Quote:
Originally Posted by ryuurui
MMM - wanna bet that most of the reading in Japan is done on trains or while waiting on the first train after a night of 残業 at the locval convinience store? Japanese don't have the same hobbies? I am not so sure man, it is a society of followers, they follow the group and any deviation is saught as odd. You might be right though, that those who have "odd" hobbies,, do not talk about it as they are afraid that they will be cast away.
Anyway, this is a global issue, not just in Japan.
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Yes, much reading is done on trains or in conbinis or bookstores.
But at least people in Japan still read. It is one of the most well-read societies in the world.
Every generation laments the actions of generation younger.
I find this overwrought generalization that Japan is a "society of followers" a little played out and confusing to those that don't really know what it means. Deviation may be seen as odd, but it doesn't mean deviation doesn't happen. That was my point of the last post. Just because I don't tell you what my true interests are, doesn't mean I don't have them.
I think it is a bit like sexual fantasies and the west. Most people in the US do not casually discuss their sexual fantasies or fetishes, even with close friends. It's a bit like hobbies in Japan. Everyone has them, but they aren't discussed openly.
I don't think it is necessarily a fear of being cast away, as much as a fear of bringing too much attention to oneself.
I knew a high school girl when I was teaching in Japan that had a fascination with Australia. She was one of the hardest working students of English I knew, so I made helping her get to Australia for a study abroad a personal goal of mine. We were able to get it done, and she spent a semester in Sydney. The funny thing was, many of her classmates didn't know she was going until she was gone. She didn't want them to know... and I couldn't understand why. Now I think I understand a little better.