This really is a nice collection of human experiences and perspectives you are collecting w/ these podcasts. You have been putting in work for some time and it shows! Much appreciated.
This video was hilarious! I’m moving to Japan next year to teach English lol everyone’s telling me not to because I’m black and may have a different experience but it is what it is🤷🏾♀️ I had fun when I visited and everyone was nice even if some is 建前 as they say😂
Appreciate the support Getting comments like these or people always letting me know they enjoy it make me know it’s worth it. I’m in it for the long haul🙏
Great interview! I can relate so much with lots of the things that was discussed. I remember my non-Japanese ex-college mentioning once that the company placed our (mixed and non-Japanese staff) desks in office's front house to serve as pandas in a zoo. Another said we were like trophy wife... I had so many bosses who would spend the day snoring loudly on their chair or pretend to be looking at screen but on closer look they were deeply asleep, or fighting hangover by drinking multiple vitamin charge bottles bought at combini. I used to hate the unproductiveness of Japanese companies where it was common to have 3-4 two-hour meetings per week where nothing was practically discussed, progressed or decided, and everyone was on their laptops chatting on apps or emailing while the bosses spoke nonsense - in hindsight it must have been a way to kill time and demonstrate work is being done. Alex's comment on work strated after lunch is so true! It all meant that ppl stayed behind after hours to make up for the half day wasted, which was why no one went home until 10pm or last train home. Then the repeat of vicious cycle... The smoker comment is interesting! Where I worked, it was a big no-no to ever take a break, even for coffee, but the smokers were exempted to take a smoke break and literally they took 15-30min break every hour. They were always the ones working overtime...
Max, it'd be cool if you interview @Kainihon. He's half Japanese, half Venezuelan but raised in Spain since he was 3 years old. He's living in Tokyo currently.
It was nice feeling to hear that I am not the only one dealing with the first name calling. I have a Japanese last name. But "EVERYONE" including medical clinics when calling your name will use my first name - san. WTF!!! So I feel this is Yobisute style. I sometimes play the game to not respond if someone calls me using my first name. They try 2 or 3 times....I do not respond...then they try using my last time and suddenly I respond very quick. It sucks but that is the world I have to live in.
Yup, thats why i enjoyed being in Osaka when i was visiting japan. Yes they are more chill than being in Tokyo area. I also went to Hokkaido in winter yes very cold but beautiful. People are very nice there as well. Also remember to respect the country's laws and try to learn the mannerisms.
The funny thing is that many don't know is, Osaka is the true original capital of Japan Tokyo's true name is Edo they changed it to Tokyo and made Tokyo the capital of Japan. Osaka is the true big city of Japan tokyo is somewhat a artificially made city/capital.
Okay. Yeah. I also have a Japanese last name as well, but also everyone calls me by my American first name. Everyone else is called by their last name. So I take it as I get more leeway than everyone else. I treat my job as casually as they treat me.
47:17 Capcom? Before Street Fighter 6 was released I recall a very cringey video with the art team describing the process for designing Kimberly. I couldn't help but think WTF?!
Oi you need to interview people who work for good firms and have a good job , educated to get their perspective too,.also One can work for a foreign firm in Japan , or be more selective to where you work and what job you get so you get a better experience and career there. . The fall of Japan is tied to generational workers like this,. And the aging of its society. It’s sad that the cultural and historic pride which propelled japan to greatness in the past is gone,..if educated and really smart most Japanese learn they will make more money abroad so there’s a brain drain in Japan too.
