craftsman
************
- 24 Sep 2006
- 261
- 19
- 28
There are many 'bad things' I could point to about Japanese culture and people when comparing them with my own culture and people. It would be a very easy thing to do for me.
At first in Japan I used to get upset and even angry when I came across something which appeared rude or racist etc, but then as the years went on I began to actually understand that it was my misunderstanding of the culture and people that was the real problem. For me ignorance bred negativity and I had started to dislike the country so I left for a while.
Now I am contented in my little piece of Japan. I do not make negative general statements about the Japanese - 'they do this' or 'they do that' - because I know better. I know how varied and diverse the people really are.
So in short, I like it here. I work as a wood craftsman and acupuncturist in a national park and wake up every day to the sound of monkey and deer calls. The local people are exceedingly friendly and welcoming, even to a foreigner, and the concept of 'gaijin' does not exist in the heads of the school children. The forests are endless and unspoilt and at any time, in any place, you can chat to a complete stranger in any language they understand - Japanese, English (not because anyone presumes you to be of any nationality or tongue - but purely because it is the international language) or even sign language.
My question is basically one of balance - we can all think of the bad stuff - but can anyone tell me the GOOD?
At first in Japan I used to get upset and even angry when I came across something which appeared rude or racist etc, but then as the years went on I began to actually understand that it was my misunderstanding of the culture and people that was the real problem. For me ignorance bred negativity and I had started to dislike the country so I left for a while.
Now I am contented in my little piece of Japan. I do not make negative general statements about the Japanese - 'they do this' or 'they do that' - because I know better. I know how varied and diverse the people really are.
So in short, I like it here. I work as a wood craftsman and acupuncturist in a national park and wake up every day to the sound of monkey and deer calls. The local people are exceedingly friendly and welcoming, even to a foreigner, and the concept of 'gaijin' does not exist in the heads of the school children. The forests are endless and unspoilt and at any time, in any place, you can chat to a complete stranger in any language they understand - Japanese, English (not because anyone presumes you to be of any nationality or tongue - but purely because it is the international language) or even sign language.
My question is basically one of balance - we can all think of the bad stuff - but can anyone tell me the GOOD?
Last edited: