Comments on: Off to Japan! http://www.eceblogger.com/2007/01/off-to-japan/ Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:36:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Wayward Son http://www.eceblogger.com/2007/01/off-to-japan/#comment-12 Wayward Son Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:56:59 +0000 http://eceblogger.com/?p=25#comment-12 I agree with nathanpurmort....I recently returned from Japan and he's exactly right. Every man where a suit and looks tired as hell. Kind of reminds me of Hiro at the beginning of the show Heroes when he is still working at his father's company. The language barrier wasn't much of a problem as there are lots of people with excellent english. Anyway, I was actually looking for things to do in Japan and accidently ended up at this page. If you're looking for stuff to do or where to stay visit the page <a>Where to Stay and What to Do in Narita</a>. The page was great...very helpful for my trip! I agree with nathanpurmort….I recently returned from Japan and he’s exactly right. Every man where a suit and looks tired as hell. Kind of reminds me of Hiro at the beginning of the show Heroes when he is still working at his father’s company. The language barrier wasn’t much of a problem as there are lots of people with excellent english.
Anyway, I was actually looking for things to do in Japan and accidently ended up at this page. If you’re looking for stuff to do or where to stay visit the page Where to Stay and What to Do in Narita. The page was great…very helpful for my trip!

]]> By: nathanpurmort http://www.eceblogger.com/2007/01/off-to-japan/#comment-11 nathanpurmort Thu, 08 Mar 2007 20:54:29 +0000 http://eceblogger.com/?p=25#comment-11 The general way of life in Japan seemed different from that of the US. It's not that their daily routine is unusual, but rather their attitude about doing it is different. It's a common observation I've heard of people in Japan that they all seem to "march to the same beat" and this was very visible to me. I don't know that it's such a big issue, but people in Japan seem to be very regimented in their routine (both on a daily and life-long basis). It's tough to describe what this looks like without seeing it, but I guess the closest parallel I can draw is that of a movie script - everyone seems to follow the same story line without question, without variation. The men graduate from college, get married, and get a job with a company they will work for the rest of their lives. They put their heads down and do what they're told, wearing dark suits to work, looking very bland. Their wives take care of the children, the house, and the cooking. That routine is never deviated from and the children are raised in the same image. I'm not going to try to wrap up an entire culture into one bin based on a two week visit, but I definitely saw this sort of thing in Tokyo and I've heard it from other people as well. It's really tough for me to accurately describe Japanese culture due to the language barrier and the brevity of my visit, but that's what I saw. The general way of life in Japan seemed different from that of the US. It’s not that their daily routine is unusual, but rather their attitude about doing it is different. It’s a common observation I’ve heard of people in Japan that they all seem to “march to the same beat” and this was very visible to me.

I don’t know that it’s such a big issue, but people in Japan seem to be very regimented in their routine (both on a daily and life-long basis). It’s tough to describe what this looks like without seeing it, but I guess the closest parallel I can draw is that of a movie script – everyone seems to follow the same story line without question, without variation.

The men graduate from college, get married, and get a job with a company they will work for the rest of their lives. They put their heads down and do what they’re told, wearing dark suits to work, looking very bland. Their wives take care of the children, the house, and the cooking. That routine is never deviated from and the children are raised in the same image.

I’m not going to try to wrap up an entire culture into one bin based on a two week visit, but I definitely saw this sort of thing in Tokyo and I’ve heard it from other people as well. It’s really tough for me to accurately describe Japanese culture due to the language barrier and the brevity of my visit, but that’s what I saw.

]]> By: Ed Bourbeau http://www.eceblogger.com/2007/01/off-to-japan/#comment-10 Ed Bourbeau Tue, 06 Feb 2007 20:06:33 +0000 http://eceblogger.com/?p=25#comment-10 From your point of view what were the most fascinating aspects of Japan's culture, infrastructure, and general way of life? Was it so different from what you've seen in the U.S. (besides the language barrier)? From your point of view what were the most fascinating aspects of Japan’s culture, infrastructure, and general way of life? Was it so different from what you’ve seen in the U.S. (besides the language barrier)?

]]> By: nathanpurmort http://www.eceblogger.com/2007/01/off-to-japan/#comment-9 nathanpurmort Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:00:30 +0000 http://eceblogger.com/?p=25#comment-9 From my experience and also from what I'd read and heard about from others, the people of Japan are very honest. One of the guidebooks I had said something to the effect of "if you dropped your wallett on a crowded street, there would be 3 people behind you trying to stop you and return it." That same honesty extended to businesses as well. Whenever you walk into any store, from a convenience store to a giant electronics retailer, every employee on your way in excitedly welcomes you. When you leave, it's the same story; everyone thanks you for shopping, whether you purchased something or not. That said, because the quality of service was so good and the people were so honest, we never experienced firsthand or heard stories of anyone being overcharged in Taxis or elsewhere. Tokyo is a very consumer-driven city and we were treated with respect and courtesy every place we went. --- The people of Tokyo appeared to be very comfortable seeing and dealing with foreigners and, while we were largely outnumbered, there were many Gaijin in the city. Usually, we were treated with indifference, but there was the occasional exception. From what we saw, Japanese people keep to themselves; they were not friendly, but not rude. They appeared to be very private people and if we were to strike up a conversation on the street with a stranger, that would have been highly unusual. Occasionally, we got some glances on a subway or train, but that was about as far as the curiosity extended. --- And yes, I used chopsticks about 95% of the time I was there. I think I used a fork for 1-2 meals (we ate at the Imeperial Hotel Viking!) and spoons a bit more frequently, but most meals were eaten with chopsticks - It's a good thing I was comfortable using them before I went! From my experience and also from what I’d read and heard about from others, the people of Japan are very honest. One of the guidebooks I had said something to the effect of “if you dropped your wallett on a crowded street, there would be 3 people behind you trying to stop you and return it.”

That same honesty extended to businesses as well. Whenever you walk into any store, from a convenience store to a giant electronics retailer, every employee on your way in excitedly welcomes you. When you leave, it’s the same story; everyone thanks you for shopping, whether you purchased something or not.

That said, because the quality of service was so good and the people were so honest, we never experienced firsthand or heard stories of anyone being overcharged in Taxis or elsewhere. Tokyo is a very consumer-driven city and we were treated with respect and courtesy every place we went.

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The people of Tokyo appeared to be very comfortable seeing and dealing with foreigners and, while we were largely outnumbered, there were many Gaijin in the city. Usually, we were treated with indifference, but there was the occasional exception.

From what we saw, Japanese people keep to themselves; they were not friendly, but not rude. They appeared to be very private people and if we were to strike up a conversation on the street with a stranger, that would have been highly unusual. Occasionally, we got some glances on a subway or train, but that was about as far as the curiosity extended.

—

And yes, I used chopsticks about 95% of the time I was there. I think I used a fork for 1-2 meals (we ate at the Imeperial Hotel Viking!) and spoons a bit more frequently, but most meals were eaten with chopsticks – It’s a good thing I was comfortable using them before I went!

]]> By: andrewkun http://www.eceblogger.com/2007/01/off-to-japan/#comment-8 andrewkun Mon, 29 Jan 2007 03:00:59 +0000 http://eceblogger.com/?p=25#comment-8 Are taxis in Tokyo likely to overcharge you if you're a foreigner? Is something like this a concern at all with any of the businesses you encountered? How do the Japanese treat foreigners in general and Americans in particular? Are they friendly, curious, rude, maybe indifferent? Also, did you use chopsticks the whole time you were there? Are taxis in Tokyo likely to overcharge you if you’re a foreigner? Is something like this a concern at all with any of the businesses you encountered?

How do the Japanese treat foreigners in general and Americans in particular? Are they friendly, curious, rude, maybe indifferent?

Also, did you use chopsticks the whole time you were there?

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