Japanese "Culture"

[myk]

i wonder if there's people in japan that want to move to america just because they saw die hard

[godwine]

Originally Posted by myk

i wonder if there's people in japan that want to move to america just because they saw die hard

No... Iron Man... Iron Man.....

[XxBiancaxX]

Originally Posted by godwine

Sadly, most people are first exposed to Japan either by electronics/automobile or their pop-culture. The interest has to start somewhere, and there is nothing wrong if the interest stems from pop-culture. But what really intrigued me is how can people just decide that they love all aspect of the country after just limited pop exposure? I mean, if you think about sequences its more like: Anime/Manga > More Anime/Manga > I love japan and want to move there

I just think that the proper way to do it is: Anime/Manga > Visit Japan > Like it enough > Do more research on the country > Do love it, lets move there (Or Anime/Manga > Do more research > Visit > Move)

Or like yourself, other valid reason.

basically, don't just say "i want to move to japan" after watching several episode of naruto, and claim that "I am interested in their culture".

If you do a search on the "living in Japan" forum, you will find a LOT of idiots saying that "Japanese Culture" is the reason why they want to move there, while you can tell they know nothing about Japanese culture....

Edit: Look up "Funk Fujiyama" on youtube, its a song from the 80s by Kome Kome Club, that pretty much summarize what limited knowledge most foreigner has about Japan: Samurai, Geisha, Sushi, Mt Fuji, Harakiri

The song is a pun on foreigners, but I really don't think its far off

Well other sad thing is that they really don't think about the cultural differences that exist between oriental and occidental cultures... and to get used to a totally diferent country is really dificult!!! To live in other country its hard and sometimes sad if you are alone in a strange place!!
The Anime is not real and the people dont even talk or act like that -O-!!!

If u guys are gonna love Japan cos of the anime and manga its Ok!! but think twice about living there... or u guys can go whit a friend or something cos the "fairy tale" where u live is going down u,u!!

i wonder if there's people in japan that want to move to america just because they saw die hard

Ahahahahahhahahaha!!!!! XD OMG!!! my stomach hurts!!!

[TalnSG]

We've been using Anime as the example of an unreasonable basis for a decision (not that I disagree!), but I just thought of other some of the other equally unreasonable routes foreigners take to decide they should move to Japan.

I remember when samurai and ninja movies were the big rage in the U.S. and all the guys wanted to be in Japan so they could learn marital arts and sword play. And older ones to be catered to by geishas. Totally ignoring that the days of the samurai were long gone and even worse, completely misinterpreting what a geisha was.

Maybe I understand it because when I was about 14, I wanted to move to Japan. It was only to study and practice Shinto. And a little bit because people laughed when I insisted on wearing geta instead of flip-flops in the summer. To me that was "Japanese culture". I learned how much a culture really entails before I could do anything like spend my life savings on a less that well thought out plan.

But I think Godwin sees that today younger and younger people are able to make such leaps of faith without a net to catch them when they fall.

[godwine]

Originally Posted by TalnSG

We've been using Anime as the example of an unreasonable basis for a decision (not that I disagree!), but I just thought of other some of the other equally unreasonable routes foreigners take to decide they should move to Japan.

I remember when samurai and ninja movies were the big rage in the U.S. and all the guys wanted to be in Japan so they could learn marital arts and sword play. And older ones to be catered to by geishas. Totally ignoring that the days of the samurai were long gone and even worse, completely misinterpreting what a geisha was.

Maybe I understand it because when I was about 14, I wanted to move to Japan. It was only to study and practice Shinto. And a little bit because people laughed when I insisted on wearing geta instead of flip-flops in the summer. To me that was "Japanese culture". I learned how much a culture really entails before I could do anything like spend my life savings on a less that well thought out plan.

But I think Godwin sees that today younger and younger people are able to make such leaps of faith without a net to catch them when they fall.

You brought up a good topic for discussion. I think there is nothing wrong with people going to japan to train in martial art, I mean, I am doing the same thing next year for just one week, though I am going for the purpose of training.

Though along the same line, training in hope of acquiring skills thats unheard of in the west is totally unreasonable and retarded.

And yes, you are right, how geisha are being perceived in the western world is wrong, but I think much of it might really be how the Geisha image was tarnished during the war, just as it was portrayed in Memoir of a Geisha, some girls choose to dress like one to seduce man, as such the "Geisha" that the western society were exposed to (At the time) were mainly in the business of sex trade. That said, i think people should also do more research themselves to really understand what a Geisha is before they make judgement.

On that note, people who go to Japan in hopes of getting hitched with sexy porn star like girls also disgust me

[myk]

Originally Posted by godwine

You brought up a good topic for discussion. I think there is nothing wrong with people going to japan to train in martial art, I mean, I am doing the same thing next year for just one week, though I am going for the purpose of training.

Though along the same line, training in hope of acquiring skills thats unheard of in the west is totally unreasonable and retarded.

so what, then, would be the difference between that and those who want to go to japan to become successful mangaka or something of the like?

[TalnSG]

Originally Posted by myk

so what, then, would be the difference between that and those who want to go to japan to become successful mangaka or something of the like?

If they are only going to train, they usually only go for a few weeks at a time, and they don't go as a novice. They don't relocate after just watching matches, thinking they can copy the moves. If so, it might be even dumber than anything we have considered so far.

I see nothing wrong with someone who wants to train as a mangaka once they have submitted their work and been invited as an intern. We are discouraging those who just decide to pack up and go thinking they can do it just because they have been obsessed with manga and can draw decently.

[myk]

Originally Posted by TalnSG

If they are only going to train, they usually only go for a few weeks at a time, and they don't go as a novice. They don't relocate after just watching matches, thinking they can copy the moves. If so, it might be even dumber than anything we have considered so far.

I see nothing wrong with someone who wants to train as a mangaka once they have submitted their work and been invited as an intern. We are discouraging those who just decide to pack up and go thinking they can do it just because they have been obsessed with manga and can draw decently.

very good point. but i am curious as to what the end goal would be in going over there to train in martial arts. is there a career to be had if you're good enough? is full relocation to japan the next step in their training? could the whole thing end up being a waste?
sorry for my ignorance on the subject, but i know very little about martial arts beyond the class i took while in elementary school

[MMM]

Originally Posted by myk

so what, then, would be the difference between that and those who want to go to japan to become successful mangaka or something of the like?

I would say there is no difference, and I think you are being pretty harsh.

It is one thing to train, and another to assume you will be a "successful mangaka" or a "karate champion".

Originally Posted by myk

very good point. but i am curious as to what the end goal would be in going over there to train in martial arts. is there a career to be had if you're good enough? is full relocation to japan the next step in their training? could the whole thing end up being a waste?
sorry for my ignorance on the subject, but i know very little about martial arts beyond the class i took while in elementary school

Sure, there have been many foreigners that live full time (or near full time) as successful K-1 fighters and sumo wrestlers. In fact, you have a much better chance at finding permanent resident status this way than being a mangaka. The reason is, a mangaka doesn't have to live in Japan to do his or her work.

[Realism]

You guys have to realize that there are some people who finds everything Japan-related to be straight up boring....except for anime.

I have friends who love anime, but outside of that they really don't care much about Japan.

I mean if it's a native Japanese guy who loves anime and wants to be a mangaka.....now I'm sure NOBODY on this website would say anything.

But if it's a gaijin....then it's a problem.