What Do You Think of Japan?

Harvard · 02-11-2006, 09:15 PM

Hi guys:

Some interesting questions were brought up earlier regarding some controversial issues in Japan. What are your thoughts on the Japanese gov't, people, and attitudes?

FLYBOYJ · 02-11-2006, 09:43 PM

As I said earlier, I spent time there, mainly on Okinawa. The Okinawans are very nationalistic and maintain a distinct identity, they seem to have a greater resentment toward the US. Many Japanese on the mainland love American culture but also look upon Americans (and Europeans) as Neanderthals. I do admire their focus and work ethic, but at the same time I don't trust them, especially in doing business.

My feeling is they'll screw you over in a New York minute if you're not as tactful and ruthless as they could be. Although many will dwell on the Atomic bombings, they tend to conveniently forget the atrocities they committed in China and Korea during WW2....

My Opinion.....

syscom3 · 02-11-2006, 11:00 PM

Ive been to Japan many times. I found the people there as well mannered and friendly.

In regards to the Japanese conduct upon the Asian peoples, it was deplorable. But they dont like to talk about it just as every other asian govt doesnt want to talk about the skeletons in THEIR closets.

FLYBOYJ · 02-12-2006, 12:59 AM

Agree, they are well mannered and polite up front...

I found the Okinawans less friendly than those on the mainland..

evangilder · 02-12-2006, 07:35 AM

I work with Japanese on a frequent basis. They are usually polite and personable, but they are very persistent. When we send them new code, they will test it like nobody else and pick it apart. Good and bad for us, the find problems, but they can be pretty picky about minor issues as well.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 02-12-2006, 09:39 AM

I overall have nothing against the Japanese people but I really think that they tend to forget that they are no better than anyone else. Atleast the Japanese that I have worked with.

Harvard · 02-12-2006, 10:22 AM

I think the same..Just curious what everybody thought..

plan_D · 02-12-2006, 01:00 PM

I've met plenty of Japanese people in my life, and a few work in my place. They seem decent enough to me, and are extremely hard working. Extremely smart, and easily amused!

I have nothing against them. It seems their ruthlessness and efficiency in business is a good thing - it makes everyone else step up to them.

marconi · 02-12-2006, 03:57 PM

There is a difference between Japanise who is living in Japan and Japanise who is living in any other country. Those articles I mentioned in another topic and some other articles made me thinking that many of Japanise people may have some sort of xenophobia.

plan_D · 02-12-2006, 04:12 PM

I think that's pretty obvious to everyone. They're an isolationist culture. Surely it'd be wrong for us to impose our culture on to them when they are doing no harm.

marconi · 02-12-2006, 04:41 PM

Basically I agree with you but:
1) I don't like isolationist cultures(and that my problem, I know).
2)They have the second biggest economics in the world and they have a great impact on other countries, including their cultures.So, I think they are not the nation which can hide behind their isolationist culture.

plan_D · 02-12-2006, 04:47 PM

Their economy does affect other countries, yes. But the isolationist culture of the Japanese people does not. If they wish to live their own lives as Japanese, then we should leave them alone. Economy does not come into it. Japan as a nation understands that it cannot isolate itself from the World market, and it never will.

It seems the xenophobia is well-founded. Japan has an extremely low crime-rate in comparison to other industrialised nations. It tells me that they are right to dislike foreigners. Europe and the U.S has plenty of problems with foreigners, Japan is avoiding those problems. Good for them.

Just because you do not like something about a nation, you cannot go imposing your beliefs and culture on to them. Japan is strong nation, and it seems the strength comes from reasonable thought. They work hard, and do not like foreigners who, in most cases, do not work as hard as they do.

As long as Japan keeps itself open to business, then we should let them be. They bother no one, and harm nothing. Unlike certain other cultures like the Arab culture, for example. Which imposes itself upon the Americans and, mostly, Europe ... I hope Japan keeps itself Japan to avoid the infection of Africa and Arabia.

marconi · 02-12-2006, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Their economy does affect other countries, yes. But the isolationist culture of the Japanese people does not.

I can't agree. Their culture has a large impact on other countries.Remember karate, films and cartoons (so called 'anime') which are quite popular around the world.Their corporations have lots of branches in other countries where they're trying to introduce their view of corporate interrelations.

Quote:

Japan has an extremely low crime-rate in comparison to other industrialized nations.

I'm afraid pD foreigners generally are not the main reason for crimes.
And I also doubt that Japan is so nice country with low crime rate.In fact they have lots of problems: yakudza - one of the oldest criminal organizations on Earth, poachers which are a great pain in Russian and Japanese coastal guard's ass and more.In fact they might have low crime-rate because their criminals are too well organized.
Also, their xenophobia is not supported by government, like it was before "Black Ships" under command of Matthew Perry came in Uraga harbor.This xenophobia is mostly performed by ordinary people like it was shown in those articles.This can't stop immigrants to enter the country.Such actions,by the way, can't stop any crime.In the contrary this will lead to creation of ghettos like "small China".They already have problems with Chinese mafia.

And I wouldn't like very much to be kicked out of some Japanese shop while being in Japan as a tourist because the salesman thinks that foreigners "frighten away his customers".

syscom3 · 02-12-2006, 06:12 PM

I never had the problem of being kicked out of a Japanese shop. Once you show politness and the intention to buy, youre treated with respect.

And the crime rate is very low in Japan. You can walk anywhere in the major cities without fear.

Most of the violent crime in Japan is carried out by foreigners.

And with regards to the Yakuza...... they keep their cronies under control, and the police leave them alone. Quid quo pro

plan_D · 02-12-2006, 07:50 PM

The Japanese culture does not revolve around "...karate, films and cartoons.." - they are merely "exports" of the Japanese culture. And the isolationist "xenophobic" nature of the Japanese culture has not affected these or any other export from Japan. Nor has it affected the politics of Japan in the world, Japan as a nation is free to any other nation that is willing to deal with them.

Foreigners largely are main cause of crime, in any industrialised nation. In the U.S Africans were the cause of over 60% of murders from 1964 - 2004, for example.

As syscom says, Japan has a very low crime rate and that is fact. They deal with their criminals swiftly but rarely have to. The level of immigrants to Japan is low, and most of those that do move out there are rich and have no reason to commit crime.

The Yakuza are an organised crime ring - while crime, it does not affect normal civilians. They actively wage war against other criminal organisations, and just like the organised gangs of the 1950s and 1960s in Britian - civilians were to be left alone. They do not go randomly killing people like the street gangs of Western countries, which are mostly black or Arabian.