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Originally Posted by GoNative
So if I wait another 5 years or so then just maybe I'll be close enough to some of my Japanese friends that they'll start opening up and expressing their opinions to me? Something to look forward to I guess. In the meantime I guess I'll just have to keep frequenting internet forums in an attempt to have any meaningful and stimulating conversations and debate or just hang out with other foreigners.
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You do realize that politics and certain opinions just aren`t accepted conversation in Japan, right? There is a LOT that is taboo in casual conversation. Consistently bringing these things up is going to keep people from getting close enough to you to really talk about them as it is throwing a wall up pretty early on.
I also think you need to keep in mind that what people are comfortable talking about in English is often different and quite a bit less involved that what they are willing to talk about in Japanese. Even with very good English, a lot of people balk at the idea of getting into anything complex where their opinions could be misunderstood or possibly even offensive to you should it be about world events.
Maybe 5 years will work for you if you learn Japanese fluently. Otherwise... You will probably never get to the point of having those sort of conversations. There really is a language wall, and it really does change how people perceive and relate to you - and using English in Japan, no matter how well those around you speak English, does keep you very much in the outsider bracket.
People around me have no problems expressing their opinions on politics, social issues, etc - sometimes very strongly. But it`s all in Japanese. I don`t think I`ve ever heard much of anything on hot topics from even wonderful English speakers unless they`ve been pushed to write an essay or do some sort of presentation.
Outwardly following the status quo doesn`t have anything to do with internal thinking and actual opinions. I know quite a few people who are extremely critical, and very opinionated. The thing is, people in Japan don`t like to fight/argue/debate about these things in most cases... Which is inevitably what being very outspoken leads to.
ETA; I was just thinking a bit more, and realized something else.
In Japan, if people outright ask about political issues, social issues, religion, and the other various "hot" topics... Chances are they have some sort of agenda and are outright saying they want to judge you on something or try to lecture you. In these situations I think that pretty much everyone`s reaction is going to be of vagueness and ignorance (As if you say you don`t know about something, you can`t be pressed for an opinion on it). It is pretty well understood by everyone that this is a dodge tactic, and clear that the intention is to avoid the subject... Not that the person saying it has no clue about the world, doesn`t have an opinion, etc.