While I can't speak for MartialArtsNovice (who, interestingly, runs into more KKK members in Arizona than I do in Tennessee), I think I can do a grand job of speaking for myself. I've been "burned" by both American and Japanese girls-er, women. I'll admit that, more often than not, I've set myself up for it. Whether it was because of the rose-colored glasses or I was thinking with the wrong head.... But it was often because the person represented herself as someone she wasn't. That might be because of their insecurity, their desire to make a good impression or the desire to impress their girlfriends. In any case, the hardest thing to do is get someone to just be themselves. And that's universal, regardless of age, race or nationality.
And no offense, but I do find Asian women more attractive in general. Don't know why, I've always been like that. Maybe it's the way I'm wired. Not that it's kept me from dating a variety of women over the years.The thing you've got to watch about Japanese women is that the Japanese tend to be very polite, but very distant emotionally. And for expressive Americans, that politeness is often confused for interest.
But back to the topic, Japan short-term and the US long-term. My language skills aren't sufficient for long-term survival in Japan! LOL!
The thing you've got to watch about Japanese women is that the Japanese tend to be very polite, but very distant emotionally. And for expressive Americans, that politeness is often confused for interest.
I've never been to Japan. I think before I vote, we should take up a collection and send me to Japan for a year so I can answer this more accurately. I had to vote for the US, because it is the only place I know.
While I would rather live in the greatest nation of God's green earth, Japan comes as a close second for me. Since I've been to Japan twice, I found that their standard of living is quite close to ours (and, in a lot of respects, better) and they are quite orderly and clean. Whereas you find litter all over the place here, in Japan it is practically non-existent (despite the difficulty in finding a trash can).
Speaking of trash, you should definatelt come visit Okinawa and walk the back streets.
But I rather live here in Okinawa. The lifestyle is really laid back and crime is REAL low. Not to mention that the culture is slightly different than main land.
mmm to be honest i havnt been to both of them, but i knew some american people and some japanese people ( i liked the japanese more. prove me wrong if you are an american and feel touched, but i dont think you do).
and if is see the country and goverment i would choose japan to
Lately I've heard many complaints about gaijin life in Japan. (Not just from Engrish teachers.) On the flipside, a recent trip I took back to the states reminded me how much I love life in Japan. All in all, I think I like living in Japan more.
Outside of being asked for my gaijin card once in a while, getting turned down for an apartment, or receiving the usual "20 questions, "My ideal life in Japan would consist of some of the following:
A decent house or "mansion" outside of Tokyo within a decent walking distance of an express stop train station. Walking to the station and up and down the steps, provides excellent exercise. I wouldn't desire or need a car. I can set my watch to the tone on NHK and know that if the train schedule says 10:42 that that is when the train will depart.
I would have all the ammenities one would need in a Japanese abode including a tatami mat room and a kotatsu. I would also own a bicycle for shopping. A computer with high speed internet is a must. I would eat traditional Japanese food for all my meals including the occassional soba at the train station. My refrigerator would always be stocked with Asahi Super Dry beer delivered by the local sakaya-san. I would enjoy ordering soba, ramen, pizza,or sushi by phone and having it delivered within a half hour on real plates that I would then leave outside my door to be picked up later. I would enjoy Yamazaki bread, the freshest I have ever tasted, for toast and sandwiches once in a while.
I would be retired and would probably be teaching English part time or I may just start up my own school again and hire some of you to teach there (transportation expenses paid of course.)
I would be able to play pachinko and/or pachislo to my hearts content as I usually win over 80% of the time and always come out ahead in the long run. (Once you know how to play it's quite easy if you know when to quit.) Although these days it's easier to win at pachislo than pachinko.
I would be going often to the local izakaya or akachochin owned by ex-yakuza friends where I would have a "key bottle" of Suntory Old Whisky or Hakkutsuru Sake with my name on it. They really are nice people when you get to know them. While there I would also sing enka in Japanese once in a while. I may order fresh cucumber with miso paste on it or broiled squid legs with mayonaise and soy sauce along with edamame (soy beans.) I would never have to worry about walking home late at night drunk and someone mugging me or something.
I would enjoy getting a haircut and the most excellent shave and massage I ever had that comes along with it. No need to tip.
I would always look forward to Sumo on TV and seeing a tournament live at least once a year; the high school baseball tournament in the summer; watching the Giants lose; and the typical silly TV at new years time. Speaking of new years I would very much be looking forward to the food and omochi (hammered rice cakes)
I would enjoy going to the local festivals, carrying an Omikoshi again, fireworks in the summer, and the occassional visit to an onsen while eating onigiri or a bento on the train with "One Cup Ozeki" sake. Maybe even take the ferry to Niijima island in the summer and stay in a Minshuku for old times sake. Niijima island always had the highest waves.
Sitting under the Cherry Blossom trees in April and drinking sake and eating osenbei (rice crackers) and dried squid. Going to beer gardens on hot humid nights and ordering a daijooki (large mug) of draft beer.
I would enjoy the local coffee shop where I can spend a couple of hours reading a book while only ordering one or two cups of coffee and maybe a pizza and no one tries to push me out the door. Japanese iced coffee would be a must, especially in the summer.
I would enjoy shopping at the local supermarket where you can sample all kinds of foods and the cashier always bows to you while placing your change and receipt into your hands.
The hot bath every night in the winter and the cold beer that always follows, and then slipping into the nice thick futon with the heavy quilts and the heat turned off in the winter, or just under a thin sheet in the summer with a fan quietly blowing in the corner. While slipping off to sleep I might hear a motorcycle go by, sirens in the distance and the occassional dog barking.
I think I would rather live in Japan. For what reason? I haven't got the slightest clue, but I guess I'm just impulsive like that. I think I'll just float along wherever, but sometimes I do wonder what it would be like to run away from it all. Not that I had ever given it any thought as to what it is that I would be running to and what's more, I doubt that would change a thing. I still can't help but feel as if I'm stranded here while the world around me withers away.
I'd say USA.... the japanese are too conformist there. My parents came to america because my father was always that nail that got pounded down when it came up.
I love japanese pop culture, holidays, food, and I have relatives in japan but I think I might be too individualistic to be happy in japanese society.
Like some, I think that deciding to live in Japan (Tokyo specifically) ultimately depends upon what life-stage you're at. I work in a large corporation and can be considered middle-to-upper management, and I find that it's too difficult to create my own future here. I've been here for a little less than a year, and who knows I may have differing opinions later. However, based on the comments, views and general anecdotal evidence of peers, I'm led to believe that one's future within a company is determined by an older (and sometimes inept) director who is the byproduct of a lifetime employment policy.
As it relates to one's private life, I cannot see being married or raising children here. Paraphrasing a comment in Alex Kerr's "Dogs and Demons," the educational system (junior high and high school) in Japan seems less about teaching new ideas and more about teaching children to be Japanese: obedient and comformist. American public schools aren't much better, but at least in the States, I have to option of home-schooling, which I ardently advocate.
All things being equal, I would prefer the States (minus the current idiot in Office). After all, when you take away the politicians, you're left with a pretty beautiful landscape and people. Yes, we have our fair share of idiots (maybe more), but it's a young country where possibilities still exist. During my time here, I've become enamored by the Japanese culture, the people and the food, and I will cherish the time spent here. But I'm just a visitor, passing through, and hopefully taking some of the things that work here back to the States.
If I keep the single life that I'm living now, I would much rather live in Japan than in the United States. I severly hate our president and not for bigited reasons either. Our country is literally exhausting itself with all it's spending and bid for world power. I wouldn't be surprised if a country like Japan became the next world super power. However, moving aside from that fact, if I had a family would probably live here in the USA. However, Denmark would be a nice place to live too.
Japan is waaaaaaay cooler, much wierder and also with a stranger culture to explore. America is boring right now, and Bush makes me not wanna go there. *getting too political*
I'd say USA.... the japanese are too conformist there. My parents came to america because my father was always that nail that got pounded down when it came up.
That is a wierd question, as our biggest problem is keeping people out. Whether it's Mexicans pouring into Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and California, Cubans making '49 Chevys into boats to try to get to Florida, the Haitians -don't even get me started on the Haitians-, and the Canadians, plenty of people seem to have their reasons.
You must be living a pampered life if you can't understand why so many people would leave their third-world country (sometimes run by a dictator) and risk their lives trying to get to America. Maybe you've never been to their country. Maybe you've never hired or talked to one of these people for any length of time.
You know what? I've done those things. Whether it's jobs (Mexicans), freedom (Cubans and Haitians) or doctor's appointments (Canadians), these people aren't shy when it comes to telling me why they're here. Listening to them makes it clear that too many people born in America take their opportunities and quality of life here for granted.
I would rather live in Japan,
but then again the grass is always greener...
I've visited 2 times for a month and for 2 weeks.
And maybe living there would not be so great.
Or maybe I should have moved there a long time
ago?
But for now I feel I must still remain stateside
because of paranoid feelings with regards to the
current way the US is.(headed?) These feelings go
back to before Bush even ran for office.
TASUKETE!!!!
TASUKETE!!!
Watashitachi yokute yasashikute hito ga irimasu!!
hehe.
I guess If I were to choose between living in US or living in Japan, i would rather stay in Japan. Japan is a very nice country and nice people. The security is great compared to other countries. US now is not the same US i have known before. No offense to our brother Americans. But America is now becoming more aggressive. I hope they should give their foreign policies a second thought.
i used to think japan,but when i really think about i'd say USA, i know the language, the culture, the people, i been there 3 times, i would feel more at home and would assimiliate easier, i think i'd have a harder time in japan to find a job, friends, gf/wife etc, so i'd go with the US, i think most westerners despite their prefernece would prolly feel more at home in the US.
If you don't mind me asking what was it about the US that reminded you how much you love life in Japan?
Outside of being asked for my gaijin card once in a while, getting turned down for an apartment, or receiving the usual "20 questions, "My ideal life in Japan would consist of some of the following:
A decent house or "mansion" outside of Tokyo within a decent walking distance of an express stop train station. Walking to the station and up and down the steps, provides excellent exercise. I wouldn't desire or need a car. I can set my watch to the tone on NHK and know that if the train schedule says 10:42 that that is when the train will depart.
I would have all the ammenities one would need in a Japanese abode including a tatami mat room and a kotatsu. I would also own a bicycle for shopping. A computer with high speed internet is a must. I would eat traditional Japanese food for all my meals including the occassional soba at the train station. My refrigerator would always be stocked with Asahi Super Dry beer delivered by the local sakaya-san. I would enjoy ordering soba, ramen, pizza,or sushi by phone and having it delivered within a half hour on real plates that I would then leave outside my door to be picked up later. I would enjoy Yamazaki bread, the freshest I have ever tasted, for toast and sandwiches once in a while.
I would be retired and would probably be teaching English part time or I may just start up my own school again and hire some of you to teach there (transportation expenses paid of course.)
I would be able to play pachinko and/or pachislo to my hearts content as I usually win over 80% of the time and always come out ahead in the long run. (Once you know how to play it's quite easy if you know when to quit.) Although these days it's easier to win at pachislo than pachinko.
I would be going often to the local izakaya or akachochin owned by ex-yakuza friends where I would have a "key bottle" of Suntory Old Whisky or Hakkutsuru Sake with my name on it. They really are nice people when you get to know them. While there I would also sing enka in Japanese once in a while. I may order fresh cucumber with miso paste on it or broiled squid legs with mayonaise and soy sauce along with edamame (soy beans.) I would never have to worry about walking home late at night drunk and someone mugging me or something.
I would enjoy getting a haircut and the most excellent shave and massage I ever had that comes along with it. No need to tip.
I would always look forward to Sumo on TV and seeing a tournament live at least once a year; the high school baseball tournament in the summer; watching the Giants lose; and the typical silly TV at new years time. Speaking of new years I would very much be looking forward to the food and omochi (hammered rice cakes)
I would enjoy going to the local festivals, carrying an Omikoshi again, fireworks in the summer, and the occassional visit to an onsen while eating onigiri or a bento on the train with "One Cup Ozeki" sake. Maybe even take the ferry to Niijima island in the summer and stay in a Minshuku for old times sake. Niijima island always had the highest waves.
Sitting under the Cherry Blossom trees in April and drinking sake and eating osenbei (rice crackers) and dried squid. Going to beer gardens on hot humid nights and ordering a daijooki (large mug) of draft beer.
I would enjoy the local coffee shop where I can spend a couple of hours reading a book while only ordering one or two cups of coffee and maybe a pizza and no one tries to push me out the door. Japanese iced coffee would be a must, especially in the summer.
I would enjoy shopping at the local supermarket where you can sample all kinds of foods and the cashier always bows to you while placing your change and receipt into your hands.
The hot bath every night in the winter and the cold beer that always follows, and then slipping into the nice thick futon with the heavy quilts and the heat turned off in the winter, or just under a thin sheet in the summer with a fan quietly blowing in the corner. While slipping off to sleep I might hear a motorcycle go by, sirens in the distance and the occassional dog barking.
I read this post for the first time here and found you and I are the same age!!
I wish to retire into the same kind of life--minus ex-yakuza friends and pachinko (it's too deafening for me) and plus a small plot of garden to grow vegetables...
I think it would be easier living in the US, maybe because of the language. The US culture is the nearest thing to a world culture (on second thought, Japan might give them a run for their money ) with Hollywood movies, pop music and endless lines of syndicated TV shows bombarding our collective consciousness. But hey, I like Japan. So be it, Tokyo ni sunde imasu.
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I hope they should give their foreign policies a second thought.
