thepersoniamnow's past comments

  • 2

    thepersoniamnow

    The Japanese language and culture is regulated by the Shi-Kata system. There is Shi-Kata for everything. How to behave, how to speak, how to move, and how to live. When you deal with someone (foreigner) who does not adhere, understand, or perhaps has not even heard of this aspect of Japanese culture, it makes your average person very nervous here. Probably mostly because if you in a system where there is something for everything, the only times when a Japanese does not know what to do or say, is often a uncomfortable time.

    Many people who come to Japan often feel the Japanese are very robotic. This is probably because they do not understand how the Shi-Kata system works. However if your brain and life is wrapped around a pre-wrapped system, interaction with a culture that values individualism, ideals, and independent thinking (just for starters) makes for a unusual interaction.

    I think that negativity that is drawn from these interactions (racism, stupid questions) is often due to how differently each party thinks and feels, more than hostility and deliberately trying to offend.

    -Japanese citizen who grew up abroad and is trying to make sense of his country.

    Posted in: Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?

  • -2

    thepersoniamnow

    @ Japan Cynic Wondering how many times there have been 30,000 signature petitions for harsher sentences when a Japanese kills a foreigner. I'm guessing it has never happened in the history of Japan.

    Would you get 30,000 signatures for a Japanese n America or wherever you are from? Don't make it racial when it isn't.

    This is realism (the country you are in) and simple mathematics. Respect the laws of the country you live in. You are a guest and a foreigner.

    Posted in: Parents of hit-and-run victim present petition demanding stiffer penalty for defendant

  • 0

    thepersoniamnow

    Apple is indirectly linked to the loss in revenue from many other electronics firms. The Iphone killed the Blackberry. When everyone has apple stuff it means you didnt buy a sony in many cases.

    Posted in: Sony is forecasting a 220 billion yen loss for fiscal 2011, its 4th straight year of red ink despite massive cost cuts and restructuring efforts in recent years. What do you think are the main reasons for Sony's decline?

  • 4

    thepersoniamnow

    The PROBLEM with Japan (and I am a Japanese citizen who has spent the majority of his life abroad) from my point of view is obviously more than simple apathy. But as far as apathy goes, Japan seems to be a country where it is deeply rooted in the culture to be many things that in one way or another makes them a non protesting country. Shi-Kata rules their interactions with each other and thus their minds in general. Often someone who speaks their mind, even in a very casual setting, is looked on in bewilderment. If you have a mouth to protest, you surely have a protesting mind, and this is not the case. Complaining and truly seeing the situation for what it is are not the same, and I agree with the author here.

    Look at how Japanese companies who EXTORT salaries from their workers because they are in the red. I personally know Tokyu Inn and Joshin Electronics employees who tell me they are told to buy 100,000 yen worth of electronics or buy up empty rooms in order for their managers to save face. This is professional blackmail plain and simple.

    I use this as an example to demonstrate how tightly wrapped the government has the people wound around their fingers.

    They do not fear the population, and why should they?

    The worst that can happen is a bow or two here and life goes on. When will the Japanese have had enough?

    Posted in: Breaking the monotony of life and the spectator mentality

  • -5

    thepersoniamnow

    Not that I watch it, but if I do catch them on TV, they seem to be sexualized little lolitas...and thats all harmless fun. If its more to you, then you're the issue not them.

    Posted in: Do you think all-girl groups like AKB48 are being marketed as sexualized little Lolitas or is it just harmless fun?

  • 1

    thepersoniamnow

    @Americanforeigner Re-read what you actually wrote. War Zone? Chaos and Anarchy? If Osaka is like that then Any American city would then be rated as a Nuclear Zombie Land. This is a drunk fool on a train breaking the law. That being said, this story is hilarious! What is not funny at all is the police breaking the laws they are supposedly supposed to enforce. Their punishments are also too light. Any cop who does anything like that (knowingly breaks the law and even lies about it) should lose his job and then punishment should be thought out for him.
    He could have completely altered the ongoing investigation in which he was involved, possibly harming the citizens involved.

    Permanently fired and some jail time sounds better.

    Posted in: Osaka assistant police inspector accused of falsifying evidence

  • 1

    thepersoniamnow

    I don't know my blood type and don't intend on needlessly delving into it. BooYAH!

    Posted in: The importance of blood type in Japanese culture

  • 0

    thepersoniamnow

    As "right" as it may be...it will NEVER be an issue between two huge rich governments that are pretty much set on world domination. I would simply hope for the best.

    Posted in: Child abduction issue should be key concern in Japan-U.S. relations

  • -5

    thepersoniamnow

    "The main gripe is that the servings are too small".... With the physical state many of these gripers are in, wouldn't this actually be educational and a favor to their arteries? A serving and a portion are actually real sizes. Look at a recipe.

    Posted in: Six things that foreigners feel are overpriced in Japan

  • 1

    thepersoniamnow

    Actually give power to the people like democracy claims it does...instead of power mongering power brokers.

    Posted in: What can be done to ease tensions between Iran and Western nations?

  • 13

    thepersoniamnow

    You cannot break and enter regardless of motive or good intentions. But something tells me that they knew well the consequences of their actions. I am almost inclined to believe that they wanted to get caught. If their intention was to draw attention to their cause with their detention, but without any violence or negative publicity...well they got it. Now prepare to sit in a jail cell for a bit.

    Posted in: 3 Sea Shepherd activists detained aboard Japanese whaling vessel

  • 3

    thepersoniamnow

    gaijininfo

    Usually after a legal dispute, if one party admits to wrongdoing, they typically work out some kind of settlement. Often it comes with the offer to consider the case closed and not pursue the matter any more. In any case, the fine is quite disproportionate to the "crime". Quite unjust

    Posted in: Elderly couple fined Y300,000 for disposing of cans in freeway service area restrooms

  • 3

    thepersoniamnow

    While not at all condoning violence and certainly not this horrible incident, people in Japan often deem themselves capable of correcting and admonishing others with an extremely entitled attitude. If I went around getting into other peoples business no doubt the ratio of altercations I would be involved in would also go up. These old geezers are often drunk and looking for trouble, and because Japan is historically safe and respectful of the elderly, they have not developed that sort of street sense that would remind you that you are insulting others.

    Posted in: Man arrested over death of elderly man who rebuked him for ignoring red light

  • 0

    thepersoniamnow

    Simply the depth in which this is being discussed shows how deeply into Japan and how much of us it has become :)

    Posted in: Rules considered to cope with increase in Imperial Palace joggers

  • -1

    thepersoniamnow

    Serial Killers Spree Killers Psychopaths

    I find it a little ridiculous to not immediately consider whether or not a child who has a knife collection and goes about looking for blood is not a potential killer. Even if you don't want to admit it, it seems quite apparant that killer make up a certain percentage of humans altogether. They have no remorse because there is nothing to be sorry about in their minds -They are in fact, human predators. These killers are in ever society, all over the world. You'd think that by now the judicial system would realise that a potential serial killer will kill again, so its always incredible to me when they are released. The sooner humans learn to judge people scientifically and not based on old ways of thinking will we do the right thing in these cases.

    Posted in: When kids become murderous

  • 1

    thepersoniamnow

    I somewhat disagree because of the following;

    The Japanese are Japanese because of their culture. You cannot be a half or even a Japanese who has lived abroad mostly and expect to be in their society. Contrasting to other countries where if you stay long enough and learn the language you will gradually feel yourself becoming more as one with the people and the culture, here you will make friends and even live very well and be happy, but you still feel like the odd one out. However usually that makes you somewhat "unique" or "interesting" and thus foreigners don't feel the racism as you may elsewhere if you were such an outsider.

    Because of the Shi Kata system which governs all aspects of Japanese social life (there is even a shi kata for dealing with the gaijin) you cannot play by their rules and expect to win. Sitting around playing by their rules may just make you even more odd and a stand out. Imagine a total Japanese trying to act American and copying your culture, language, and body language when they are resolving an issue with you.

    I believe the foreigners strength is that they DO NOT NEED to use the Japanese Shi Kata system. You do not have to adhere to people around you if you have a place of power that is your own. And in many cases the foreigner in a Japanese company has just that. You can deal with people who would be too far your superior to even address in that manner to the general office public. You can disagree when you are not actually in a place of power to do so.

    You can get your way -Know of many locals who do that?

    Posted in: How to win an argument – Japanese style

  • 4

    thepersoniamnow

    Fact of the matter is that no matter how sensitive or classless a taunt may be, this is pro sport and it will happen. The sport tries to intervene only when it becomes socially unacceptable for television, such as racist chants targeting certain players. I am myself Japanese and would find a chant or heckling anyone's actual disaster shameful. However you DO HAVE TO NOT let others get under your skin. If someone wants to taunt you, or even fight you on the street, the person will probably resort to verbal tactics to try to convince you that they have crossed a line that must be met with some REACTION to their inappropriate action. A goalkeeper need not react at all. A goalkeeper will be peppered with abuse his whole career. I think hes a great goalkeeper and I hope he figures out how not to let a fool affect him.

    "The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but Kawashima, 28, left the pitch at full-time in tears, and spoke of his anger at the chants."

    What I wanna hear next time is that he put up two middle fingers to his taunters and then directed his anger into a cool resolution and finish that game 1-0. THEN he can will have the last laugh as he walks off the pitch.

    Posted in: Belgian soccer match halted after Fukushima taunts

  • 0

    thepersoniamnow

    Here is the company that makes this product, and thus the facts, stats and figures.

    http://www.goneongreen.com/

    Posted in: Solar backpack

  • 0

    thepersoniamnow

    @yongyang "Those that post here praising TEPCO and its response are obviously not young with young families. Nor do they fully grasp the situation."

    --Is not that in itself an inaccurate and ridiculous statement?

    Article Unavailable

  • 0

    thepersoniamnow

    Ebisen...

    For someone allegedly against the death penalty, you sure seem to want to kill this guy. You gotta take a stand either way. The death penalty is for the worst offenders and the most atrocious crimes in human society.

    Posted in: Mladic hauled into courtroom after 16-year hunt

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