Myths about Japan even foreign residents believe!  

As an older Japanese person, I was impressed by your calm and balanced observations. For the most part, I believe what you’ve said is largely accurate. The only point I’d like to mention is the 'dual nature of change.' While it’s true that many Japanese people have evolved over generations, there is also a strong resistance to altering certain aspects of Japan's unique culture and traditions. Especially considering the current global situation, I believe there is significant debate surrounding the issue of ''DIVERSITY,'' and Japan faces the challenge of embracing "TRUE DIVERSITY’' in a way that differs from the West. One negative aspect that needs to be added is "Japan's old bureaucratic system", which has basically not changed despite the desire of many Japanese people to change.

Great episode. I love this channel for its down-to-earth perspective on Japanese society. No fuzz, no hype, love it.

It depends on where you live too. I lived there from 2005-2012, and many of the "myths" were true then, at least where I lived the first five years. I lived in Tokushima for 4 years, 1 year in Himeji, and then 2 years in Shinjuku. In Tokushima, as a white guy who could eventually speak Japanese (I went from N4 to N1 for the first four years), I was definitely treated like a space alien. Forget about using a credit card too. In Himeji, I was more like a talking panda bear. And it certainly is difficult to make friends in Japan depending on your personality type. Like most Americans, I'm unobservant and bad at mind reading, so Japanese people hate me. It just doesn't work, and I've given up, despite having a Japanese wife and only speaking Japanese at my house.

Wow, a lot of information that was new to me in this video.. It is encouraging to hear that Japanese are not as closed off to the idea of foreigner friends as I had previously thought. I look forward to hearing your Japanese learning story. I am 1.5 years in, and am slowly making my way through some teen-level novels

Thank you! I agree with you 100%!😊

Now I understand why at the end of most animes you usually end up with the MC surrounded by a group of friends; he's finally realized his desire to fit into a nakama, a part of a collectivist friendship. This was always weird to me, the over-emphasis on achieving friendship of this sort, instead of having friends on an individual basis. Thank you for this video. Greetings from Spain.

I agree with all your points!

See exactly how shy Japanese kids are at 15:43 and again at 15:55!

I agree with these points. I've been in Japan since 1982. Back then in Sapporo, Japanese had surprise if not difficulty with me (caucasian American) speaking Japanese. So much so that I would prefer to speak slow simple English. (I do not think my Japanese was so bad then, although I was a beginner.). But thing have changed so much from those days. That is to say things change a lot in Japan!

Some very reasonable points Paul, overall agree and I think if anything these points show how close-minded foreigners are who cant comprehend different social rules/norms from good ol murica. Ie go to Spain or Italy and their way of dinner/socializing and partying/nightlife is very different from the US way as well! cheers

absolutely true about the shy part if anything it feels the opposite for me, being unsocial is stigmatized in Japan think of 引きこもり

I think Japanese and many other East and Southeast Asian culture people are shy when they're in the west or somehow out of place or in a minority, especially if there's a language barrier. But not at all in their own country of usually in other East and Southeast Asian countries either. I am a naturally shy person and always find it easier to make new friends in Japan than in some western countries including my own. But I hitchhike around the country every time I'm there, which is not a typical shy person thing to do so I'm always meeting a very diverse array of locals. Also I don't stay for more than 90 days at a time so have more short friendships. Japanese friends I've had for years I mostly met when they were visiting my country. By the way I love the random walk through random neighbourhoods in the background!

spiffy suit

What a beautiful neighborhood! What part of Yokohama is that? Thank you! :)

To the first point...the foreigner that believes in this myth actually is the one who is resisting change.... To the 2nd point: that myth is slowly going extinct...

Camera is a little overexposed

I am curious if you would see more surprise at being able to speak Japanese when in rural areas where the only foreigners (specifically Non-Asians) are local English teachers who tend not to stay very long.

It seems to me you are confusing "resistant to change" with "immune to change". People say Japan is resistant to change because it takes 10 years to implement a new thing, not because Japan needs some US gunships in their harbours to be convinced to implement it. How are those fax machines going BTW? Still going strong? I remember someone comparing recruitment in the west where you are asked how you would do things differently if you join the company versus in Japan were the expectation of a new employee is for them to fit in and do things as "they are done" that is the essence of resistance to change. Luckily some of their companies have kaizen which forces employees to think of incremental change.

15:56 What was that?!

The only sure thing in life is that everthing changes, for better or worse, New Zealand is probably even more isolated, and we're a multi cultural society, to be fair we have problems, but probably a lot less than other parts of the world :)

Greetings. Thanks for the informative and useful information. Is there an E-mail or Phone number I can use to contact you when I arrive in Japan to meet in Person? for a short conversation, I would appreciate it very much. I am 56 yers old man from Canada.

15:57 Did you get what the school boy shouted? I hear it "Why Japanese people?" but I think this line by Atsugiri Jason went viral around when the boys were born or before.

FIRST!

from very very very far i would say they are traditionalist rather than "against change". I would really not say they are shy, but there is a strong language barrier. I have spent very little time there, yet i encountered many people. very warm, very interesting, always helpful.