Living in Japan - Page 2

Len · February 16th, 2007, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jun_Inohara

I'm sure it does happen in Kyoto, but I must just have dumb luck or something, because in 2 1/2 years it's never happened to me (and I'm a bright blond headed foreigner who goes into Kyoto often, tho I live in neighboring Shiga). Perhaps it's merely a matter of time, but while I'd have expected it to happen frequently precisely because it's Kyoto and there are so many visiting foreigners, it hasn't. Just luck, I suppose

I'l do it to everyone in Kyoto next time I go on a shopping spree, and hopefully I will hit you

HoshikuHanako · February 16th, 2007, 03:41 PM

Len needs some sunshine in her life....

DazzleKitty · February 16th, 2007, 05:31 PM

Thank you guys for answering my questions!

I hear lots of people go into culture shock. I don't expect Japan to be perfect and I don't view it as a fantasy land. I know to expect big differences, but I hear those differences are too much for some. Is that really true? How much different is Japanese culture compared to American culture?

Phantom · February 16th, 2007, 07:00 PM

I plan on going to japan one day just to see were anime comes from so how much of a problem would i have communicating with other japanese people?

Also is liking anime enough of a reason to go?

Schuldich · February 16th, 2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DazzleKitty

Thank you guys for answering my questions!

I hear lots of people go into culture shock. I don't expect Japan to be perfect and I don't view it as a fantasy land. I know to expect big differences, but I hear those differences are too much for some. Is that really true? How much different is Japanese culture compared to American culture?

I reeeally never understood the whole culture shock thing. I did get a BA in anthropology, so learning new things about different cultures was never a surprise for me, but I think Japan and the US are so similar that there isn't much to surprise people.

I went to college with 16 other Americans and one Australian and they never, ever seemed shocked by what they saw (and only half of them knew anything about Japan before coming here). There was the occasional "whoa, didn't see that coming" or "wow - they do that here?" but nothing so amazing as to be considered culture shock. And then when I came back to work here I didn't feel any shock, even though my environment is different.

Maybe people who have never, ever learned about other countries and differences in culture would be shocked, but I can't imagine why. The only things I would find shocking are leaving your family and friends (which you would do if you went away to college or for a job in the US), and the language barrier (which doesn't matter because strangers rarely talk to you).

Maybe someone that has been 'shocked' can tell me why they felt this way.

HatsumiShinogu · February 16th, 2007, 07:40 PM

I would love to go to Japan someday and buy all the anime, manga, and video games I ever wanted.

I also want to wear the Japanese Kimono.

I always wanted to go to Japan for a visit but not for a living. It would be a nice experience.

giko · February 16th, 2007, 08:35 PM

My American friend hate smokers in Japan. He says Japan is like 60's or 70's U.S. about Tobacco control. It could be shocking culturally for young American.

Victory · February 16th, 2007, 08:57 PM

Quote:

You and a friend can be having a conversation by screaming at the top of your lungs at each other, and yet somehow this is less rude than whispering into a cell phone.

from gaijinsmash blog - how true is this? pretty funny.

Spadesy · February 16th, 2007, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DazzleKitty

Interesting! I heard that sometimes random Japanese people will try to talk to you while you are walking on the street (depending on the area, especially if they don't see foreigners often) to try to practice their English. Is that true?

I may be going there in a couple of years to study abroad. I'm not sure if I will, but I'd be very nervous about it for a while.

From my experience, it is more true in mainland Japan than Okinawa. People are even more reserved on the southernmost island.

HoshikuHanako · February 17th, 2007, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giko

My American friend hate smokers in Japan. He says Japan is like 60's or 70's U.S. about Tobacco control. It could be shocking culturally for young American.

So in other words there are people walking around chain smoking everywhere??? I hate nasty cigarette smoke too...

Len · February 17th, 2007, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoshikuHanako

Len needs some sunshine in her life....

Stop stalking/hitting on me, creep.

HoshikuHanako · February 17th, 2007, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Len

Stop stalking/hitting on me, creep.

I'm not hitting on you, Lover...

Len · February 17th, 2007, 06:13 AM

Fun ended. I'm reporting you.

Edit: Reported. You take it out of PM (Even there I told you to stop) and now you're stalking/hitting on me publicly. I wont stand for it. You cease.

Smith · February 17th, 2007, 09:36 AM

Please respect others wishes. If that cannot be done, a temp-ban or perma-ban will be in effect. In short, keep it civil and respectful of others.

Thank you for your time. Len, if you still expereince problems or harassment, feel free to PM any S-Mod.

Suiko Eiji · February 17th, 2007, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giko

My American friend hate smokers in Japan. He says Japan is like 60's or 70's U.S. about Tobacco control. It could be shocking culturally for young American.

Ah, the good old days...

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoshikuHanako

So in other words there are people walking around chain smoking everywhere??? I hate nasty cigarette smoke too...

I guess it depends on where 'everywhere' is. Japan just made smoking inside government buildings illegal, maybe five years ago? A lot of places like restaurants and hotels will probably have smoking-and-non designations but places like bars may not.

Japan does have a higher percentage of adult smokers, I believe it was somewhere like 60-70% back in 2000 or 2001.

February 16th, 2007, 05:31 PM	#18
DazzleKitty Here kitty kitty.... Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 4,322	Thank you guys for answering my questions! I hear lots of people go into culture shock. I don't expect Japan to be perfect and I don't view it as a fantasy land. I know to expect big differences, but I hear those differences are too much for some. Is that really true? How much different is Japanese culture compared to American culture? __________________ Meow Meow My Anime Collection/My Anime List

February 17th, 2007, 06:13 AM	#28
Len Counter Trolling Unit Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 日本大阪 Posts: 3,252 Blog Entries: 1	Fun ended. I'm reporting you. Edit: Reported. You take it out of PM (Even there I told you to stop) and now you're stalking/hitting on me publicly. I wont stand for it. You cease. __________________ ------- "It's an Ichijo festival." -Ichijo, Pani Poni Dash スガタ。。すみません。。 +Expression+ Last edited by Len; February 17th, 2007 at 06:15 AM.

February 16th, 2007, 03:41 PM	#17
HoshikuHanako Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 122	Len needs some sunshine in her life....

February 16th, 2007, 07:00 PM	#19
Phantom Hands off! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Britannia Posts: 3,019	I plan on going to japan one day just to see were anime comes from so how much of a problem would i have communicating with other japanese people? Also is liking anime enough of a reason to go?

February 16th, 2007, 07:40 PM	#21
HatsumiShinogu Anime/Manga Fan Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 6,130	I would love to go to Japan someday and buy all the anime, manga, and video games I ever wanted. I also want to wear the Japanese Kimono. I always wanted to go to Japan for a visit but not for a living. It would be a nice experience.

February 16th, 2007, 08:35 PM	#22
giko Liberal Democratic Party Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Nerima, Tokyo Posts: 772	My American friend hate smokers in Japan. He says Japan is like 60's or 70's U.S. about Tobacco control. It could be shocking culturally for young American.