corporation.
Me too.

I also though that that included drug prescribed by a Doctor.

I'm...not sure I WANT to beat that :eek:

yeah you do... i know secretly you're seething inside. everyone wishes that at some point they were a mushroom. i'm the envy of everyone because i'm such a funghi....

I dunno, I always connected the obsession many people have with Japan with their obession with anime. But it seems like this country is more technologically advanced than the U.S., among other things. (Yeah technology attracts me, even if I can't really afford it)

So, I've heard mixed things about Japan. I've heard it's a craphole, I've heard it's where people want to move to, etc. etc.

I mean, I know their economy is supposedly doing pretty well...

Anyone know? Is Japan all it's cracked up to be?

Alright, stand back. Almost everyone is pulling at least part of their posts out of their asses here.

Yes, a fair number of westerners come here 'cause of the anime.

In some aspects Japan is more technologically advanced that other countries, in some it is not. Everybody (at least 60%, anyway) has a 3G cell phone w/ internet access, a decent quality digicam, and a barcode reader so that you can pay for stuff via your phone bill. Every car I've been in in the last 5 years has a GPS navigation system. But internet banking is still a novelty.

Some places are absolute crapholes. Someplaces are great. Same goes for people. Japan is not as weirdly unique as some want you to think. Nor is it Kansas (but neither is London.)

The economy has been in the crapper, relatively (it ain't Zimbabwei) for a long time, but is supposed to be doing better. However, the governemnt's been saying that for a decade now. Ask me in a couple of years.

Is it all it's cracked up to be. Yes. No. Mu. What it's cracked up to be - which is most of what the posters are telling you - is a contradictory mass of half-truths.

I'll just leave you with this quote the Sex Pistols' New York:
"Think it's well playing in Japan
When everybody knows Japan is a dishpan"

:D You would never have asked the question had you been to Akihabara. LOL. No seriously, it is beautiful, it has a long interesting history, and a strong culture. It has its problems, but I'm not sad that I've been there twice.

Akihabara isn't the end all or be all. Next time come down West (which only makes sense in a Japanese context) and let me take yo to Den Den Town...

Their soccer teams have gone downhill since 2002 though.

2002 was a lucky fluke.

The economy has just returned from a 10 year dip in a septic tank, when they would lend out money at 0.0% interest.

In most major cities you see LEGIONS of homeless people. Betcha didn't see that from manga, anime or giant robot drama.

Outside Osaka, the numbers aren't quite legion.

What appeals to me most about Japan is the cultural adherence to tradition. It's a very comfortable feeling to know that things are done this way because they have always been done like this and that they will continue to be done this way.

Quintuple post? :eek:

Quintuple post? :eek:

Yep. And some people have claimed that Jolt's curreewnt service not as bad as the old server because the old server only gave you doubles and triples....

Yep. And some people have claimed that Jolt's curreewnt service not as bad as the old server because the old server only gave you doubles and triples....
I don't like Jolt 'cause every few hours (or every few minutes on bad days) the server seems to shut down completely... Or SOMETHING causes ridiculous lag.

They have no taste for foreigners. Expect to not be able to access all buildings If you vacation there. Bathhouses and other traditional places are often off-limits to people who dont know the customs surrounding them.

S.Korea moved ahead of japan in technology several years ago.

That said, its very beautiful (even if a little smoggy) and has many freindly people. Just stay in areas where "tourists" are expected and you'll be fine.

HahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahaha -breath- HahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahaha -breath- HahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahaha -breath- HahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahaha -breath- HahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahaha -breath- HahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahaha -breath- HahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahaha -breath- HahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahaha -breath- HahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahaha

Next time you come over here I'll take you to several sentos, onsens, spas, and saunas so you can eat your words. Yes there are places that do that, but it's a very small number. More than in the modern US, but not nearly the degree of say 1950s Alabama.

too much engrish over there.

Each to his own.

Japan is a fascinating culture to study.

From Karoshi to Hikikomori, their social rigidity has caused loads and loads of problems.
[Kinda funny (in a pathetic sort of way) that they're so endemic they even have a name for these social problems]

At the same time, they have incredible creativity in some areas and are totally obsessed with whatever's the latest gimmic.

A lot of the young take the opportunity to travel to other places, not only for study, but also to do all the things Japanese society wouldn't allow them. I had a Japanese flatmate a few years ago. When I first met him, he had hair down to his butt and was sleeping in his car. He was supposedly going to a Language school to learn English, but mostly just partying almost every night.
If he had acted like that back home, he would have brought a massive amount of shame and loss of face to his parents.

One of the non-completely BS posts. ;) (Although I'd disagree a bit w/ that last part. But only a bit.

Yeah, that's what I hear. They're very technologically advanced, have some entertaining (but rarely great) animation, and excellent education. At the same time, they're racist as hell, very hierarchical and socially strict, and I have to wonder about a society where ero-guro is a commercially viable product. I hear psychological issues and pædophilia are rampant there, too.

Some significant issues, but overwrought. Except for the education. I couldn't honestly call Japanese education excellent, especially at the tertiary level, and most espercially outside the tecdh fields at the tertiary level.

BULLSHIT! I went to A Japanese Bathhouse, and only ate at McDonalds once. Everyone there is extremley friendly. There is no crime, everyone is polite, the JR line is lightyears ahead of our American crap. Vending machines are everywhere and the coke cans are almost 2/3 bigger than ours. When you go to a restaurant, they have BOTTLED COKE! The sick people where flu masks, there are smiling girls to hand out tissues. Pachinko parlours kick ass.

Ok, I'm just rambling.

But your "off-limit tourist" stuff is as innacurate as a smoothbore gun. I went to several temples and shrines and a bathhouse (as I mentioned earlier)

And they don't like tourists? My cousin and I were walking to a train station and four Japanese girls came up to us and asked if they could take picures of us with them.

Geeze, get facts strait.

All of which I can tell is from a short tourists visit. I've lived here 15 years. the everpresent vending machines, annoying brats who think it's fun to "mug" the gaikokujin for pics, and the like get old fast. Cokes come in about 20 different sizes (very slight exageration. It might only be 18... ;))

But the biggie there is crime. The crime rate, especially for violent offenses, has skyrocketed, having doubled since 1996 (if today's Daily Yomiuri was accurate).

I heard people in Japan buy those fancy toliets because they think Americans have them.

Not at all.

Japan is okay I wouldn't say its a great place to be (especially the cities) but once you get out the city its a good place. though I wouldn't say its on my top list of travel destinations (if your going to visit try to stay away from young Japanese women)

then again I've never been into the whole high tech area or the Japanese cartoons

Say what?

I think that about does it. :)

Anybody else?

Is it true they teach dodgy English in schools because they write the English in katakana and so can't get the correct sounds?

Is it true they teach dodgy English in schools because they write the English in katakana and so can't get the correct sounds?

Partially true. Less so these days, but yeah I struggle against that insidious evil on a daily basis... :(

Is it true that they worship the devil and sacrifice their babies?

Is it true that they worship the devil and sacrifice their babies?

Absolutely 100% damned sure guaran-effing-teed to be an absolute lie ; )

One of the non-completely BS posts. ;) (Although I'd disagree a bit w/ that last part. But only a bit.
Are you implying that most of my posts are BS? ;)

HahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahaha -breath-

Next time you come over here I'll take you to several sentos, onsens, spas, and saunas so you can eat your words. Yes there are places that do that, but it's a very small number. More than in the modern US, but not nearly the degree of say 1950s Alabama.

More than needlessly obnoxious. Here are referenced articles:

http://www.debito.org/hanketsunewseng.html (scroll down) This was the first case, the foreigner successfully sued

but...

http://www.debito.org/misawaexclusions.html

That hardly stopped everyone. Im sure they have good reasons though.

In most major cities you see LEGIONS of homeless people. Betcha didn't see that from manga, anime or giant robot drama.

Actually, yeah I have. Youre just not watching the good stuff.

More than needlessly obnoxious. Here are referenced articles:

http://www.debito.org/hanketsunewseng.html (scroll down) This was the first case, the foreigner successfully sued

but...

http://www.debito.org/misawaexclusions.html

That hardly stopped everyone. Im sure they have good reasons though.
Yes, there are SOME places with the "No gaijin" sign on them, but as much as I appreciate Debito, he hardly covers all of Japan. Most Japanese onsen and other baths are open.

In two years in Japan and after going all around the place, I have only run into a No sign ONCE on a BAR.

If all the onsen never let us gaikokujin in, the owners of the one in my town must be seriously, seriously confused about just what nationality I am because I bathe every week with no issues.

Honestly, I have found Japan and the Japanese to be no better or no worse than America in terms of being welcoming to visitors from other shores. The only difference being that if you are a visitor, everyone knows it and sometimes that can lead to interesting situations.

Back to the OP, is Japan everything it's cracked up to be? No, no it's not; IF your ideas include this notion of a technological, traditional, anime'ish society where cute Japanese women hang around Narita Intl just waiting to leap into bed with the next white guy who walks out of immigration (Don't laugh, I've run into people who seriously think this way). Japan is a country with its own traditions and own ways of life that doesn't CARE how things are done in the rest of the world. It lives life according to its own ideas (as silly as some of them are) but honestly, I find it no better or worse than any other place I have lived in, excluding the absence of good sub sandwhiches.

I still like it though and love being in Japan.

The Pros:

Well, they got a higher GDP p/ capita than the US (judging from my limited math skills), it's the center of the anime industry and a huge player in the video game industry, It's absolutely beautiful, and it's Asian.

The Cons:

Blast from the past foreigner discrimination, The Yen < The dollar (methinks), it's within North Korea's missile range, there's too much English; countries should follow the languages they were founded upon, not print everything in their language + English.

Are you implying that most of my posts are BS? ;)

Quite the opposite. Most of the other posters posts on this have been BS.

Montacanos, yes, there are places that have NO GAIKOKUJIN signs, but as NERVUN pointed out, they really are fairly rare. I've never had any trouble at any sento. I think I've seen a sign maybe once - in 15 years here. As I said before, it's maybe a bit worse than where I grew up in Texas (although I never saw a sign at all there), but it certainly isn't what you implied it was.