Check out Victory Belles at https://victorybellesgame.com! There was a lot in my Japan trip that I loved. However… There was also a LOT in my Japan trip that I HATED! Time to shed the rose-colored classes and be real about the downsides of traveling to Japan!
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24 Comments
Take a shot every time I touch my forehead in dismay. You'll be dead by the 10 minute mark. Seriously though, I hope this video helps some of you with your future trips to Japan. Things to watch out for, things to expect, and things to avoid as a foreigner. Also CHECK OUT VICTORY BELLES if you enjoy pretty ladies, WWII history, and high management games! https://victorybellesgame.com
I like when people take the good with the bad, it is needed, not this whole hearted praising it, not tearing it down to be toxic, playing the middle ground in well… just about anything is important, nothing is without flaws and perfect, just as much as nothing isn't without its positives.
Edit: then later… yeah us as visitors need to be more respectable, anybody else remember Logan Paul and the trouble that caused? Don't be like him, educate yourself. Like even comparing it to as simple as walking into your neighbors house, you going to wash your feet in their sink? Their hot tub? Even washing in their tub, you still ask if it's ok at the very least because it's not your tub, DESPITE BEING A PLACE MENAT FOR CLEANING YOURSELF, respect people, 2 way street. Even if you're an Aestheist, you still know respect right? How to properly ask for permission, know when to back off, and when or where is the right place and time? It's not hard to do. Especially with the children, now I get why my grandpa stopped eating out many years back, and stopped going to theaters even before I was born, here I am sitting in a theater and the kids are running up and down the lanes, kicking back of my seat, like you tell the kids sit down, be quiet, or you're leaving. I know some parents are sensitive about punishment nowadays for kids, but even saying that in a calm voice, telling them they can't watch the movie, then you leave. Same is true for restaurants, you're there to eat, if you're good and control yourself maybe we go to the park after, if you can't sit still then we won't eat here at all and leave. Then that family in your story has the GALL TO ASK WHY YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND?!… like.. wha… how… WHY ARE YOU THERE AT ALL?! HOW DID YOU GET THESE CHILDREN 8 AND YOUNGER ON A PLANE AND WHY ARE YOU THERE IN A COUNTRY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD WITH A LANGUAGE SO FAR REMOVED FROM ENGLISH, YET ARE BEING… I… UM… oooof, I'm just listening to you, I've never been to Japan, and DEAR GODS, old new japanese english etc by the gods just… how? How can people be this stupid and insensitive? They don't understand the language, not saying you have to learn Japanese, but patience is a virtue, be respectful and patient, doesn't matter how hungry or tired you are, be appropriate and polite… like again how do you not learn this stuff EVEN FROM YOUR OWN COUNTRY?! People hate America, and frankly despite being one, it's these horror stories, where I feel hurt… BUT I CAN'T BLAME THEM!!! I might be respectful, I might not act like this, but yeah a lot of Americans kind of suck and give some of us a bad name. There's a reason stereotypes and stigmas exist, when it becomes the majority, when the world sees us as that it's because it's the majority…
That being said and, wow didn't expect to get into an essay of ranting lol, yeah sometimes it can't be helped, we're only human, we make mistakes, even if it's something that seems obvious. Which is why words of politeness should come into play, thank you, your welcomes, the I'm sorry or apologies. Going to my movie example, I can't deny I've been loud myself, or I've talked during movies, you just get so excited and forget, especially if it's something you're passionate about, you know super well. Like say the Mario movie, I'd convinced my mom to go, and I'm trying to explain some stuff to her, but I am also trying to keep as quiet and brief as possible, because I'm trying to help her understand some things about Mario. Did the same with the Sonic movie 2, convinced her to get a go and get a glimpse at my world of games, because we both like movies, still a fun thing to get together and do when we have the time to hang out. No one told me to ever be quiet, but if they did I was ready to apologize and shut myself up, because that's the appropriate thing to do, even if they're angry about it and don't deserve respect, you be the bigger person in that situation and still listen.
I heard cars are more optional. that is why roads are where you have to use car more often, compare to Japan that trains are main transport.
I'm a US citizen who lived in Montreal for 6 months; the cyclists there are EXACTLY the same. They bob and weave through stopped or slow traffic with no care for signals, signage, cars or pedestrians. Which in Old Town kinda makes sense, the roads are literally still cobblestone and the roads are all twisty, but in the middle of downtown? True madness.
I think your steps to fixing the cultural barrier in service will be really helpful, and is also respectful to both sides. If Japan has it's own service language and culturally expects the listener to bear the burden of understanding, adding a step of just speaking regular Japanese BEFORE moving to English respects that culture as well as foreigners making an honest effort at learning.
And I can only speak for Americans, but the Broken English is just as good as perfect English to us. Because of how large and obtuse our vocabulary is, we're all pre-programmed to heavily rely on context and be interpretive of what we're told, so a single english word and a gesture will clear up almost all misunderstandings.
6:37 – These hand signs are actually not even the same everywhere. Not talking about Japan here, but in Denmark, for example, left hand out means going to the left. Right hand out means going right. Left hand up means stopping (usually to turn left). These are generally taught.
I used to ride my bike everyday to work. Riding a bike always freaked me out.
Legally a bike is classified as both a vehicle and not a vehicle. It must make way for pedestrians but can also use the road. You are to pick the one that is safest and will least inhibit traffic.
The trouble is that Japan has almost no sidewalks outside of Tokyo and Osaka.
And also, it is 100% illegal to use your bike bell at a pedestrian. The same way a horn is illegal to use at a pedestrian.
If you happen to be on a bi-directional road that is one car size big it is extremely dangerous. I have often experienced cars without a care almost push me off the road. We are talking inches away from me.
So some roads that were heavily used by cars I refused to use because it was so dangerous that I felt I was going to get run off the road into a wall, rice paddy, or worse.
Quick edit:
At 90 degrees turns I have almost been hit by cars 3 times. Each of those times the car was running passed the stop mark and edged into the sidewalk of the main street. In order to do a fast turn. Needless to say I stopped taking that path home from work as I didn't want to get killed.
Had a JSDF group visit us here on JBER in Anchorage, AK and they were extremely respectful and excited to work with us. The only problem we had was the language barrier, Google translate was well used on both sides.
Is removing your headwear in an outdoor religious location really a custom in Japan? I'm not entirely ignorant of the Japanese culture and I have been prompted to follow the rules of a Shinto shrine while visiting Japan, but not one person, Japanese or otherwise, ever made any sort of gesture concerning my hat. And during my latest visit I happened by sheer chance to witness a very solemn Shinto ceremony featuring hundreds of people crammed in a shrine silently bowing and praying for an extended period and all of them had either a headband or a traditional Japanese hat on.
Also, I'm amazed that Japanese people would bother with Keigo with a foreigner at all. When I've dealt with Japanese customer service people, they've always either spoken in as simple Japanese as possible or switched to English when it came apparent in the first sentence or two that my Japanese is very rudimentary.
I see that you experienced a shitton of what religious westerners would call "heresy".
This "car" issue is a very political topic. The only way to cosistenly make drivers move slowly is by making than unconfortable, with narrow streets and curves.
That thing about the use of bells on bikes is the same here in the UK (at the very least on paper). The use of a horn or bell is to warn pedestrians that they are there or coming.
Ok l know this will sound dumb but I lost it laughing at the idea of laminated bananas. I'm super tired and I can't stop thinking that it would make a good band name.
Yo.
Can You do a video on how ninja is Miguel O'hara (Spider-Man 2099) ?
Also still waiting on that Aragami video you mentioned in Scorpions vid.
Gaijin: Bicyclists are out of control, man! They drive crazy and drive fast!
Bike-chan: Truck-kun o koete, baiku-chan wa koko ni imasu!
Mental image of making the suggestion to the clerks "Hey. I don't understand politeness. Disrespect me! I work better when I'm disrespected!" lol Love it. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
There needs to be a "katagana" version of simplified Japanese for foreigners lol 26;20
Sees the controversy about booty shorts as censoring on Victory Belles.
Joke's on you, I'm into booty shorts.
if it wasn't for Kamen Rider and Super Sentai Japan would mean nothing to me…..and rockman
The only shrine I was at was the one in Hawaii, and there was nobody manning it. We had a place to ourselves. My husband wasn’t much into it and I can’t remember if he took off his hat or not I’m assuming he didn’t. But I did enjoy participating in the rituals as best I could. Luckily, there was some signs that told me what to do.
Gaijin, you do realize that Christians are unlikely to want to treat the shrines as places of worship, because they don't see it that way. Because it's against their faiths to do so.
Would it be appropriate to say "すみません、敬語がわかりません" and ask for masu-desu forms directly? That way they can start with keigo in case of tryhards. How many customer service types would even be comfortable switching? Would they get it? With the listener responsibility, would they understand the culture clash or is that such an ingrained thing that it's not something that comes to mind?
Its one thing being worried about making a cultural mistake. But its another knowing your accompaning family members WILL make those mistakes and they don't listen to you when you try to help.
Now that I know about it, when I head back to the shrine again (fingers crossed we got time) we’ll make sure to bow before we enter the gates.
Any notes about cameras? I know it’s a no go up at the gift place, but how is the rules around the rest of it?