Japanese "Culture"
 

I am seeing an increase in the number of people who wants to move to Japan because of its "Culture". But how many are actually exposed to the true Japanese culture, its people and its history?

It just odd that some people never even visited the country and yet they claim that they want to move there for its "culture", it leads me to believe that these people are only exposed to a culture that was created by Manga/Anime/Drama/Music and other type of media.

Or am I just a hater who misread people???

I'm right there with ya. People shouldn't base an entire country off of media, especially un-realistic (Anime) channels.


Before you try "to be come a citizen" or "move to japan forevar!!", do us ALL a favor... LIVE THERE FOR A YEAR, maybe two, maybe even more. Expereience everything before making such a drastic choice.


Why on earth would someone want to make such a life changing decission based off of what they see on the TV?



Additionally...
It's not easy to live in Japan:
- Student Visa
- English Teacher
are probably two of the more easy ones, if you want to work in Japan other than the two listed, you better have a decent career field (one that would warrant a visa) and you'd probably want to speak the language decently.


It's definately not an easy task. Especially by yourself, with limited language skills. It can be difficult as a foreigner. That being said, the country has it's positives and negatives, just like any other country. It's not all kawaii neko-chan anime stuff everywhere.


I guess the general message (ironically seemingly by the same people in EVERY thread like this) is EXPERIENCE the country first, before making a rash decission. These people offering you advise have been there before, and know what they're talking about. LISTEN.

Basing an entire country off anime is terrible. They should base it off tokusatsu instead. No,of course I realise moving there because they like Naruto is terrible.

Actually first I thought it was gonna be amazing,then videos on YouTube put me off [and this guy was criticised for only saying the good stuff about Japan! He made the most depressing videos!] and when I went into the plane area to go to Japan I was shocked everyone was Japanese and experienced a bit of isolation then I went there and a lot of it was fantastic. There was only one other time in the hotel I experienced that isolation problem.

Even then (I'm assuming you went on vacation), I see so many people writing things like "I went to Japan for a week a few summers ago and now I'm destined to go back!" What most people don't realize is even when they've finally had the opportunity to visit Japan, most of the time it's for a short period and they don't realize that Japan was fun because they got to experience it as a tourist and not as someone who lives there.
Of course they had a great time doing sight seeing, eating good food, and having an overall good time. It's a totally different game when living here.

You are mostly correct, godwine. Those who think living in Japan will solve all their worries are just naive.

I lived there for 2 years in '87. Even though it was partly on the local economy in Misawa, Aomori-ken, most of the time I spent there was on a military base. I didn't have to worry about living off the local economy, even though the yen was about 130 on average when I was there. I was still given a cost of living allowance, along with flight pay, but even then, I still bought most of my groceries on base. I spent the two years there driving around on route 45 from Mutsu Bay to Sendai and inland. It was great. But I still had that anchor attached to the English-speaking military base.

Since then, I've been back as a tourist in '05 and last October. Judging from the time I was there, I don't think it's a country I would like to live in. There is the language barrier for those who didn't jump on the chance to learn it back then and are trying now to be a little better at it. The fact you're a gai-jin and always will be and will be treated as such. There is an understated discrimination always going on, though many don't notice it.

Wings explains it best for those people who actually have been there even for 10 days. It's a finite number of days and you have your ticket back to the comfort of what you've always known regardless of whether you liked the visit or not. It's not living there. It's the "just visiting" view of the country.

I liked it because it was exotic and so unlike what I'm used to. The country is beautiful, some customs are absolutely civil and should be adopted world-wide, the food is good, the women are cute.

I went there on vacation, so it was a respite from all that ailed me. I felt comfortable there because I didn't have a worry in the world. I couldn't read most of the signs and that made it cool, though impractical. If I knew the language and read the signs and they said "Pete's Eats", it would lose a bit of its charm to me. (I don't know if anyone could understand that). It was, bottom line, a vacation destination for me. I saw the masses of people going along on their daily toil and thought how depressing it seemed to me. I couldn't live there even if I tried. It's just not for me.

But as a vacation spot, it's the only place I go on "holiday". I will return next year and spend more than 11 days this time. I plan on going for 17-21 days, which to me is quite a bit, since I can only take a certain amount of time off from work and I don't like to travel like I'm 20 and living off the land.

In summation, most of the people who've never been there don't know what it really is like.... I've been there 3 times for a total of 752 days and I still don't know what it's like....

I'm sure it's some form of escapism. If your own life sucks you may watch anime to forget about it. If you watch heaps of it you probably start to believe that your real life is disappearing. What's the next step? Go to the home of anime and truly forget about your old sucky life.

I enjoy liveing in the US and have no desire to live in Japan. I just enjoy certain aspects of it, like anime and what not. Just as I'm sure Japanese folks who visit the US, enjoy stories of the Old West and the Grand Canon.

In my case, I had that thought briefly, mainly because I lived there (Yokosuka boy here) when I was really young. And there are a lot of thing I missed. But there are also a lot of things that I didn't get to see when I was there: the life of a working adult.

Visiting as a tourist is very very diffent than starting life there, all this talk about "culture", most of the people don't even know why it's like to live there and build a life from scratch there.

I always had is idea of going back to work, I even had an interview with panasonic back in 2006, I didn't get short listed, but I kept trying until I visited my cousin. The poor guy got home one Friday morning at 2am, and he left work at 6 again, and he had to work again on Saturday and Sunday. Base on what he told me. This is the work "culture" for non teaching work if you want to blend in

That's just one example of how things differ, I just don't think most these kids are being realistic at all

Now my goal is no longer to live ther and work there, but to work hard to make enough so that I can visit every year

yep, godwine...that was one of the things I was going to point out but forgot. the workplace "culture" is so different (non eng-teachers), that most people just simply cannot hang. long hours, required overtime, nomikais, etc etc. this is all ONTOP of the language barreir.

Working hours are irrelevant. All of these kids are going to become famous mangaka and then set their own hours.

LOL i know right :D

i suspect the people who talk about wanting to move to japan are more disillusioned with their home country than they are facinated with japan.

to them, japan is like oz or something.

eventually they'll find that location alone won't make them happy.

You know, I was thinking about starting a thread about just that. "Wherever you go, there you are." These people fail to realize that regardless of where they're going, they're taking their miserable asses with them.

I'm sure everyone knows my views by now. Wanting to live in Japan and currently working towards that goal. Its not Anime that made my choice, nor wanting a job working creating anime/manga etc. I have seen countless tv programmes involving the culture, mainly this one featuring upcoming Japanese directors. It focuses on an aspect of life there, and covers a range of topics. I also love looking at Japan on Google street view. I understand the long hours (i remember Godwine telling me in another thread) and would be willing to work them. I plan to go as an English teacher for a year or two, after university,then perhaps look for an IT job when my Japanese is considerably better

Do it Jambo and don't listen to defeatists on an online Forum. Everybody got there "Experiences" from going there and actually seeing and living the Japanese Life for at least a couple of months.

I will do it similar to how you plan it right now. Next year with the Working-Holiday Programm and looking for a job as a teacher to get by.

Then when we made one of the most unique experiences in our life, then we can look further. Until then we will be dreaming about finally jumping in that plane soon ;)

God Bless the 21st century :)

My dad says exactly the same thing, or be it for slightly different reasons. He says to go for it as there's absolutely nothing here, and he regrets not doing the same thing at my age (or be it maybe not Japan). Here's hoping we both get a positive experience out of it and that leads us on to greater things :)

I think what people mean by Japanese culture = castles, kimonos, karate etc.

Basically everything pre-modern Japan that has been preserved.

traditional culture
 

Good point !:vsign:

why are people still getting sand in their vaginas when someone foreign lives in their country?
always asks - why do you live here?

what the f*** is there not to understand? opportunities present themselves, interest is peaked, and usually because they can. they have a permit for residence, they have their own home and their own damn sofa where to sit and drink beer just like any other native does.

why everyone wants some "deep" answer always? they are there, because they are. culture, money, bad or good luck or any other god damn reason.


seriously? why do you need some excuse seeing how connected the world is now? everyone can travel and visit what they want, marry who they want. - you ask them "hey, why you married that black,white,brown woman for the other race?" obviously not if you are not stupid since people usually know that there is some valid reason behind it.


tell me...when i finish my University where im learning Japanese language, histories of China, Arab peninsula and Japan, will then i have good enough of a f*** excuse, for you who always asks these stupid questions, to live in Japan if i decide so?
and if i didn't study it, then i shouldn't go there? then my other reasons would not be valid?

Very well said evanny! :vsign:

It's the 21st century people!!! Try to make the best out of it, what the older gerneration has left us today! A Planet where people from all different races can finally become friends and live a happy life together.

Say Thank you and just be happy about it!

You are indeed a hater with those generalizations you make here!

There's nothing wrong with the dream to live in Japan. After all, it's just human nature to see our neighbors lawn as being greener as ours.

I'm sure that there are many Japanese forums where the opposite occurs. Young Japanese teens dreaming about life in the west. Willing to work labour intensive jobs just to have the opportunity to eat a foot long hot dog during a live MLB game. Or to fire a MAC-10 at a firing range or to drive a Corvette Z06 around the Grand Canyon.

All one has to do is look at what is happening IN Japan over the recent years........ right at home they are tending to aggressively chase Western values. Every time I return... I see more and more Western influence.

Yes... the grass is always greener.........

best,

....................john

Finally people realise.

What does scare me is if they become a society built on pessimism like the UK,like the US is becoming,like Singapore to an extent...And if you disagree it's because this is a pessimistic society. I was even accused of never having been there when I stated the fact that Japan is a society that do not like to talk about anything too heavy.

All the people that live to 100 and more,they get there by enjoying life[and of course being active etc]. The Japanese still live the longest.

They probably won't,I'm sure an entire country's people's traits won't change that easily.

Oh god, I nearly died laughing!

Even so, it's still only what's shown on TV. Doing it in real life is a lot different, and a lot harder.

.... Real life is different from Street View, not the best reason to think you'll love the country. :S
Sorry but I think SHAD0W's logic may apply here...

When you have fantasies about the country, it's really easy to say 'I'll do those hours without a complaint!' But actually doing something like that isn't that easy, especially coming from somewhere like the UK. In a monotonous job like English teaching, which can become boring easily despite what you believe, an hour can seem like 3, and so on.

Of course I'm in no position to say how far your stamina can go, but it's just what I highly believe from countless people sharing true experiences.

i got to admit, when people ask me why i study japanese, i tell them because i like their fighting games, like sf,, and the anime.

i like to think i kno about the culture after studying it, but i could be completely wrong. either way, i kno that its pretty much the imported stuff that got my attention.

i kno there's plenty of things concerning day to day life that i both know nothing about, nor may like at all.

i also note that the ingroup mentality of the japanese social unit, may make it difficult to become part of a group. especially if you dont know the language.

I believe in trying before you move. If I ever intend to move somewhere I like to visit many times and knowing is face before I make a serious decision. I visited my college very many times before making a move. I don't think you're a hater. I think you're just logical in this sense.

*plooka plooka*

i thing too bear in mind is that japan is a first world country with massive influences from overshores just like all the other first world nations.

what this means is that i do not know how to use chopsticks, but japan has all sorts of foreign chopstickless food, which i can eat if i don't like noodles/rice.

with increasingly connected relations it seems many countries have all the same comforts as each other if you want them.

I appreciate everyone's feedback, no matter how negative. I am still going ahead with my plan, I've had it with the UK pi**ing me off. You want an otaku, weaboo and Japanophile in one. Ta-da. So all your negative criticism will, while appreciated, be ignored :)

wots wrong with the uk in particular btw?

i'd like to go to japan, but i dnt know if i cud handle not being surrounded by mass kokujin

edit i meant hakujin

I enjoy the UK, don't get me wrong, but there are things here that severely annoy me. Late transport, poor service (telephone and in person), really rude people (old and young), 'neds' (or chavs, as they're called in England).

I'm sure Japan has plenty of faults (and I don't mean the earthquake kind) but I can be sure its much less than in the UK. My year or so after uni will hopefully 'fish' them out so I can make better judgement

how do you know that the japanese do not like to talk about anything heavy.

do you mean that they choose to ignore the unpleasant things in their lives.

we don't know what they discuss with each other do we?

i admit i hate listening to the news, because its always focussed on the bad things that are happening, but sometimes we have to face facts.

i think serious thinking and planning ahead is essential for those in charge in japan.

many of those japanese caught up in the disaster need to be rehomed etc. they have many problems to be solved. i hope this country is doing all it can to help them.


our uk govt. and nato have made things in libya much worse--but not prepared to go in and help those poor people who are being killed or injured.

i am ashamed of what uk and nato have done--------


our current govt. gives us cause for pessimism, but individuals also still know how to be cheerful with each other even though we moan.

I can't remember exactly, but I don't think it took me much longer then maybe 5-10 minutes to learn it :)

Just give it a try and tata^^

Well said Jambo once again :vsign:

Haters Gonna Hate hihi^^

Eh, I'm not going to get into this but... Guys, (BobbyCooper in particular) stop calling people with differing views "haters". It's incredibly juvenile. Other people are allowed to express their view too. Be fair. And knock off this "Us versus them" mentality. Nobody is saying you can't do what you want, don't take everything so personally.

Also, I fail to see anything that negative posted here. Y'all are too over-dramatic. :rolleyes:

good response. and naturally i wud be inclined to say people are naturally nicer in japan.

bear in mind that it will be more expensive if u expect on time trains and better services.

also i get the feeling that the people may be a little to quiet and keep themselves to themselves. the brashness of the hakujin is a double edged sword in this regard.

but i reckon u shud do it. the spam bot above me put it right. theres plenty of ppl who want to do things and put it off. do it, make mistakes or a good decision.

like i sed, u will have most of the english comforts in japan neway with weternisation and all.

Maybe negative is the not the word. But laughing at a serious point I make? That's going to build peoples confidence, isn't it? Also, I know fine well it'll be hard and a real challenge. I'm not a complete retard, so don't need to be told. It may sound patronizing but that's the way I see it. Twice I've had gip off of Jesus, er... I mean Shad0w. Well, he's wasting valuable keyboard time :D

And perhaps you should stop with your obsession about me ;)

I can give you my phone number if you wish? :) just ask, don't be shy^^




we will both grow from this experience Jambo and later on, you can't say you didn't tried it right ;)

i can be pretty set in my ways. hashi o tsukaenai is a part of my gaijin self i hav come to accept.

Sorry to double post, but just got this. I generally keep myself to myself, and am quiet too, so should 'fit in', and saying that, I want to reiterate that in saying that, I'm not trying to be Japanese. Thanks for your kind words, trifectionx

what does it mean? :) and do you currently live in Japan?

edit: just read Manchester Uni^^