how foreigners see Japanese culture

[noirdecoco]

I would like you to help my project. I'm an editor and research how foreigners see Japanese culture.

I would appreciate it if you fill in your answers by January 31st and please tell your friends and acquaintances.
https://mdh.fm/e?cF102TN5V

It will be publishing an online article based on this questionnaire on March 26th. Thank you.

 

[Emoni]

Interesting survey. What is it being published in?

 

[noirdecoco]

thanks

this system doesnt let put the URL...
the website calls "SPACE ALC"
readers are almost japanese and i'm sure they are interested in foreigners view.

 

[Dark Gami]

What exactly are you interested in? My view of the Japanese culture is a pozitive one. I think Japan's culture is impresing from most points of view. This would be much easier if you would ask some helping questions about what specificaly you need to find out for your study.

 

[yukio_michael]

What exactly are you interested in? My view of the Japanese culture is a pozitive one. I think Japan's culture is impresing from most points of view. This would be much easier if you would ask some helping questions about what specificaly you need to find out for your study.

The original poster referenced a URL where the survey was, maybe you missed that.

 

[Ewok85]

I did the survey, but didn't agree with it.
How somebody sees something like another countries culture is going to depend on their background. The survey has a heavy anime bias and little about actual culture.
When I think Japanese culture I think public transport, hanami, hanabi, matsuri, deeply rooted non-religious shinto activities (matsuri, going to temples at new year), social structure (sempai - kohai), ritualistic behaviour (shinnenkai at the start of the year, bounenkai in the middle, etc).
Nothing wrong with any of that, and its what the culture is. But very little of that was in the survey, it felt very shallow and superficial.
If I was an architect, when I came to Japan I would appreciate the Japanese style buildings and designs of newer high-rises. If I was religious I may take more notice of the huge number of subtle religious items, activities and practices that still exist. If I was a cook I would appreciate the food more. If I was a <something> then I would appreciate and understand <something> more than other people.
Get my point?

 

[TOKYO64]

Although Japan and the U.S. may seem similar (modern buildings and beautiful scenery, people wearing western clothing) things are very different as both cultures look at things in distant ways. Westerners seem to be aloof to Japanese and Japanese aloof to Westerners. Like sex for example, Westerners think that when they sleep with a woman in Japan it's love, but Japanese look at it as just another experience

Although Japan and the U.S. may seem similar (modern buildings and beautiful scenery, people wearing western clothing) things are very different as both cultures look at things in distant ways. Westerners seem to be aloof to Japanese and Japanese aloof to Westerners. Like sex for example, Westerners think that when they sleep with a woman in Japan it's love, but Japanese look at it as just another experience

 

[taehyun]

Craftsman put something about the stereotypes some Japanese like to put on themselves and the entire nation. I saw the survey, but didn't take it...I won't help anyone to put themselves voluntary in any frames.

Like sex for example, Westerners think that when they sleep with a woman in Japan it's love, but Japanese look at it as just another experience

This is the essence of the whole Japanese culture, isn't it...

 

[Ewok85]

Although Japan and the U.S. may seem similar (modern buildings and beautiful scenery, people wearing western clothing) things are very different as both cultures look at things in distant ways.

I see very few things the same. Buildings are noticeably different in Japan. The way in which buildings are used is subtly different. Clothing may look the same on the outside, but the concepts behind them are far different.

Like sex for example, Westerners think that when they sleep with a woman in Japan it's love, but Japanese look at it as just another experience

That's not cultural, that's individual. I know plenty of people who have sex purely for love, who are both Japanese and foreign, and plenty for whom sex is a physical activity devoid of emotion.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

The survey has a heavy anime bias and little about actual culture.

Unless I'm mistaken, this poll is being conducted by the Tokyo International Anime Fair Organizing Commitee. That might explain things a little.

 

[ghettocities]

All of you... look at yourselves.. lab rats.. lab rats.


Josh

 

[GodEmperorLeto]

Like sex for example, Westerners think that when they sleep with a woman in Japan it's love, but Japanese look at it as just another experience

I'm with Ewok on this one. Being an American in a college town, I can honestly say the bulk of these guys/girls aren't having sex for love. I think it's the cultural shock. An American in Japan is going to feel slightly vulnerable, and if he gets played for sex, it can be heartbreaking, but if he were in the United States, he'd be the player. The same thing happens over here: Japanese girls come to the U.S. and think it's love when it really isn't.
A lot of it is probably signals and misinterpreting them. Of the Japanese guys and girls I've become friends with at my University, I can say that the rules of the game are similar, but there are some differences.

EDIT: I forgot to mention. Although I've never been to Japan, I intend to go once my MA is completed. But it is most certainly not to attend anime expos. I am more interested in the history than anything else, and intend to visit castles and Sengoku battlefields, just like I do anywhere else I visit, as well as to help myself relearn the language better. The survey is interesting, but there is a lot more I'd rather discuss about Japan than the latest Naruto episode.

 

[Ewok85]

Unless I'm mistaken, this poll is being conducted by the Tokyo International Anime Fair Organizing Commitee. That might explain things a little.

So its a void survey by forcing a bias... get my point?

 

[taehyun]

And waving ticket as a treat!

Can they just... follow the advise the English gave to Jeanne d'Arc in the movie?

 

[GodEmperorLeto]

And waving ticket as a treat!
Can they just... follow the advise the English gave to Jeanne d'Arc in the movie?

And that advice was...? Please refresh my memory.

 

[taehyun]

And that advice was...? Please refresh my memory

Watch the movie!Beautiful artpiece, a must-see!Starring Mila Jovovich and Dustin Hoffman

 

[TOKYO64]

I have learned much about Japanese culture during my 10 plus years in Japan. So I have so much to say on this subject. In today's world there is a growing gap between young and old. Young people no longer want children and they are taking a little longer to marry. A lot of young women in Japan are trying to find out who they are. They are constantly stressed as to figuring out how they fit in society. There are many problems coming out in the open in Japanese society with the different types of crimes that are occuring. I blame the Japanese education system because it doesn't condone individuality. Many people in Japan are also unable to communicate their feelings to people and thus lash out by during things like chopping up their husband or sister as was the case recently. Japanese must find a way to discuss their feelings openly.

 

[ghettocities]

In today's world there is a growing gap between young and old. Young people no longer want children and they are taking a little longer to marry. A lot of young women in Japan are trying to find out who they are. They are constantly stressed as to figuring out how they fit in society. There are many problems coming out in the open in Japanese society with the different types of crimes that are occuring. I blame the Japanese education system because it doesn't condone individuality. Many people in Japan are also unable to communicate their feelings to people and thus lash out by during things like chopping up their husband or sister as was the case recently.

In other words, Japanese people are a bunch alcoholics, hentai will never be what it was in the 90s and business men jumping on tracks after losing their jobs so that their family can get that little bit of life insurance is a dying trend, pun intended.


You all write like you are about to be graded on some sort of test, why am I the only real person.. don't answer that.


Josh

 

[TOKYO64]

In other words, Japanese people are a bunch alcoholics, hentai will never be what it was in the 90s and business men jumping on tracks after losing their jobs so that their family can get that little bit of life insurance is a dying trend, pun intended.
You all write like you are about to be graded on some sort of test, why am I the only real person.. don't answer that.
Josh

It seems that Japanese society is constantly trying to reinvent itself. We have all kinds of people saying things about Japan but they have never lived here like we have Ghetto. People can read all the books they want but they must put their foot down on Japanese soil and experience it for themselves. Everyone will then have a totally different experience from the next guy. It's like putting two people at the same place and then telling them to walk in two different directions and see what you come up with. I stopped counting at 1,000!

 

[SushiShin]

I like Japan but the first time i encounter the food here i was ill for 3 days.

then i went to search for food that they imported of my country.
and now i eat both.
japanese food and filipino food.
japanese culture is better then the European Culture.
(even the girls are much nicer and attractive)

*Kayo*

 

[TOKYO64]

I like Japan but the first time i encounter the food here i was ill for 3 days.
then i went to search for food that they imported of my country.
and now i eat both.
japanese food and filipino food.
japanese culture is better then the European Culture.
(even the girls are much nicer and attractive)
*Kayo*

I've been to Europe and Japan and the girls are nice in both places and they can be not so nice too. But I think a lot of girls in Japan are attractive but after dating many of them I discovered that most of the relationships had no substance. It was difficult to really communicate with them on a deeper level.

 

[Mrjones]

I like Japan but the first time i encounter the food here i was ill for 3 days.
then i went to search for food that they imported of my country.
and now i eat both.
japanese food and filipino food.
japanese culture is better then the European Culture.
(even the girls are much nicer and attractive)
*Kayo*

Why is Japan better than Europe ? Have you been Europe ?
Have you seen it even at TV ? No you dont..they dont show continents or whole countries there.

 

[mika_r]

well, here in chile we don't know very much about asian culture, specialy older people. older people think that japan is a super cybernetic country, that porn is everywhere (as a catholic country they found all things related to sex bad.) and often they think that japan and china is the same thing. so when they say "this chinese guy" they are talking about all asian-kind-of-look.

but people that do know about japan they admire japanese culture but they arent very in to it.

there is also the otaku* group and they found all japanese related stuff super duper kawaii. they admire japan and they want to be japanese. this group is badly seen by society in chile

*chilean otaku: is every guy that reads manga.

 

[tigi]

Many people in Japan are also unable to communicate their feelings to people and thus lash out by during things like chopping up their husband or sister as was the case recently. Japanese must find a way to discuss their feelings openly.

dude this problem is everywhere. people isn't enough opened (i can include me in that list) to show their feelings like they would like to.
That's part of the human beeing.

 

[TOKYO64]

dude this problem is everywhere. people isn't enough opened (i can include me in that list) to show their feelings like they would like to.
That's part of the human beeing.

This is true but in Japan they can't express themselves as freely as we do in the west because they don't want to disturb the harmony of it all but sooner or later you will explode because you can't keep it all in all the time. In Japan I would say that their "explosions" are uncrolled outburst.