tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post8208086082745523859..comments2024-02-15T04:42:41.606+00:00Comments on James' Empty Blog: The uniquely unique uniqueness of JapanJames Annanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04318741813895533700noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-66602693766860904092008-05-02T15:26:00.000+01:002008-05-02T15:26:00.000+01:00Japan is a semi-police state that rules by brainwa...Japan is a semi-police state that rules by brainwashing and mindcontrolling its thoroughly lovable people, with 100 VIP families running the show through interconnected corporations and marriages. I lived there for 5 years and love the people. The governments, bigtime, and condemns its people to a life of mediocreness and unfulfilled dreams. Says this Edokko boy from Boston.DANIELBLOOMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130493903696077379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-76879186348512014742008-04-29T00:01:00.000+01:002008-04-29T00:01:00.000+01:00If you want unique, try this from Bug GirlIf you want unique, try <A HREF="http://membracid.wordpress.com/2008/04/23/i-love-japanese-culture/" REL="nofollow"> this from Bug Girl</A>EliRabetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957002964638398767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-4878993326502388782008-04-23T05:11:00.000+01:002008-04-23T05:11:00.000+01:00During my handful of years living in Japan I too, ...During my handful of years living in Japan I too, as with nearly all Gaijin, ran the gamut of impressions and reactions.<BR/><BR/>The isolation caused by the language barrier (though I can understand some Japanese) and even more so by the barrier of not having shared experiences (such as those key social/personal transitions in life, such as graduation, marriage, etc.) led me to conclude that part of what it means to be Japanese would forever evade me.<BR/><BR/>Nevertheless, though observation of children and adults in various situations, and also discussions with my Japanese friends, patterns do emerge. My conclusion was that the fundamental human needs of the Nihonjin around me weren't that different from my own, but that through various mechanisms the Japanese simply found that life on a crowded island required them to end up as they have.<BR/><BR/>Thus I am rather loathe to ascribe too much particular-ness to the uniqueness of the Japanese. Many Nihonjin that I know who have moved long term to the US adapt and once Americanized no longer fit so smoothly when they return to Japan.<BR/><BR/>So, I'm really hesitant to ascribe the differences to anything more than geographic adaptation (and perhaps that a lack of iron ore kept them from growing during the early iron age, thus initiating a perpetual inferiority complex.) <BR/><BR/>The Japanese have learned how to accomplish much while starting with little, unlike the large Anglo nations (US, Canada, and Australia).<BR/><BR/>Overall, I came away with more admiration than disdain, more respect than demur, and still desire to return one day.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02562575088759460559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9959776.post-27386444475215034182008-04-17T17:15:00.000+01:002008-04-17T17:15:00.000+01:00That AA Gill article would make my (Japanese) wife...That AA Gill article would make my (Japanese) wife frothing mad if she saw it.<BR/><BR/>As for the book. It seems to me that you shouldn't write a book about a culture you haven't lived in and can't speak the language of. Otherwise you are tied to interpreters and interpreters are never ever neutral. Having said that, the writing of books and articles about "Inscrutable orientals* for the occidentals back home on the back of no more than a brief visit is something that has been done since time immemorial and is quite profitable if you can do it well.<BR/><BR/>The problem is that when you actually live in a country your view becomes more nuanced and nuance, unfortunately, doesn't seme to sell as well as black'n'white cardboard cutouts.dirty dingushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16851047053461441682noreply@blogger.com