JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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In an OECD survey of 36 nations on people's perceptions of their living conditions, Japan ranked 21st in terms of quality of life; Australia, Norway and the U.S. were the top 3. What do you think of that?
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The Fukuoka mayor is banning public servants from drinking alcohol for a month; the Osaka mayor has declared war on tattoos on civil servants. What do you think of all this?
( 21 )
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Why do you think Facebook's stock failed to live up to the hype in its trading debut?
( 13 )
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Which sport, when played well, do you think is the most exciting to watch?
( 62 )
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What's the difference between an average burger and a great one?
( 12 )
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- Business Teaching Positions - Part-time - Kanto Region
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥3,000 ~ ¥5,000 / Hour
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- National Relief/Substitute Teacher - summer start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥275,000 ~ ¥300,000 / Month
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- 営業パーソン
- 加治金属工業株式会社, Tochigi
- Salary: ¥240,000 ~ ¥350,000 / Month Negotiable
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111 Comments
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Eddisofbextar
In terms of psychological health from childhood to adult, definitely not.
Otherwise its just about the same as anywhere else.
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Eddisofbextar
See above first comment.
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Sebaschan
and further it is hard keeping them away from pachinko slots because you cant monitor them all day.
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inakaRob
yes and no! I have often thought about if and when I have a kid, would I want to my kid to go through the japanese or american school system. Japan, err... slave driving, stressfull, bullying esp for my would be half-breed child, and never ending clubs... VS America, drugs would be more than a possiblty, gangs depending on what school they went too, violence, and ramant underage sex. But would live a more fullfilling life, less stressfull and have more freedom and choices. its really hard to say. maybe japan for half and america for half. japan up through JR high, then high school in america. So maybe my child would only smoke a little pot or something, but growing up in japan would have taught him enough not to become an idot drug abuser like a lot kids.
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mareo2
It have positive and negative things.But aside of be expensive on the educative part, I think that the main problem is that overworking eat the family time.
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NuckinFutz
It's not so much the location as it is the quality of parenting and family life.
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nandakandamanda
It partly depends on where in Japan. A big city, or out in the countryside? It was good for my children, now looking back on it. They have received some very good qualities from their exposure to Japan.
At the time it caused quite a bit of nerve-wracking decision-making, and ended up being a blend of three things: pure Japanese schooling, some International schooling, and some Western education over in my home country.
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telecasterplayer
Let's see.. 1,000 years of documented History.. Nah, the jury's still out.
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Lamborghini
Go read GOOGLE NEWS UK, every story is about someone getting stabbed, shot, or beaten to death. Kids with guns shooting the old, gangs beating up other kids.
Japan is the safest place to raise children, the wife and I are planing on 4 children and I will not want them raised any were but Japan.
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realist
Saitama wasnt so safe a few years ago with that lunatic kidnapping and murdering little girls....and look at all the bullying, stabbing and murders committed by Japanese kids. How can you say Japan is safe for children? They have one of the poorest qualities of life in the civilised world. They have no life, really. Examination Hell is followed by a 4 year moratorium period of wasted time before they enter Society Hell. Speaking from the position of having kids in the Japanese system, removing them from there because of racist bullying, putting them into an American school in Japan, then having to remove them from there because it was just plain crazy, I can tell you - take your kids to somewhere they will have a life. Kids need to be somewhere green, with open spaces, and plkenty of free time to enjoy it - they wont get that in Japan, for the most part, and definately not in Tokyo.
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illsayit
I think the country has nothing to do with it, it depends on the parent. Go on give it a go, kids are good teachers.
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jigjapan
Maybe in terms of values and character, it
s nice to raise children in japan...less crime and drugs...but in terms of social, psychological and spiritual life maybe some of those aspects japan dont have. But i dont know. I cannot say more since its only 1 and a half year up to the present of living and experiencing japan.0
cleo
I think illsayit and NuckinFutz said it.
That's what my kids got in the sticks aka deepest, darkest Tochigi. They seem to have enjoyed it, and I know I did. And they turned out pretty good.
Yeah, I'm sure they'd be a lot better off in the UK as described by Lamborghini or in the USA where according to a charity working against DV, over 3 million children are victims of violence and close to 1.8 million are abducted every year.
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Farmboy
I think Japan is okay for children up to junior high school. After that, it really depends on the school, the teachers, and the administration.
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The_True
Cleo..Cleo!! Yeah, I'm sure they'd be a lot better off in the UK as described by Lamborghini or in the USA where according to a charity working against DV, over 3 million children are victims of violence and close to 1.8 million are abducted every year.
You know what? in japan everywhere is the same, in the US if you live in South Bronx or East New York then i maybe agree with you, but i if you live let's say Upstates NY or some places in Long Island i dont think you have much to worry. besides i want my kids to know about real life not to bent over to Mr Taro because he have x amount of time in the office or he is older or you have to do it if you want to be Japanese.
I want my kids to be then self not Japanese or part of any other race or group, I want then to be Human, have some Humanity, love, care, self respect, not to lower then self just to make other feel good, make then own choices in life, and take care of then self in any giving situation, not be part of a group a Robot and leach of the accomplishment of another people, i think that is the only reason Japanese feel so good about saying "I AM JAPANESE" most Japanese if they think or become independent they automatically become a looser with nothing to show in life.
hey but maybe that is just me.
PS. i hope you can understand what i am trying to say, if anyone can help me out here please do, English is not my first language :)
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griff
i once had a conversation with a friend in which he stated that he would be happy to raise kids in japan. his reasoning was that they would be safer in japan and would learn to be studious and obedient at school. i pointed out that there was a danger the education system would mould his child into something he would not recognise. he said that would be no problem since he could teach them to independent free-thinkers "in the evenings".....
my own response was that i would rather run the risk of raising a thug, than run the risk of raising a drone
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The_True
griff my own response was that i would rather run the risk of raising a thug, than run the risk of raising a drone.
hahahahaha..you make my day!!..hahahaha
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herefornow
The_True -- your English may not be great, but your thinking sure is. If you read all the posts of those who think Japan is a great place to raise kids, they all basically strss one theme -- It's safe. Not a one of them thinks Japan will help make their kid strive for greatness. In other words, so long as you will settle for safe mediocrity, Japan is a wonderful place to raise kids. Just don't ask yourselves in 20 years if you really gave your kids the chance to truly maximize their potential. For all those that think Japan is so great, just ask yourself one question -- Could Japan produce someone like Barak Obama, Michelle Obama, or Satamayor, the Supreme Court nominee. We all no the answer. And, in my mind, that says Japan fails as a place to raise kids.
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NeoJamal
Enjoy your shuudan bullying against your 'Gaijin' kid
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griff
glad you enjoyed! i think the root point was that i thought the risk of raising a thug, and i mean a REAL THUG, not just a difficult teen, was far slimmer than the very real risk of raising a kid with a personality bypass. in all seriousness, the most important thing to me is to have a relationship with my child. i think that in japan it is considered most important to have a child who is, at least, not meiwaku.
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griff
indeed. as i say time and time again, statistics are pretty meaningless "on the ground". i spent the first part of my life living in the uk, supposedly a hotbed of crime and violence, yet i had to come to japan to get my bicycle stolen...
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cleo
True,
Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with your English.
If it's a choice between living anywhere in Japan (subject to personal preferences vis a vis country/town, sea/mountains etc) and tippy-toeing around in some other country looking for a bit that's safe and affordable, then I think it's No Contest....
What makes you think my kids don't know about real life (Assuming 'real life' doesn't mean dealing with knife gangs and drugs in school)?
You just described my kids. :-)
griff,
Only if you shove them in at age seven and don't bother with them again until they're 18. Do what you're supposed to do with them as a parent, and there should be no worries. Well, there'll be lots of worries, but that's because they're kids and you're a parent, not because they're in Japan.
herefornow
If the kid is dead at 10 from a drive-by shooting or grows up with a drug-befuddled brain, he ain't gonna achieve no greatness. It all starts with keeping them alive. What you do with them after that is up to you. As I told griff, if you just throw them into the system and let them sink or swim, they'll probably sink - but that applies anywhere in the world. For every sparkling Barack or Michelle produced by the US, there are millions of losers - not to mention those who don't survive long enough to even be a loser. Michelle is proud to state that her parents were her role models. Barack's grandparents sent him to an elite prep school. If these two people are 'great' now, it's because of the content of their upbringing, not its location.
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The_True
Cleo-->> What makes you think my kids don't know about real life (Assuming 'real life' doesn't mean dealing with knife gangs and drugs in school)?<--
never said that, didn't talk about your kids since i personally don't know you or then.!!.
Cleo-->> Michelle is proud to state that her parents were her role models. Barack's grandparents sent him to an elite prep school.
Why worry so much about the US if you are so good as a parent like you said to be?, because that is my point, don't matter where you are if you a good parent.
i have a 18 year old girl in the US living in Flushing, Queens, even me not been there she is starting college next year, and have not been knock yet, but i know many here that a 20 have already 2 or 3 abortion, check shibuya or shinjuku any giving night.
so don't say that the US is worse than japan, it all depend on the parent.
and japan is not that safe like you make it to be, just check the news, and that is what is been reported to the police, what about the one that never make it to the light of day to keep the fantasy that japan is safe.
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cleo
True -
The US doesn't 'worry' me at all - in considering where to live and raise my kids, it never even appeared on the radar. I was just trying to answer herefornow's worries about 'greatness'.
Good luck to your girl. I have no idea what kind of place Flushing, Queens is, so I'm afraid the significance of that escapes me...but she's there without her Dad? How do you know how she's growing? Most 20 year-olds in Japan by the way do not congregate in Shibuya or Shinjuku every night, and 2 or 3 abortions by that age is certainly not the norm. You must have read about it in a scandal sheet, or watched a 'report' on late-night TV.
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hellhound
Japan is AWESOME for kids, they have lots of videogames man!
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vivifyJp
The country alone is not good or bad; its the people of country, their way of life, their social mechanisms, their ability to address and respond to issues that matters. Unfortunately most of Japan is caught up in the daily grind, and are oblivious of the fact that the social structure is crumbling while the government is caught up in petty politics. This nation and its youth are doomed unless the society awakens to the plague of power harassment, discrimination , lack of individuality, lack of conscience and lack of fear to do the wrong. Another distressed japanese
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dosanko
Japan is a great place to raise kids if you are a father who only wants to spend time with them a few hours on the weekend... So if you are the type of guy that loves to put just about everything before his own kids I highly recommend raising your kids here.
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Foxie
I would like to see my kids running around freely outside without fear and just being kids. I haven't seen that part yet here.
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Icewind007
Last time I checked, the sex part is not too great in Japan either.
In any case, while location does matter between Japan and America, I'd say it matters far more where IN those countries you have them go to school. You'll have huge differences in quality depending on if you are in Toukyou or in the rural regions. One may be more accepting of (I hate saying this) "halfs" because there are more in the region. Quality and stressfulness of the education can differ as much. In America, the differences are probably greater. Where I went, (only 5 years ago) there were no gangs, I saw very few drugs (only a couple of idiots), bullying was as expected, and there was no rampant sex. We also collectively had the best grades in the state. However, other schools I would deem dangerous to go to.
If you have kids, no matter where you are, it is best to scout out for the best quality. No matter what, kids will deal with hardships and that often helps them to grow up. In America and Japan, those lessons are just differnt.
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herefornow
Cleo -- nide try, but wrong. It is very much about location. The odds of producing a woman who will truly impact society are near nil in Japan and you know it. Because the society does not want or expect that from them. No real role models exist -- certainly not their teachers. All the teachers do is rote, rote, rote, there is no individual encouragement. Women don't go to work here at someplace like Toyota or Sony because they dream about becoming an executive there, because they know that will never happen. They go there to find a husband. How sad is that. That 50% of the population is NEVER encouraged to seek or expect to ever maximixe their potential. Stop kidding yourself. Raising a child in Japan, particularly a girl, is dooming them to a life of predictacle mediocrity. That is the sad reality brought on by a total lack of individual motivation and the society's emphasis on not rocking the boat. And over 60 years of LDP-led male dominance. How else do you explain Japan's pitiful rating on women's success in reaching places of authority here?
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Disillusioned
Yes, Japan is a reasonably safe place for kids to grow up except for the kiddy fiddlers and maniac drivers. However, my biggest fear is the clash of cultures. I too strive to make my kids open-minded individual thinkers although, this will cause alienation at school and lead to prejudice and possibly even bullying from both fellow students and teachers alike. I have seen it many times with half Japanese kids. They tend to become very self-conscious and don't try to excel for fear of being singled out. If one can give their kids the emotional support to overcome this pathetic part of Japanese society then Japan is a good place to bring up kids.
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pawatan
I know what you're saying regarding role models - one of my friends told me that doing something other than going to a junior college to learn 'womanly skills' (whatever that means) wasn't much of an option.
But don't forget the vast majority of people anywhere in the world don't maximize their potential. I, for one, am quite happy with my life of above-average semi-mediocrity.
There's nothing inherently wrong with a 'normal' life; I suspect most people are perfectly OK with that.
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The758
100% correct.
Japanese parents don't raise their kid, they merge them into the massive ignorant droid collective known as Japanese Society.
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neverknow2
ＮＯ
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Hoolie
Truth of the matter is that where a child is raised hasn't got as much to do with how they turn out as who raises them. Japan has some distinct advantages, and distinct disadvantages, as does any other industrialised nation.
The primary disadvantage in Japan is the expectations that companies place on working fathers, which often results in the fathers being absentee parents. Some fathers make up for this on the weekends, and some forego the promotion track in order to be better fathers 'round the clock.
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cleo
Lots of posters seem to be answering the question, 'Are the majority of Japanese good parents?' Regardless of what you think the answer is, it isn't the question being asked. The question is, 'Is Japan a good place to raise children?'. From my own experience, I would say Yes, it is. It isn't perfect - nowhere is. But it's good. It's safe. It's reasonably fair. And I don't recognise this 'halfs get discriminated against' claim, it's outside my experience. Not saying it doesn't happen, just that it's never been a part of our lives and it's never been a factor in raising our kids.
I find herefornow's assertion that a girl is somehow a failure if she doesn't 'impact society' and become an executive in a big international company rather puzzling. Most of the 6 billion people on the planet, male and female, don't impact society or become executives in big international companies. It's a false criterion. By that criterion, you're going to fail 99.999% no matter where you raise your kids.
For every Barack, there are millions of people who can't even get a job, never mind make it to the executive suite. For every Michelle, there are millions of teenage welfare mums.
There is a lot in Japan that could be improved. I've done my share of complaining about where improvements could and should be made. But taking into account all the other factors involved in raising a child, I would say Japan is a pretty good place to do it.
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amerijap
It's hard to say. Depends on where you were born and what you have seen and experienced as you were growing up. What values do your parents embrace; their discipline, higher expectations on education and constraints on social life, and the list goes on and on. If you are in a comfort zone living in Japan, maybe Japan is the right place for you to raise you kids(if you choose to have some). If not, then, perhaps you should go for a plan B.
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coopers
Seems a lot of people here want everything for their kids which is great in theory but practically impossible. "I want my kids to run free like a naked hippy in the forest" or "be cultured, self driven and confident". I grew up in the countryside in Australia and was fairly ignorant until I moved to the city and went to university so I think I'm a fairly well balanced individual. I now have a baby girl in Japan and will be moving back to Aus soon, most likely a city so that's where my girl will grow up. She will have the benifits of living in a multicultural city with the ups and downs of any child/teenager with the support of loving parents. I will try and give her a balanced life from an early age where she can spend time with her grandparents in the Australian countryside as well as visit Japan at least once a year to see her Japanese family. What I'm getting at here is parenting, being open and giving them the confidence to tackle the shit that life throws, like bullying, racism and sexism whether it be in Japan or Australia.
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grafton
I think most people need to take an other look at the question, it doesn’t say anything about is Japan a good place for foreigners to bring up children so we might assume that the question also includes if it is good place for the Japanese to bring up children?
What I find amazing is that so many look first at what influence a school is going to have on their child & although I wouldn’t go so far as to say that a school will have no influence it really is the family that should shape the adult from the child, my children are the product of the home they came from not the schools they went to. Are they captains of industry, political leaders or the wives there of, stars in any way? Not yet, but who knows that might happen. But one thing that they are is happy well balanced individuals. For the most part they grew up in inner city England & drugs, violence, racism & all the other horrors were a normal part of our lives. And I wouldn’t wish that on any child. I can’t speak for the US, but I can say that Europe is not a place to bring up a child of mixed race, not unless you have a lot of money to isolate them from what is now the norm. What is bad about Japan is minimal by comparison & easily countered in the home. In other words be a real parent & don’t leave it all to the school.
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coopers
So with what I just said above does sound difficult and somewhat impossible, as parents all we can do is try to raise our children as best as we can in whatever country we choose to live in.
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nisegaijin
No, absolutely now. Fake age dependent gang mentality, unnecessary convenience, large amount of mentally unstable people, bad air, overpopulation, lousy education, etc i don't think any of this would contribute for a child to grow up as decent self reliant human being.
My vote goes to Australia or UK.
Having said that, I think Japan is the best place to meet the future mother of those kids ;-).
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MeanRingo
In one word... NannyBot. So, of course it is a good place to raise children.
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nandakandamanda
My younger daughter was at nursery school in London. Daily school run from the terraced house. Asthma. No exposure to life outside the city with its stresses and lead-polluted air.
Brought her to Japan and let her loose into the local village where she ran with the kids from house to house, welcome everywhere. Ok, we have snakes and centipedes, but she also got hills with woods and birds, and a big village family. For her as a child it was heaven. The school was a religious one run by Japanese sisters, so she got different input. Later on we sent her abroad but up to 12 the situation was as close to ideal as you could get. She is quite artistic and creative, and very active. Irrepressible, actually.
So the simple answer for me is very close to Cleo above. Despite the negative aspects well illustrated by other posters above, yes, for me Japan is a very good place to raise children, if you are able to choose the location and conditions.
PS I have many good Japanese friends who must also have benefited from their childhood here. I am constantly learning from them.
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grafton
nandakandamanda at 10:48 AM JST - 14th July
“PS I have many good Japanese friends who must also have benefited from their childhood here. I am constantly learning from them.”
Thank you for this. It is worth reminding others that many of our Japanese friends & family grew up in Japan & there are some very special people among them.
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DeepAir65
re Foxie
that's because of the overbearing, over protective, paranoid mums!
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coopers
Many of the children I teach in Japan seem well balanced so that must come from their parents and home environment. When you meet the parents of the troubled kids, you can see why. Teachers also play a big role since they are with the kids for 8 hours a day. Last year my 3rd graders were great because they had a great teacher and the 4th graders were bouncing off the walls because the teacher was a mess. This year, those great 3rd graders are now 4th and they are no longer great kids because they have the shitty teacher.
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Potsu
Depends on where you live...some of the smaller cities in the countryside have decent lifestyles for kids,but Tokyo or Osaka,God no.
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Speed
Yeah, I think Japan is a really nice place to raise kids!
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herefornow
Cleo -- if you want to believe that because not everyone in other places aspires to or reaches greatness, but at least they are encouraged to do so, as opposed to Japan where kids, particularly girls, are encouraged to seek nothing better than getting married and making bento boxes for the hubby and the 1.3 kids, then go ahead and feel that Japan is a good place to raise kids. Just so long as those kids never need to really interact with the real world -- that's the one outside of Japan -- because then they will fail miserably due to poor language skills, a myopic view of history, and a total lack of understanding of things like minorities and how they can make a society great, rather than just pose a threat to the Wa. Personally, I'll take pride in reading the background of the woman who Obama nominated yesterday as Surgeon General and know that being safe isn't everything. That some risk is worth the tradeoff.
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cleo
herefornow -
Let me see...both my kids speak fluent Japanese and English, son also speaks fluent Russian and enough Ukrainian and German to get by. I've seen to it that they have a pretty comprehensive view of history. 'Things like minorities'? What does that mean? That it's somehow better to live in a society where the census forms ask you what breed you are, as if it were important? No thanks.
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helloklitty
Japan would be a great place to raise kids if it weren't for the people.
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TokyoHustla
1 place of course would be America. Best private boarding schools, talented pool of servants, nannies and chauffers, and of course the ivy league schools.
2 would be Japan, but it's a distant second.
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Triumvere
....
I'm going to go with yes. Lots of problems, I know, but kids on the whole seem safer and happier here, atleast at younger ages.
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motytrah
Seems to me that the answered is formed on if the family intends to head back to the west. We complain a lot on JT about how messed up white collars workers are in Japan because of the education system. That may not be a good thing to bring back to the west.
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irishosaru
Yes, my wife and I had my daughter in Japan and were very happy with raising her there (until we had to move away for unrelated reasons).
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Triple888
Japan, like most Asian cities, is too much of a distraction for young children to receive quality education.
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cleo
Japan isn't a city.
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Richard_III
Kids might end up being good at mathematics if they're taught in Japan, and probably won't hang around with the wrong sorts that are so easy to find in the UK.
One of the major issues is that if they live in Japan long enough it is inevitable that they will take on the manners of the natives. In such a case, you have to question whether knowledge of advanced calculus or whatever is worthwhile sacrificing for a kid to have decent manners and not turn into an inconsiderate pig.
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cleo
If you do the job right, they take on the manners of their parents.
Far too many people on this thread blaming others for their own shortcomings.
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griff
whilst i agree with herefornow's sentiment, i'm not happy that the modern standard of success is always judged to be rising to the top of the capitalist crud heap. as such, i would like to raise kids who succeed in the art of living. what that entails is rather up to them, but i'd like to suggest that it has a lot to do with ascertaining the things in life that really matter, such as the relationships with the people around you, and striking a happy balance between business and pleasure.
considering this, i'm afraid the japan teaches children the very opposite
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Richard_III
In which case, they'll most probably hate everything about this country and want to leave as soon as possible.
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griff
parents serious overestimate their influence on their children's upbringing. as soon as kids enter full-time education the peer group overtakes parents as the model for their development. think about the most significant experiences that shaped the person you are today; did they happen in the home? i'm willing to bet that the vast majority happened outside of the home, interacting with your close social circle.
parents certainly can do a lot in the early years to teach kids good general lessons that will help them to negotiate life's challenges, but once their spending a lot of their time outside of the home you'd better hope those you entrust them to have the same priorities as you
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cleo
You know, I do believe they did. I had superb parents who were very involved in everything we did, and I hope I picked up a few of their skills. Doesn't mean I didn't have lots of friends outside the home who had an influence on me; but the close social circle I chose to associate with were people I probably unconsciously filtered through the values passed on to me by my parents.
That's a given. Some posters seem to think their only option is to shove their kids into the system at age 7 and wait with bated breath to see what comes out of the other end at 16, 18, 21, or whatever they consider to be the end of education.
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herefornow
Cleo -- thanks for the laugh. You are to be commended for doing such a wonderful job of raising your kids, but, extrapolating that to the whole of Japan is simply foolish. For every kid like yours, there are 1,000 in Shibuya every afternoon and on weekends, who are clueless about anything other than what they are supposed to wear, and how to make dates on their mobile phones. And, with as much respect as I can muster, your comment about having kids who understand and appreciate minorities is pretty ignorent and very biased. Just remember, when you get on a train and leave that lovely little village of yours and come to Tokyo, where no one knows you, you are still just another gaijin to the kids staring at you on the train. And that is sad in the 21st century -- that a supposedly well-educated and advanced society still classifies people that way.
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AndyG2009
I grew up in Japan and am a happily naturalized US citizen. My impression of Japanese schools is that they are like military schools. Everyone wears the uniform, rules are very strict (down to the color of your socks), junior students obey senior students, and teachers use corporal punishments. To me the question like “is Japan a good country to raise kids?” sounds similar to a question of “are military schools good for your child’s education?” Of course, everyone has a different opinion, but in my case I had no choice. To me personally, I have no plan to send my kid to any Japanese school. There are good things about Japanese school, but negative things are overwhelming. They don’t teach kids how to think as an individual. They want kids to memorize things. They don’t encourage kids to trust themselves and be assertive. They teach their kids to know their place. They don’t teach kids how to communicate in English. They value English teachers who cannot speak English (it’s like someone who cannot swim teaches kids how to swim). All in all, Japanese education enriches the lives of privileged few who can take advantage of the mass produced obedient hard workers.
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cleo
herefornow -
Quite likely. Probably much more than 1000. And this compares with other countries like how? Remember, the question is, Is Japan a good place to raise children?, not Are all Japanese good parents?
I don't deny it. In fact I still don't know what you mean about appreciating minorities. You expect kids on the train not to notice the one blonde, blue-eyed, pale-skinned woman in a sea of Asian faces? When a man with a white mother, raised by his white grandparents, is hailed as the first 'black' president because of the way he looks, and the choice of a new high court judge revolves around the pros and cons of her ethnicity....my friend's daughter spent a couple of years studying in the US, and found it impossible to make friends with any white, black or hispanic people of her own age. Whenever she tried, she found herself being pointed politely but firmly towards the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese students; the 'you belong over there, not here' message was unmistakeable. Sorry, but that's not 'appreciating' minorities, it's putting people in little boxes according to what they look like. No moral high ground there. And yes it is sad that a supposedly well-educated and advanced society still classifies people that way.
Andy -
Corporal punishment in schools is illegal.
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boboh
How about we ask the kids, eh? Anyone think of that?
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Spider
I hear that teenage pregnancy is reletively low in Japan.
Sounds positive to me!
I'll go with yes.
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rogerbentham
with everybody going to be an old fart in this country by like, right now, any children is a definite YES.
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OhioDonna
I really think that almost any place is a good place to raise children. But we are living in a era that is not a good time to raise children.
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Triple888
I expected that reply after I submitted.
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AndyG2009
Cleo -
I know that, but I saw that regularly in schools in Japan. Sometimes when one kid in a group (we called “han” which means squad) did something wrong, the entire group members were slapped in their face. I remember that we developed the habit of watching each other for the fear of the group punishments. To my surprise, parents back then (in 70th and 80th) loved teachers who disciplined their kids with an iron fist. I don’t think there was any parent who complained, let alone sued these violent teachers.
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bimpyschack
When I was a child growing up in suburban America it was the norm to play baseball in the summer, go camping, fishing, sleep in a pup tent in the backyard, slip and slide in the watered down grass on the hot afternoon days, and visit the grandparents on the farm almost every weekend for canning strawberries or tomatoes… hardly the lifestyle suggested by the resident American hate monger cleo. When I think of places to raise my children, Japan is about the bottom of the list. Kiddie porn is rampant, both date and gang rapes seem to be extremely common as is enjokosai (simple prostitution by minors) and the country is just now coming to grips with its marijuana problem. Bullying, ijime, domestic violence, and other social issues pertaining to children are literally un-documentable as call-in-centers are flooded with victims seeking help to the point they have to shut down the lines ! Unlike Cleo, who gets her info about America from TV and magazines, I have actually lived in the USA. There is no better place to raise your kids. In Japan m 2 year old is already being subject to racism and gender bias, why the local obasans think my Japanese mothered child understands ‘harrooo” is a mystery. And they just about wet themselves when the little tyke does her head nodding bow and blurts out konchiwa… yeh, it needs a little work but the locals here just stand slack jawed like the little one is some kind of freak of nature. Fortunately our days here in this racist society are numbered. The question poised here is easy to answer… Japan is a great place to raise your kids if you want them to be Japanese. Women bound to the kitchen, men off to slave away at Japan Inc. However, if you want your kids to have a real life, prepare for the ups and downs of the real world, enjoy the benefits of true freedom… including freedom of speech… well then pack your backs and say sayonara before they are out of diapers. Don’t make the same mistake Cleo did. Just look at how bitter she has become, attacking the US at every opportunity… sour grapes Cleo, sour grapes !
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bimpyschack
Spider notes...'I hear that teenage pregnancy is reletively low in Japan.'
Not true ! Teenage births are low... abortion remains the number one form of birth control in Japan.
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bimpyschack
'Cleo - Corporal punishment in schools is illegal.'
You should know better, there are a lot of 'illegal' activities in Japan, most simply have no punishment attached to their violations.
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bimpyschack
More Cleo..."You expect kids on the train not to notice the one blonde, blue-eyed, pale-skinned woman in a sea of Asian faces?"
Nothing wrong with "noticing". I draw the line at staring and blurting out "harro" like so many children and adults alike do here. I can't imagine my 7 year old walking up to some hispanic kid at the park at going through his "hola senior como esta" routine. Yet Japanese do this racist crap all the time. Cleo is an enabler ! Simply a product of her surroundings... and I'm willing to bet her kids are no diff, but with the blinders on and well... you know what they say... "you can't see the forest from the trees' !
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cleo
Right, 'some' hispanic kid. Not the one hispanic kid in a sea of blondies. Two totally different environments, it's silly to complain that they're not the same.
Trying to say 'hello' is racist crap? Wow. It's not me who's the hater.
Nah, it's mostly from the 'we need our guns to protect ourselves, we live in a hell-hole' brigade on JT.
Moderator: All readers back on topic please.
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lordomni
Japan is not a great environment for kids, it teaches them all the things they need to be unhappy the rest of their life. Memorize the rules, happiness and success cannot be balanced, women should stay serving coffee, study for the test and not for life, etc. And of course, if you need a buck or a new prada a quick walk to the love hotel in your school uniform will buy it with nothing but the cost of your dignity.
In western countries, you are taught to value other opinions even if many don't learn the lesson well, and appreciate different views. Its a little more dangerous physically, but spiritually its a life worth living and not swan diving in front of a train.
I like Japan, its interesting, the people are friendly if distant. However if I ever have kids, I'm gone immediatly.
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GW
Like many I dont think Jpn is a very good place for kids, its not good for most of its inhabitants unfortunately. As a kid lived more than most japanese can expect in a lifetime, unfortunately the only many are happy is when they are equally miserable.
bimpyschack, there are many good places to raise kids in the US & many many bad ones as well, if you want a place with generally good environment you shud look north of the 49th parallel
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OneForAll
America was the best. Kids excelled. Excellent education and sport facilities in public schools (till the 12 grade for FREE). ZERO tolerance for bullying, etc. Small town USA that is. My children are American by culture, so the Japanese language is a bit poor. So Japanese school is extremely stressful. They just do not want to go. They are all boys and strong but are told not to hurt anyone, however, protect themselves. To be frank, the Japanese kids are just too busy for a social life. It is OK, we tried to fit in and it won't work and we will still have a good life here. Found a camp for the summer just like the American lifestyle (cheap because everyone is too busy to enjoy these things) with bilingual children. The Homeschool option or bi-lingual school will work in September. Now if I had a girl I would have her raised like her mother. One cannot find a better female than a Japanese girl. Nor a better male than an American one;-) BTW I would not send by child to an American school if they were constantly being bullied. End of story.
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AndyG2009
-lordomni
Japan is the best place to raise obedient slave workers. In my short experience of working in Japan, I was surprised to see frequent violations of labor laws. When I got sick I couldn’t even use my sick days. At that time I went to an emergency hospital at night and worked the next day. Others at work (luckier guys) used their vacation time when they got sick. What amazed me the most is that the Japanese managed to build the nation which is not only uncomfortable to non Japanese people, but also down right tough place to live for Japanese people.
-bimpyschack
In my case, Japan is at the bottom of the developed countries. USA is the best!
I agree. If the kids will live in Japan for their entire life, raising them in Japan is OK. If the kids will live in others parts of the world, raising them in Japan will not help.
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Klein2
Oh brother. Well, first of all, put me on board with Cleo and Nandaka.
Here is a fresh take on it. If you want your kids to grow up with a super hero mentality, whacko religion, sex, and unrealistic expecations and fears, America is the place for you. I have a personal theory that these kinds of things, when stirred up in a flask, produce psychopathic behavior, but what do I know?
How about this? "Lust", "Gluttony", "Greed", "Sloth", "Wrath", "Envy", and "Pride" vs. justice, temperance, fortitude, truth, faith, hope, charity
Why is it that I see American society teaching its kids all of the former to its kids, through schools, television, sports, consumerism, etc. And I see all of the latter being pushed, at least to my kids, in Japanese schools? Why is that? I recommend the movie IDIOCRACY if you would like to see where Jamie Lynn Spears, Michael Vick, and Eric Cartman are taking the youth of America.
Throw in creationism being taught in schools, "Daddy what is a sex offender", "Mommy, what is Sex and the City about?", mandatory homosexuality education, zero tolerance, guns, drugs, 30 valedictorians per graduating class, Hannah Montana, 400 dollar prom dresses, jello shots, and worrying about all of the other kids' helicopter parents, and whew!! gotta like Japan. In Japan, the date rape drugs and shroooms are in Roppongi. In the US, they are at high school football games. And how could I forget fear? My kids walk to school. They play outside. We know no victims of crime, but do know of a couple of homes with divorces.
Japan is about helping people raise reasonable good citizens. There is a lot of work to be done, and Japan will have its share of capable people, with markedly fewer "ex-athletes" killing people and selling drugs, ex-Britney wannabes, and yes, fewer evangelists.
That is the caustic bit. I believe most of that. The bottom line is that if I did not believe that my children are better off growing up in Japan, I would not live here. It is my number one motivation for being here. I admit the possibility that their aspirations and opportunities might be a little bit less than those of some American people I know, but my children are able to gather skills and grow rapidly into reasoning and reasonable people. In the end, they will be able to move in any circles they choose. Their knowledge of math and science will be top notch. They will be trilingual at least.
No worries here. I made the right choice.
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Spider
Not true ! Teenage births are low... abortion remains the number one form of birth control in Japan.
Source please?
Teen pregnancy and birth are so much lower than the UK. Japan remeins near the top of the world 'league table' for lowteen pregnancy rate.
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gogogo
In a word, no.
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BeaverCleaver
Spider, glad to see you asking for a source, that is always sensible. But the assertion of the other poster is not even related to the original statement. Even if it were true that abortion were the number one method of BC (which is not even unprovable since you cannot accurately measure condom use) that simple statement would not prove that the number of teenage pregnancies are higher or lower than anywhere else.
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fuguyoutoo
Klein2 promised us a new take on this topic and then turned right around and served up more of the same ol same ol anti American nonsense. If I wanted to I could spend the rest of this post shooting down every so called reason you have for choosing to raise your kids in Japan. For example, Eric Cartman ? Yeh, like crayon shin chan and his foul mouth is any better ? And if it’s a warped sense of identity or so called “super hero” mentality that rubs you raw, well look no further than Akihabara ! You’ll find more than your fair share of disenfranchised comic reading reality challenged akb48 chasin’ upskirt photo takin’ glassy eyed teens ! And what makes you think your kids will have an advantage when it comes to math and sciences ? The USA is the world leader in advanced technology and has the Nobel prizes in science to prove it ! Klein2 bud are you for real ? Shake yourself for one minute and ask a simple question, If Japan is such a great place to raise kids… why have the locals stopped doing it? And at record proportions! Now if I may. In my opinion the criteria for raising kids falls under a few categories. The first of course is education. And I for one see no reason to send my kids to an institution that is nationally recognized to be so poor that every Japanese parent feels the need to send their child to a cram school every night of the week for 2-3 more additional hours of instruction. And even then statistics indicate that Japanese children are continuing to fall behind other nations that employ this same method. Nope, I prefer my kids get involved in after school sports or community activities. The second criteria on the list is; personal growth. Japan with its dependency on others mentality simply can’t prepare its youth for the realities of the world. Japanese children are over-dependent on mom from day one. Japanese children learn little about independence instead they are forced to rely on others virtually all the way through their young adult years. I love the fact that I learned to drive a truck on my uncle’s farm. Or that by the time I was 15 I had had enough part time jobs to buy my own car. Japanese children stand there with their hands out asking mom and dad for money their whole lives. The explosion in parasite singles here only adds evidence to how failed the society really is. My third criteria is; home life. Japan simply can’t compete with more advanced nations. Houses here are small, there is no privacy, the whole idea of- sleeping on the floor- eating on the floor-watching tv on the floor- playing on the floor… it’s all third world to me. It’s uncomfortable, dirty, and humiliating to live a life groveling around on-the floor! The fact that the father isn’t around is also a poor comment on Japan’s society. Anyone else see the NHK portion of “Okasan to isho ni” with the short video explaining why dad isn’t around the house ? God this is humbling to say the least. That’s right, NHK has a video segment where we see dad wolf down his breakfast, rush out the door, and spend his whole waking life a slave to corporate Japan. The video tries to explain to youngsters why papa isn’t around… how sweet ! Finally; safety. Japan is simply unsafe, especially for children. Crowded streets, stalkers, evil sickos in the porn industry, mentally
disturbed mixed in with the general population, teachers of questionable character, an apathetic police force, and more drugs and alcohol than you can possibly imagine. Japan is no different than many other countries in the sense, except for large doses of denial that linger about in many of the communities. One of the most shocking realities of Japan now is the fact that virtually every grade school kid in the nation has some kind of security device on him or her at all times. These kids have to walk in packs to and from school, they have phones to check in with parents and school officials, many are even escorted by their parents or volunteer adults… I see them by the dozens every day. Sorry, I walked to and from school for 10 years. Sometimes alone, sometimes with friends. My safety was never in question and I never once felt threatened. Japanese kids simply can’t say that. So again klein2 I ask you, if Japan is such a great place to raise your kids… why isn’t anyone, locals or foreigners, flooding the hospital wards to experience the wonder of it all?
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nigelboy
I think fuguyoutoo is comparing Iowa to Tokyo.
If someone wants to compare the education level of each nation ON AVERAGE, the PISA test scores are the best indicators where U.S. is like the near bottom among the OECD nations.
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fuguyoutoo
And nigelboy just can't help but embarrass himself in public. unfortunately your "on average" statement is anything but ! Japan is very careful about what schools participate in PISA tests. The US is not ! Subsequently you get schools from the US packed with immigrant kids who can barely speak the language competeing with some of Tokyo's cram school elite ! Sorry Nigelboy, I'll take the American way of education over Japans any day of the week. Now if you choose to respond to this manhandling, start by first telling us all what you know about the American education system. I doubt you truly understand it. For if you did, you wouldn't be quoting PISA scores... bwahaha !
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cleo
Do you have a link to back that up with?
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Klein2
Sorry so long everyone. Might be interesting, and it is topical.
The topic is
Is Japan a good place to raise children?
My experience says YES! I vote with my feet. I am sincere.
Fuguyoutoo:
The Japanese elite are unwilling or unable to have kids, and poorer people find it is expensive. Oh well. So much the better for me and mine. Your whole post turns on this idea that Japanese people know what is best. Then you use aggregate data, which might not reflect many parts of Japan. Although Japanese in general are not having many kids, a lot of kids live near me. You make another mistake in that you are contrasting urban Japanese life with rural American life. Your method explains your conclusions.
And you misunderstand my points. I am not anti-American. Do you realize how dumb that sounds? You go enjoy. More power to you. I grew up in the states. I know what is here and what is there. I have great memories of fun times, many of which would land me in jail these days. For the record, I started working when I was 14 (you slacker) and paid for my own car and my own insurance and gas. Started driving my own car--pinkie in MY name--when I was 15. I walked to school a total of 14 years (slacker) if you count college and grad school. So there you go. What is anti-American about that? I was filling out W-4's and paying taxes long before I entered high school.
I wanted to give my kids something like that and felt it was unlikely to be done smoothly in the US in the many places I know of there. So I do it here. In Mayberry, Japan.
I do not see the Japan you see. It sounds as though Cleo and I found similar places. Children bow at crosswalks. The postmen smile. Everyone knows where to find me when they need me. The kids know the names of the neighborhood dogs. We have village idiots, monkeys, tanuki, poison snakes, and a fishing hole. We have community bbqs twice a year. The local high school has a great baseball team. We have a nice house and a productive garden. We live among scientists and doctors and teachers, a Nobel prize winner, and a well known actress. We have a chonaikai. No successful cram schools. My daughter was earning her own money at age 10. My son at 8. My kids have bicycles and no security devices. Oh it is not halcyon, but of the things you list above, almost none exist here. It has been remarked by others that parents matter. That is true. My kids do not watch TV unsupervised. We talk a lot. We are not super consumers. We spend pretty heavily on books, but we download the classics from Gutenberg.org for free. I help the police sometimes. Just like waitresses and bureaucrats I meet, they are politely soldiering on, struggling to do their jobs as things get increasingly complicated. I have not met an arrogant Japanese person in years. Am I just lucky?
It sounds like you live huddled, shaking in a hovel. It must be some dog patch in Tokyo or Osaka. If that is what you see of Japan, you need to set higher personal standards. Most foreigners come here for money. Some bring their kids. Too bad. They hang out in the major cities, avoid learning the language, drink too much, and then complain about what they find. Some people are miserable wherever they go. The money and all the dreck are always going to be in the big cities. I have had my share of bad Japan days too, but I have found a better place.
You keep on telling people how bad Japan is, please. I am not eager for this place to become Provo, or Plano, or Portland.
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fuguyoutoo
Klein2, I'll engage you on this discussion...
"I wanted to give my kids something like that and felt it was unlikely to be done smoothly in the US in the many places I know of there. So I do it here. In Mayberry, Japan."
Honestly now... you had to travel 5,000 miles to find Mayberry ? I believe you passed thousands of Mayberrys in your search. Japan can't even begin to offer a smidgin of the total growth experience provided in the USA. The only thing your kids will learn here is "gaman, gaijin, and taihen" ! The place is a deadend. I want you to think back on your childhood. Your friends, sports, classmates, holidays, family gatherings, outdoor rec events... Japan offers none of this for us. The country is expensive and the people are jaded. I know, I've been here long enough. I've lived in the country and the city... everyplace is the same here, a ghetto ! And that coming from someone who makes more than 1.5 million yen above the national average... it aint about money, its about the people !As for all this...
"I do not see the Japan you see. It sounds as though Cleo and I found similar places."
Where in Tochigi ? Yo, I been there, done the gyoza thing.
"Children bow at crosswalks. The postmen smile."
So what ! Kids in America shake your hand, the waitress is able to make small talk, everyone knows their neighbours... hell here in Japan we hear story after story about how some old codger died and no one knew about it for months !
"The kids know the names of the neighborhood dogs."
Yes, but do the neighbours know your kids names ? Mine don't !
"We have a nice house and a productive garden."
I doubt it ! The average American house is 2,400 square feet... Japan ? 900 square feet !
"No successful cram schools. My daughter was earning her own money at age 10. My son at 8. My kids have bicycles and no security devices."
Congratulations... you are not the norm ! How do you feel ? Sorry Klein2 you are telling me stories about how "foreigners" live in Japan... not how everyone else does. Come back to this site when you can tell me about your morning commute on the yamanote... like most Japanese ! Or how you feel about working 14 hours a day, with no overtime pay... for years on end. That is the life of the regular Japanese. It's no wonder so many of them despise us... with our nice homes, gardens, living next to nobel prize winners. Wow, what a paradise... if only the average nihonjin could experience so much. I for one can't wait to get my family out of here. The cramped apartment we live in is a dump ! The yakuza living around the corner are creepy. The summers are horrible. The food is inadequate and often times limited. And once again Tokyo and Osaka are rated the worlds most expensive cities... this while salaries here are in decline. That is the reality for the Japanese that inhabit this land... consider yourself very fortunate kleine2.
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Klein2
Gee Dick. False utopia. You are just full of oxymorons tonight. I will just let it go, but you are not making a great case for the US educational system.
My kids can walk through stores without looking at dirty magazines. I consider that part of being mature and tolerant. Apparently, some adult Americans have a problem doing that. It says more about American upbringing than Japanese.
Dick. You really should consider that a man who can be successful in another country and raise good children to be good citizens, providing for them and their mother during well, decades of recession, cannot be credibly called a slacker. I do have my shortcomings, but if that is not success, I do not know what is. When you grow up and find love of your own, I am sure you will understand.
It just so happened that Fugu was trying to impress me with how American he was, and it turned out that he started working later than I did. I walked to school more than he did too. I thought that was funny enough to comment about it.
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Klein2
14 hours a day for years? You ARE a slacker!! LOL. I have been doing that for over a decade. I worked a year for free, willingly, eating rice and beans to save a company that eventually failed.
I am very fortunate. I am not interested in average, or Tokyo, or the Yamanote either. Been there and done that. Look. I made my choices early and stuck to them, that's all. I found what I found and posted on JT.
Japan is a good place FOR ME to raise children. I am an authority on myself, so there is no need for debate, really.
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AndyG2009
-Klein2
If that’s the case, why did you post your messages here? I thought that you want to hear opinions from those whose experiences differ from your own. I grew up in Japan. From my experience, I don’t think Japan is a good place to raise kids. I don’t mean to say that my upbringing represents all the kinds of childhood experiences there, but my own experience has a lot in common with others there. Unfortunately, I didn’t live “among scientists and doctors and teachers, a Nobel prize winner, and a well known actress”. Such a privileged life was out of reach for a regular guy like me.
First, the schools seem to be a place for an endurance contest. If you are good at math, you have to wait for other kids who cannot care less about numbers to grasp the concept of basic math. No merit base classes in most of the schools. There is no wonder the Japanese top universities (like Tokyo University) are no match for the American top universities in the list of top 100 world universities. Kids with talents in some areas will waste their time and be forced to do the same thing as others.
Japanese teachers are authoritarian and sometimes physically abusive. I saw one of my friends beaten by a teacher simply because he questioned an accuracy of what the teacher said. There is no wonder why Japanese students are so timid and afraid of saying what is on their mind. Fear of telling their opinions is very common thing you see in Japan and is not a special situation at all.
Second, Japanese education focuses on memorization and their teaching methods are impractical.
I don’t think that people who only memorize a bunch of things can do well in the future competitions because people can simply use search engines. In many cases, teachers who cannot speak English teach students a special kind of English, “English for exams” (Jyuken Eigo). Because of this, many Americans who live there have to learn “Japanese English” otherwise it will be hard just to find “McDonald’s”.
I don’t have a problem with demanding education. I have a problem with schools that are demanding in a wrong way. Third, kids don’t have enough space. Since most of the kids live in or near big cities, lack of space is a common issue. Fourth, Japan is aging rapidly and 40% of Japanese people will be senior citizens in 40 years. It will be way too optimistic to think that a country that is going to be a super aged nation with a mountain of public debt will give kids a bright future. I think that one reason why Japanese young people don’t want to have kids is that they believe that the future is worse.
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ritalynn
I honestly can't say if it okay or not, i don't live there, and don't know anyone who went to school there. I'm sure every country has good points and bad points, it depends where you live. The countryside in japan might be better than a big city in the US. on the other side of the coin, a big city in japan might be worse than a big city in the US. Location, location, location.
But fuguyoutoo, if you hate japan so much why in the hell are you there?
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lordomni
The discussion is not 'is Japan a good place for you,' its about raising children. Just because there are bad things doesn't mean there are no good. Its entirely possibly Japan is great for fuguyoutoo, but still not a place he'd raise kids.
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sf2k
I would have thought not, given the racial discriminations but given the very thoughtful posts put here by those who have obviously worked it out and are living well then I'd say my mind has been changed. I hope it works out.
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ritalynn
lordomni I was talking about rasing kids and schools in my post. Maybe I should have been more clear.
And it dosen't sound like Japan is a great country in fuguyoutoo's eyes.
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shotamerican
I am a woman married to a Japanese national who has had his fair share of growing up in other countries outside of Japan. We both worked in Japan as educators, in a few different cities, so we have somewhat a good view on the educational system. We are now raising our little one in America, because we preferred the early education system here.
Now we find ourselves trying to find a nearby Japanese preschool for our little one to attend. I suppose this would defeat the whole purpose of bringing her to the states, but we really want her to be bilingual.
In the end, if you have a bicultural family, growing up in both cultures is the best, really. We are trying to find a way to move back and forth for her own benefit, realizing that not one was better than the other. Just different. But if she has a clear view of both worlds, she can decide for herself which one is best for her when she becomes an adult and chooses her nationality.
I used to debate like most of you guys on here, but then I realized I was just nitpicking on the small stuff. Some of you guys need to calm down, seriously.
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