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Why I left Japan after 10 years

blog.uchujin.co.uk

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Re: Why I left Japan after 10 years

#241

Post by adrianN »

kintle wrote: post #206
patio11 wrote: post #154

I have had approximately 10 involuntary interactions with the Japanese cops over the years. Here's my typical advice for foreign residents: you can pick your battles but you can't pick your police counterparties. The overwhelming likelihood if you are arbitrarily stopped by a police officer is that you were stopped for a reason which is outside the parameters of the law. Being vindicated by the law is something which…

Within a month or so of purchasing a used bicycle in Tokyo, I had been stopped more than 5 times by police. I guess the sight of a foreign guy on the cheapest bike I could find screams police magnet. It was cute at first and I was super polite and it would end quickly, but after a couple that resulted in patdowns, searches, and 20+ minutes answering questions about my presence in the country, I now make an effort to…

I rode around on the cheapest bike I could find for several months in Tokyo and was never stopped. Maybe you look particularly suspicious?

Re: Why I left Japan after 10 years

#242

Post by kristianc »

cyphunk wrote: post #228
atemerev wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Such things are to be memorized, not analyzed. Just don't do it, and you'll be fine. Many Americans don't actually think that America is the greatest country is in the world in all regards, but this is simply not a topic for foreigners to discuss. And well, you in France also have your share of quirks. When I am in the US, and my English is less than perfect, everybody is still happy to continue conversation with me,…

> but this is simply not a topic for foreigners to discuss. For any "outsiders" lurking here... discuss it! You'll take a social hit from certain types of people but future generations will thank you. Having lived in various countries that seem to be able to handle critique quiet okay, it'd be a really pitty to just shy away from it in the US. A boastful bully often needs to hear that they are not the most fantastic…

The weird thing is I often get asked what I think of the US by Americans whenever I go over (I'm British).

Now I have a very positive impression of the US overall, but it seems strange to ask a question in casual conversation might not like the answer to.

Re: Why I left Japan after 10 years

#243

Post by scruple »

quicklime wrote: post #166
trevyn wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> how many asians in America get asked,"so, where are you from?" whenever they meet someone? Caucasians in America get asked this all the time too.

The difference is that when Caucasians answer "California", the follow-up question is rarely "which European country are your ancestors from?"

Unfortunately, that's subjective. Try being a redhead. I've gotten it my entire life, even as a 36 year old. "No, but you're Irish, right?" It's the most minor transgression a person can make against me and it's so petty that I've never actually talked about it out loud before but it most certainly happens and more frequently than you'd imagine.

Re: Why I left Japan after 10 years

#244

Post by cyphunk »

kristianc wrote: post #242
cyphunk wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but this is simply not a topic for foreigners to discuss. For any "outsiders" lurking here... discuss it! You'll take a social hit from certain types of people but future generations will thank you. Having lived in various countries that seem to be able to handle critique quiet okay, it'd be a really pitty to just shy away from it in the US. A boastful bully often needs to hear that they are not the most fantastic…

The weird thing is I often get asked what I think of the US by Americans whenever I go over (I'm British). Now I have a very positive impression of the US overall, but it seems strange to ask a question in casual conversation might not like the answer to.

People ask what I think of my host country everywhere I lived. I think we all can't help but to ask. When I'm asked by locals in EU countries I lived most ask with so much humility and uncertainty I'm worried of my answer. But in the US and the Israeli Territories the locals tend to ask with little humility. They are both politically muddy countries so I guess I understand why they would be defensive. And often when I'm asked by EU nationals about my time living in the US it's to reaffirm their sense of moral placement in the world ("well at least we aren't as bad as the americans"). And when EU nationals ask about my time living in the Israeli Territories, they hide all opinion and motive lest they be called anti-semetic.

Anyway, asking these things I guess is pretty universal.

Re: Why I left Japan after 10 years

#245

Post by muninn_ »

Mithaldu wrote: post #240
muninn_ wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But you won't respect their culture in their own country? Double standards indeed. Double standards not indeed. I respect both cultures, unless of course they are bigoted or racist. The difference here is in America you can wear tattoos, a headscarf, or even not take your shoes off when you enter a home, or take them off, we are cool with both - which was my point. > Wearing your tattoo proudly in Japan is perfectl…

> Tattoos are literally the same thing as being gay. Yep. Ok. Mhm.

Apparently you misunderstood. I didn't write tattoos are "literally the same thing as being gay". I showed the same faulty reasoning used in that's line of argument about tattoos.

Or unless you did understand and you're just being intellectually dishonest. I'm not sure which one it is. I assume just a misunderstanding of what was written.

Re: Why I left Japan after 10 years

#246

Post by Mithaldu »

muninn_ wrote: post #245
Mithaldu wrote: post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Tattoos are literally the same thing as being gay. Yep. Ok. Mhm.

Apparently you misunderstood. I didn't write tattoos are "literally the same thing as being gay". I showed the same faulty reasoning used in that's line of argument about tattoos. Or unless you did understand and you're just being intellectually dishonest. I'm not sure which one it is. I assume just a misunderstanding of what was written.

Next time try to use an analogy that doesn't need explanations to clarify why it isn't entirely broken. For example cut off fingers would've been a useful one, particularly in this context.

Re: Why I left Japan after 10 years

#247

Post by frozenport »

tormeh wrote: post #77
frozenport wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

3/5 you missed the chance to connect lack of foreigners to low crime rates.

Japan has a very special culture that keeps crime low. It would get watered down with immigration. I don't see how those are not widely accepted facts, and I don't see how the conclusion can be anything else than that higher immigration would lead to more crime in Japan. Now, personally, I don't really like Japanese culture, and more crime is a price I'm willing to pay to not live in such a hierarchical, conservative…

Singapore keeps crime pretty low, and that is a country of immigrants.

Re: Why I left Japan after 10 years

#248

Post by enqk »

Tharkun wrote: post #127
sho wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I get the feeling there is more that the author's personal situation that he isn't saying Yes, I definitely think so too. And the article about cycling in tokyo he links to [1] hints at this more. I've cycled very extensively in tokyo over the years i lived there and the experience he describes sounds, ironically, totally foreign to me. Tokyo's a wonderful and extremely safe place to cycle, which is of course why m…

I had the same reaction reading their cyclist rant. Even the video made no sense. It show a couple of cyclists committing minor trafic infractions, but apparently those are "criminally irresponsible" acts. It's their blog, so they're welcome to bitch and moan as much as they want. But this strikes me as one of those people who are frequently told to lighten up.

On my first trip to japan, I have been warned by my japanese acquaintances to pay special attention to cyclists in cities because, and I quote: "they are crazy"

And I indeed witnessed a total disregard for most safety measures, disregard for pedestrians etc.. While I wouldn't go around and make a documentary out of it, it was indeed a weird phenomena to witness.

Re: Why I left Japan after 10 years

#249

Post by madaxe_again »

muninn_ wrote: post #210
on_and_off wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you expand the 'not the greatest country anecdote' ? I am moving to SF soon (from France) and while the US have great opportunities for techies, I find it the 'best country in the world' mantra laughable. (it applies to pretty much any country though .. which norm (in the mathematical sense) are you using exactly ? I don't think there is one and only one.

Well, it's fine if you don't think the U.S. Is the best, just don't make a point about it. It's not so much that Americans don't think America has faults, we just mostly love our country and take offense if you criticize it the wrong way. I love France but it certainly has its fair share of problems, for example, but I don't go around arguing with The French if they say they love France and it's the greatest place. I…

The difference is that I don't think any Frenchman would describe France as the greatest place on earth.

Re: Why I left Japan after 10 years

#250

Post by abandonliberty »

trevyn wrote: post #159
fiblye wrote: post #40

I heard the "if you don't like it, leave line" from people all the time in America. Even with the pettiest of political disagreements, people say it. So then I went to Japan and haven't received or heard of anyone receiving similar vitriol aside from the OP. A foreign coworker (same race and nationality as me) endlessly complains about racism, discrimination, and being stared at here. I've experienced none of it. I'm…

> how many asians in America get asked,"so, where are you from?" whenever they meet someone? Caucasians in America get asked this all the time too.

Those looking for racism or prejudice can find it here.

The usually intended question is about ethnicity. The problem is that phrasing (and the occasional racist) make it awkward.

I'm happy if a 0th generation immigrant considers themselves to be from my country. It implies a sense of pride and desire to be part of their new home and culture. Unfortunately, that pride can be injured when people inadvertently imply they do not belong - 'where are you really from?'

The opposite is becoming more common - born here, rejects local values/language, considers themselves from their ancestral country.

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