|
|
|
The Myths Of Japan
ou know how you always American goods.
hear so much about Japan,
there are countless reasons Prices are just as expensive if
why people want to, or suggest not more-so and the language
you visit Japan though much of it barrier (if you can't read Kanji)
is in fact either untrue or very makes many items that would be
vague in its reality. fantastic to own much less
useful.
I'm here to clarify what Japan is
really about and why or why not JAPANESE WOMEN.
you shouldn't visit. As well I'll
touch on some little known and This is a topic that contains
interesting facts about Japan. much controversy and differing
opinions.
First off whenever I heard about
Japan in North America people The main stereotype would be that
would associate this country with they are very interested in
cheap electronics. Everything is foreign men and that it is easy
made here so it's cheaper. for foreign men to date Japanese
women.
Wrong, very little is actually
made in Japan and the items that From my experience here I would
are (Camera Lenses for example) say that is true but
retail for very large sums of situationally different. Like
money. Many items are in fact anywhere there will be a certain
designed here and the companies amount of people that fulfill any
themselves are situated in Japan stereotype, otherwise said
but most of the actual stereotype would not have a basis
construction is outsourced to to begin with. I think the
China and Taiwan much like North trouble with this stereotype
regarding Japanese women is that. they will not openly discuss it.
I tend to agree that it is a very
negative way to look at a
A: Japan has a very large, dense countries female population but
population so with so many people unfortunately don't make the
packed into such a small area it stereotypes, I just comment on
is easier to find the them.
stereotypical examples.
STEREOTYPE: Japanese schools are
B: there are places known as very disciplined and strict
"Gaijin bars" (Foreign people
bars) where Japanese women go to False. Absolutely totally
specifically meet foreign guys. unfounded and false. Perhaps
years ago the school system was
So yes overall it is easy to date in fact strict and disciplined
a Japanese woman if you are with corporal punishment and
foreign (especially a visible rules in place but by today's
minority) but at the same time standard it is a mad house.
not all Japanese women are
interested in foreign men, quite I grew up in Canada where I
the contrary many Japanese women attended school from Kindergarten
are either scared of Gaijin or to University and I while there
avoid them if possible. wasn't always a harsh discipline
system in place, kids generally
Also I find that if I bring up didn't act up or get in trouble
the topic of how easy it is for all that often. I mean it
foreigners to date Japanese women happened but it was quickly
with Japanese people they resent brought under control and the
it and think that it is a very class was resumed.
negative element of Japan and
Lets say the teacher is talking Now these kinds of kids exist in
and explaining an assignment that Canada and America but they
all the students are expected to aren't the responsibility of
do. Now in Canada the class would teachers, they would be put in a
stop even their slight separate class for kids with
whisperings and pay attention emotional or social problems
because they recognize this part until they learn to co-exist with
of the class to be important and the rest of the population. Even
they need this information. In students who have mental
Japan at this point I'd say there disabilities are right there
are an average of 3 or 4 students alongside the rest of the class,
sleeping and probably 2 - 5 I'm standing up in front of
students speaking loudly. everyone trying to teach English
and while I know half the class
What does the teacher do? if bored and sleeping because
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. If they know all of this already, I
it gets completely out of control know the other half is completely
to the point where in Canada the oblivious to what I'm saying and
entire class would face a is either talking to their
detention then the teacher will friends or just off in a world of
tell everyone to be quiet, which their own.
only occasionally works and for a
very brief period if at all. I've It's a problem that is
seen students go so far as the acknowledged by Japanese and
punch a male teacher in the Foreigners alike but yet none of
nuts... yup right in the beanbag, these issues seem to be
what did the teacher do? He made addressed. It's a strange state
a noise as if in pain and slapped of affairs.
the kid in the back of the head.
I'm not saying that the class
doesn't ever pay attention or
that they aren't smart and don't To a point I would agree, there
learn its just that there is no are bright flashing lights every
disciplinary system so when some two inches and the gadgets you
student decides he doesn't want can get and the toys they offer
to learn, the entire class is are at times far beyond the
then forced to halt or degrade as current norm in other countries.
a result. The problem is this general
acceptance of cool gadgets
Maybe if I could speak more doesn't translate over to the
Japanese this would make more realm of computers. From my
sense, but somehow I doubt it. experience while the average
Japanese person can easily manage
FACT: almost every Japanese everyday tasks on a computer, the
student goes to school after mentality that they are "uber"
school. This is called Juku, and computer users seems exaggerated.
it is basically a cram school I would say the average North
where they probably learn 85% of American would be much more
what they know, I'm sure there is proficient on a computer than a
a rigid disciplinary system in similar Japanese citizen, the
place and I'm sure its horribly cause being the delay in
boring and dry but it is computing being able to handle
necessary because the classes the Japanese language. Computers
they take during the regular powerful enough to integrate
course of the day are wasted from Kanji (an alphabet of 5000+
lack of discipline. characters) were established long
after computers had flooded homes
STEREOTYPE: Japan is a very tech throughout North America. I'm
based society where everything is pretty sure my old 486sx with its
crazy and new. 4 Megs of ram would not have been
able to handle the complexities proof look at Japanese citizens
of Kanji and the Japanese aged 60 - 70 and older, for some
language. reason it is perfectly normal and
acceptable to, at this age, Dye
So while the cool gadgets and your hair PURPLE. I don't know...
toys run amok in the streets of I suppose they are rebelling in
Japan I would say that the their eternal wisdom that comes
average user is less with age, speaking out against
knowledgeable than a North the injustice of having spent all
American consumer. We've just had those years in the same
more exposure to computing though repetitive clothing. Or perhaps
Japan will certainly catch up in they just all like the colour
a few years. purple. It's basically straight
out of a wrinkly, slow,
FACT: Almost every school in humpbacked anime. Next thing you
Japan has some sort of Uniform or know they'll all have purple
strict dress code. As a result contact lenses too...
once students are out of the
bounds of school fashion takes a STEREOTYPE: Japan is safe! No
turn for umm well it gets a crime or vandalism.
little crazy. Go to a Japanese
university and its like a fashion I would primarily agree, for the
war zone, everyone has competing most part this country is very
and conflicting styles, I think safe. Unfortunately with the
that's why places like Harajuku population as high as it is there
are renowned for their unique are bound to be some bad apples,
take of fashion, being restricted and with so little happening
to a skirt and jacket for the crime-wise, when something does
better part of 20 years can do happen it is showcased and spread
something to you. For further like mad.
to be questioned and my white
I've had one occurrence with a neighbor has been stopped twice
strange man coming to my to verify that his bike was not
apartment building and harassing stolen.
the female foreigners that live
there, I've heard of several That's all for this segment of
bikes stolen that were located Japanese Stereotypes.
the next day sometimes with an
apology note and I know that Check back for some more
everyone, myself included sleeps interesting facts and looks at
on all forms of public the differing elements of
transportation. Japanese society in comparison to
North America.
So overall it is a very safe
place to live, though as a Please feel free to leave
foreigner you will be a target comments or e-mail me with any
for police and just general suggestions or questions.
criminal categorization. I have (brad.crawford@gmail.com)
been stopped by the police once
About the Author:
Brad Crawford is currently a teacher in Osaka Japan, born and raised in Canada a retelling of his experiences in Japan can be found at: http://terminal-philosophy.com
Source: www.isnare.com
|
|
