Quote:
Originally Posted by alanX
Ahhhh, I see. I see.
So neighbors in Japan go around telling their landlords about things like this? I mean, when I see someone at my neighbors house, I don't call my landlord and say "there is someone illegally staying at my neighbor's house" I mean, I usually just assume "oh look, maybe someone moved in with my neighbor."
I guess the mentality is different, eh?
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In Japan neighborhoods are much more community-oriented than they are in most of the US. What it means is people care more about their neighbors and take care of each other. Neighbors know each other's names and look out for their kids if they are playing in the street. People share information about each other, etc. Privacy is less of a priority for people, so in some ways Americans might see it as gossiping and an invasion of privacy, but it is just how things are. It isn't meant to be spiteful.
Now in your case if your friend is renting a single apartment meant for one person, and another person is staying there for months and months I imagine it wouldn't be long for the landlord to hear about it (especially being non-Japanese).
The police came to my apartment when I first moved in, but it was just to tell me where the closest Koban was, and to let me know that they knew who I was and where I lived. Naturally this has a dual-edged meaning.