Many People, One Common Background

Many have said that Japan is a collectivist society, and I believe that they are correct in their observations. Trends catch on fast, and they seem to be followed by many (if not everyone) and then die out and are followed by a whole new trend. Unfortunately though, it seems that many people in the west believe this to be a problem. I believe that Japan’s collectivist/group mentality has a lot of positive externalities. As I have discussed in previous posts, Japan is incredibly clean, safe, and full of hard workers (I do believe that all of these are direct results of Japanese group thinking).

One thing that I have never really heard discussed is how accessible Japan is because of their common cultural background. When you meet a Japanese person, you already know a lot about them that makes it so much easier to converse with. I understand that diversity provides a lot of benefits, but I find that it would be much harder to study an “American” lifestyle/person, whereas it would be much easier to study a “Japanese” lifestyle/person.

This common cultural background has helped me out a lot when living here in Japan. I know when I walk in to a Japanese home what to expect, or when I speak to people I know what is considered taboo or what they like to talk about. It also seems to create and keep the harmony that is present in Japan. No one wants to disrupt the harmony, so therefore nobody does. The trains are always quiet and the streets are always clean (and yet there are never any trash cans in site…). No one wants to go against the grain, and this seems to be why Japan works so well. Again, I do understand that going with the flow is not always a positive (I am still an American), but I kinda like it.

I love this country.

My New Home

I honestly feel like Japan is my new home. I love it here, I feel comfortable here, and I really want to work and live here for the rest of my life. Of course I miss my family and friends back in America, but I still feel like this is the place for me. I think my time in Japan has been the best time of my life - I feel healthier and happier than I ever have before. It is a bit disconcerting though because of how quickly I have changed my mind. I used to think that America was the only place for me, and even then it was only a few places in America. It scary to think that I have lived in Japan for less than seven or eight months and I already want to say goodbye to America.

It really was a bizarre feeling when I was walking around Namba with my friends and I made the realization that I felt more comfortable here, in Japan, around hundred of thousands of people that I cannot fully communicate with, that I look nothing like, that I don’t even have a common cultural background with, than I do in America with everyone else that I should feel close to. This country does feel like home. I don’t think I can leave. I love this country.

The picture above is from the Namba/Shinsaibashi area in Osaka.

Japanese Politeness

I believe that racism is still prevalent within the Japanese society, but I usually only see it in the older generations. While I believe that Japan still has racism, I don’t necessarily think it is has more than America, I just think that in America it is under the surface.

Although I do believe that racism is here, I believe that Japan, by-and-large, treats foreigners incredibly well. I know from personal experience that when I first got here, I had a lot of trouble just ordering food in restaurants. Yet, every time I have trouble communicating what I want to people in restaurants or stores, they never seem to get upset, and they genuinely seem like they want to help. And they almost always try to use the English they know to help me out. I think that’s awesome. I know in America that we have a lot of non-English speaking residents and they are in a tough situation. I used to work retail, and I know on several occasions that non-English speaking people came into my shop and I tried to help. Ashamedly, I know that I got upset, and probably visibly so. But, every time I have had trouble in Japan, they never get upset.

Just last night, I hoped on a train back to my where I am staying in Tokyo. Apparently I had boarded a part of the train that is meant for people who pay extra money for a nicer seat. Unbeknownst to me, I sat down in the nice seat and started listening to music and playing my DS. After a stop or two an employee for the company came up and started speaking to me in Japanese. I understood what she was saying for the most part, but I didn’t understand all of it. Instead of getting upset and just telling me to leave, she explained slowly that you have to have a special ticket to sit in these seats and that she will show me where I should be. She could have easily just gotten upset and pointed to the door. I really appreciated her sincerity and how patient she was with me.

I love this country.

The Country of Convenience

Japan just makes sense. Everything here works so well, and everything is convenient. Ergo, Japan makes sense. Everywhere you look there are extra amenities or pieces of technology or services that make your life a little easier. I am not exaggerating either – it’s everywhere you look. Here are some examples:

- Buy a SUICA card in the Tokyo area and you can use it on the trains, subways, convenience stores, and some shops. You literally just hold the card over the card reader to get into the stations, or to buy things at stores.
- Cell phones that do everything – internet, camera (good cameras – not like ones in America), you can use to buy tickets on the train and subway or use it in convenience stores (it acts like your SUICA card), dictionary, translating tool, email, and of course making phone calls.
- One time my friends and I were shopping at Yodobashi Camera and we had to use the restroom. When we walked in my friend Jon said that it would be great if they had some place to put or bags, or some hooks… sure enough – they did!
- Anytime you buy something that is usually given as a gift (chocolates, jewelry, toys, etc) they will offer to wrap it for you on the spot for free.
- If you buy jeans anywhere in Japan, even if you buy the cheapest stuff at UNIQLO, they will cut them and size them for you and have them ready in a few days, free of charge.
- When you purchase a drink or a cup of yogurt at a convenience store or grocery store, they provide you with a straw or spoon in the bag, or they tape it on the item you bought. I bought some chicken nugget type things at the convenience store the other night, and they taped on a tooth pick so I could eat them… they think of everything.
- I did my laundry at a coin laundry place several weeks ago. I was able to put start my laundry in the machine and then type in my cell phone information so it would notify me when it was done – again amazing.
- Every price displayed when purchasing something is the price WITH tax included. Again America, get it right.
- Every cell phone company’s cell phones use the same charger (i.e. all AU phones use the same charger, thus if you forgot your cell phone charger and your friend had AU as well – you could use theirs. The same is also true for Softbank, DoCoMo, etc.)

Honestly – the list goes on and on. Japan has thought of everything when it comes to convenience, and what I love most about it all – you DON’T pay extra for it. Almost all services I have encountered have been free, its part of the Japanese service industry that I have discussed before. I love this country.

Japan 1 - America 0

According to the latest research (conducted by me), Japan is the cleanest country in the world. Pretty much every square inch of this country would make anywhere in America look like a garbage dump. The Japanese are incredibly committed to a clean country, and you can see the results everywhere you look.

From my experiences alone, I have seen on multiple occasions a person cleaning the streets and sidewalks. They literally will get on their hands and knees and scrub the ground to try and take off dirt, gum, or whatever else may be there. I have seen it in Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, I have seen it in Osaka, and even on my school’s campus here in Hirakata. Everyday you see the cleaning crew out sweeping up any debris on the street and sidewalk. They even sweep the grass areas for leaves that have fallen – this country is amazing.

I have never seen anything like this in America. I personally believe that Japan’s cleanliness stems from their incredibly hard work ethic, and there sense of community. I believe that this kind of mentality was present in America some fifty or sixty years ago, but it has disappeared. I really hope America can take adopt these values from Japan.

My First Real Suit

I made the decision the other day to go out and buy a new suit. I have purchased several in my life, but only in America. I figured the experience might be similar here in Japan - pick a suit off the rack and have them tailor the pants to fit. Of course, I am too big of a guy to be able to do that here. So, I found a shop in downtown Osaka that custom tailors suits. I really had no idea what to expect, but I was so pleasantly suprised. Getting a custom made suit in Japan was one of the best decisions I have made here.

Japan is known for its level of service - it literally permeates every aspect of the society. Just walking into the shop you can feel the difference between here and the U.S. You are immediately greeted when you walk in, and an employee is available to you when you are ready. However, you don`t feel smothered like you do in some stores in America. Next, I sat down with an employee and a friend of mine who could translate for me. He talked me through the process and then began to measure me up. After the measurements, you try on a coat, then pants. Throughout the entire process the stylist is with you and he asks what you like, what you don`t, what you would like to change. As attentive as the stylist was, you would think that I was shopping in an Armani or Polo store. He was incredible and you could tell that he really took his job seriously, which I have found to be true with nearly every Japanese person I have ever met - they complete their jobs/tasks to the best of their ability - its truly humbling and impressive.

The entire process took over two hours. I had to sit down and pick out everything on the suit, down to the color of the stitching and buttons. I also bought a custom made shirt and tie (again, we couldn't find a size that fit me). It was one of the best experiences I have had here, and I highly recommend anyone that comes to Japan to do same. You will not find this level of service and attention to detail outside of Japan, and you don't even have to be upper-class.

Click here to visit the store's website

Welcome to My Blog

This is a blog that I have started for a class that I am taking while at Kansai Gaidai University. The point of this blog is for me to talk about my experiences here in Japan while trying to relate it the material we cover in class. I hope you find it fun and educational.

Here is a link to my Picasa Web account with all of my photos from Japan