It's funny how it's human nature to want what you don't have. As a Canadian, I love learning about Japanese culture! It's one of the reasons I want to visit Japan. So no worries, people will still love Japan. Especially because of your excellent videos! Stay safe!
I absolutely love your comment and enthusiasm! But am in no way Canadian... of course I'm teasing. I tell my Euro and UK gaijin friends, "They are just like us , just much nicer." Most agree and don't even know I'm joking. True story. But when you come to Japan, please come with an open mind. I've been living here (minus 9/11/2001 through 2008) for 25 years. I still have no clue where some random gaijin get their ideas about Japan before they even get here. Lot's of mazel!
Sigh i live in the united states where it is ALL individuality, and life here couldnt be more stressed and unhappy. We all want what we cannot have, i love the cohesion of japanese culture and how everyone is family to everyone else...in the states you are truly lonely and all on your own. People here also push selfishness as a virtue and it morphs into narcissim, vanity, high sense of value and entitlement. balance is key in life and no country has gotten it right yet
I live in Sweden which has the worst crime rates in the EU. So far this year we've had 71 murders, countless bombings and rapes. In Japan I've always felt safe, it's so beautiful, reliable and clean with the best food in the world. Wish I could move there.
I didn't know that about Sweden... Here in Belgium we think everything in the Scandinavian countries is well sorted out. The only criminals are in the tvshows.
Scandinavia used to be Idyllic - progressive, clean, safe. Some countries still are mostly, like Iceland and Finland, but Sweden is the worst (Malmo is a disaster). I'm sorry to say, it all started going downhill with open immigration.
Loved this. I taught in Japan from 1991-97. I will never forget my first moderate earthquake (moderate is relative - anywhere else a 6.3 earthquake is pretty BIG!) I had a dream that I was teaching my high school students when there was an earthquake and the building collapsed. A few days later the 6.3 earthquake happened while I was teaching THAT class! It went on and on, the windows rattled, the building didn't move from side to side but the rarer up and down motion - perfect for a building pancake! My students screamed and got under the tables. I pretended I had it together but thought, as I watched the lights across the street at the train station sway violently and then flicker off, that if this didn't stop in the next ten seconds I was going to run screaming down the staircase and out of the building. Luckily it stopped shortly therafter. Later I experienced even stronger earthquakes, but reacted like you did in the video , barely at all.
As a foreigner, I admire Japanese culture, some traditions, art and customs. I worked for a Japanese company in Mexico and was really surprised by all that. We had a small samurai armor in the lobby, Japanese lunch cooked and served by Japanese living in Mexico and we had the chance to hangout with Japanese coworkers. It was so amazing and actually one of my dreams, to have Japanese friends. Still, there are many things I didn't like about the culture such as discrimination.
I've been teaching English to Japanese students online for 7 years now. Even before that, I've been a big fan of Japan and Japanese culture. Over the years I came to learn a lot of negative things about Japan, its culture and people - things like stereotypes, black companies, death from overwork, the "lost generation" (NEETs, and hikikomoris), teen "prostitution", "acceptable" cheating in marriage, extreme women discrimination, lack of childcare support for parents, panty thieves, suicide rates, etc. Many of these things are not exclusive to Japan. Many countries around the world have similar problems. Japanese people are genuinely nice, and while some might seem shy at first, it's usually because they're insecure about their English speaking abilities. Over the years I've meet only a handful of rude and arrogant Japanese, mostly men in their 50s and 60s (the super conservative bunch with the "Japan is the best in the world" attitude). Almost all of my students were kind and polite, and happy to learn new things about my country or the world. As someone who deeply loves Japan, the negative things can't compare to the positive things about this beautiful country. I believe there are many people like me, who are aware and familiar with the "dark side of Japan" but still continue to love it, because no country and nation is perfect. ❤️
As a fellow Japanese male, I apologize for the rude behavior of the conservative Japanese. However, the fact that you have met a conservative Japanese man means that you are deeply involved with Japanese people. Conservative Japanese are afraid of people who look different from them and cannot speak foreign languages, and their pride does not allow them to talk to others.
I have been living in Japan for ten years now, and pretty much everything you said is accurate! I love Japan and it' s people and culture. However, the cons that you have stated is something that needs to be fixed here.
Thank you so much for your videos! I share your dislike for things like overwork and food additives. Your fresh and creative approach to life is exactly what Japan needs. All best wishes. 🙏
I live in Japan 50 years and I can agree with what you said ,compared to other countries Japan has a way of teaching that I believe it’s group minded ,like it’s not so much to learn about your own individuality,so there are so many suicide when they got old and can’t find a purpose to live ,especially the hikikomori type !I feel that it causes a lot of stress for the person ,as in school and after at work or even in old ages there is a lot of Ijime means harassment!The new generation has to stand up and build a Japan with true freedom changing there old customs that are not working anymore ,keeping the good ones off course! Also accept woman as equal in home work etc !
This is what I don't like most. Everyone should be living with their own thoughts. They don't have to think or act as everyone else. That's society and its variety.
such problem doesnt lay with the Japanese alone. it is an Asian thing. in my country where there is no press freedom i think it is not any better when it comes to suicide, racism, self isolation and many similar Japanese problems. just because real data does not exist it does not mean it isnt happening.
Another great video! I think it's very interesting you chose to talk about the things that suck in Japan- most people only choose to highlight the positives of their cultures so it's very cool you wanted to honestly portray it! It's good to know everything about something you're interested about, the good, the bad, and the ugly! Looking forward to your next video 😊
-It isn't just that the rules are strange. It's that the Japanese don't question them. -The Japanese like rules because they don't like to think. Rules do the thinking for them. It's refreshing to hear a Japanese person think his own thoughts and express them honestly.
some things are better left alone, look at how western societies are today in the name of progress. frightening. i used to be a progressive until i saw Europe and America.
@@iamsoogi Note that I didn't say all Japanese. Of course, there are a few who think for themselves, but whether they voice their thoughts truthfully is another matter. I lived in Japan 3 years. The trend I saw is that the Japanese would rather have authority figures direct them or think for them.
I've only been to Japan once as a tourist and really loved it, I hope I can come back one day. From your list I noticed the crazy work ethic (I'm from Germany). However I felt very welcomed, even in remote areas, everyone was very open and friendly. I loved the cleanliness, people just seem to take care of things, even if they are not the owner. In a small town close to the Fuji I lost my backpack on the bus. The owners of our accommodation got it back within hours! I don't think this would happen in a lot of places. Long comment, but one more thing: I don't think the toilets are western culture, more like modern Japanese, as I've never seen this high and technically advanced standart in other places 😉
I loved my visit to Japan exactly because it felt different from everywhere else that I had been, I love the culture and traditions and I hope that the young generation starts to appreciate it and value. Unfortunately the influence of the media is causing havoc all over the world. Especially the changes of diet , I am from Brasil living in the UK from a long time and have noticed that people are overweight because they started eating like the United States and lots of American food industry is now in Brasil pushing their rubbish food. It is sad and is impacting most the people who can not pay for the deceases caused by the western styles of food.
Hi! My brother is living now in Japan. Originally he is from Kazakhstan. He is a physical scientist. He is a very talented man. We miss him. He said that life in Japan is tough for him as for a foreigner. I think because of a language in the first place, and a lack of social relations in the second.
Thank you for this video. I will be moving to Japan in about a month or two, and your videos are very informative and inspiring. I am a ハーフ born in Hawaii, often I find myself in an awkward position of "foreigner but not really".. I can relate to many things mentioned here about traditional Japanese views.
Thank you for your work making these videos! They are inspiring and I feel that you are pure hearted in improving yourself and sharing what you learn or know. ❤️
My favourite earthquake is Horizontal shaking 3.5 at 11 pm. It’s feels so good lying on a futon on tatami, a relaxing massage. Unfortunately those usually only last for 25 seconds.
Great video. I love and admire that you mention in your videos good and bad traits alike. Many people are not able to criticize their culture. I think you did that in a very thoughtful and balanced way. I learned a lot. Also, I agree with your assessments. It is sad, that beautiful traditions or traditional items disappear, like people wearing less kimonos or Japanese houses being torn down. The later really hurts me, I am a fan of good traditionally build houses and heard only good things about Japaneses buildings. Finally, I can relate to many things. I am from Germany, and here, things like people s opinion about me and conformity in general feel to me a bit similar.
I've been wondering for a long time why the Japanese work these crazy working hours, but from your example I see it's because it's just the lifestyle they see (like you yourself only realized it was possible to do otherwise when I lived and worked in Canada), and one more reason is peer pressure. Being a Japanese is hard.
Most people have things they like and dislike in their countries. We need to remember our traditions and culture and teach them to our young people. I really enjoy learning about Japan from your videos. Thank you from teaching me about your culture.
Omg you have no idea! It’s one of our favourite childrens books of all time! I would say most Japanese people (if not all) in our 30s, 40s would know this story. 🤣
I liked this video as I think it is always valuable to bring up what are negative aspects, even if it's for someone I am personally so passionate about like Japan. I made a point to learn as much as possible by the "ugly", to really learn how to love, in this case a country. Thank you for this video!
I too share your distrust of foods that have 20 ingredients when they only need 3. It makes the food less authentic and removes us further from the land where it is produced. I admire your individuality in a country that places perhaps too great an emphasis on conformity. Great video!👍
I compliment your courage. If found this video of yours to be quite revealing and rare.. Seems you are trying to balance your customs and traditions with the ongoing modernization .. More power to you.
My 11-year-old daughter dreams of living in Japan, she is a fan of your culture, so much so that I bought a cookbook with traditional Japanese recipes and we cook Japanese dishes with it from time to time, eating them, of course, with chopsticks. She watches movies, reads manga, and even listens to Japanese music. I am (too) slowly getting to know your culture, but I do not forget about the native culture of the Slavs, which is close to me. Unfortunately, today every culture (historical, traditional) is forgotten. is it in Japan or Poland or in another country...it is a pity because there would be no future and present without the past. Greetings from Poland
So correctly identified.. Really admire your analysis. I am just moved in Japan and found these things a bit hard to digest butat the same time I am moved by the japanese people's modesty, their down to earth nature, their habbit of helping others by going out of the way, their clam lifestyle Their culture of not using cellphone (for calls) Keeping silence at most of places like lift, metro etc I love this country and people and the small flaws can be completely neglected Love from a Indian ❣️
A really nice video, I think it can be an attractive feature to know the bad things of a country, that kinda creates a more honest image. Especially the westernization have many countries in common, I'm from a western country (Germany) and even here the tradition vanishes and people tend to do more things the american style, sometimes for good, sometimes for bad. I wish people could live a more modern life (if they want to) without loosing all of their traditions. I love the old myths and festivals, but many of them are forgotten or barely anyone knows them anymore. It's nice to see that you cherish your traditions and keep them alive.
Yeah basically as you said every country has its good and bad sides Still I've known many of those you've mentioned ...but it doesn't change the fact that I love and appreciate Japanese culture 🙂 One day I want to visit Japan 😊 lotta love and appreciation from Czechia 🙏
You are so honest with your report. Every place has good and bad points. Anyway, we still loving Japan because you take care of the group nor only the individuals, if you look it on the positive side that's great: you take care of the cleaning of the streets, face mask... ok that's extrem but I suppose is for caring others. Other places people tend to be individualist and don't think in others, in the environment, in the future... Thanks for sharing videos like this
I think it's great that people wear masks when out and about in Japan. It shows a consensus-based culture with consideration for others, which long pre-dates the covid pandemic. It's a very attractive feature and encourages me to visit. Also, to say the news is wrong or right oversimplifies things. We can ask instead, 'is this a trustworthy information source?' 'Is there evidence for this statement?' etc. People in all countries would benefit from doing so 😊
Ditto. The biggest subconscious knee jerk reaction is "how will it affect/protect me?" vs "How will I affect those around me?". Nothing is 100%, but damned well better than 0%. Not a lot of people in the western world thinks about their neighbours.
I love your videos!Thank you so much for them! I love Japanese people and Japanese culture! Please make a video teaching us how to make matcha tea! I want to start drinkibg it! I am Brazilian, but I would love to live in a Japanese style home! I love Japanese culture! 😊
I'm a foreigner living in Japan and one thing I can't stand is that it takes forever to drive short distances. I am 48.28km (30 miles) from Tokyo and it takes over an hour to get there! Going down the street to my favorite restaurants take 15-20min just to go 16km (10mi). It's ridiculous but I will miss living here :)
As I watch NHK Worldwide, the tv programs that NHK exports overseas, I see that most people practicing ancient traditional Japanese arts are too shy to actively recruit apprentices or assistants. They hope by leaving the door to the art studio open in the summer, someone will wander in for a random reason and ask to be taught the craft. If you want a successor to carry on the traditional craft you have been working on for decades, you should be actively looking for that person.
Excellent critique but I am surprised to hear it from a Japanese citizen! Maybe because you lived in Canada for a while? Anyway, I lived in Tokyo for seven years and agree with all of the things that you hate! 😉
I was living in Japan during the big Tohoku earthquake. I’d gotten used to the frequent shakes, but this was crazy. I was way out in 町田市東京都 but it was still about a category 6, not to mention the constant aftershocks we were still having a year later. And BTW, Sumo will live forever. It’s the greatest one-on-one sport in the world!
Another great video, Samurai. I woke up one day during an earthquake in Virginia, near DC, I immediately thought that the construction workers working next door were messing around with our building. I went over to the window, threw it open and yelled at them to knock it off! But when they looked at me, and I saw the scaffolding shaking, I sure felt embarrassed and surprised! Everything was fine after about a minute. Earthquakes are thankfully an infrequent and minor occurrence on the East Coast.
I'm hungarian, living in the UK now. But I have been living in Asia before (Indonesia) for three years. And I always say: westerners should live in Asia for a while (and vica versa :) and world would be a much better place.
When I taught at an certain prestigious school in Japan, there was a teacher there who worked every single day on club activities, etc. Seriously; New Years Day was the only day he was not around. Both the faculty and the students admired him for his hard work-he was like a teacher in a drama. One day I went into to teacher's room and his desk was bare, and I never saw him again. As per the rumor mill (no, we did not have a meeting to discuss the missing in action greatest teacher in the brilliant education system of Japan-so of course there was scuttlebutt). As for me as a mere ALT-he would buy me drinks after work at his favorite bar and we would discuss how I felt about my role in the school and how things could be improved, etc.-I thought he was a really nice guy too! Apparently-he was making sure certain students were admitted if their parents made it worth his time, and his "hard work" was him covering his tracks, and him getting into the teacher's room safe after hours to see the entrance exam. At least maybe he was too busy to sexually exploit the students!
If only I started to tell you all the things I dislike about my country, that would take a long while! So I try to focus on what's unique and awesome. By the way, I love your lifestyle 👏👏👏
I lived in California 35 years and we are the same about Earthquakes. I got very good at estimating the intensity. I could tell a 4.0 from a 4.5 or 5.0 easily. And yes, as long as it was below 5.0 I didn't care.
I'm also a teacher and part of the school rules that we enforce is that students must not dye their hair, boys' hair must be short, boys are not allowed to have earrings, and all students need to wear their uniform properly. Girls can have their hair as long as they want and is not required to have their hair in a pony tail.
Here in the US they also add way too many additives. Me and my husband are always trying to avoid them as much as possible. Additives have some rather negative effects on health so I'm sorry that Japan has also taken to using them.
westernization of the society is real issue here in India too, however there is nothing against westerns...I've never been to japan but i love japan and Japanese people and the culture of japan. i think there always certain things and peoples all over the world which people might dislike...but i am pretty sure thats not the whole picture in any case... i am a storyboard artist and i wish one day ill visit japan too for sometime. love from karnataka,india
I am Japanese, but I dislike this part of Japan after living in a foreign country. 1、What they think in their mind is different from what they speak. 2. Strict hierarchical relationships. 3、Lots of invisible rules The good things are safety, free water, and good insurance. I was also surprised at the lack of garbage, homeless people, and no wild dogs.
I've been living in Japan for four years. I really appreciate your videos and I've even used one of them in the lesson I teach at school. I especially agree with the food additives and problems with food. As a foreigner, I actually don't really like the word foreigner. I would prefer a person from another country, because it Doesn't use the word foreign which has a negative connotation. Also I lived in Tokyo and the train was really difficult for me. Right now the masks are really difficult for me too Because everywhere I go I feel like I can't breathe. Even so, I have stayed in Japan for so long because I really love the spirit of the people, I feel like an introvert myself so I relate to that, and also it's just fun to try all the foods and experience the beautiful places here.
The first rule he said is not bad. Here in America, most schools don’t allow male students having long hair like a girl or dye their hair. For girls, rules in US a little bit less strict .
Most of the rules in my school were similar- I'm from Australia- we could use scarves and gloves but they could only be in one of the school uniform colours. It depends on the school.
Definitely share the love for Japanese styled things; if places like Ryokans, Kiyomizu Dera and Fushimi Inari didn't exist but were replaced by western buildings, Japan would be much less popular (I do hope that the English level could improve though, for public service workers e.g., transit police)
Scarves can get caught on things and become a dangerous thing. Here strings on jackets have gotten caught in the school bus doors. It went unnoticed by the driver and the student was dragged under the bus. It's a long shot but clearly not impossible. I hope Japan will keep the things that are working for them in their school system.
Police are supposed to be suspicious of others. It is in the job description. However, I agree that the police should not ask you your name, age, and job title every single day as you pas by the same police station.
I so admire your critical thinking ability! There are some things I think I would dislike about Japan, and others that I would enjoy, such as Japanese cuisine! Thank you for a very interesting video!
I don't think westerners also live in houses that have 200-year-old architecture and design. Instead of calling it a western house, you may want to call it a modern house.
I think being (blood-type) weirdo is an advantage, because of that you can be open-minded :) Such a pity that japanese-styled houses are disappearing :( I'm grieving with you.
I would love to travel to Japan one day with my family, so thank you for this video. Yeah everything you said is pretty sad, but I would still like to visit. I specially didn’t like the part that Japanese are loosing their authenticity culture and all the additives the pre package food has, then it’s just like here in America, it’s horrible 😞
That book shown at the beginning looks like it shows a childrens' tale about trying to pick a turnip - which is a classic story for kids by a Polish poet Julian Tuwim. Is that the same thing? Do you actually have that in Japan?
The westernization of eastern cultures deeply saddens me, and I’m glad you brought it up. I’ve always had an appreciation for traditional Japanese culture and customs. The beautiful homes, gardens, clothes, and healthy food.
I am a blonde Australian woman, and I went to Junior high school in Osaka. Every day on my way walking to school I was always getting stopped by random people wanting to ask me questions, but I loved it, they were just curious about me! I have so many great memories, sticker photos with my school friends, visiting castles, learning Japanese money, watching crazy Japanese game shows on TV. I desperately want to go back.
It’s sad to see that your Japanese culture is changing to western style culture. That’s what make a country unique. Food additives are nasty and bad for the health good to see your trying to change and be who you feel like being. Good video.
"Please don't hate Japan." Well frankly I love Japan. I know there are many unpleasant things about Japan for us foreigners, but for Japanese people too. But there still are way more pluses, than minuses. My wife and I went to Japan for our honeymoon and my oh my how much we miss Japan ever since. We hope and pray we would be able to go and see Japan again in the future. I've been studying Japanese language, I even run a Japanese culture group for our students in the school where I teach. We do love Japan, don't you worry! I'd move to Japan if it was possible.
Some of these complaints are in many ways found in other parts of the world too: 1. The education system in many places still relies on the Prussian-style education system which, though revolutionary in the 19th century, is outdated now. 2. Cities become more and more crowded and traffic becomes unbearable. 3. The disappearence of unique traditions and local flavor underneath the big equalizer of globalization. 4. A world of fast-food with cheap, bad, convenient food that will make us sick.
How interesting… over here in the UK most of my friends want Japanese style things, and we’re inspiring ourselves with traditional Japan while we’re renovating our flat!
I visited Japan several times in the 1980s. Japan smells amazing. I can still smell the delicious aromas of roasted seaweed, smoky bonito, sweet tangerines, and steaming miso soup that enveloped every alley I walked into. Everybody was really decent to me and it was very exotically beautiful! Every place has it drawbacks but your country is really extra special.
Being a foreigner it is understable to be frequently questioned because as long as we see the beauty in Japan: it's worth it , some foreigners even suggest that's the reason that attacks are relatively low. However, Japanese people who have one parents from Japan and other from another country who is deemed to look different is questioned frequently like a stranger which makes them question humanity to treat them like a stranger even if they are legally Japanese. Having to be Japanese and bring treated as an outsider has resulted in many suicides & depression reports. I hope Japanese laws are relaxed in a way that ensure safety and equality simultaneously
I once read that they question so many foreigners or at least that they question many of them repeatedly because they want to hit their quota. If true that's just so wrong though. Questioning people to for safety or awareness (to show them there's always someone around) doesn't sound to bad but questioning people on a day to day basis is just silly.
I don’t know if it’s a terrible thing if Japanese school didn’t change a lot in 30 years. In Italy school changed for the worst…. Even if the most fault is upon the parents: when i was little, if a teacher said something to them, they would speak to me to understand the situation better and the valued teacher’s opinion. Now teacher risk aggressions every time they speak ill of their kids at school because a lot of parents think their children are genius to protect even with punches and kicks 😞
So true. It is similar here in Singapore and Australia too. It is like child abuse if teachers are just sending constructive comments for kids to improve. Nowadays teachers just say nice things don’t dare to offend when kids really do have to change. I am a parent myself. I am not saying teachers are to be abusive… in the past I am sure many teachers were and could be abusive because they abused their authority but now it is the opposite. Well, we sure need a good balance! Basically, teachers, students and parents all have to be respectful to one another.
I think every country has their own issues. In Italy, the country where I live, the bureaucracy is very slow and complicated and the political class is dishonest and corrupt, which leads to many problems in the management of essential services starting from the very slow times of healthcare. I must say, however, I would not change my country with anyone else in the world ❤️
