Jambo, maybe I am wrong, but I didn't take this thread to be directed at you, so much as the regular flow of newbie otaku that flow through the forum on a regular basis who don't really think such a move out in detail, other than how to get the plane ticket and visa.

There is no harm in trying something, even as drastic as moving to a foreign country - as long as you have an exit strategy if things don't go as expected.

The few times when I made similar upheavals in my life, there were always factors that no matter how much I researched just weren't so clear on my radar till I was in the midst of it.

One of those that has only been briefly glossed over is feeling isolated. Its going to happen and a westerner is going to need to be emotionally prepared for it. A white, westerner is going to visually stand apart from the native Japanese around them most of the time. And one has to get used to being stared at because of it. If you do not speak Japanese well or cannot use chopsticks, you will survive, but you will stand out even more. Tending to very self sufficient and a bit of a loner, I underestimated similar circumstances with a 6 month assignment I took once. Even I felt the strain of never quite belonging, though my co-workers did their very best to make me feel comfortable. It will get better with time, but feeling at home in a new country will not happen quickly and if you don't accept that from the start its going have an negative impact.

And the Moral of the story is, it wasn't for you!

Texas is not a bad place either, I mean..

@TalnSG I know this thread isn't directed at me, but its just I (aswell as others) have been singled out for some 'attention'

You don't have to excuse yourself when you're getting attacked like this Jambo!

There is nothing in this Thread you should be sorry about!

My original intent of this thread is to tell kids to stop using "Japanese Culture" as an excuse when you can't find better reasons to tell people you want to go to Japan.

If you have your own valid reason and wish to share it, please feel free, but lets not attack each other.

But if you are here, because you are trying to find other people supporting a no good reason (IE, because you are interested in Anime and manga, and truly believe how it represent japan), then you have to live with people's criticism....

Nah, a picture of your mom's tits would be nice though. Mommy wouldn't have to nag you if you behaved yourself. Besides, I've gotta make sure you 'can't go out without ending up in a bar fight' after all.

Oh yeah, and "hashi o tsukaenai" （箸を使えない） means "Unable to use chopsticks". For wanting to live in Japan so much, it's awfully surprising you don't know the basics of the basics of Japanese. ;)

@ Godwine
Well said. You're exactly right. This is your thread and you can say what you want. If others didn't want to hear what you had to say then they shouldn't have posted in your thread.

I like this sentence! I don't use sarcasm, I mean it!

So in your point of view, using the reason "Japanese Culture" to be interested in Japan is not acceptable? Is that correct? And it's a blatant excuse in your eyes to go to Japan?

May I ask you, what is acceptable to you? And what do you personally include into the "Japanese Culture" synonymous?

No, the only Japanese words I know are Konichiwa, Arigato Goisamous, Hai and Sayonara and I still didn't had the chance to remember them correctly or how to write them. :D Every single one must have a grammar mistake lol

I don't even master the English language yet^^

But I do plan on learning at least the common phases before I go of course. Time just doesn't allow me to learn the language just yet I am sorry.

I can probably answer this, solely as I went back and read the opening post . . . I think he defines culture as history, ettiquette, social customs etc. and what isn't 'culture' is basically an image created solely by manga, anime, films. If you've only ever watched Naruto and Battle Royale then you have no idea of Japanese culture, (not aimed at you personally) and thus it wouldn't be a legit reason to go and would be a mere excuse. I doubt anyone would disagree to this, unless they themselves were naive and rather obssessed with this false 'culture'.

Thanks, and well explained. Yes, culture means anything outside of the fictional world fabricated by pop-media

Because, i really have heard people on this forum who really thought that they can train with some special top secret legendary martial artist who lives in a mountain.........I mean, really????