Working in Japan as a 'bad American'

[edogaijin]

Reading these forums, seems my attitude isn't welcome in Japan. So to define bad American:

-Don't do unpaid overtime
-Don't speak Japanese, not really trying to learn
-Do not care about J-biz culture, and leave work "early" at the contract's quitting time
-Eat American food, and don't eat seafood, use chopsticks or try to follow J-food etiquette
-Take pride, loudly, in being an American and acting however one wants in any given situation

Is there any realistic career path for someone like me in Japan? I really have absolutely no desire to change my ways just because I live here. This is a serious thread.

 

[WonkoTheSane]

Serious questions.

Why would you want to live somewhere you don't like the culture, and with people whose customs you don't like?

What is it about Japan which drew you to it?

I'm just at a loss as to how you ended up in Japan considering how much you appear to despise the culture and people. All that's really left is the landscape, and you can find similar plants and animals lots of places.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

A little out of place here.

Most people here on our forum are very pro Japan. When someone comes along and points out negative things , we kind of wonder why you joined us. For the members who feel Japan is heaven on earth and will never believe otherwise , they tend to think you are a troll , LOL. In the 10 years I've been here on JREF , I think we have covered every negative thing you can think of on Japan , 2 or 3 times if not more. There must be forums out there in internet land where they are anti Japan and you would be treated like a forum super star. I hate to see you made uncomfortable or unwelcome here for your views when you could be a hero on another forum.

Uncle Frank

 

[edogaijin]

This is meant to be a serious discussion about foreigners adapting to the working conditions in Japan. Please keep it on topic..

 

[Glenski]

I don't believe for one moment that edogaijin thinks this is a serious discussion. Troll, I say, troll!

 

[nahadef]

The only thing here that makes you a bad immigrant, and not a bad American, is the last point.

"-Take pride, loudly, in being an American and acting however one wants in any given situation"

You insist on putting way too much emphasis on your Americaness. It's irrelevant, and just the flavour of your rudeness, and not the root. There is zero chance that anyone from any country could come to your hometown and bleat about how great their home is, while then completely ignoring the feelings and customs of it, without grinding on the locals.

Probably there isn't a future for you in Japan, since you won't be able to be happy in a place you condescend so heavily, and they will not change for you. I think you might be happy staying in your own country since you have such difficulty with differences.

There you go. Your topic has been addressed. For the sake of the next feather-ruffling dude who visits the forum.

Though you shouldn't BS the mods that this is a serious topic. "Can I be a successful worker in Japan if I don't use chopsticks?" Troll. Using 'gaijin' in your name was a pretty good hint of that though.

 

[edogaijin]

The thing is Japan lost. I mean just saying... We could have nuked Edo and Kyoto .

 

[nahadef]

Either you think that stuff's funny, and you're an idiot, or you are saying it seriously, and you're subhuman. Either way, you are what "block user" was invented for.

 

[edogaijin]

Can I get this person banned? Calling someone subhuman seems pretty bad...

 

[thomas]

Can I get this person banned? Calling someone subhuman seems pretty bad...

While a bit drastic, ND's remark probably reflected what most people thought when reading this:

The thing is Japan lost. I mean just saying... We could have nuked Edo and Kyoto.

Going through your posts I feel you must have a very compelling reason to stay in Japan. Why for heaven's sake are you here and not in the US of A where you can sleep on a bed with your boots on and where you do not have to deal with backward natives?

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Can I get this person banned? Calling someone subhuman seems pretty bad...

Reminds me a bit of the story about the guy who goes to the zoo everyday and pokes the poor bear with a pointed stick. One day the bear yanks his arm into the cage and bites him. The guy sues the zoo to have the bear killed as vicious.

Uncle Frank

 

[naruse]

This is ... incredibly ignorant, beyond my comprehension. Basically, what you've been saying (other forum posts included): Ohh I am in another country, but who cares, I'm American! I don't have to change for the country, the country has to change for me! Those people are so weird, I'm the only normal person here.
And you expect a serious discussion?
As asked by other people: Why are you staying there then? What keeps you from going back to the US if you don't like Japan nor plan to adapt to its culture?
And last but not least: Do you like people who come to the US, don't speak/plan on learning English, don't care about culture and tradition, call all Americans mentally sick (since an OCD is a serious illness, not some kind of funny behaviour)? I don't think you're there as a bad American, actually I'd rather say you're a bad human. (Sorry, that may be a bit harsh, but your attitude is ... scary.)

 

[Hezam]

This person is stupidly funny, He started by defining himself and sticking his bad attitude to a whole nation, Then complained about the Japnese lifestyle, and complained why Japanese don't accept his attitude including the weird part 'taking pride loudly in being american' which i haven't seen any american do it before, And he asked desperately if there is a realistic career path for him (with that attitude) in Japan.
He also asked to take his thread and attitude seriously, And out of nowhere he brought a nuclear bombing view, Yet he demand banning someone for calling him subhuman forgetting all his posts above....

I couldn't stop my self from posting my expression about his serious thread if what i posted above is considered an expression!

 

[nahadef]

I only said subhuman "if" he was serious. He could just be an idiot.

 

[boymanzein]

I only said subhuman "if" he was serious.

 

[edogaijin]

Why would Japanese expect a foreigner to not act like a foreigner? I mean that's like getting mad a red light for turning red or a dog for barking. Just because I live here doesn't mean that I owe Japan anything. I mean hey guess what, I really can act however the hell I want and live here. Been doing it for a few years, actually.

 

[Hezam]

Why would Japanese expect a foreigner to not act like a foreigner? I mean that's like getting mad a red light for turning red or a dog for barking. Just because I live here doesn't mean that I owe Japan anything. I mean hey guess what, I really can act however the hell I want and live here. Been doing it for a few years, actually.

Japanese and other people have nothing against you for who you are, But if you are rude nobody will welcome you.
You say foreigners act like you ? you are WRONG, it's only you.

 

[edogaijin]

I have seen a great many foreign tourists not acting in accordance with Japanese expectations. And a # of Japanese that comment on the strangeness. Interestingly enough when I was on a flight to visit home, I saw a few Japanese old ojiisan business types stretching in the aisles, red-faced after having a few beverages on the plane. I am sure they understood no or little English and ignored the flight attendants asking them to sit down. A guy in the row behind me commented "They must work for one of those weird Japanese game shows".

It made me realize that Japanese have a set of social customs that is way different than in America. Being publicly intoxicated in Japan is basically "no big deal" nor is stretching your legs and what not. In the US that might be seen as more bizarre or frankly even rude while in a public area. I heard a few Japanese tourists commenting outside the plane about how large the gaikoku was. Without missing a beat I put a hand on the guy's shoulder, put on my best troll face and said "ima-kara, anata ha gaijin ni narimashita. amerika desukara, kio tsukete kudasai ne" The look on the guy's face was freaking priceless heh

 

[Hezam]

Rude attitude remains rude, no matter how many people act rude, people will not accept such attitude wheather it's foreigner or citizen.
I really don't understand why you need to act like this, If it's because you hate Japan and Japanese then you really don't have to stay in Japan, Back home where you can eat your favorite food and work as you like, plus you don't need to show your pride of being american!

 

[edogaijin]

What behavior have I mentioned that is rude? I think leaving work when you aren't being paid is fairly normal. Some people don't like seafood, even in Japan. Many Japanese are proud to be Japanese, just as I am proud to be American. What's the big deal? I mean hey, we won the war.

 

[Hezam]

i reviewed your posts again and i came to a conclusion that you are one of three:
- Racist narrow-minded person ( can't imagine that level of stupidity ).
- Anti America-Japan relationship ( considering your insult to American & japanese lifestyles).
- Japanese right wing party fan ( trying to provoke or remind Japanese members with War thing ).

And i'm wondering why my posts did not make you flame on me regarding my location, You even requested banning someone else !
Weird...

 

[edogaijin]

I reported another member for cursing me out and sending me harassing messages and PMs. Is this really allowed on JREF? I am not racist, I just live in Japan on my own terms. I am saying that Japan is indeed lucky that it surrendered when it did. If it had not, I fully suspect the Allied forces would have nuked Edo, killed the Imperial Family, invaded the Japanese isles and that there would not be much of a Japan these days. All told, Japan got off easy for its WW2 war crimes. Far easier than China got off for, that's for sure.

 

[kaspersky]

I am not racist, I just live in Japan on my own terms.

This thread is a waste of time.

 

[edogaijin]

It isn't racist to live in Japan and act like an American person. It's just not terribly considerate. I never claimed to be considerate. I just feel like working on my own terms. I am not Japanese, so why would I act Japanese? Why would I care about their culture, just because I live here? Making a lot of assumptions.

 

[nihondaisuki]

I think lots of people have answered your questions,but you just don't seem to understand anything. If you're that stupid and stubborn,just go to America and live there. NO country will tolerate you,honestly. NOBODY will tolerate a person like you. Even some American people might find your way of thinking illogical.