Japan Obsession Syndrome

[yukio_michael]

You'll notice how often on jref that Japan draws such fervant dedication from those people who though young, and unfamiliar with the society, language, etcetera, are contimplating or have simply made up their minds that Japan is the place that they want to live.

A lot of us know that this line of thinking (though more prevalent the younger you happen to be) is hasty and usually results in misery, still--- Japan seems to be unique in its lure to non-Japanese.

I say unique knowing full well how over-used that word is when refering to Japan. Japan is unique, but not seperate--- It's seasons are no more unique to them, than the rest of the world's... Your ability to use chopsticks is related to your aposable thumb, not your keen eye for the rich culture of Japan--- though you'll surprise many Japanese by your use of them.

What is it in Japan that causes non-Japanese to abruptly denounce their culture as 'bankrupt', uncivilized, meaningless, unhealthy, ugly, boring, stupid, senseless?

I say that Japan is unique in this--- We used to call people who had an (unhealthy?) obsession with all things English, Anglophiles... that word almost has no meaning anymore.

Japan I think represents the unobtainable. Japan already has a very highly defined system of object-worship which translates very well to outsiders--- it's usually this surface area that attracts people I think to the greater need to belong to something that seems mysterious or different to them.

I've lived in Japan for six months, although I would have liked to have stayed longer, my visa situation just didnt permit it--- I'm self employed and was able to pay my own way, but it wasn't in the cards for me to stay. Honestly, I had it slightly better than simply showing up green--- but still... It's a love hate relationship for me. I would very much like to 'try' to live in Japan again--- All said, I do like the society, I do like the area of the world, I do like the language--- But I know that it takes a great deal of planning to achieve this--- and beyond planning, it takes fighting a beurocracy diametrically oposed to you.

It may not happen---

Socially, I feel disconnected from Japan--- I don't know if I even have a right to consider it a place to live... I believe perhaps that Japan is something, like being born with a particular blood type, that is decided long before you actually have the wherewithall to travel there.

For example---- even though I started studying Japanese some six years ago, without the resources to continue my studies--- Learning a foreign language that has no purpose in your daily life becomes fraught with interuption and limited possibilities.

I'm still hopeful that one day I'll get to go back, my Japanese a lot better, my preparedness a lot more atuned, but having seen inconveniences both major and minor-- sometimes I don't know why.

 

[SortOf]

Im not obsessed I just want the learn the language for anime and manga purposes, maybe vacation now and then. Im not "obsessed" in any way really.

To completely honest I consiter the country weird, and somewhat off the wall, I would never want to live there full time.

 

[Da Monstar]

...I just like the food... And the girls



edit: Actually I think you have a point regarding some people

 

[godppgo]

Hello Yukio Michael,

Very insightful ideas you brought up. I would like to make some comments on some of the topics you mentioned.

In where I come from (Taiwan), there is a term used to describe such group of people. They are called邃｢ﾃｻ窶愿ｺ窶伉ｰ, literally means a group of people who are crazy about anything Japanese without any in depth understanding of Japan. There is another term for describing people who have a deep interest and an in-depth understanding on the Japanese subject that interest them. They are called 窶冦窶愿ｺ窶伉ｰ, literally means a group of people who understands in depth on a particular Japanese subject or Japan as a whole. Most 邃｢ﾃｻ窶愿ｺ窶伉ｰ eventually lose interest and give up learning Japanese when Japan turns out to be not they were expecting it to be. In other words, the found out there is a huge gap between expectation and reality.

It is during this period of time most邃｢ﾃｻ窶愿ｺ窶伉ｰ lose motivation to learn Japanese, however some find their adjustment and move on and further pursue their Japanese-related interests and eventually become 窶冦窶愿ｺ窶伉ｰ. Usually these people have very strong determination and commitment. Most importantly, even after discovering the expectation-reality gap, they still find learning and knowing Japanese in accord with their life philosophies and values. I think what distinguishes a 邃｢ﾃｻ窶愿ｺ窶伉ｰ from a窶冦窶愿ｺ窶伉ｰ is their attitude in accepting Japanese societal values.

I can feel your frustration when you said, ﾂ"Japan is something, like being born with a particular blood type.ﾂ" It's like a gaijin is always a gaijin. No matter how hard you try to assimilate into their society, how much you try to understand Japanese philosophies and value, you're always a gaijin to them. I don't think there's anything we can do to change how Japanese view us (no, being Taiwanese doesn't help, once they found out you're non-Japanese then they start behaving in gaijin mode). Sometimes you wonder if you're doing something wrong but in fact there's nothing wrong. It's just how Japanese people think and behave. It is what Japanese society IS, that's how Japan IS.

Myself sometimes is discouraged by what I know about Japan and this really hinders my Japanese learning. However, imposing our own interpretations on Japan and expecting it to function like the way we seem fit is not the proper way of getting to know a new culture. The only thing within our control is to adjust our mindset and define some areas of Japan that is still in accord with our life goals or values. It's not easy to do such adjustment; it's like giving up a belief that has been the motivation all along.

 

[senseiman]

I was never "obsessed" with Japan in the sense outlined above. I pretty much happened to end up there by chance.

But I lived there for five years and can say without a doubt that it was the best time of my life and my experience turned me into what you might call a "Japanophile" in the sense that while not blind to its faults I find it to be a fascinating country.

As an outsider it is pretty much impossible to be viewed as Japanese no longer how long you live there but that doesn't mean that you cannot become connected to the society. There are plenty of pleasant niches for foreigners to fill and I know several people who have lived quite happily there for decades.

 

[Rich303]

I think one's interest can grow over time.
I've had an interest in Japan for quite a while. I guess this grew when I really got into Japanese cinema - I became increasingly fascinated by a culture/mindset that could produce such fresh, bold movies. And I liked the Japanese ladies who visited my previous company.
Once I started working for NHK I learnt more and more about different aspects of Japan, and I have been treated very well. Now I love Japanese food! - I didn't really have a clue about it until I had this job. There is one other English guy here and he schooled me out in that department.

I don't think I'm obsessed with Japan, but there is no other country that fascinates me in the same way.
Thankfully when I visited Japan I wasn't disappointed - It was close to how I'd imagined, if not better.(dispite a rather cold reception from my pen pal!)

I guess Japan is interesting to many people because it is so different from any other place.

I want to go to Jamaica next - and soak up the Reggae vibes!

 

[Kinsao]

I think one's interest can grow over time.

That about describes where I'm coming from as regards my interest in Japan.

I never used to be in the slightest bit interested in Japan. Or at least, no more than in any other country. But I can be interested in more or less anything once I start on the path of finding out things about it. So now, I'd say I'm 'slightly' interested in Japan - i.e. more than I was a year ago. Which isn't really saying much!

Actually, learning the language has drawn me into becoming interested, to a large extent. This looks a bit weird now I've written it, because usually it's the other way around, but... well, that's just how it happened for me.

Those people overly obsessed with Japan, I often see them called 'Japanophiles'. It seems like a really immature attitude to me, and a bit of a shame because such people spend years being discontented and then become disillusioned.

[Although I'm sure some of them (who go to Japan) do end up loving it, for whatever the reason.]

 

[MajideSaiaku]

I dont really like japanophiles, but, its just a folly of youth, i had a (albeit short) japanophile phase durring my mid teens.

When your a japanophile you think you know all there is to know of japan and yet the fact you really dont keeps you going, you want to un-earth even more of this mysterious wonderous heaven on earth.

Im glad i got to know the real japan up close and personal, i can safely say i like it more then any fantasy i had of it as a kid.

Most japanophiles are teenagers and will grow out of it.

 

[ullvarg]

I don't realy know what to say about this, as far back as I remember I have always hade a slight interest in Japan, the last couple of years I have been certain that I will visit Japan some time in the distant future for a short vacation or something. For me Japan has been an impossible goal, up until October last year I thought I would be moving to New York.

But then it happened a friend of mine got the Monbusho scholarship and he's going to Kyoto . I checked some stuff out and now I'm going to Sendai in April . Ill stay as long as I like it there then Ill move somewhere else (Just not Sweden). The thing is that the last 2-3 moths or so I have been starting to show some slight tendencies of being a "japanophiles" as you call it, it kind of bugs me but I can't realy help it, my mind is playing some weird games with me.

Hopefully this will stop ones I'm there and I do believe it will I usually do this kind of thing around most big things happening to me. Maybe it's just a personality characteristic or it's just as you guys already said a sign of immaturity, I think that I my case it's just my huge imagination acting up.

Maybe I'm rambling and this realy doesn't belong in this thread or it's totally in the right spot, I don't know and I'm tiered

 

[yukio_michael]

Maybe I'm rambling and this realy doesn稚 belong in this thread or it's totally in the right spot, I don't know and I'm tiered

This thread actually encourages rambling....!

Hello Yukio Michael,
In where I come from (Taiwan), there is a term used to describe such group of people. They are called哈日族, literally means a group of people who are crazy about anything Japanese without any in depth understanding of Japan.

There is a pretty similar segment at the begining of the movie Better Than Sex (a Taiwanese film...) about some people's obsession in Taiwan w/ the fast paced hyper style of Japan.

 

[lastmagi]

One of my pet peeves is when these Japanophiles imagine for themselves a wonderful utopia where everything is all bright and shiny and manga-y. Japan is essentially placed on a pedestal, and these folks are just dying to escape from America to the Promised Land where everything is all right, society isn't as conservative (because of course nobody would understand their J-music/anime/tentacle obssession in America), and all the boys are cute and caring and all for gender equality and all the girls are hot and nice.

Thankfully, not all people interested in Japan are so superficial. And, as some have pointed out, actual research into Japan may remove much of these fantasies. But boy, what a grand dream!

 

[Elizabeth]

Socially, I feel disconnected from Japan--- I don't know if I even have a right to consider it a place to live... I believe perhaps that Japan is something, like being born with a particular blood type, that is decided long before you actually have the wherewithall to travel there.

If I hadn't studied the language extensively before going the first time and didn't see improvement in that as my primary focus this would probably have been my experience and feeling exactly. And based on constant personal experiences of conversationally fluency radically changing their perception of me from suspicion and distance to warmth and engagement, I can say it is pretty much the main point on which you are judged and becomes a very convenient pathway to adapting and fitting in. Start taking and acting like a Japanese person and you will eventually begin to be treated that way. Of course foreigners will stand out physically and socially, but so what ? If I can't condone the way natives treat each other, in many ways, why would I prefer it for myself instead of the relative amount of freedom an outsider provides ? But everyone is unique and if you are lucky enough to have a very close relationship based on English...all the more power your way !

 

[ArmandV]

Let's see, for the first 47 years of my life I spent my vacation travels around the U.S. primarily visiting the national parks. But since I was a kid I have been fascinated by Japanese culture, primarily Japanese cinema. In high school, that interest was further fueled by a great teacher when I took an Asian Studies class in my senior year.

My first visit to Japan was at the "ripe old age" of 47 and had one heck of a good time. I've been back twice since. I plan to return in April. One thing I always try to do is to go to places that I have not been in prior trips.

When I go back, I plan to go to Sendai and Matsushima. My father was briefly stationed in Sendai during the Korean War before he had to go over to Korea. I have a photo of him in Matsushima with Godai-do in the background. I hope to take a similar photo at that spot.

Am I "obsessed" with Japan? I don't think so, but I sure do have a great time each time I've been there. If wanting to go to Japan and wanting to know more of its culture and people puts one in the category of a "Japanophile," so be it! There are worse things in life to be hooked on (such as drugs).

 

[Kinsao]

society isn't as conservative... all the boys are cute and caring and all for gender equality and all the girls are hot and nice.

Does anyone actually really seriously believe that kind of thing? I know people say that teenagers sometimes think like that, but... well... ☝

If wanting to go to Japan and wanting to know more of its culture and people puts one in the category of a "Japanophile," so be it!

I think it puts you into the category of "someone wanting to learn about Japan", actually. ;-)