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about Japanese society
Hi everyone, I'm nihonguchi from Yokohama, Japan.
When I was in the States, I learned so many things which were very different from Japanese society. Then, I am curious if non-japanese people usually feel something strange or interesting about japan. "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu" = I look forward to your ideas. Thank you. |
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What was strange for you in the States? |
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What were strange things which you had experienced in Japan? When I first use the bathroom, the door was very different, because there was no bottom half. Also, the States' McDonald's drinks are free to refill and Seven-Eleven as well. That's actually great, but it was unusual for me. I loved it. |
I took these from a post I made long ago, here are some of the things that surprised me!
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thats interesting James. Re HUGS-- Yes indeed, certainly my friend disliked displays of affection by HUGS.
although there have been many times when she did actually want a hug from me but always said that "we Japanese do not hug"-- but commented how much the spanish students in her school were very demonstrative and were always hugging one another. When I showed her this video she showed surprise but commented that it was not japanese people who joined in with the hugs. YouTube - ‪FREE HUGS in JAPAN(Tokyo) part1 フリーハグ‬‏ |
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she came to me putting her head onto My shoulder.
I might add that she was often extremely childlike. |
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I'd like to hear more about what was strange for you in the States, if that's okay :) |
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These are some strange things for me: ・American guys are very gentle to others, when someone is behind a guy, he waits for its person with a door open. ・Many people have their own cars.(maybe, it's because of very huge country and little public transportations) ・Roads are usually very wide and many traffic lanes for same direction. ・When they walk pass their acquaintance,they immediately start short conversations with "How are you?" or "What's up?" even if they are busy or not so close acquaintance. ・Some rules are very different from other states. ・There are many Starbucks in cities. ・Taxis are always yellow. ・Many people are very frank to others. ・Girls don't shave off their arm hair. You know, there are a lot of interesting things for me:) |
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Speaking of the hugging thing, I saw this article a couple minutes ago.
Japan invents the self hugging vest |
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:ywave: |
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Only thing I found weird about Japan was that there are porn in just about every store you go to (which is a good thing for me anyways :D )
Other than that haven't found anything strange/weird. |
I am glad you enjoy watching moving pixels, and find it so uplifting.
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Oh, sorry. They don`t have any because they shave it off. Unshaved girls usually have pretty dark arm hair. Want proof? Look at girls who are too young to be shaving their arms but who are old enough to start getting hairy. It doesn`t all just magically fall out. Women in Japan also shave their faces. You can buy special razors for this, and no, they`re not just for old women or between the eyebrows. |
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Also, what's so bad about a self-hugging machine? some people don't have any other options... And how come no one mentioned the way the japanese and the westerners take baths? (or did I miss it? sorry if so)... |
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--- Back on topic - one of the first things that struck me as being incredibly different - people riding their bicycles... with umbrellas. That was my big culture shock moment. :vsign: |
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Speaking of bikes. Girls riding bikes in miniskirts, that shocked me culturally, in a good way ;) |
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I know it's more for women than men. But the average western guy is a lot more hairy than the average Japanese dude. I've got more hair on my legs than the entire male side of my gf's family has on their entire body! That's not even getting into chest and arm-hair... Oh and in case any western woman is reading this; That feeling American guys get when they see French women with armpit hair, that's very similar to how Japanese guys feel when they see the hairy arms peach fuzz on western women ;) |
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My husband is very hairy for a Japanese guy. He has hairy legs, and actually has a patch of chest hair. :) Quote:
I use an epilator on my arms, legs, and armpits. I shave my face with tiny little facial razors. It`s not because I am particularly hairy, have a mustache, beard, or anything like that - but because it`s what everyone does. Peach fuzz on the face is a no-go in Japan. On visits to the US or on meeting up with other foreign women, it really is something you notice. It stands out. I can`t imagine having fur on my arms (even if it`s thin and blonde), but it seems to be something totally normal outside Japan. I also hate those tiny tiny hairs on the face, particularly because I rarely wear makeup so suck at putting it on - those tiny tiny hairs make it all the harder so I shave them off... But I`ve seen women with what look like full out sideburns who are shocked at the very idea of shaving their face. There has actually been talk of it being a pride thing - western women don`t drop to the level of shaving their faces, blah blah blah. :rolleyes: Japanese women do it though, so I`ve never really thought too deeply about it and just go with the flow of where I actually live. |
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The first time I went back to Canada was about 2 years after being in Japan. Honestly I didn't notice the absence of body and face hair when I got to Japan, but when I visited Canada again, it was like ... eewwwwww gross.... and one of the girls at the airport in Canada wasn't wearing make-up and that surprised me too. Oh and she wasn't wearing a tight skirt! Reverse culture shock lol... I met an average western woman in Japan too just walking around, from a distance she seemed normal, but when I got nearer and started chatting, it was like... peach fuzz blowing in the wind and she was about 2 times bigger than the average Japanese woman beside her, in every way. I actually felt average size again haha. In Canada I'm not tall, just average, 180cm. Most my friends are taller and heavier than me. But in Japan I'm bigger than the 95th percentile of people I come across, this woman reminded me of my position in the west lol. Nyororin, if you're a bigger woman, how do Japanese people feel around you? I understand what kind of impression taller/bigger men get, but how about women? If you're not bigger, do you know anyways? |
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With the skirts - I think that skirts in general are far far more common in Japan. Miniskirts are a certain age range, but skirts altogether are much more common here (as are dresses). Quote:
I`m chubby by Japanese standards, but average by US standards. :P (Which is kind of a mystery as it certainly doesn`t have to do with diet - i eat the same things as everyone else, and a lot less than my ultra-thin friends. They can suck down enough to feed my whole family in one sitting...) My MIL (also chubby by Japanese standards - we could share clothes if I didn`t have a larger bust) thought it was hilarious that she was able to shop in the "petit" section on a visit to the US. |
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In Canada there's heaps of women who wear no make-up regardless of how beautiful or not they are. In Japan I get the sense that a woman who shows up to work without make-up has done something rude or untoward. |
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Which of the things you mentioned (and maybe some you didn't mention here) would you like to transfer to your country? And, the other way around - which Japanese habits would you gladly transfer to other countries? |
I'm not planning to grow a beard but there's nothing wrong with sneaking a bit in there.
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I'd like to comment on the hugging discussion we have going. Of my native Japanese friends (2 of them male, 5 female) when greeting in Japan and in England, 6 of them went in for a hug before I ever did. Maybe it's because they think that spikey Brit would pounce on them if they weren't ready for it lol. Saying that though, I'm a very huggy person... Maybe they saw how I treat my other friends and assumed it was the norm?
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When I went to Japan, all I am aware of was the traffic rules. Lol! But as I read everyone's post, I felt shock to some of the ideas. :) But I still love Japan for it is organized and well-mannered. :)
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Right now, Nyororin made me very paranoid about my peach fuzz arms for my upcoming visit to Japan. xD Craapppp.
I learned a lot about personal appearance etiquette on this thread, thanks. XD |
I'm not a hugger, will NEVER be a hugger...arms will break if a full atempt is even made.
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i have hairy legs. i like it :D warm during winters. rest of the body - well chest and stomach is all covered with think white/blond hairs, except for "belly-button road" which is black :cool:
i know a girl who has a large brown patch(is it a mole? well it is large but not outwards...it is flat) and she has extremely long hair growing out of it. and i don't think it is healthy to remove moles if they are so big. my friend who is also 1.60cm said she felt average in japan. i'm 192 cm yet i am used to watching down to people when i talk (specially with girls) in my own country, so i don't think if and when i go to japan the giant thing would seem so obvious. .............. i think japanese men are expected to shave moustache. right? do they also shave pits? i've played basketball all my life and all the teams including myself did and still do so. actually all sportsmen seem to do so. |
I think the Free Hugs signs are Awesome :)
I am thinking about doing this next year in the middle of Tokyo with a group of Japanese. Quote:
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The thing is, what would be considered "peach fuzz" here is a lot less like fuzz and more like a peach. Something you should keep in mind though - you`re not Japanese, and are only going to be on a visit. It would be no worse than encountering a woman with clearly unshaved legs (Not to the point of bushy hair, but visible). While you might find it unappealing or odd/rare - it`s doubtful that you`ll be ducking into the bushes to gag at it. If you were going to be living, long term, in the country then I`d advise following the flow - on a short trip I wouldn`t even worry about it. Quote:
I don`t think it`s normal to shave the armpits - although it might be in some sports. I don`t think it`s a regular thing among the general male population. |
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i see my gf do it now and then, It's like 1min to do it in the shower... it seems like less work than for me to shave my beard! |
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