Yukipenguin said:Ha. The "Maybe, depends how you see it" option completely defeats the purpose of the poll. Is the sky blue? "Maybe, depends on how you see it"
Keeni84 said:Why is it that industrialization equals Westernization?
Did I say that ?
Adopting a Western political, economical and educational system, Western clothes, Western food and Western habits (weddings, sports, etc.) has nothing to do with industrialization.
Keeni84 said:Some people said that industrialization (etc.) is equal to Westernization and I just wanted to know WHY.
Because the West was the country that invented the industrialization (steam engine, textile and steel factories, electricity, combustion, robotization, miniaturization, computerization, etc.). It seems pretty obvious
I love that line.TheKansaiKid said:I would say Japan is a very Japanese country
I know what you mean. Japanese have had a strong fascination toward America and some European countries and have been trying to adopt their ways of living for a long time.Brooker said:It seems like many Japanese people would like Japan to be accepted by Western countries as being "one of them".
If time can talk... said:I think Japan is a country which is always ready to learn.It's always learning from those which are stronger or richer that itself.According to history,Japan learnt from China in the Tang Dynasty,cause China was strong at that time.And now,it learns more from western countries.Its culture and lauguage roots in Asia,but modern life seems more alike with westerners.
Always keep learning,I like this point.
Maciamo said:I'd like to nuance this by saying that the Japanese learn almost only what is practical and useful to become richer. So it's mostly business or industry related. When it comes to understanding other cultures, world history, geography, foreign languages (except if it's useful) or anything else, I'd say that the Japanese are very poor learners. Maybe it is because anything that is not directly useful to them is seen as unworthy to learn. Many have an interest in "the rest of the world" but it is usually a very superficial one, and they end up not learning much about anything.
Yes, me too, and that is why I dislike rednecks or uneducated people in general. This dislike is amplified by the age of the uneducated person in question, since the longer one lives, the more one can learn. I tend to have quite negative feelings toward many older Japanese people because most of those I have met were very ignorant, although they have had many more years than me to learn about all the things of the world. I know that may sound intolerant, but without this intolerance of mediocrity and ignorance I wouldn't be pressured to learn as much as I do.
alexriversan said:. Offensive Slang
Used as a disparaging term for a member of the white rural laboring class, especially in the southern United States.
A white person regarded as having a provincial, conservative, often bigoted attitude.
if you avoid the numbers 4000 etc, probably people like to read about your bad experiences.
You are quite correct as I feel the same way. Save for the smaller, uniquely Japanese living quarters and the population density, living in Japan was, basically, no different than living here in the states.Booker said:To me, Japan felt like a Western country that just happened to be in Asia. Of course, some cultural things are different from Western countries, but the lifestyle is very similar. It seems like many Japanese people would like Japan to be accepted by Western countries as being "one of them". Few of the Japanese people I talked to had ever traveled to any other Asian country, but many of them had traveled to America and Europe.
TheKansaiKid said:But Japan takes the "borrow" from other cultures thing to a preeminent level. In the past they borrowed from Chinese culture with writing, food etc. Now it is from the west with entertainment, music, clothes etc.
Perfecetly said TKK. I couldn't agree with you more. Although other countires may have invented a particular product or technique, Japan borrows that product/technique and takes it to the next higher level, where westerners wouldn't even consider it as "it's not in the budget", or it'll cost too much money". Whatever they take from western culture they alter it to fit the Japanese culture and society and it then "becomes" Japanese. i.e smaller, more practical, more efficient/economical, etc.TheKansaiKid said:I would say Japan is a very Japanese country
True. And it also "feels" western to some extent. However, Japan is still Japan as they have kept their culture and traditions intact. (At least they are trying to.) For this I am grateful. Not only can Japan be and feel western to a westerner it can also be very much Japanese under the surface. This is what makes Japan so unique and a great place to live or visit. You have the best of both worlds!Eisuke said:Japan is not a western country. Japan only looks "western" on the surface.
Maciamo said:I suppose that's the definition of redneck. Usually it also implies a lack of education and very self-centered view of the world (I guess that could be associated with being conservative and bigoted). What I meant is that I didn't like people like that, wherever they come from and whatever their ethnic group. What I especially dislike is the ignorant/uneducated aspect, because that is merely up to oneself to learn (it's so easy with the Internet nowadays, but books have always existed for people living now).
Bad example!Pachipro said:didn't infringe on the maker's patents, [...] Thus, things like the Sony Walkman were invented.
But what about all the pop-culture stuff like movies and music? That's not very "useful" and yet they can't get enough of it.Maciamo said:the Japanese learn almost only what is practical and useful to become richer.
Oh, that was before my time. I thought there might have been a similar thread, but I did a search and didn't find it. Well, let's do it again.Yes, how could any of us forget Maciamo's thread? To me, it seems it was one of the most popular threads on this site thus far.