Some said that Japan is somehow racist, but since I live in the country, instead of racist I would rather say protectionist or conservationist, and some individualist or egoistic.
They do not shake hand by tradition, not by salubrity. Referenced to the samurai eras. Japanese doesn’t bow by courtesy but by fear of the interlocutor, famous exchange of the business cards: unless they want to take something from you, as soon as they know that they are in a higher position than you, they talk a different langage and change their face expressions. When I look the Japanese, they remind me sheeps who become cows when they get in the subway. They belch and fart near you (men or women), they have their eyes concentrated in their phones or PSP, or their erotic mangas in front of kids, they act like they are alone in their world. As I used to say, Japanese live in an island and they became an island themselves. What some call manners is translated as hypocrisy in the West. They try to never express their sentiments in public, but they love their beers, and after few drinks, well, it is just like looking under a stone near the river…
Not speaking about that so stupid smile on their faces, expecting that would settle every problems.
The girls, you wrote, they look beauties from far, but they are far from Beauty. Look at their knees or their teeth, and you would understand why there is so many esthetic salons. Japanese love fashion in the way it could hide their imperfections. You can dress a pig like a top model, it always remains a pig: Fashion is made for the Ugly to look tasty, isn’t it?
Guys are machos because they are afraid of their girls, they don’t know how to handle them. Since a new study results made by Japanese scientists and sociologists, they noticed that Japanese males have more feminine behaviors than the precedent generation. They are weak. Japanese old generations made the same constatations and they try to ring the bells, but it is too late, maybe.
Do not mistaken, Japan is a pyramidal system (work, society, politic) based on the mass works. Corrupted, of course, even in front of your eyes, you could even see Yakuza’s shops and recruitment’s desks between two shops or restaurants. Nobody, not talking about the police, says anything. Japanese people do not like to talk about problems, that doesn’t mean there is no problem. Have you ever heard of the suicide statistic rates, the true one not the one they talk on TV or the press. There is a tremendous recession in Japan, but you can’t talk about it.
Train system? Surely one of the most expensive in the world. Perfection? You are joking, no? CEO is only thinking about his bonuses, the employee works only when his/her boss is around, unless they do something else. I work in a Japanese company surrounded by Japanese only, believe me or not but it is the reality, I wouldn’t say that they are lazy, but they are surely tired.
The food, well, it looks healthy from western countries, but it lacks some proteins or others, japanese drugstores sell an excessive amount of supplements (iron, magnesium, vitamins or else).
BUT when you understood all this and else, you are ready to get into the Japanese philosophy…It is not the country where you live that is not good, it is ourself that is not appropriated to the country. This is just a question of codes, available for all the world.

Traveler´s last blog post..Re: A dose of wrong: The world’s most difficult language

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

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.

TheAndySan´s last blog post..Jason Becker Is In The News Again!

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.