I remember watching a documentary on five shown a few months after the tsumani that hit Japan. The film crew were following a search and rescue team from the UK as they went about their business. Some of the group were sent to this decimated town to unfortunately look for bodies or at least search any remaining building and mark them accordingly (clear, bodies found and recovered, bodies found but not recovered, etc). Apologies if someone remembers the details better than I have but this gets the general gist of it.
Some residents of the town had already returned and had begun to try and do something whether it was look through where their house used to be for possessions or clear a road or whatever. Anyway, one old lady approached one of the S&R team and through a bit of gesturing and beckoning (they had no translator with them which seemed strange) managed to convey that she'd like the team to search her house cos she was sure she heard some noises from within. So while they did a thorough investigation of what was left of her house, she stood there patiently, quietly (although I'm sure she was in tears) and respectfully and let them go about their business. After an hour or so, the grimaces on the faces of the rescuers told her what she needed to know so she thanked every member of the team individually and headed off elsewhere.
Seemingly the rescue team were met with the same respect wherever they went and the locals would stop and bow or shake their hands whenever they passed.
Now I know this is just a tiny example and the circumstances are pretty unique but it emphasises my personal impression of how I imagine the Japanese people are judging from what I've seen elsewhere.
I don't think that the Japanese are rude- just direct!
Many years ago an ex and I took a couple of Japanese businessmen out for a meal. It was a business do, so expenses included. First, we went to a bar for a drink- now the ex worked for a brewing company, so the guys were quite interested in beer, but I was all toged up, so wasn't going to have my image ruinied by ordering a half! So Io rdered a g&t, with a lot of tonic in it. When the drinks arrived one of the Japanese guys said to me, 'Oh you're not having a beer?' I said 'no this is gin'. 'Ah', he said, 'You are alcoholic?'
Then, at dinner, we went to arather poshr restruaunt. One of the dishes was crayfish in a rather complicated sauce. One of the Japanese guys asked me what it was and I didn't know, so I asked the Maitre d. After about 10 mins of him explaining the dish to him he said,' No, don't want that'
FYI, "oriental", for better or for worse, is no longer politically correct. Personally I mourn its passing from the conversation of polite company, but there you go.
Very true- I think the desire to be helpful sometimes outweighs the desire to be useful. I was in Osaka for a few days a couple of years ago, and along with Hiroshima it had the friendliest and most helpful people to strangers I've ever met. Tokyo and Kyoto are KIND of like that except everyone's in more of a hurry.
In Osaka I asked a group of teens how to get somewhere (The Pokemon Centre, as it happens- yeah, it's just a very specialised toyshop, but the fact that there was an actual real-life Pokemon Centre somewhere meant I absolutely HAD to go there anyway)- they had no idea where it was and none of us could find it on my tourist map, but they spent a good twenty minutes wandering around with me until we found the place. You just don't often get that in London.
That said, long years of isolation have left Japan still kind of insular, which means xenophobia and racism are part of the deal. Hopefully this will change, especially given the younger generations' fascination with the West.
I've been to Tokyo a few times for work. I found everyone very polite and refreshingly eager to help a stranger.
I even had a crack at the language for about a year. Really enjoyed learning it, grasped two of the alphabets easily but when I got to Kanji I gave up - there is no way I can learn that stuff.
I made friends with a Japanese lady in the youth hostel in Australia. She was very nice. Then I had a trip to Japan. Again, the locals were nice and helpful. The overall impression is polite and friendly.
FYI, "oriental", for better or for worse, is no longer politically correct. Personally I mourn its passing from the conversation of polite company, but there you go.
I don't worry about all that PC bollocks. I just say what's on my mind
i think it would be oversimplifying the Japanese and their inherent culture to simply label them as rude, racist or xenophobic by our standards. there would appear to be a complexity and mystery surrounding the Japanese that is difficult to fully appreciate and get through.
With the usual proviso that no nation, creed or group is a single standard - it is easy to see why tourists who have not read up on local etiquette (together with the fact that a second language invariably loses the subtle nuances) might find themselves a little out of their depth in Japan.
Manners and etiquette - especially amongst the old is fairly entrenched - the shoes off on entering houses - not eating in the street etc etc - mean that many tourists everyday actions would be see by some Japanese much the equivalent of someone inadvertently continuously flashing V signs at your granny.
So yes - it is easy to offend and to have that compounded by explanations that are "lost in translation". Manners, hospitality and a polite welcome are a huge part of the culture - but failing to bother to learn the culture is an ignorance in itself.
For the young - the rules have little currency apart from family traditions - for the older and elderly - they are paramount. Pretty much the same as the casual racism that many experience at the hands of the old. in this country.
I know I'm old - but I'm still daily appalled by the number of my peers who slip from educated and rational beasties into foaming-at-the-mouth xenophobia.
It's years since I was there so things may have changed - but I would guess the problems are more mutual misunderstanding than anyone being deliberately rude.
When I was in the TV trade, I had to meet with teams of engineers and designers from Japenese firms such as Sony, Panasonic and Sharp. Without exception they were quiet, well-mannered and polite.
Despite this, they could rub you up the wrong way by being so insistent upon their view and (politely!) dismissing all others. They were also rather keen on pointing out defects in rival firms' products.
Overall though, very nice people.
FYI, "oriental", for better or for worse, is no longer politically correct. Personally I mourn its passing from the conversation of polite company, but there you go.
Of course it is. What word do you think is now correct?
I'd say very weird. When i was Australia last year, i was on a semi sub and a Japanese tourist dressed up in a snorkling costume and her partner took a picture of her in the costume and she changed out of it afterwards.
I have been to Japan as a tourist and the people and service you receive is so friendly and top notch. Theres also an immense amount of pride and courtesy . ....
Taxi drivers for example have smart clothes, hats and gloves on and even take the luggage out of the car to the kerb for you... you don't get that here.
Conductors, transport staff, hotel staff etc all dress so smartly and again treat everyone with so much courtesy... again in the UK you get a station conductor with belly hanging out, florescent jacket and hands in pocket!
HOWEVER - They are insular and when it comes to immigration etc its a different story. Mind you- multiculturalism just doesn't work... and Japans stance is pretty right.
I have worked with Japanese engineers (my first job had contracts with Sanyo), and have also visited the country.
I found the engineers (who came across from Japan) amazingly helpful. They would carefully and patiently explain things that I know for a fact would annoy most British workers. They were also profusely polite. If we got something wrong there'd be no irritation, just a genuine desire to help.
When I went to Japan I found the younger Japanese were fascinated by us, and made us welcome again in a way I've not found in other countries. The older Japanese were far more reserved, but were all polite. You just have to take the time to make some attempt to "fit in" to their culture -- the young girls we met found our cack-handed attempts at being polite Japanese-style highly amusing.
Indeed, the only rude Japanese person I met was an Indian immigrant in an electronics shop.
I know a lot of the wartime generation hate them because of the atrocities( although most of this age group are dead now), but the Japanese I have met have been friendly, polite and very westernised. Japan now is a far different country to that in 1942.
Comments
Try and enter a "No foreigners allowed" building.
Some residents of the town had already returned and had begun to try and do something whether it was look through where their house used to be for possessions or clear a road or whatever. Anyway, one old lady approached one of the S&R team and through a bit of gesturing and beckoning (they had no translator with them which seemed strange) managed to convey that she'd like the team to search her house cos she was sure she heard some noises from within. So while they did a thorough investigation of what was left of her house, she stood there patiently, quietly (although I'm sure she was in tears) and respectfully and let them go about their business. After an hour or so, the grimaces on the faces of the rescuers told her what she needed to know so she thanked every member of the team individually and headed off elsewhere.
Seemingly the rescue team were met with the same respect wherever they went and the locals would stop and bow or shake their hands whenever they passed.
Now I know this is just a tiny example and the circumstances are pretty unique but it emphasises my personal impression of how I imagine the Japanese people are judging from what I've seen elsewhere.
Many years ago an ex and I took a couple of Japanese businessmen out for a meal. It was a business do, so expenses included. First, we went to a bar for a drink- now the ex worked for a brewing company, so the guys were quite interested in beer, but I was all toged up, so wasn't going to have my image ruinied by ordering a half! So Io rdered a g&t, with a lot of tonic in it. When the drinks arrived one of the Japanese guys said to me, 'Oh you're not having a beer?' I said 'no this is gin'. 'Ah', he said, 'You are alcoholic?'
Then, at dinner, we went to arather poshr restruaunt. One of the dishes was crayfish in a rather complicated sauce. One of the Japanese guys asked me what it was and I didn't know, so I asked the Maitre d. After about 10 mins of him explaining the dish to him he said,' No, don't want that'
Like I say, not rude, direct!:)
FYI, "oriental", for better or for worse, is no longer politically correct. Personally I mourn its passing from the conversation of polite company, but there you go.
That seems a very plausible explanation.
This was my impression, beyond and over the call of duty.
Principle seems to be saying differently.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4671687.stm - A U.N survey appears to substantiate my claims.
I even had a crack at the language for about a year. Really enjoyed learning it, grasped two of the alphabets easily but when I got to Kanji I gave up - there is no way I can learn that stuff.
Indeed it does. I have even considered living in Japan as a utopian thought, but I'm not so sure now.
I don't worry about all that PC bollocks. I just say what's on my mind
Manners and etiquette - especially amongst the old is fairly entrenched - the shoes off on entering houses - not eating in the street etc etc - mean that many tourists everyday actions would be see by some Japanese much the equivalent of someone inadvertently continuously flashing V signs at your granny.
So yes - it is easy to offend and to have that compounded by explanations that are "lost in translation". Manners, hospitality and a polite welcome are a huge part of the culture - but failing to bother to learn the culture is an ignorance in itself.
For the young - the rules have little currency apart from family traditions - for the older and elderly - they are paramount. Pretty much the same as the casual racism that many experience at the hands of the old. in this country.
I know I'm old - but I'm still daily appalled by the number of my peers who slip from educated and rational beasties into foaming-at-the-mouth xenophobia.
It's years since I was there so things may have changed - but I would guess the problems are more mutual misunderstanding than anyone being deliberately rude.
Despite this, they could rub you up the wrong way by being so insistent upon their view and (politely!) dismissing all others. They were also rather keen on pointing out defects in rival firms' products.
Overall though, very nice people.
They gave me free fortune cookies at the zoo
Of course it is. What word do you think is now correct?
Taxi drivers for example have smart clothes, hats and gloves on and even take the luggage out of the car to the kerb for you... you don't get that here.
Conductors, transport staff, hotel staff etc all dress so smartly and again treat everyone with so much courtesy... again in the UK you get a station conductor with belly hanging out, florescent jacket and hands in pocket!
HOWEVER - They are insular and when it comes to immigration etc its a different story. Mind you- multiculturalism just doesn't work... and Japans stance is pretty right.
But they do wear funny hats.
I've found them to be professional, courteous, reliable, polite and helpful.
And on a night out! Man they know how to party.
I found the engineers (who came across from Japan) amazingly helpful. They would carefully and patiently explain things that I know for a fact would annoy most British workers. They were also profusely polite. If we got something wrong there'd be no irritation, just a genuine desire to help.
When I went to Japan I found the younger Japanese were fascinated by us, and made us welcome again in a way I've not found in other countries. The older Japanese were far more reserved, but were all polite. You just have to take the time to make some attempt to "fit in" to their culture -- the young girls we met found our cack-handed attempts at being polite Japanese-style highly amusing.
Indeed, the only rude Japanese person I met was an Indian immigrant in an electronics shop.