[Question] Japanese Culture, Life and Anime.

[trunker]

yeah i'm pretty sure that the scarcity of land, and being on an island has alot to do with it. the uk, which is pretty much the same thing, has its own version of reserve as well as other similarities (the main difference being the larger number of immigrants and stronger regional identities).

and youre welcome yukisuke.

silence is perhaps overvalued :P here.

it can be unnaturally silent here, even in parts of downtown tokyo.

on the other hand, i seem to have some massive cricket type things in the garden that are loud as hell, like someone running a power drill.

[bELyVIS]

Originally Posted by YukisUke

I may be American, but i'm still not getting the gist of the "American Spirit" attitude. I'm not the noisy type, so i guess Japan is the place for me since silence is valued a lot over there. I think. And thank you, Trunker for your evaluation of my answer. I really appreciate it. I sort of thought that anime and manga are the main tools for the creator to express themselves in a society that's taught to have a reserved nature and composure. I love it. If anime and manga didn't exist, I'd just die of boredom. LITERALLY.

Silence? I never found it to be very silent in Japan. You have constant noise from traffic, people on the street, neighbors making noise and talking loudly, guys on motorcycles revving their engines all night long, etc.. As far as Japanese people talking, it seems like they do more talking then Westerners do because they never get straight to the point. ( Although my wife's friends pointed out that because I speak very quietly I remind them of a Japanese man. I guess they think most Americans speak very loudly) That is just my opinion.

[Ryzorian]

Not sure I could describe what I mean by "American Spirit". I guess watching a Eagle fly, would be one way.

The declaration of Independance and the Bill of Rights are more than just words, they are kinda like a code of conduct, and instruction manual on how to be such an individual. Teddy Roosevelt always seemed to be the ideal representation of an American to me.

[YukisUke]

Originally Posted by Ryzorian

Not sure I could describe what I mean by "American Spirit". I guess watching a Eagle fly, would be one way.

The declaration of Independance and the Bill of Rights are more than just words, they are kinda like a code of conduct, and instruction manual on how to be such an individual. Teddy Roosevelt always seemed to be the ideal representation of an American to me.

And how is that??

[Ryzorian]

I guess for me ideally, it's the idea of self reliant independance through co operation with others. Pioneer spirit if you like, mountain men/women. The idea that the government that governs least, governs best. Really, read about Teddy Roosevelt, he is a representation of what I think American Spirit is about.

Being American to me is about liveing a certain way and being willing to fight/die to ensure I can live that way. Whats written in the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independance is essentially the honor code I live by to achieve that.

I suppose you could describe the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independance as "The Way of the American".

[YukisUke]

Originally Posted by Ryzorian

I guess for me ideally, it's the idea of self reliant independance through co operation with others. Pioneer spirit if you like, mountain men/women. The idea that the government that governs least, governs best. Really, read about Teddy Roosevelt, he is a representation of what I think American Spirit is about.

Being American to me is about liveing a certain way and being willing to fight/die to ensure I can live that way. Whats written in the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independance is essentially the honor code I live by to achieve that.

I suppose you could describe the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independance as "The Way of the American".

That's sort of true.

[sarasi]

Downtown Tokyo, silent? I guess if you disregard the traffic noise, the sirens, the trains going past, the constant roar from air-conditioning, the recorded announcements explaining how to use the escalators safely and the politicians campaigning with loudspeakers, it could be considered silent...

Either that, or it might be time to have your ears tested!

[trunker]

not all the time of course, but it can be very quiet, especially for a city of 12 million. tokyo is probably the quietest major metropolis that i have lived in / visited. i lived 5 stops away from shibuya on the local toyoko line, and it can be like inaka silent there.

even during the day, at peak hours, downtown is not exactly "loud" despite the trains, campaigning, gyoza guy, oimoo guy, crazy black shirt nationalists and christians.

i suppose if you came from a smallish city or town it would seem noisy tho,... it is all relative.

mind you i was there in the winter, so yeah i wouldnt know what it sounds like with all the aircons running right now.

[cherrykiss]

I think nowadays Japanese are very upset with their urgent life style.Indeed,they need to use animation to show the ideal world in their mind.So we can see many exaggerated looks and behaviours throuth their animation.In this ideal world the charatcter can do whatever the writer want to do.

[YukisUke]

Originally Posted by cherrykiss

I think nowadays Japanese are very upset with their urgent life style.Indeed,they need to use animation to show the ideal world in their mind.So we can see many exaggerated looks and behaviours throuth their animation.In this ideal world the charatcter can do whatever the writer want to do.

That's so true, cherrykiss.