One thing I didn't like when I was there was that bicycles zoom in and out on the sidewalk. They ride their bikes around the pedestrians. That could be quite unnerving.... But what can I do? It's the way things are there and while there are bike lanes in some Chicago streets and only 13 year-olds or younger can cycle on the sidewalks in my neighborhood, that isn't the case in Tokyo. Next time I go, I'll just have to keep an eye or two out for them, as I did the last time....

I'm saying that if you think my perception of this is because I have a Western Mind and I am wrong, then yours is as equally wrong. :ywave:

oh, no that's not what I meant, sorry for the confusion, I meant that there are misconceptions of Japan and it's culture which are propagated in western cultures, and so many westerners start off on the wrong foot. Which was the case for me when I first got here...
(for example, asians are bad drivers, asians are super smart, both of these are horribly wrong as general statements that many westerners assume to be true)

it does go the other way too, there are a plethora of twisted ideas of westerners floating around here too..

Owow. I seriously laughed so bad reading those first few posts. -Chews popcorn furiously- To be honest, I think it just has to do with the region you live in even within one country. My two friends are from England. One of them can't stop raging about how much she hates a queen and how violent all those Brits are and about how much she hates it there and how she's so embarrassed of being from there. The other misses her some UK. Of all places I've come through, I'm pretty chill in America. Hell, if I traveled a bit north of where I am now I'm pretty sure that I'd get my ass handed to me just because of my race but where I live is actually pretty freaking awesome. Go live where you want and raise your kids where you want and crap. If you can't handle it then learn how to. We're ALL human. We know how to adapt. And I think people need to just shut up about the whole 'oh I wouldn't want my kids to be there'. HAHA. : | No. I think it's the worst thing to just start going off about another people and their ways. Or to say 'we're better'. If *you're* happy and *they're* happy then just shut up about it and live your life. Some of what people say really just steam my carrots.

*plooka plooka*

Bad thing about Japan? What I don't like the most is that Japanese girls try really hard not to fart out in front of their boyfriends. You know what that causes? They fart out a lot while sleeping. So does my girlfriend. lol I gotta take futon off of my bed to let gas go out as long as we sleep in the same bed.
I want them to fart out when they are awake rather than when they're sleeping.

That's going a bit far! People either seem to love it or hate it,there's not much in between! I try and be positive,while still being realistic. I know there's plenty wrong with it. I know they just want our money. I know they're racist but that's why I need to go there. I think I should be a male model over there. At the risk of blowing my own trumpet I've got the looks for it. If I can just be in the media,I might just have a chance. People might start getting jobs. The whole reason I'm going there is because of the positivity that is so different to English culture. They at least used to live the longest. Yes people commit suicide a lot but I'm not getting involved with all of that "salaryman" culture.

I think China and Korea are probably more racist. They let hafu and Koreans do things,they just haven't quite got the hang of multiculturalism,and portraying "really far away" foreigners. The very patronising character of Richard Brown,in Shinkenger,for example! I am not going to be a tarento over there. Honestly. I don't see how people can do it.

I think Rinai has a point.

LOL!!!!

ditto

Haha I lol'd!
I don't think that's just Japanese girls, though. It's probably just a girl thing in general. My ex (English/Jamaican) did it, and so does my current gf (Swedish).
You have to let it out sooner or later, and the sooner the better if you ask me. Holding it in will make it smell worse later, and if you do it too much it can be quite painful.
Funny stuff. :D

I have lived 10 years in tokyo area, including Saitama pref. and now Chiba. Experienced both life in the middle of Tokyo (2 years in Minato ku) and other areas, more remote like Urawa etc. I agree with Gloobey nearly 100% and i am not sure if that was said but their working ethics (if any) and the way they conduct themselves while working (i have 7 years of experience in various japanese companies, big and small) is so retarded that i would not know where to begin.

On the other hand, as many others have pointed out, outside Tokyo metropolitan area people tend to be different and I hope that with nowaday's info exchange rate (virtually instat and global) the situation will improve.

The only people I have met that I find remarkable and unique are those whom i study calligraphy with and mind you, most of them are over 60. For them the only thing that counts is love for sho (calligraphy) and that's it. I have a great respect for them.

I have no Japanese friends of my age (36) and it is very unlikely that I will find any.

The paradox of Japan (imho) is that life here is great (except when you have to deal with inbred retards) and if you are able to support your living by means of private business or any other way (so you dfont have to work with them) I think it is a fantastic place to live. Though I must say that their as-per-manual life and maniacally mindless application of this "rule" can get under your skin really deep and piss the hell out of the most saint Buddhist monk in mushin (無心) state.

As to the girls (of course I bet there are exceptions) I cannot understand how one could date them. I find them most materialistic, boring, weak, passive and non-assertive women (if they in fact are women, as most of them try to look so cute that its painful) on Earth. They nice all right, cute all right, but for me a woman needs to have a golden heart in 50% and the rest of her needs to be a tough bitch, or else it is just dull. I could not build relationship based on "walking around a touchy subject, because it is better not to talk about it". If there is no fire I fall asleep.

edit:
oh, and one more thing that sucks: they have no doughnuts with jam inside, instead there is a disgusting bean paste. I mean...seriously...

Are animals cruelty laws more enforced in Japan now?
 

i can't find anything online about this, i understand that previously animal cruelty has been somewhat 'rife' there