Where are all the polite Japanese?
- Thread starter thistle
- Start date
Elizabeth
先輩
- 22 Apr 2003
- 9,839
- 135
Someone should definately check him out, so to speak.
Somehow the English sounds more like the stereotype of a non-native Asian than what would be expected naturally.
- 8 Mar 2005
- 2,139
- 89
My favourite example of public Japanese politeness is of an obatarian nearly knocking me & my girlfriend over to get the last of a particular type of doughnut at Mr.Donut... Obatarian are probably extreme examples of publicly impolite Japanese, but one thing I noticed particularly was that as for holding doors open for people, or people watching where they were going, there didn't seem to be so much concern for that in Japan.
Many times you have to bob and weave to avoid people at the supermarket because they are simply ignoring everything outside of their own small world.
Many times you have to bob and weave to avoid people at the supermarket because they are simply ignoring everything outside of their own small world.
CBT1979
先輩
- 14 Nov 2006
- 134
- 2
I've been aware of the "surface politeness" of Japanese. But despite of that Japanese were still considered among the most polite people. But the experience I made with Japanese tourists who were around 15-20 years old, I was indeed a bit shocked by their behavior. And I'm not the only one who noticed it but also many friends and colleagues.
Maybe it's the result of rejecting the old Japanese tradition and values while not adopted the foreign behaviors.
So many youngsters in Japan (of course not all) are tending to create their own attitude towards their own society and else.
I call them the "Fun and Rebel"-Generation of todays Japan.
Maybe it's the result of rejecting the old Japanese tradition and values while not adopted the foreign behaviors.
So many youngsters in Japan (of course not all) are tending to create their own attitude towards their own society and else.
I call them the "Fun and Rebel"-Generation of todays Japan.
taehyun
先輩
- 17 Jul 2006
- 176
- 4
Maybe I've been brought up in a quite impolite society, but I still think Japan can't beat Europe in rudeness.And I could add Korea here too.
I remember buying a ticket in Austria- the lady just threw it to me without even stopping her nice chat with a friend.In Korea , I was preparing to buy a ticket, when an old lady just pushed me away. My friend said this happends often in Korea.
I think that the Japanese are respectful to each other.Of course, there are these busy, nervous businessmen, and the educated, but not disciplined young Japanese, or some very old people with samurai mentality( total respect to the eldery person, no matter what s/he says).But in general, politeness is a rule ,and Japanese obey the rules.
If they don't apply these rules to us, the reason, I think, is the fact that many foreigners are not polite too.Some guys just think that they are the center of the world, and the Japanese put a stereotype on all.
I remember buying a ticket in Austria- the lady just threw it to me without even stopping her nice chat with a friend.In Korea , I was preparing to buy a ticket, when an old lady just pushed me away. My friend said this happends often in Korea.
I think that the Japanese are respectful to each other.Of course, there are these busy, nervous businessmen, and the educated, but not disciplined young Japanese, or some very old people with samurai mentality( total respect to the eldery person, no matter what s/he says).But in general, politeness is a rule ,and Japanese obey the rules.
If they don't apply these rules to us, the reason, I think, is the fact that many foreigners are not polite too.Some guys just think that they are the center of the world, and the Japanese put a stereotype on all.
Ninja Shinichi
Registered
- 24 Dec 2006
- 16
- 0
I not know these 'Jonathancameron' and 'Bexchurnside' and not know why you have dislike of me. Maybe you have racism feeling against ninja.
There is possibility but small possibility. Ninja training is much difficulty.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #34
'The Electric Man'
Just as I thought the polite Japanese were dying out, yesterday my faith was restored. The other day, some info from the electricity board was in my post box, and I knew someone had been and may come again. As I couldn't read it all, I didn't think much more about it. Then yesterday a little old man came from the electric board saying he was here to do a check on the wiring points, something they only do every 4 years now. He apologised profusely for only leaving info in japanese that I could not read and gave me a new pamphlet all in english. He finished his job, explained some more things, and bowed, I thanked him and bowed back.
In what other country in the world would they apologise for not having a pamphlet made in your own language for something like that.
Anyway, the nice, polite little man made my day, just to know that politeness is not dead after all.
Just as I thought the polite Japanese were dying out, yesterday my faith was restored. The other day, some info from the electricity board was in my post box, and I knew someone had been and may come again. As I couldn't read it all, I didn't think much more about it. Then yesterday a little old man came from the electric board saying he was here to do a check on the wiring points, something they only do every 4 years now. He apologised profusely for only leaving info in japanese that I could not read and gave me a new pamphlet all in english. He finished his job, explained some more things, and bowed, I thanked him and bowed back.
In what other country in the world would they apologise for not having a pamphlet made in your own language for something like that.
Anyway, the nice, polite little man made my day, just to know that politeness is not dead after all.
jonathancameron
Kouhai
- 13 Dec 2006
- 80
- 0
Like Canadian compassion in Vancouver, BC. False compassion that tourists love. But many know that we have the undertouch of the nastiness that Austrialians have.
