Gaijin Stories

Meet Japan Lady

2007-04-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

I wanted to link to my new blog at www.blognow.com.au but it appears to be down. ????

Please go to my site at au.MeetJapanLady.com and look for my new blogs on the front page.

13 - Cute Things

2007-01-09T20:11:00.000-08:00

One of the most commonly spoken Japanese words in a Japanese girls vocabulary is "kawaii". It's English transalation is "cute" and means "It's cute" or "She's cute" etc.
There's no doubt that Japanese men in Japan prefer "cute girls" more than beautiful, sexy and intelligent women so Japanese ladies often compliment each other on cute things. Frills on clothes, hair curls, ribbons on high heels and so on. Japanese girls who have cute things to match their cute personalities add to their cuteness factor. Small handbags, pink robbons, small roses stuck to their mobile phones, small soft toys hanging from bags or phones etc.

The best way to complient a Japanese lady is to notice something of hers which is cute (but definitely not things like her skirt and breasts) and say "this is cute". You can even try to say it in Japanese. "Kawaii"

The pronunciation is like Hawaii with a K at the front. Make sure you start with a "ka" or "car" sound and not a "ko" sound. "Kowai" means scary.

The Housewife (12)

2005-10-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

I think native English speakers don't use the word housewife, or atleast Australian people don't. Maybe in the 60's and 70's when Skippy (the pet kangaroo) and The Brady Bunch were on tv, people often used the word but slowly the word's meaning lost its value. For my Japanese readers - I would define `PC` as the use of words which promotes a good and fair society. PC stands for `political correctness` not `personal computer`. The phrase `I'm a wife` creates an image of a lady who needs a man (her husband). Housewife, a lady who stays in the house and is dependent on a man.

Feminists in the 70s wanted all women to have more power in society. If more politicians and company presidents were female than male, they would have been very happy. If a mother's job was considered more important than an office workers job, they would have been happy too. The job of `raising children` is an important job - I agree. The word `housewife` has been replaced with words like `home-maker` and `mother`.

During my first year in Japan, I heard many Japanese people use the word `housewife` and I tried to convey my feeling about the word.
However, over the years I've learnt that
1-`mothering` IS considered an important job in Japan
2-there wasn't a need for a feminist movement
3-the kanji (the Japanese writing sytem adopted from Chinese characters) for housewife in Japanese is also like a compound word which means `inside` and `house`.
4-many young Japanese people still consider being a good mother and a good wife to be more important for females than having a career.
5-Even if I could accurately describe the modern day image of the English word `housewife` Japanese people would still think it's a suitable word to use.

In Japan, many women try to be as feminine as they can be. They compete for men, not with men.
They don't overpower men with muscle or talk, but they have a lot of control of Japanese men.
Japanese men spend more money on girls, tolerate tantrums better, and respond to their demands more than I first thought. Japanese ladies have more spending money to go shopping to buy fashion and make up. They have more free time for hobbies and meeting friends.

The pros and cons of feminism is a long debate but I definetely find it interesting living in a country which wasn't changed greatly by the feminist movement. And I wonder if that female American feminist who is trying to promote feminism in Japan is really helping Japanese women or not?

Is she helping Japanese society? or not?

The Way of Human Relationships (11)

2005-09-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

As soon as we can speak, our parents are forcing us to say `Hello` to people who we meet. As we get older, we are taught the importance of initiating conversation. `Did you say Hello to Uncle Keith?` We are taught to respond correctly. `Aunty Mary asked you a question!`
We learn that saying `please` and `thankyou` are the magic words. We learn that communicating well is a necessity for happiness and success in life.

A few days ago, I was on a crowded train and I saw a young boy start to get restless. He'd probably had a long day shopping and needed a sleep. First, he started to slide off the seat onto the floor, then he started to make strange bird noises. I imagined that most Australia mothers, not worried about other people noticing that she was trying to fix the problem`, would use a stern voice to intimidate the child. I watched the Japanese lady bend reach over to the boy and give him a very gentle pull on the arm. The boy sat up for a short while but soon slumped into a new postion. The mother leant over and whispered in the child's ear. Japanese people don't want to have to listen to or be distracted by people they don't know, especially on Tokyo. Being heard or noticed by others would worsen the problem. This time, the boy fixed his posture only a little.
I think that the boy's behaviour would have continued in the same fashion even if he were in Australia, being sternly yelled at by an Australian mother. We often hear that children imitate behaviour more than listen to advice so I guess it explains why Japanese children grow up to be respectful of those around by not being heard, seen or even noticed. I admired the mother's attitude, thinking that as that child becomes a teenager, he will be sensible and respectful of others on crowded trains just like his mother.

Homosexuality in Japan ( 10 )

2005-08-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

As I said in my previous post ( 9 ), my experiences with Christian people led me to believe that they could not communicate about `the fun things in life` (ie gambling, sex, alcohol etc.). My Christian classmates in high school and university were not open to hearing other people's ideas and couldn't express opinions which were like experienced non-religious people's opinions. After listening to their ideas, they inevitably tried to gently push me in the direction of their church.

I didn't know it at the time but I started to think that all minority groups had to hold on to their own group's values and were brainwashed into to spreading `the word`, but I learnt that I was wrong.
Like all foreigners in a big city (New York, LA, Sydney, London etc.), I met a lot of gay people during my first few years in Tokyo. At first, I thought gay people would be like the christians I had known. Blend in well in social situations, but be closed minded to other lifestyles. Well, gay people (I shouldn't generalize but I am) are friendly and nice to all new acquaintances, and I found that they are open-minded and speak freely about `the fun things in life` and life in general. I think the conversations of gay people are often logically, and based on universal truths (rather than personal values). I usually find them intelligent, mentally stimualting and interesting to listen to - thanks to the gay people I've worked with in Tokyo.

Religion in Japan ( 9 )

2005-08-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

I had quite a Christian upbringing. Not strict, but I learnt the Catholic ways. As a young boy I noticed that most adults liked to drink alcohol, most men liked women with low tops and big boobs, and most adults laughed at swear words. At church, I learnt that alcohol, sex and swear words (the fun things) were bad in the eyes of the church. I thought it was very noble that religious people chose to live their lives according to the values they believed would make a good society, but I wondered how they really fealt about `the fun things`.
I had the occasional classmate and friend (good but not close friends) who had been brought up in a strict Christian family. They blended in fine, but I noticed the differences when the conversation went to a deeper level. Teenage boys often talk about girls and sex but when I talked to a Christian about these subjects, I noticed they didn't have curiosity and didn't express what they liked. I came to the conclusion that their values prohibited them from being open to, and from developing their own ideas about these subjects. I value talking openly, trying to understand other people's perspectives and trying to see things as they really are. So, I felt like I wasn't talking to someone who could express their real opinions, but to someone who had been brainwashed.

I've met quit a few Japanese people who say that they are Christians. Also, wearing a Christian cross pendant is quit popular in Japan (for fashion, not for a religious statement). At first, I felt caution when I was with somebody from either of these two groups of Japanese people, but I soon realized that there was little or nothing for me to fear.
Japanese beliefs and values are instilled into Japanese children gently from birth. Japanese people consider them to be `Japanese ways`. They believe they have Japanese values because of their race, not from choosing a religion. Since they believe their values are natural and not a choice, they also believe they are not easy to change. If you hear a Japanese person use the phrases `she is a traditional Japanese` or hear me say`she is very Japanese` it means she lives according to typical Japanese values like a religion. All of the thouasands of Japanese people I've met have Japanese beliefs, superstitions and values. Some stronger than others but I'd say all are `very Japanese`. All of the dozen or so people who say they are Christian or wear a Christian cross around their neck who I've talked to have little or no strong Christian values at all. Their Japanese values are (and will always be) way too powerful to accept the true Christian beliefs.

Generally, there's a lot of pachinko, drinking and alot of casual sex in Japan, which is often worrying but indicates Japanese people are spiritually free to explore the fun things in life. On the other hand, Japanese people have their own values which foreigners struggle to understand. (I'll attempt to write about them sometime in the future.)
So to make my point clear, I think Japanese people can speak honestly about the `fun things in life` and listen to other opinions which is something I value. Even if they say they are Christian or have a Christian cross around their neck, they won't try to push Christian values at all, which I also appreciate.

PS-After dating a Japanese girl for a few months, I was shocked to hear from her that she was a Christian. This was when I started to realize that Japanese Christians were quite different to western Christians. Like most Japanese people, she thinks Japanese people don't have strong religious beliefs so Christianity had a lot of new and fresh ideas for her. Japanese values promote harmony, especially amongst religions.
(I might point out that this is the thing which I like the most about Japan)
Basically, Japanese people are open to, and often willing to adopt the ways of other religions, but adapt them so that they can also keep their traditional Japanese beliefs as well. If you're a Christian from South Carolina, a Buddhist from Tibet or a Muslim from Bhagdad, I'm sure you'll find your new Japanese friends interested in your religion and lifestyle.

Time For Fun ( 8 )

2005-08-05T16:22:00.000-07:00

In the past, I’ve seen some of my Japanese room-mates work about 10 or 11 hours every day and not even get overtime pay. Some of them were working 6 days a week. When they finally got a day off they usually slept-in, visited friends or relatives, and caught up on their house chores for the week. Many English students work long hours through the week, then, instead of relaxing around the house and playing with the kids on their days off (or day off), they go to an English school. I admire their drive and hard work.

One of my Japanese room-mates once told me “I don’t like my company because I' m too busy to get time to think about my own life”. I like daydreaming and need time to think about my life. I don't think I could live without it.

Like people everywhere, it’s difficult to quit a secure job and go into the unknown, but more so in Japan. Japanese companies reward long-term workers (who don’t make waves) with seniority, and reward seniority with money, freedom and authority. Japanese people (especially Japanese men) realize that it’s better not to job-hop and keep starting at the bottom. It’s better to `fight on` to secure a better future.

My room-mate finally quit her job. It got to the point where she was crying (usually to her boyfriend) at least once a day and heading for a breakdown. She got a new job which paid less but didn’t have forced overtime. She was much happier. A few years after marrying her boyfriend, she fell pregnant. One of the first things she thught about was enrolling her baby into her preferred pre-school. Her child’s acceptance was automatic after registering but I've heard that some of the elite pre-schools even have entry exams.

Most elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, universities and companies have entrance examinations. In Japan, scoring well in exams will ensure a good future. This is clear to both parents and children so children end up spending most of their free time going to juku or studying in their rooms.
Japanese people often say Ganbarimasu which promises “I will do my best”. Doing one’s best is highly valued in Japan and rewarded by parents, teachers and companies. It seems `Fun` is further down the list.
Recently, more and more young people are choosing unusual haircuts, part-time jobs with no responsibilities and speaking out against authority. Most Japanese look down on these young people. I think they are strong. They are choosing not to work like an ant their whole life. They are choosing to enjoy being lazy sometimes, daydream about their lives, and most importantly have fun. They are changing Japanese society.
More and more young Japanese people are looking for work without forced overtime. More an more are starting to think about escaping from their stressful work positions.

Big companies in Japan are losing their power to control their employee’s lives. I'm aware that the security of lifetime employment etc. is also fading, but it's a trade off.
How important is job security if you don't get time to even think about your own life?

Drinking With Coworkers ( 7 )

2005-07-06T23:05:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up, I learnt that girls generally preferred guys about 10 centimeters taller than themselves. I also learnt that guys (including me) preferred girls who were shorter than us, likewise, about 10 centimeters shorter. In primary school, I was short and lightly built. I was thankful that there were always 2 or 3 boys in my classes shorter than me.
Most girls were as short as, or a little shorter than me. From 12-14 years old, all the girls grew breasts and put on weight around their hips. Most of them became heavier (and posssibly stronger) than me. There were only a few girls who were atleast 10cm shorter than me. I liked those girls and thought they were cute, but they were also popular amongst the boys. Ofcourse there are a lot of other important qualities besides height and weight but I wished I was 6 feet tall so that there were more short girls. From all the girls I've dated none have been taller than me, (I guess they think I'm too short) and none have been more than 10 centimeters shorter (They always seem too popular amongst the boys).
Coming to Japan turned me into a taller than average male. Suddenly, there were 10 times as many short and cute girls and chances to date them. During my first few months in Japan, I made several female friends, all of them less than 50kgs and shorter than 160cms. I met each of them about twice a month for lunch or for dinner. I learnt some Japanese language and different things about Japan from each of them.
After a few months I found the friendships had developed and the possibility of dating one of the girls became bigger and bigger, but which one? One day, I had the chance to meet a girl who I really liked but I had a plan to meet another good friend. I was undecided as to whether to stay withmy original plan or to cancel my plans and meet the other female friend.
I told her that my workmates were having a party and I was thinking about going. She told me that it was my responsibility to go and socialize with my coworkers. `Your job and your company is important and going drinking with coworkers is an important part of that.` Anyway, I was able to cancel and change my plans much easier than I'd expected.
Japanese people often drink with their coworkers, and many have a responsibility to go whether they want to or not. Koibitos and spouses never join them but understand the importance. It shows loyalty to the company and builds a team spirit with other workers.
I enjoy drinking with my coworkers and, because I’m gaijin, I enjoy being able to say no to them and go home.
Once or twice I've wanted to go out drinking with a female friend or some girl chasing buddies and I knew my girlfriend (at the time) wouldn't like it. I used the sentenee `I'm going drinking with coworkers` and I met no resistance at all. If I were in a different country or used different words I'd probably end up having to explain all the details of my night to my girlfriend and possibly find myself in an argument about a boyfriend's responsibilities.

Tokyo Trains ( 6 )

2005-07-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

After six months of working in Shinjuku, I still hadn’t ever checked a train timetable. As usual, I finished work at 9pm and rushed to the station. The crowds around Shinjuku Station reminded me of the crowds outside a stadium just after an international sporting event. I’ve read that an average of about 4 million people pass through Shinjuku by train each day. That’s more people than the population of New Zealand.
The river of people coming up the stairs from the platform was taking up 3/4s of the stairs so I knew a train had arrived. As I approached the bottom of the stairs, I saw the train about 10-15 meters away. I saw that everyone had squeezed onto the train and some others were running alongside the train waiting to decide which door to try to push into. I heard the bell to signal the doors would close. It would’ve taken at least 10 seconds for me to cross through the stream of people to get to the closest door so I accepted that I’d have to wait for the next train.
In one door 2 men could only get a foot into the train so the doors reopened. The station attendant helped, by pushing the 2 men into the train. I occasionally meet people with bandaged hands or fingers who tell me they had got caught in train doors. As the doors closed a second time, I watched again to see who got stuck and what they would do. This time no body parts, only a man’s briefcase. All the doors reopened about 10 centimeters for about 2 seconds, and he pulled his briefcase into the train.
The electronic sign indicated that the next train would arrive in 6 minutes. I could count on a 97% chance that the train would arrive within the minute. Like clockwork, the train arrived on the minute and I boarded, carefully selecting my preferred position to be squashed in. The 8 people sitting in front of me all had their chins dropped to their chests and eyes closed. Only the deep sleepers would start to dribble or struggle to keep their heads from falling to the side. The majority, I guess, were relaxing their eyes and avoiding having to interact with anyone else.
In most cities, I’d be worried about being pick pocketed or cornered and mugged, but in Tokyo I feel safe enough to relax and ignore everyone around me. Sinking into what I could describe as a kind of meditation. I found valuable thinking time and travel time seemed to past faster.
On this particular day, I wondered if I should be thankful for the considerate people around me and the safety of this big city, or I should curse the crowds and the stress that came with them.

The Bath ( 5 )

2005-06-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

Before coming to Japan, I lived in London with a Dutch guy, a Spanish Guy, a Kiwi guy, an Aussie girl and an Irish couple. There were two bathrooms but, nevertheless, mornings were quite hostile. After seeing an open bathroom one minute, during the next minute while I grabbed my towel and headed for the bathroom door, someone else would sneak in and lock the door pushing my shower back 10 or so minutes. Then, to ensure a shower and getting to work on time, I would have to stand guard so that nobody else would dive in.
The general idea is to freshen up (for some of us it is to wake up) and go off to work feeling clean. Showers are faster than baths so baths are very special nights or Sunday afternoons.

For my first year in Japan, I lived with 5 other people. There was only one bathroom so I expected it to be a rat-race. To the contrary, mornings were peaceful. The 2 Japanese girls never entered the bathroom. They did their make-up in their bedrooms and didn’t need a shower or a bath in the morning.
Traditionally, every evening, Japanese people have washed themselves with soap in the shower then sat in a hot bath to relax. The water was as clean when they got out as when they got in, so all family members could use the same water starting with the father, mother, then the children, from eldest to youngest.

After asking people from different cultures why they do things the way they do, I usually hear firm, uncompromising reasons. I believe children learn the ways to do things as they grow up, then, think of reasons why the other ways aren’t as good. Do you think so?

The idea of the water changing color by body grime or soap disgusts many Japanese so they wash themselves before entering a bath. The idea of going to bed without washing also disgusts many Japanese so they bathe in the evening. Also, the idea that bathing cleans not only the body, but also the spirit, means people can sleep well after bathing.
But things are changing. After talking to teenagers and University students, I realized that the young generation nowadays is totally different. Although, they still hold some of the beliefs and values of their parents and grandparents, they take showers in mornings for the same reasons people in other countries do.

Anyway, thanks to this tradition, my morning routine for my first year in Japan was a very relaxed and enjoyable experience.

The Bow ( 4 )

2005-06-25T01:21:00.000-07:00

I remember when I was in my early teens, I could run and run and run. If I got tired I could rest for a few minutes, then I’d be ready to go again. In my late teens I realized that if I exercised too hard, my body would feel sore that evening. If I exercised extremely hard, I would feel very sore the next day.
Now I’m even older, so naturally my body “feels it” if I exercise too much, drink too much, or worry too much. When this happens, I tell the people around me. Maybe I want some sympathy, or maybe I’m apologizing for not being so cheerful and genki.
A few weeks ago my girlfriend called me “selfish”. “You’re always telling me about your pains and complaining about your physical condition. I have to worry about you and do everything I can to help you recover. I like taking care of you but you complain too often.”
Since my girlfriend is Japanese, and has never lived abroad, I feel I should try to understand her “Japanese perspective” before pushing mine onto her. 1-Japanese people rarely complain about things. 2-When Japanese people want something done, they’ll often express their feelings and leave it at that. With these 2 points in mind, I realized that when Japanese people do complain, they expect something to be done. I realized that I had unknowingly been putting stress on her.
After I explained my perspective, she asked if it would be ok if she complained about her health and physical condition everyday. Thinking it would be nice for her to open up and for me to be more in tune with her feelings, I said “sure”. She did, a lot. After a week of her complaining at least once a day, I’d had enough.
Because of our upbringings and, more importantly, our cultures being different, we had different boundaries. Our problem was that the line between when to tell someone about a discomfort and when to keep it to yourself was very different. Then, my girlfriend acted in a way less Japanese. To her, it was like I had explained. To me, it was not only less Japanese, it was obviously over-reacting.
But, if I think on the subject of over-reacting, I think more about gaijins trying to act like Japanese. When I lived in a gaijin house with 5 others, one nice American guy bowed deeply several times to our Japanese room-mates for mistakenly using some of her margarine. She got angry saying that us room-mates knew each other well, so casual apologies were sufficient. Such bowing was only for official situations where the relationship was either important or delicate.
Since then, I've seen many foreigners in Japan bow too deeply and repeat the bow too many times which has made Japanese people feel a little uncomfortable.
Anyway, I’m glad to say that my girlfriend and I seemed to have drawn a new line. I think twice before I express my discomfort and she doesn’t take my complaining so seriously.

The Way ( 3 )

2005-06-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

From my experience, most foreigners stay in Japan less than 2 years. English teachers want to get back and work in their chosen field, and company workers want to get back to their family and work near home. Amongst English teachers, more than half quit their first job and try a different company so there are a lot of welcome parties and “bye-bye” parties for English teachers in Japan.
On one occasion, I remember standing around the office waiting to head out to an izakaya. A group of us (gaijin) were standing, some half sitting against desks, talking and joking. 3 Japanese were on the other side of the room. They too were engaged in casual conversation, but were standing like soldiers ready to march. The most experienced of the three was the most relaxed and doing most of the talking.
I stopped going to Sunday school when I was 7 years old but since living in Japan, I would describe my upbringing as Christian. I was told to be good and to do the right thing. Morality and fairness were emphasized. As long as what I did was considered good, I could do everything MY OWN WAY.
In contrast, Japanese emphasize “the way”. If you look at English books about Japan, many will refer to “the way”, for example “The Way of the Warrior” or “The way of Flower Arranging”. Doing things the way they are supposed to be done helps harmony which is very important in Japan. When faced with a choice of doing things “the way” or not doing things the “right” way, Japanese people want to be a person who follows “the way”. This means rules about trivial things will be followed. Senior workers in companies are more important than new employees. Standing up straight is better than resting your bottom on desks. Passing and receiving things with two hands shows an individuals effort and ability to follow “the way of passing and receiving”.
During my two years of attending aikido classes, I developed new ideas about Japanese martial arts. I can see I learnt `the way` to do things. Martial arts teaches the way to work hard to improve, use strength to avoid conflict, and to take control of one’s own life.
The two groups grew larger. I was amazed that we were shared so many similar human qualities yet I could notice so many things which were different just by looking at the two waiting groups of people. Eventually, we all started to mix and form one larger group. We headed to an Izakaya and stayed mixed for the rest of the night. Despite all our differences, we ate, drank and all had a great evening.

Apartments ( 2 )

2005-06-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

It took me more than a few months before I’d made a Japanese friend good enough to be invited directly by a Japanese person into a Japanese house. During my second month in Japan, I was privileged to be invited by an American friend (who I had known for years) to his Japanese friend’s house for Nabe. It was my first time to go into a Japanese person’s house. Hiro, like many young Japanese, had come to Tokyo to study at university.
When in public, it’s easy to notice that the Japanese put on their best face, be highly considerate of others and act in a way that promotes harmony, even with good friends. The flip side of this is that Japanese people need their privacy to relax and be themselves. Almost all young Japanese coming to Tokyo choose to live alone.
There was a time, about 10 to 15 years ago, when land prices in Tokyo were the highest in the world. They’ve steadily dropped every year since, but they are still high. Because of the high population density and high land prices Tokyo accommodation is mostly apartment buildings with small rooms for single people who have come to Tokyo by themselves, like Hiro. It’s rare to hear of Japanese living with friends. They usually stay with their family or live alone until they get married.
I followed the two into Hiro’s apartment. With no room to sit down, I slipped off my shoes without untying my laces and passed from the small entrance, between the shower/toilet room and the narrow kitchen into the main room. There was also a loft the size of his mattress, to sleep on. In his room there were only the essentials - tv, stereo, computer and a bookcase with CDs and books-No room for unnecessary items. With rooms this size, I realize why the Japanese need to invent things which are creatively space saving.
Since apartments are small and private, Japanese people in Tokyo seem to prefer to go out to meet their friends and eat out. I feel it’s an honor to get invited to a Japanese person house for some playstation or to taste their cooking. Like Hiro, they all seem to have great hospitality and most know how to prepare delicious food. If you ever get the chance to visits somebody's house or apartment in Tokyo (or anywhere in Japan), treasure the experience.

Socks ( 1 )

2005-06-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

In my first week in Japan I was invited to go out to an izakaya with a group of people, 4 gaijin and 4 Japanese. As we walked into the entrance of the izakaya, I realized that everyone had to take off their shoes before stepping up onto the polished wooden flooring. I watched carefully noticing how the first Japanese guy easily slipped off his shoes without undoing his laces, then, without placing a sock onto the not so clean carpet, he stepped straight onto the clean wooden flooring.
Since I was still new to the country and everything was still very unfamiliar to me, I was being careful not to make any embarrassing mistakes. I hoped I hadn’t put on my oldest socks, but since I had arrived in Japan, I hadn’t owned any old socks, so that wasn’t a problem. I knew I’d have to take more time to undo my laces but I felt that wouldn’t be a problem either.
Suddenly, my attention turned to another member of our group. A gaijin who was not only green like myself but not very observant. He was telling a story about a drunk salaryman who threw up near the station the night before. He slipped off his shoes, picked them up, and started stepping around on the carpet. He continued, trying to keep his audience while they took off their shoes.
There was a definite boundary. One area was the carpet, the soles of shoes and the dirt from the ground outside. The second area was the polished wooden flooring, the insides of shoes and socks which were considered free from dirt.
As he walked towards and stepped up onto the wooden flooring, I noticed a few pairs of eyes flick down at his feet but nobody said anything to him. I don’t know if they were thinking about the boundary between the 2 areas or if they were looking at his big toes protruding through his socks.

Introduction - Japanese Culture

2005-06-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

It's easy to be critical and disgusted by other cultures, if we only look at them on the surface. If we think about and understand other cultures deeply, we can appreciate them more. We can also learn about ourselves and become more cultured people. A kiwi friend, who also lives in Tokyo, once said to me “Being in Japan makes me a better person”. Learning about Japan and Japanese people is not only interesting and educational but also spiritually uplifting.

If you are in Japan, plan to visit Japan in the future, or know one or more Japanese people, I recommend that you stay open and positive to learning about Japan to make the most of your travel experiences and friendships. The short stories in this blog can be read in numerical order or read randomly choosing by title. The storiess progress from relatively obvious cultural differences to more difficult to understand and intriguing differences. If you have lived in Japan, you’ll probably enjoy reading the latter stories more.

Like most things in life, we learn mostly by experience. We can’t learn everything from reading but reading can help us think and speed up the learning process and give us new perspectives. Each short story shares an experience and touches on unique features of Japanese culture, often specific to Tokyo. I hope your reading stimulates thought and speeds up the learning from your real-life experiences, so that you can understand and appreciate Japan more and more.