10 Reasons Japan Is Better Than America
May 22nd, 2008
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After being devastated by World War II, Japan bounced back to become the world’s second largest economic power in just a few decades. Meanwhile, the U.S. went from being on top of the world to being the country everyone loves to hate. Is it possible that Japan, a country whose greatest strength was once its expertise in making miniature American flags, is now a country Americans should look up to?
I went to Japan recently to see what’s so great about it, and it does indeed have some good things going on. Without further ado, here are 10 reasons Japan is better than America.
1. The world is their buffet.
Japan is one of the most isolated countries in the world. They generally don’t care about anything that happens outside their borders. And yet, when they find that someone has something they like, they’re perfectly happy to make it their own.
They needed a language, so they borrowed Chinese, and later some words from European languages. Shinto is their native religion, but they had no problem adopting Buddhism on top of that. And Christmas seemed pretty cool too, so why not be Christian as well? They love their ancient castles, but they’re even better when you add a McDonald’s and a Starbucks nearby. Walking down the street, you might see an old woman in a traditional kimono next to a 20-something in a T-shirt that says “F*ck that.”
It doesn’t matter if different things conflict. Once they become Japanese, there is no conflict. Japan is the Borg. You will be assimilated.
2. No shaking hands.
I’m guessing the reason for not shaking hands is simply because bowing makes it unnecessary, but a pleasant side effect is that they never have to shake with someone who doesn’t wash their hands.
3. Hikonyan the samurai cat.
Hikonyan was a cat who saved a feudal lord from being struck by lightning over 400 years ago. In return for his heroism, they made him a samurai, built him a castle, gave him his own theme song and merchandise line, and dubbed him Hikonyan (which comes from Hikone, the name of the city, plus nyan, the sound a cat makes in Japanese). While he was created in 2003, they have whitewashed history to have him saving a feudal lord in 1603.
As well as still being alive well past the age of 400, he is approximately as popular now as Elvis was in the late 50s. He can’t go anywhere without being followed by legions of fans of all ages. Grown adults go nuts when he waves at them.
By the way, these fans are very well behaved. You can see in the first pic that everyone is standing where they were told to, in a wide semicircle around him. In the second pic, it’s time for him to say bye-bye, and the kids aren’t tackling him.
4. Taking your shoes off indoors.
Instead of dragging your muddy clodhoppers across the floor like a caveman, you’re invited to do the sensible thing. Kick off your shoes and relax. The floor stays clean, and sometimes they even give you slippers to wear.
5. No tax, no tips, no pennies, no nickels, no quarters.
Front and back of the only four coins the Japanese people need: ¥10 ($0.10 U.S.), ¥50 ($0.50 U.S.), ¥100 ($1 U.S.), and ¥500 ($5 U.S.). Photos by Misogi.
Taxes are always included and there’s no tipping, so the price is what it is. In spite of not using paper money until they get up to Â¥1,000 ($10 U.S.), you never have to carry around a bunch of change. That’s because they’ve gotten rid of the useless coins. Pennies (Â¥1) and nickels (Â¥5) do exist, but prices are almost always a multiple of ten cents (Â¥10), so they don’t need them. 50 cent pieces (Â¥50) make up for the absence of quarters. I’m sure they would laugh at the idea of Coinstar, because their coins are actually useful.
6. The food.
Photo by jslander
It’s hard to judge American food as a whole because there’s such a huge variety, but in Japan I found that the food was almost always terrific. Sushi, chicken, beef, noodles, it’s all good. Even things that don’t seem like they’d be anything special turn out to have some combination of spices that brings your palette to life. In spite of this, they don’t have a national obesity epidemic.
When I came back to the U.S. I went to a local Japanese restaurant and had some sushi (fish on top of vinegared rice) and sashimi (just the fish). It was twice as expensive, and not half as good.
7. They’re obsessed with perfection.
The Japanese are guided by the principle of kaizen, a philosophy of continuous improvement in all aspects of life. It’s how Toyota took over the automobile industry. Every person from the CEO on down has the responsibility of improving the way they do things. They perform experiments, observe the results, and make adjustments as needed, always inching closer and closer to perfection.
Americans ask “why fix it if it ain’t broken.” They think if something’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for anyone. They think “your” and “you’re” are interchangeable, and any trivial difference is best left for Oxford academics to debate.
8. The girls.
Photo by tata_aka_T
I don’t know if this is a national law or something, but at least in Kyoto and Tokyo, you can go to any random location at any time of day, and at least half the girls there will look like supermodels. And they’re very likely to be wearing leather boots and a miniskirt…even in the snow.
9. Public transportation.
Photo by Wikipedia
Thanks to a wonderful public transportation system, many people in the cities don’t feel the need for a car. Buses run frequently between all the locations I wanted to visit in Kyoto, and for traveling greater distances, they have ultramodern trains that go as fast as 186 mph in service.
Public transportation is cheaper, safer, and better for the environment. If you’re like most Americans, the last bus you rode was a big yellow one.
10. They’re totally into technology.
Photo by angela n.
For many Japanese people, their gadgets are an extension of their body. I don’t think I was ever more than 50 feet away from a Nintendo DS. Once when I was sitting on a bus, I noticed that all four people across from me were texting on their cell phones. One of them was an old lady, and another one was texting on two phones at the same time.
Here in the good ol’ U.S.A., it wasn’t that long ago that I had to give someone personalized coaching on how to insert a floppy disk.
American car companies are proud to have some models that get more than 20 miles per gallon. The Japanese have recently built a robot that can play the trumpet. Who do you think is more likely to enslave mankind?
Japan has its strengths, but it certainly has its weaknesses too. We’ll look at the flip side of the coin next time, and see why America is better than Japan.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I REALLY like the no shaking hand thing. I cringe whenever I have to shake a lot of hands in work functions. Can’t we just smile politely and exchange business cards? Do we really NEED to exchange germs in addition to cards?
Japan is on my list of places to visit before I die.
Vered’s last blog post..It’s Never Too Early For Sugary Drinks (Wordless Wednesday)
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:06 am
Yeah, true about being totally into technology, but sometimes it’s too much.. I mean, what about the intelligent electronic toilets with background music and stuff like that (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilets_in_Japan).. it’s kinda weird (especially getting used to it..
)
Ruben – ReallyJapan’s last blog post..Holy Heart Kiyomizu-dera
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:18 am
People have always asked me why I chose Japan over the US as my preferred place to work, and I couldn’t quite express why. Your list is by far the closest to how I feel about it (thanks!) I will be looking forward to the next part of this article – why America is better than Japan – that should be interesting
Marco from Sapporo, Hokkaido
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:23 am
haha that was a fun read.
Ruben said there are singing electronic toilets?! eek..
I’m into tech stuff but that.. that would take some time
and I didn’t know that about the money.. cool
I’d love to go there one day
JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, You.’s last blog post..How to Work Amongst Difficult People
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:48 am
I like the not-shaking-hands thing as well. Japan’s an odd country, because it has been so culturally isolated for most of its history. I’m not a huge fan – it’s not one of the countries I’ve been particularly interested in learning more about – but at the same time there is a lot in the Japanese lifestyle and culture that’s admirable. Kaizen’s a concept that seems antithetical to the individualism we think we hold so dear in America, I think. It’s actually on my to-do list to read about!
What we need is something like March Madness for countries: South Africa vs. Japan! America vs. Portugal! Iceland vs. Ireland! Heh.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
I’m a fan of an isolated, perfectionist country. Also of sushi and hot people. You’re a dude, so you didn’t mention the guys, but they’re pretty hot and well-dressed too.
Tei – Rogue Ink’s last blog post..War on English: Bad Copywriters
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:35 am
Hi Hunter,
Glad you like my original country. After 13 years in the US, I still carry the habit of taking off shoes at the door. It keeps the house clean. I remember how shocked I was when I saw my college friends wearing shoes and sitting on her bed. . .
Foods are good there too. Wonder why you didn’t mention the bath. The big deep soaking bath! Next time, try visiting a hot spring.
The girls? They are obsessed to look like each other. Visit there another year, and you will see a whole different look on all the girls.
About the toilet — yep, there is. It keeps the seat heated, wash your butts, and plays music so that others won’t hear that noise. I agree — too much.
#1 is well said. That is probably the best strength of the country.
Akemi – Yes to Me’s last blog post..The Best Birthday Present I Got For Myself
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I think bowing is such a beautiful gesture.
Hayden Tompkins’s last blog post..Porn – Don’t Go There
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Great list. Wish we could get on that Public transportation bandwagon.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Sweet Spots and Vibrations
May 24th, 2008 at 2:34 am
Hi Hunter,
I was hoping you would write about your trip to Japan.
I worked for a Japanese company for six years. It was the best six years of my career. I learned so much from them. Those that I worked with were very honorable and respectful. I, too, learned to love the food, and the simplicity of it’s presentation.
Re: the bow. I was told that if you watch two Japanese bowing to each other, the one of lower status, bows lower. I saw this in action, and it was quite interesting to watch.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..No Comment
May 24th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Although I love Japanese food and have some Japanese friends, I’ve never been to Japan myself. Thanks for putting up the photos. I hope to visit it sometime soon!
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map’s last blog post..How To Be IRON WOMAN
May 24th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Wonderful post. I’m an Indian and I can tell that there are some traditions similar in eastern culture. For example, #2 and #4 both apply to Indian culture as well. I’m fond of Japanese for their ingenuity and technological savvy. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Shilpan
Shilpan | successsoul.com’s last blog post..How to Work Less for a Happy, Balanced Life
May 24th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Asians are taking over the world. When we have an Asian pop-star on the top of the charts, they’ll have officially owned it.
May 25th, 2008 at 11:43 am
This is a very interesting post, but I have to debate with the idea that Japan is better than America. I don’t like crowded places…you can pick up a lot of germs and diseases and Japan is so overly crowded. In addition, I prefer the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. I wouldn’t say our government is up to par now, but I still would much rather visit Japan than live there. This was a funny post!
May 25th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
@ Vered, I’m the same way. Supposedly shaking hands is to show that you’re not holding a weapon, so can’t we just go through a metal detector?
@ Ruben, I never saw any musical toilets! Maybe I just never pushed that button. The toilets can definitely freak out a first time user, no question about that.
@ Marco, thanks, I’m glad a fan of Japan liked this post. I think the U.S. has many advantages though, so I hope my next post doesn’t anger you!
@ JEMi, I didn’t see any musical toilets, but if you encounter one, I’m sure you can install a plugin that will set the music to your tastes, so you don’t have to worry!
@ Brip Blap, yes, kaizen means the death of individualism. You can’t do things your way; there’s the right way and the wrong way. I’m surprised that you’re not particularly interested in Japan though. Didn’t you study Japanese? Is there another Asian country you’re more interested in?
@ Tei, well, I didn’t notice the guys, but they often wear suits, if that floats your boat!
@ Akemi, my American friends in Japan really like taking off their shoes, and how clean it keeps the floor. They’ll probably keep doing that when they come back here. We didn’t really understand the bathtub–twice as deep and half as long, so we didn’t know how you’re supposed to fit into it. The toilets were kind of funny, even though I didn’t encounter the musical variety.
@ Hayden, I agree. Donald Trump is a fan of bowing too.
@ Janice, I think I’d have a hard time getting used to public transportation, but I agree that it’s a good thing for us to get on board with.
@ Barbara, my ebook about Japan will have a lot more details, but it’s really taking a long time to write. I figured a couple of posts about Japan would be a good way to get some of the information out there now. I didn’t know you worked at a Japanese company–it must have been a great experience. And I wasn’t really sure about the bowing etiquette, but it’s interesting that they bow lower depending on their status. I bet there are sometimes big arguments over who is supposed to bow lower!
@ Evelyn, there will be a lot more photos coming…if I can ever finish my ebook!
@ Shilpan, I didn’t realize that #2 and #4 apply to India. If you ever need a post idea, I think writing about Indian culture could be very interesting!
@ Nicole, does William Hung count?
@ RavingRecipes, I definitely think the U.S. is better overall. I was just pointing out some specific ways in which I think Japan is better. Be sure to come back next time for why America is better than Japan. However, I didn’t find Japan to be crowded at all. Maybe it’s because I live in northern Virginia, which is pretty crowded. I asked my friend about this, and she said it’s only crowded in Tokyo.
May 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Definitely want to trip to Japan.
#10 reminded me of Kip in Napoleon Dynamite.
Phil’s last blog post..Touching the Surface
May 25th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Phil, I’ll have to watch Napoleon Dynamite again to know what you mean. Unfortunately, when I saw it the first time I was almost asleep when it started, and I didn’t make it very far! Japan is definitely a nice place to visit.
May 25th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Hi Hunter
Japan is absolutely on my ‘wish list’. I’ve always wanted to go there, being a big fan of the culture and, of course, the food.
As you say, Japanese women always seem to look amazing, too. Fashion-wise they’ve been on the very edge as long as I can remember.
Best,
Sheamus
May 25th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
@Hunter Nuttall – At Narita airport, terminal 2, there are some toilets that when you sit down start playing a pretty very weird lo-fi waterfall sound.. so 8bit quality, it really scared the.. hell.. out of me
Ruben – ReallyJapan’s last blog post..A PAC War Mecha #2
May 25th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Hunter -
No, Hung does not count. At least, not for me.
Nicole’s last blog post..Stimulate This
May 25th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
p.s the thing about the chicks is true here in NY. All over the city they are dressed to impress regardless of conditions.
And when enrolled at FIT, I learned it doesn’t matter whether they were off-the-boat or not.
Nicole’s last blog post..Stimulate This
May 26th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
@ Sheamus, I don’t know how they’ve been fashion-wise in the past, but Akemi says they change their look every year, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re always on the edge.
@ Ruben, maybe the sound engineers for the Atari 2600 also did the airport toilets!
@ Nicole, OK, maybe William Hung doesn’t count. I don’t really remember how people were dressed when I went to New York, but it sounds like I would approve.
May 26th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
[...] time, we looked at 10 Reasons Japan Is Better Than America. But don’t worry, the good ol’ US of A still has plenty going for it. Let’s look [...]
May 27th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
there’s also MUCH less crime in Japan than in the US
May 27th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Sarah, yes, that’s what they told me, and it’s not hard to believe. It’s a very nice thing about Japan!
May 28th, 2008 at 6:41 am
Yeah, its a cool country… but they do have this weird unhealthy obsession with little girls. Just look at their anime, and manga.
Also, they’ve pretty much prostituted their country. Sure; out with the old, in with the new – but these guys are ruthless. They’re losing their original culture as fast as they can. If you’re going to Japan to see any of their true culture, you have to go far faar from the cities and look really really hard.
Also, what the hell? They’re completely obsessed with America, you know the country that dropped the bomb on them? They’ve assimilated baseball as one of their main sports, taken up American High school stereotypes (from the 1950s) like greasers, punks, sluts, etc.., and they’re so blatantly trying to copy American music to the point that it’s sickening.
Great place to get drunk though.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:36 am
I really like Japanese girl. They are so cute.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Now that is a the stupidest thing I have ever heard. First off if the US is so bad as you say it is why are so many risking their lives to get here. Second of all Japan has had help from the US in helping rebuild itself. Technology has been the same since the 60’s the only difference is that it has gotten smaller and faster but the same technology is used with newer ideas. Japan is over crowded and not to mention expensive to live in and all you get out of it is a cracker box apartment. The American dollar may have fallen but last I checked its still worth way more then the Japanese Yen. The dollar just like all other currencies go up and down just like the stock market. Even the Japanese use American culture in their own daily lives and love the US. Many people my ass get your facts straight. The US is one of the better places in the world to live.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:39 am
No country is better than another. That’s a nationalistic and somewhat dangerous attitude. In fact, maniacs like George Bush invade other countries with that kind of mind set.
Every place has it’s good sides/bad sides.
Every race has it’s pluses/minuses.
Travel a bit more.
Get over the nationalism.
May 28th, 2008 at 10:08 am
You forgot how horrible the public transportation is in japan. i.e the fact that they stuff you in so tight you can barely breathe. They have men standing outside the train to shove people in.
May 28th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I look forward to visiting Japan. Good list…however, many virtues are also a hidden vice. I think there is too much use of technology in the world. Beautiful girls, in Japan or the US, is one sign of a self-obsessed culture focused on outward things.
To be fair, I think you should post next the 10 reasons the US is better than Japan.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
@ tetris11, that’s funny that you mention how they’re copying American music. I saw someone there playing a song on his guitar…it sounded familiar, then I realized it was Neil Young’s Heart of Gold. They’re great assimilators, but as you said, that means losing their original culture.
@ Thailand Hotel, I don’t think too many people would disagree with you!
@ Ronnie,
“First off if the US is so bad as you say it is..”
I didn’t say that!
“The American dollar may have fallen but last I checked its still worth way more then the Japanese Yen.”
It’s not fair to compare the dollar and the yen in absolute terms. That’s like saying a pound weighs a lot more than a gram. We can only compare how these currencies move against each other.
“Many people my ass get your facts straight.”
What facts are you questioning?
“The US is one of the better places in the world to live.”
I agree!
@ k,
“No country is better than another.”
Do you really believe that?
“Every place has it’s good sides/bad sides.”
That was exactly my point in writing two posts showing some good and bad sides of the U.S. and Japan.
“Get over the nationalism.”
Do you think I’m a Japanese nationalist?
@ Blue, I didn’t see that happening there, but it sounds pretty bad! Then again, here outside D.C. we might need people to shove cars down the crowded highways.
@ Timmy, good idea, and in fact I did write about 10 Reasons America Is Better Than Japan.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:59 am
[...] Now I must go to Japan If only for number 8 although number 10 is cool too, who doesn’t want to see a robot playing the trumpet? 10 Reasons Japan Is Better Than America | Hunter Nuttall . com [...]
May 29th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
While many of the things you mentioned are true, you forgot the other items like how expensive it is to live, most Japanese live in boxes not houses, they have no individuality—hence they can never be cool and thier women are really not that good looking. In the United States we do have good fish but its called bait. So if your frustrated with the US be my guest and move to Japan. After all we do have quit an influx of foreigners actually wanting to live here. If you doubt this just visit your neighborhood 7-11.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
BTW, the USA actually rebuilt the Japanese economy. If it were not for the help of the US it would have taken much much longer. The same goes for Germany.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
As an Australian, I observe both countries, Japan and the USA. While Japan has many admirable characteristics, I can’t find too many positive aspects of the USA. Dominating the world by military force and junk food is not admirable.
And don’t let American invented history get in the way of the truth. Japan and China both emerged from WW2 crippled and have rebuilt themselves bigger and better than ever. I’m not convinced that the American occupation of Japan post WW2 helped in any way.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Hi. I enjoyed the list, but it is amusing how how you generalize so. I would like to point out that this Japanese culture is not necessarily the author of “a philosophy of continuous improvement in all aspects of life. It’s how Toyota took over the automobile industry.” Look up a person by the name of Malcolm Baldridge. You’ll learn something more on that subject – imported into Japan, formerly the home of cheap junk exports. Also, as great as that culture is, it also produced the Bataan death march and a sad bit of history in Nanking. As much as America may be hated, as you say, there is enough fodder to drive hatred in all cultures, especially Japanese culture. I would prefer to close on a happier note, though, so I will just say that, overall, there is a lot to like about the Japanese. Let’s hope in the future we can communicate better, share, and treat each other as the brothers and sisters we all are. Peace!
May 29th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
@ Dave, I think you missed the follow-up post, 10 Reasons America Is Better Than Japan.
@ lvleph and Gregg, I’m not sure how much the U.S. helped rebuild Japan, so I can’t comment on that.
@ Gregg, I agree with you about the military dominance thing, and so do a lot of Americans. I don’t know much about Australia, but if you have a blog and want to write a post comparing the U.S. and Australia, I’d be interested in reading that.
@ Jerry, I think kaizen actually comes from China, although this isn’t clear. But even if they aren’t the author, they’re implementing it very successfully. Regarding their cheap junk exports in the past…that was our fault…we gave them some products and asked them to copy them at the lowest possible price. As you say, Japan certainly has its downside too. I think every country can learn a lot from others.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:02 am
[...] expected 10 Reasons Japan Is Better Than America and 10 Reasons America Is Better Than Japan to be slightly controversial, but I still didn’t [...]
May 30th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Wow this is dumb. Saying all Japanese women look a certain way is racist. Even if you’re trying to be nice, it’s wrong. They have a word for people like you: it’s called “asiaphile.” And being obsessed with perfection, cleanliness, and politeness, sounds terrible. I don’t want to live in an even more rigid country. Who would want that?
May 30th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
That’s a great list but I think you’re wrong about the change and I have a container full of coins (including many Y1 and Y5) to prove it. I could also scan all my receipts to prove it but that’d take forever. I’ll grab the 3 closest receipts I have here.
VieDe France Cafe:
?????? = Y168
Jonathan’s:
?????? = Y829
Lawson:
??????????? = Y105
?????????? = Y105
So yes, some things are sort of round but you’ll still need those Y1 and Y5.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
HUR HUR HUR! I LIKE ANIMOOS AND KAWAII AZN CHIXORS!
May 30th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
@ Crystal,
“Saying all Japanese women look a certain way is racist.”
I didn’t say all, I said at least half. While they don’t look the same, they do tend to have a certain look. Notice that Akemi, a Japanese woman, said they’re obsessed about looking like each other. It really is noticeable if you’ve been there, and you’re the first person out of nearly 14,000 visitors to complain about those comments I made. The dictionary would disagree with you about my comments being racist. Being non-racist doesn’t mean you have to think all races are absolutely identical.
“They have a word for people like you: it’s called ‘asiaphile.’”
You can’t possibly think you know enough about me to make such a judgment! Can you tell me the race of my current girlfriend?
“And being obsessed with perfection, cleanliness, and politeness, sounds terrible.”
It’s a matter of personal preference. I guess some people would prefer to be mediocre, dirty, and rude.
“I don’t want to live in an even more rigid country. Who would want that?”
What country do you live in?
@ linuxamp, I still stand by what I said about prices almost always being a multiple of ¥10. I know that’s not always the case, but I never once gave or received a ¥1 or ¥5 coin. And they did officially take the sen (1/100th of a yen) and rin (1/1000th of a yen) out of circulation in 1953. At least we can agree that it’s not like the U.S., where you get pennies and nickels back from every purchase.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
@ anon, I had to look up those terms to see what you were saying. Let’s see if Crystal has anything to say about that!
May 30th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I didn’t even know about the sen and rin. I guess it has to do with inflation. If prices continue to rise in the US (in USD of course) to a point where say 1¢ ? 5¢ then it may no longer be necessary to use pennies. Conversely, if serious deflation occurs then your penny might be able to buy a pack of gum like it did in my grandfather’s days.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
¥1 and ¥5 yen pieces are definitely used. I spent a year there and know many people with big jars of the ¥1 pieces. They’re made of aluminum or some other light metal and everyone hates them. On the positive side, the ATMs take coin deposits.
May 31st, 2008 at 6:52 pm
@ linuxamp, some people are trying to get rid of pennies, since inflation has caused them to be worth less than what it costs to make them. Other people are protesting this, afraid that prices will be rounded up if we get rid of pennies.
@ Algernon, I’m sure they’re used, but a lot less so than the small coins in the U.S. (Name a place in the U.S. where you never get back pennies as change.) I had to ask my friends to give me a ¥1 and ¥5 coin so I could have them as a souvenir, because I never got any as change. Yes, the ¥1 coin in particular is extremely light and annoying. They probably keep them in jars because they don’t want to burden someone else with them.
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:38 am
[...] recently wrote a post, 10 Reasons Japan Is Better Than America which when I read it, didn’t think it was THAT controversial, but his comment section [...]
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:11 am
Hi again,
Re: the Japanese bath. I see — you are bigger than the typical Japanese size! Next time, go to the big public bath or hot spring ^_^
Akemi – Yes to Mes last blog post..Yes to Me Month Three & Four Review
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Akemi, I see now, it’s not the bath that’s the wrong size, it’s me! I’ll keep that in mind next time.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
this one was a great read as well. enjoyed it.
Naturals last blog post..What My Clothes Reveal About Me
June 5th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
@ Natural, thanks for reading both of them…you get a better perspective when you look at it from both sides. Glad you liked it.
June 8th, 2008 at 10:22 am
It’s interesting you make these points. Considering your most outlandish point about improvement, you are aware that Japan must import nearly all of it’s innovators, right? Their school system is such that it breeds conformity, not innovation. If you need further proof, just look at the Nobel prize per capita in the last ten years and compare it to China, the US, or Germany. Further, what about the catastrophic rate of depression? Or suicide? What about their disregard for the environment in their relentless pursuit of land development?
June 8th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Ha! Very interesting article. Every culture has it’s good aspects, and it’s pretty easy to pick out 10 of them. Japan is a homogenous culture and I had to laugh when you equated them to the Star Trek characters where everyone is assimilated. The truth is, if you are not Japanese, you will not be assimilated.
I’m glad you will be posting about why America is better than Japan, but again, Every culture has it’s good aspects, and it’s pretty easy to pick out 10 of them.
Marc Carlin
Consulting Hypnotist
June 8th, 2008 at 11:00 am
@ Nick, I’m not saying they don’t have their disadvantages as well. See the follow-up post to read about some of them.
@ Marc, for assimilation, I didn’t mean people, I meant culture. In the follow-up post I specifically talk about how outsiders are not accepted. And yes, it’s pretty easy to pick out 10 good things from most countries.
June 8th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Wow, you know… I thought I was amazed by the ignorance of the people who commented on why America is better, but the comments here are ridiculous. Have these people ever even BEEN to Japan?
1. Only on some trains are you ever crammed in. I lived in Kyoto (and will gladly go back as soon as I finish my degree), and there were times when I was crammed in. However, Japanese people on a whole are much less loud and obnoxious, so being crammed in with a train of them really isn’t as bad as it could be. Most of the time (including hours at which people would be coming or going from work) I has free space.
2. Say what you will about Japan being a rigid society, but there are a lot of people who look past those things, especially the younger generation. And as a foreigner in Japan, I feel that we have more freedom to not fit into such molds. Yeah, sometimes you get discriminated against… but you do meet people who see you as a person rather than a foreigner. I lived with a wonderful host family who were the nicest people I’ve ever met and made other Japanese friends while I was there. If you show that you respect their culture and try to fit in with the expectations, it really isn’t a difficult place to live.
3. Why on earth would you include things like Hikonyan and not shaking hands when there are so many other great things about Japan? How about the fact that people in the service industry are actually polite? Or that because guns are illegal, and the consequences of using drugs are much stricter, that the crime is a lot lower?
I lived in Japan… I was obviously a foreigner and I was stared at and had people tell me that Japanese was probably impossible to write for him and act incredulous that I could read Japanese. But never in my life have I been offended by so much racism as what I see here.
Americans on a whole are idiots. And this is why I am expatriating.
June 8th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
@ Jessica, if you think these comments are bad, you should see the ones I had to delete. For some reason, some people get very defensive about their country, sometimes irrationally so.
I didn’t include those things you mentioned because I wasn’t in a position to observe them.
- “People in the service industry are actually polite.” I didn’t really notice any difference. Maybe I would have if I spoke Japanese, or maybe I live in an area with good service.
- “Guns are illegal.” I didn’t know that. That would definitely be a plus in my book.
- “The consequences of using drugs are much stricter.” I didn’t know that, and I’d need more information to know if I think it’s a good thing. My Chinese friend told me that in China, suspected drug dealers are shot on sight without a trial.
- “Crime is a lot lower.” That’s what they told me, and of course I didn’t see any crime, but I don’t see any crime in the U.S. either. But I looked it up just now, and it seems that crime rates are generally way, way lower in Japan, especially for violent crime. I guess without guns, you have a lot less murders and robberies.
I didn’t include all the good things about Japan, but I didn’t include all the bad things either, like the extraordinarily high smoking rate. I wonder if there’s something about human nature that makes it impossible for a country to eliminate all its vices.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:54 am
The Japanese are not a culture to look up to. Sure they are more disciplined and advanced then America can ever be, but they suffer under the same effects of globalization that other cultures have encountered. After decades of assimilation of western lifestyles and consumerism the Japanese are faced with a population shortage and a new generation that is displaced from the roots of its culture. The very culture that makes them as effective and disciplined as they are in the global market is now dissolving more rapidly then ever. Consider the irony, they have so quickly assimilated to a consuming culture that is destroying their founding values and principles (as it does in the US). It is as if after WWII they were settled by the west through the use of consumerism, capitalism. In fact that is what happened the nation was brought to its knees then given this new form of government. Japan’s current fate is planned. Part of a strategic world changing historical event. It is now a nation that is slowly corrupting. To me Japan post WWII just seems like a nation that has been colonized by western markets. (Willingly!) We should not look up to a country that is on its way to sharing our problems. by the very tools of consumer culture that we experience. What Americans need to do is stop looking up to any country, look past the shiny exterior of lies we are sold, and relaize that with this advancement in culture comes suffering for all on some level a loss of freedom and personal control until you become a willing consuming slave. Japan is no different
June 12th, 2008 at 2:33 am
@ Mishka …. such a deep answer that lost me at line 10 after what was meant to be a light hearted article using humour to highlight some differences. Enough gloom and doom and smile a bit.
Japan is a great place to live ….. i’ve had better experiences here than i have in many countries and that includes the US at times.
Neil Ducketts last blog post..Yakuza Moon By Shoko Tendo
June 12th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
@ Neil, I was in fact going for something a bit more lighthearted than what some people perceived…thanks for picking up on that!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Hi, Hunter. I’m a decades-long resident of Japan, and wanted to comment on your article – but things got long, I put the post on my own blog instead. There’s some agreement with your list (Yes! Tipping sucks!), and some good disagreement too.
Where I disagree, my objections might very well be taking some points more seriously than you intended; it can be hard to gauge those things in writing! If that’s the case, consider my objections aimed not at you, but at anyone else out there who does make some of the same claims but in full seriousness.
Anyway, I wrote too much to paste here, so I’ll let anyone interested read more at my site (www.homejapan.com). Here I’d like to address a few people’s comments:
@Brip Blap: “Kaizen’s a concept that seems antithetical to the individualism we think we hold so dear in America…” Ack, I find that so very wrong, and based on a myth of what “kaizen” actually means. Already touched upon at my blog.
@Blue: “You forgot how horrible the public transportation is in japan. i.e the fact that they stuff you in so tight you can barely breathe. They have men standing outside the train to shove people in.” The transportations isn’t horrible; the crowding can be. The passengers are shoving themselves in; “pushers” are only there to help. It’s all voluntary; you don’t ride unless you want! Avoid the rush areas during rush hours, and things are fine.
@dave: “…most Japanese live in boxes not houses, they have no individuality…” I assume trolling/joking is the intent.
@jerry: “…it is amusing how how you generalize so.” Thank you for that breath of sensibility! It’s appreciated. (Though I suspect some generalization here may be tongue in cheek; only the author can say for sure.)
@Nick: “…Their school system is such that it breeds conformity, not innovation…” Rubbish. Japan is one of the world leaders in patents, as well as innovative products and technologies of all kinds.
@Marc Carlin: ” Japan is a homogenous culture.” Heard often, but what does that really mean? Many people in Japan love to emphasize the many regional differences around the country. There are foreign influences galore as well, in every facet of life. What does the “homogenous” claim really mean, I wonder?
@Jessica: Thanks for reality-checking some of the many comments; always good to see more original viewpoints. (Though the closing “Americans on a whole are idiots” is a wee generalizing, don’t you think? : )
Travelers last blog post..Commenting on "10 Reasons Japan Is Better Than America"
June 14th, 2008 at 3:34 am
I am very proud that Japan is in Asia.
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June 15th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
@ Hunter, I don’t think it’s a matter of your intended lightheartedness being unperceived… it just comes across as racist and stereotypical, no matter what the intent is. To treat another culture like it is something to be made fun of or puzzled at comes across as ignorant, at best, and Orientalist. And of course that welcomes people who are ignorant and racist in a hurtful way to make responses.
Yeah, there is a lot in Japan that is different from America. No, it isn’t that weird… no weirder than the unique things about America.
As Asian Studies majors at my college, we were all required to take a course where we discussed why Asia should be studied and the ways in which to study it that would not unfairly characterize their cultures. I know this is just a blog, and you may not think of the fact that what you post on the internet could have much meaning. But maybe it wouldn’t hurt to think about such concepts as Orientalism and realize that the exoticism of another country can be a hurtful thing. Many of your points are good, but some of them do come across as… well, ignorant and slightly racist. Scholars are told to take responsibility for the intellectual materials they publish… why not bloggers?
June 18th, 2008 at 12:15 am
@ Traveler, thank you for responding to some of these comments. It’s good to have some input from a decades-long resident of Japan. I’ll leave a comment on your blog to respond to some of your points.
@ Jessica,
“it just comes across as racist and stereotypical”
I have a hard time seeing how a post about some of the things I like about Japan comes across as racist. Would you mind pointing out some specific examples of what I said that made you feel that way?
I’m also not sure what you’re considering stereotypical. Is it stereotypical to say that Japanese people generally don’t shake hands? Or is it just a fact?
“Yeah, there is a lot in Japan that is different from America. No, it isn’t that weird… no weirder than the unique things about America.”
Sure, weirdness is relative.
“But maybe it wouldn’t hurt to think about such concepts as Orientalism and realize that the exoticism of another country can be a hurtful thing.”
Do you have a blog? If so, I’d be interested to read a post about this. I definitely don’t fully understand how exoticism can be a hurtful thing.
“Many of your points are good, but some of them do come across as… well, ignorant and slightly racist. Scholars are told to take responsibility for the intellectual materials they publish… why not bloggers?”
I do think bloggers should take responsibility for what they publish, and I stand behind everything I’ve said. But I certainly don’t want to come across as ignorant and racist. In fact, these things mentioned here are things that I LIKE about Japan. Perhaps you could clarify this by citing specific examples of what I said that you consider ignorant and racist.
BTW, you said “Americans on a whole are idiots.” Don’t you think that’s stereotypical?
July 30th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
As someone who is both white American and Japanese–75% white and 25% Japanese–this post’s title immediately grabbed my attention.
I really enjoyed it.
My favorites from the list:
The food, the obsession with perfection, the girls, and public transportation.
All great things about Japan.
Now I’m going to read the counter post on why America is better than Japan.
Interesting stuff.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
@ Jesse, that combination should give you a unique perspective on this topic, huh?
Thanks for your comment.
October 24th, 2008 at 4:33 am
hmm…
it’s kinna fun 4 live in japan,
well, i’m a high school student in Indonesia. japan is very interest 4 me.
wish me luck 4 da scholarship. ok guys??
Hey, JAPAN…!! Hepsa is Coming 4 you…………..!!!!!!!
October 29th, 2008 at 2:05 am
About the nickel thing. If you are a tourist and you are hanging around touristy (is this even a word?) then they may have all there prices rounded to the nearest multiple of 10 for the tourist crowd.
I have been here 1 year (and planning for well beyond) and like the other person mentioned, I also receive 1yen and 5yen coins on a regular basis…everyday!
I have a big plastic box of just those coins, I would say perhaps 2 out of 5 purchases might be a multiple of 10 but most have a 1-9 as the last digit of their price.
I do live in Kurashiki in western Japan (west of Kobe), perhaps it is a little different in the Kanto region. Those people are crazy.
November 29th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I can’t wait to visit Japan!
I got a chance to do it back when I was a little kid, but my mom wanted to spend the money on getting an apartment. I was disappointed, but it’s all good though.
Before I visit, I want to have a good understanding of the Japanese language both written and spoken. If I do get lost, I want to feel confident in asking a Japanese person for directions or being able to read the signs.
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November 29th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
@TheAndySan,
Good luck with the language learning. If you have an interest, I have two short articles on what you may discover difficult and easy about learning Japanese:
http://www.homejapan.com/blog/siteowner/2008/02/whats_hard_about_learning_japanese
http://www.homejapan.com/blog/siteowner/2008/02/whats_easy_about_learning_japanese
No “OMG it’s so different!” exoticism, just some simple observations from a long-time learner. It’s good background stuff to know before jumping into lessons, IMHO.
Again, good luck!
Traveler´s last blog post..A dose of dumb: Asians can’t understand Western music
June 14th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I love how the money system works in Japan. You know in America you’ve made it when your earning a six figure salary. However, in Japan that’s roughly the same as a million yen! Okay… maybe not the coolest thing about Japan, but still pretty cool!
June 14th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
AID: Hmm, I think you’d love Zimbabwe. : )
Traveler´s last blog post..Re: A dose of wrong: The world’s most difficult language