Japanophile - and other open discussion

[Nameless]

2011, please, has the japanese outlook evolved that much? I have read about the 'inferiority complex' that SOME japanese have torwards westerners, some claim that they admire physical attributes that the westerners have and they sometimes love many things coming from places like France, Germany and even the USA.

However, stating that ALL the japanese have an inferiority complex (which I doubt), would be dumb. That is why I ask, some blogs claim that foreigners are sometimes treated like celebrities, others say the contrary happens. However, since I have never been there, I can't really know.

loquemerevientadejapon.blogspot.com

That is the information this blog claims, it's in spanish, sorry.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Nameless

2011, please, has the japanese outlook evolved that much? I have read about the 'inferiority complex' that SOME japanese have torwards westerners, some claim that they admire physical attributes that the westerners have and they sometimes love many things coming from places like France, Germany and even the USA.

However, stating that ALL the japanese have an inferiority complex (which I doubt), would be dumb. That is why I ask, some blogs claim that foreigners are sometimes treated like celebrities, others say the contrary happens. However, since I have never been there, I can't really know.

loquemerevientadejapon.blogspot.com

That is the information this blog claims, it's in spanish, sorry.

The era of foreigners being treated like celebrities is over, unless maybe you go to the most remote villages.

People often confuse Japanese humility with some kind of inferiority complex. These same people sound like braggarts in Japan when they talk about how smart their children are and how many countries they have been to.

[godwine]

Originally Posted by MMM

The era of foreigners being treated like celebrities is over, unless maybe you go to the most remote villages.

I am not sure if they will be treated like celerities, Saitama is not remote at all, but they do have some pretty "old and traditional" type area. People shown interest in my italian friends when we were there, mainly because its not common to see caucasian in those areas, but the "interest" is nothing like a celebrity "WOW"

[Nameless]

Originally Posted by MMM

The era of foreigners being treated like celebrities is over, unless maybe you go to the most remote villages.

That is good to know, and no, the guy claiming that isn't a braggart, he actually says "This country is much better than most and definitely mine"

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Nameless

That is good to know, and no, the guy claiming that isn't a braggart, he actually says "This country is much better than most and definitely mine"

I don't speak Spanish, so I wasn't talking about him specifically, but what is normal conversation for many Westerners sounds like bragging to Japanese people.

[JohnBraden]

Originally Posted by Nameless

That is good to know, and no, the guy claiming that isn't a braggart, he actually says "This country is much better than most and definitely mine"

I heard that before somewhere.... Hmmm j/k

[Nameless]

Originally Posted by MMM

I don't speak Spanish, so I wasn't talking about him specifically, but what is normal conversation for many Westerners sounds like bragging to Japanese people.

And those cultural differences, are why, I honestly don't want to speak with japanese people so often.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Nameless

And those cultural differences, are why, I honestly don't want to speak with japanese people so often.

If you don't want to live in Japan and dont like talking to Japanese people, then why do you want to learn Japanese?

[godwine]

Originally Posted by MMM

I don't speak Spanish, so I wasn't talking about him specifically, but what is normal conversation for many Westerners sounds like bragging to Japanese people.

What are some of the topics that is openly discussed in Western cultures but "awkward" and "prohibited" in Japan?

One thing I notice is the topic around sex, or just the idea of it. I can openly talk about sex, porn, strip joints or anything like that in front of my friends and family here in Canada, I would even discuss girls' body and what they are "showing" with my wife...

But in Japan, my uncle would give me a hard time just for saying "sukebe"

[Nameless]

Originally Posted by MMM

If you don't want to live in Japan and dont like talking to Japanese people, then why do you want to learn Japanese?

I want to read what they say, I want to be able to understand first-hand information about several topics.

Japanese read a lot ( sorry I forgot how that was named), I really need to know what their opinions on several subjects are and no, translations aren't desirable.

Furthermore, there are some anonymous imageboards, (e.g. futabachannel), where I don't fear offending people.

Nevertheless, I wrote that 'in an'(<--I'm suffering language amnesia, is that right?) incorrect way, what I really had to write was this:

"There are many cultural differences, thus as long as I don't know how to behave correctly, within the standards that the Japanese have, I'll avoid talking with natives, in order to not offend them."