JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- 秘書及び業務サポート
- 加治金属工業株式会社, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥4.0M / Year
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- English Instructor (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
- Berlitz Japan, Inc. (ベルリッツ・ジャパン株式会社), Kansai
- Salary: ¥125,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month
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- ALT - Mie Prefecture - Yokkaichi City - June start
- NPO法人グローバル教育推進機構（GLAD), Mie
- Salary: ¥230,000 / Month For a full working month. Some months differ.
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philinjapan
Well, if guns are not the problem, then it must be mean that family values in America is crumbling and that there are way too many loonies running around in America. I for one would hate to think the latter. People often say "if only everyone was armed with a gun". I say, "If only everyone DID NOT have a gun".
Posted in: One dead, 4 wounded in Ohio school shooting
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philinjapan
I totally agree with all the posts above that have said that the Japanese should not change one bit to the demands of foreigners who want to impose their own cultures from their home country. After all, you wouldn't want some foreigner coming into your own country and demanding you to bend to their ways.
Posted in: Planning to move to Japan? Change your Westernized mentality
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philinjapan
While I know there are some people who come to Japan either fully willing to do everything possible to adapt to living in Japan, and those who are on the opposite side of the spectrum who absolutely refuse to adapt at all, I feel that most people fall somewhere in the middle. I think most people are willing to do a bit (e.g. learn the language) to adapt, while still keeping their own customs from their home country. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. There's always a nice balance that can be reached. I often see instances in Japan where foreigners are shown sharing their customs of food, dress, and celebrations with local Japanese, and Japanese doing the same back. It never hurts for both sides to experience each others' cultures. What I really hate though, is those (and I know there are some out there), who feel the need to complain about every little thing they find different about Japanese society (or whichever foreign country's society they are living in), and make it their mission to change it (and often voice to the natives that their way is always the wrong way).
Posted in: Planning to move to Japan? Change your Westernized mentality
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philinjapan
I feel this article speaks of people moving to any foreign country in the world, and not just Japan. Wherever you go and decide to live in, you need to do a bit of fitting in; it's a fact of life. While it doesn't mean that you totally change your character, it does require you to abide by the rules of the place you go, and show enough understanding that you shouldn't go and try to impose your ways onto that society. You want to go to America, Canada, or Britain; learn English or risk not receiving warm welcomes.
Posted in: Planning to move to Japan? Change your Westernized mentality
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philinjapan
tmarie: It is not solely a "Japan" thing, or an "American" thing. Irresponsible parents exist throughout the world. I've heard of and seen enough to understand that being irresponsible and negligent has everything to do with each parent themselves and thus have no one to blame but themselves. I've also met enough responsible, caring, and loving Japanese parents to know that it is not the norm.
Posted in: Two sisters, aged 5 and 3, perish in Tokyo fire
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philinjapan
The blame for this lies solely on the parents themselves. There should be no scapegoats here. No job is worth working long hours if it takes you away from raising your kids properly. As for me, my job is one in which I chose, and in which I am able to come home by a respectable time (6:00pm). My wife and I made it a point to make time so that there would always be at least one of us with our child when he was younger, whether it be through taking a few years off, as my wife did, until she could slowly re-enter the workforce, I watching him on weekends and my days off, while my wife went to work, or me taking extra days off when he was sick, etc. Yes, raising a child (or children) is tough, but their safety and well-being should be the top priority over anything in this world. Any "sacrifice" to me is worth it, if your child is safe and happy.
Posted in: Two sisters, aged 5 and 3, perish in Tokyo fire
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philinjapan
The differences between the U.S. and Japan in health is not necessarily solely in the food itself, but the lifestyles. In Japan, people walk or ride bicycles everywhere. I even see the obaachan and ojiichan walking on the sidewalks. Business people walking to the train stations, between junctions, etc. In the U.S. people drive everywhere. People are so lazy that they even drive their cars a few blocks away (what could simply take them a mere 5-10 minutes by bicycle) to pick up a simple McDonald's lunch. You even see many overweight people who are constantly riding those four-wheeled buggies (meant for handicapped people or old people) on sidewalks and streets absolutely everywhere in the U.S.
Posted in: After diabetes diagnosis, U.S. celebrity chef feels heat
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philinjapan
Yup. Too bad they don't have the typical Grand Slam breakfast, cheese fries, fried buffalo wings, fried chicken strips, fried mozzarella sticks, fried onion rings, country fried steak, and Golden fried shrimp. I even remembered once they had grits in one Denny's I've been too. All I get at Denny's in Japan is hot soba, pasta dishes, spinach salads, tofu served with grated ginger and bonito flakes, hamburger steak dishes, grilled salmon dishes with side orders of miso soup, etc.
Posted in: Former gang member shot dead in Denny's restaurant in Chiba
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philinjapan
Well then, that is your problem then. Watching only part of a competition leaves open the door to biases and half-truths. Watch the whole thing and then draw a conclusion. It's like deciding that someone is guilty of a crime from only listening to half of a testimony.
Posted in: Asada leads at Four Continents figure skating
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philinjapan
Well, if you call when commentators like Yaginuma Junko were saying "that was a beautiful triple-triple combination by Wagner", and "great triple-triple-double by Murakami" as "disrespect", then I guess you could be right. I often heard them say "subarashii" when commenting on skaters like Murakami and Wagner; and not only Mao. Also, when commentators were saying that Patrick Chan was simply wonderful and flawless, then I wouldn't call that "disrespect", but if you think so, then that's your opinion.
Posted in: Asada leads at Four Continents figure skating
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philinjapan
Doesn't seem as grotesque as a typical South Park episode, or what was routinely shown on Beavis and Butthead.
Posted in: 'Gurokawa' (grotesquely cute) fashion styles
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philinjapan
Like in any country I've been to, I've had good service and "まあ まあ" decent service. Luckily, the worst situation, in Japan and abroad has been late service of food. Other than that, whichever restaurant I go to whether it be Denny's, Jonathan's, or a higher end type like Ginza Zetton, I've always had my orders correct. They even promptly fill my coffee refills at Denny's everytime, and make sure I have enough water, etc at other places. I've had a few instances when either my or my friend's utensil was dropped and the waiter kindly brought a new one with no hesitation at all. At least in Japan I never get the attitude like "Yeah, what'll ya want" with a disdainful sneer as if that waiter or cashier really doesn't want to be there making the crap pay they're making.
Posted in: What do you think of the quality of waiters in Japanese restaurants?
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philinjapan
I think Madonna looks stunning for her age. There aren't many 50+ year old women I know who can dance and perform in a three-hour live concert non-stop like she did in her 85 concert, world Sticky and Sweet tour a couple of years ago. She keeps herself lean and yet has so much energy to do what she does on a daily basis. Much better than a lot of fat lazy slobs. She of course takes real good care of her body through a macrobiotic diet and lots of exercise.
Posted in: Madonna's guarantee: no half-time wardrobe malfunction at Super Bowl
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philinjapan
NetNinja: Then I guess Japanese children were taught that all people are built the same and should be treated equally, by your logic; which doesn't sound so bad to me. In any case, as I've mentioned before, people look at other people all the time, for varying reasons. What constitutes a stare, a glance, and a look lies in a gray subjective area. Time and again, in many parts of the world, I've seen people stare at each other, and not always based solely on difference in looks or race. As I've posted before, I've seen Japanese people stare at each other a lot (whether it be because of smell, rude behavior like listening to music loudly, scantily clad women, etc.). I also have stared at others when it was someone who looked familiar but I couldn't quite place their name. It often turned out to be a former student I haven't seen for a long time, who was also staring back at me wondering the same thing. Frankly, I'd rather put up with a few stares, than racial slurs, physical beatings, and Rodney King type of police brutality.
Posted in: How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan
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philinjapan
Kimchi nabe is the best. Chinese cabbage, enoki mushrooms, leeks, tofu, and seafood is wonderful in a kimchi nabe. The place gets smelly the next morning, but nothing a bit of "Fabreeze" can't take away. As for oden, I can't stand the konnyaku, but love the boiled egg, hanpen, and daikon; among others. Nabe and oden warms the tummy in winter and is so easy to prepare.
Posted in: Oden, mixed stew, sukiyaki most favored 'nabe' dishes in winter
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philinjapan
Well, actually I've noticed that Japanese people DO stare at other Japanese people on the train; especially if they are smelly homeless men, high school girls with short skirts, women who put make-up on the train, and people talking on their cellphones or listening to their music players too loudly. Young girls will often even say "kimoi" as they stare at a dirty looking, nerdy man; some who picks their nose and flicks their boogers. As for me, I have been stared at a few times (from old people) when riding the two-car trains in the inakas, but almost never in Tokyo. (Then again, I've noticed old people stare at just about anyone with eyes fixed in a dumb, mindless kind of gaze.) Now, the Metro back in the States is one place you better hope you don't get stared at (and followed), or risk finding yourself in some deep trouble.
Posted in: How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan
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philinjapan
As for my parents, they were very supportive of me marrying my Japanese wife. All they really cared about was that she had a good personality and truly loved me and could see that I felt the same way. Twelve blissful years later, nothing's changed about those feelings. I did have one crazy uncle though, who continued to warn me about marrying a Japanese girl, and kept saying that they are all gold diggers. Don't know where he got that idea from since he's never had a Japanese wife, nor has he ever been to Japan.
As for my in-laws, although they can't speak a lick of English, they have been very accepting of our marriage (they even paid for most of it). My wife even says that her mother treats me better than her. My mother-in-law constantly worries if I'm working too hard, gives us tons of food, etc. I love drinking with my father-in-law, and since we both love sports, we have loads to talk about.
Posted in: How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan
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philinjapan
Netninja: I know of no culture that does not try to impose a part of its culture on another in some form or fashion. Yes, the Japanese media likes to do it from time to time, but you'd be blind not to see that big boss America does it as well. To say that Japan does it, while America doesn't makes no sense at all. I'd be a rich man if I had a dollar for every instance where a fellow American tried to push their culture onto someone else. I even feel embarrassed at some who constantly make it a point to remind anyone and everyone (whether it be Japanese or other foreigners) that America is number one in sports, military strength, prestigious colleges, etc. etc. It even galls me that they seem to belittle and look down on other countries who can't be like America.
Posted in: How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan
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philinjapan
tmarie: Sadly, that is what happens in the world. I've met fellow expats who have had to "re-educate" their own parents who after much arguing grudgingly let their "child" go off to a foreign country like Japan, and then had to argue with him again about marrying a "foreign Japanese woman". It would take them several years for the parents to warm up to and come to begrudgingly accept that union. Turns out that seeing their "halfu" grandchild ends up easing those harsh feelings of hate.
Bottom line is, that since living in Japan and other parts of the world, I've noticed it quite strange when I go back home and talk to people who have never been abroad at all. I guess to me, the biggest change about living in a foreign country is that the gap between my way of thinking and the insular views of those back home who have never "seen the world" just grows bigger and bigger."
Posted in: How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan
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philinjapan
What amazes me is how some people traveling to a foreign country expect that country to bend or conform to THEIR customs. While it's great to keep a bit of your own identity, it is extremely bad to disregard any and all rules and customs of the country you choose to live in. I've always found out that if you give a little, you'll get a little. There will always be a struggle with understanding and difficulties dealing with another culture. However, if you don't make an effort and go through some of that pain, sweat, and tears, you'll never get anywhere.
I too was plunked in the middle of an inaka and forced to bear a few odd stares of the locals and cultural misunderstandings. Yet, I made the effort to learn the customs and language. Little by little, the locals understood me and could see me making the effort and thus really warmed up to me, and I to them. Even some of the hard-assed oyaji (who I've become drinking buddies with) I ended up finding out to be decent guys who are actually a bit ornery to everyone; and not just strange looking foreigners. I ended up finding out that deep down, Japan isn't quite that much different from other parts of the world. Sure it has some problems, but so does every country in the world. But like other places in the world, there are things that are good and beautiful about it. Constantly harping on only the negatives, while fantasizing about only the positives about your home country, will only give you ulcers and make you an ornery bastard.
Posted in: How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan