What is Digg?400 Comments
- inactive, on 05/28/2008, -30/+1471. Japanese people like to sniff underage schoolgirl panties.
- shondell, on 05/28/2008, -5/+11111) When taking photographs up Japanese girl's skirts, it is always the custom to leave the flash off.
- mjspear, on 05/28/2008, -2/+94they definitely have the coolest gameshows.
- ethomas046, on 05/28/2008, -3/+94Very interesting to be reminded of the differences in terms of respect of others (in terms of masks and slippers) compared to the U.S. while also seeing the reliance on conformity and less interest in individuality.
Oh, and dugg for the Sento Bath picture :) - oncea, on 05/28/2008, -4/+85Very true, coltrane - learning how to say no without actually saying "no" is an art in Japanese speech, as is making requests in a less direct manner.
In English, this would be the equivalent of translating, "could I take a vacation day tomorrow?" to "I apologize for the inconvenience, and I understand that the company is always very busy, but I haven't been feeling too well recently, and might require a few hours, perhaps a day, to rest... would this be at all possible? Again, very sorry and thank you for working so hard. Thank you. Sorry for the inconvenience." - sramquist, on 05/28/2008, -0/+77I was born and raised in Japan, and I can vouch that this is one of the best "how to survive Japan" lists that I've seen so far on Digg.
Regarding safety in Japan, I think the author is playing against the expectation that Japan is of no crime. Um, obviously, crimes of all types happen in Japan.
However, the rumors really are true: Japan is the safest country that I've ever been in (and I've traveled in dozens of countries covering 4 continents). My sister all throughout her youth could walk around any part of Japan that we were in at night without fear. My parents each left their wallets on trains or on bikes outside, etc, several times and had them returned by a courteous stranger.
So, travelers to Japan should use common sense. But you can leave that can of mace at home. - MarCrawford, on 05/28/2008, -4/+7811. The Japanese have a thing for hiding hundreds of grams of dank kush in your luggage.
- coltrane68, on 05/28/2008, -3/+74This seems accurate based on my travels in Japan and my experience with Japanese colleagues.
@acrodev. Saying no is indeed avoided in Japanese culture. The Japanese strive to be accommodating, and they feel that saying no is not consistent with this. Often Japanese people will say yes to a request but do otherwise in hopes that you will get their message. Westerners often interpret this as passive-aggressive, but it is just a cultural difference. - gryphon50, on 05/28/2008, -2/+70from what I understand, it's rude to say "no" so instead they pause and then after a long moment of hesitation, they say "yes." However, in this culture everyone understands that such an answer is really "no" and acts accordingly. Apparently it has led to some issues with Japanese businessmen and American businessmen- the Japanese think they are conveying "no" but the Americans definitely heard "yes."
- litfsh, on 05/28/2008, -7/+74No.
- ExitMoose, on 05/28/2008, -3/+62Anyone who diggs this down has obviously never spent time in Japan.
- dyckdownunder, on 05/28/2008, -2/+59thats what she said
- BrightIdea, on 05/28/2008, -3/+58It's all about having a little respect for others.
Good article. - fxu1989, on 05/28/2008, -3/+512. Tentacles. That is all.
- mixsense, on 05/28/2008, -1/+49Dude, janitors don't have desks.
- drunkwally, on 05/28/2008, -9/+55In Japan, the chicks living near US Military bases say no, but the soldiers know they really mean yes.
- Zihuatanejo, on 05/28/2008, -4/+49Anybody interested in the experiences of an American living in Japan should check out http://www.gaijinsmash.net/. If the average American sticks out, you can imagine the time a huge black guy teaching English in public schools has.
- zinc6471, on 05/28/2008, -2/+42why do we crash servers so fast...
Text only
http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:y5toehQg9vEJ: ... - quaxon, on 05/28/2008, -4/+44the japanese are crazy with their customs and respect. I just got back from my first trip to tokyo and i remember as the place began to taxi away the ground crew lined up and all bowed to the place and waved goodbye. i thought it was a nice little ending to a great trip.
- Equinox1, on 05/28/2008, -0/+38I actually really enjoyed that article.
- inactive, on 05/28/2008, -26/+61When photographing a girl lying upside down in a bathtub spraying her own face with explosive diarrhea, be sure to blur out her pubic hair so as not to offend moral sensibilities.
- HuskyPuzzle, on 06/03/2008, -4/+39Great article. Japan is one place I'd want to come correct with my table manners. Fired up to go slurp some noodles in Tokyo one of these days..
- Karmavs, on 05/28/2008, -0/+35Er… napkins in restaurants are NEVER for blowing your nose. Anywhere.
- Haikuattack, on 05/28/2008, -4/+38 I live in Tokyo. I'm white, I'm doing fine. Shockingly, yes some people here dislike immigrants starting up long term businesses! It's the same in England, America and pretty much everywhere else. On the whole people adore foreigners, some old people are afraid of you but then again people back in England are afraid of me.
The main thing is that living here currently means living in a population with little ethnic variety so yes people will stare at you, because you're something of note. It's no different from any other country in that respect. - kpaphysicist, on 05/28/2008, -10/+44don't post a website that can't handle a couple diggs?
- 808ethan, on 05/28/2008, -2/+34Seriously.
I was down on America until I lived in Japan for a while. Realizing there are whole countries out there that don't even think racism is wrong really made me feel proud that while we have racism, we kick its ass whenever it stops hiding. - serif69, on 05/28/2008, -0/+3134. If it exists, there is a vending machine for it.
- inactive, on 05/28/2008, -4/+351.a. Especially if they are soiled.
- alecks, on 05/28/2008, -0/+30So... uhmm.. wanna come up for a drink..
Girl: {long pause}.. yes.
[Scores] - GTanaka, on 05/28/2008, -3/+33Unfortunate but true. Japanese, as a populace, are xenophobic and it's doing [sarcasm] wonders [/sarcasm] for their economy.
- Snottlebocket, on 05/28/2008, -1/+31Just look at it as beating around the bush. If you want to borrow someones car and they would like to say no, they'll say something like 'I'd love to but my wife is using the car this morning'.
- inactive, on 05/28/2008, -4/+34Whatever you do, don't ***** on the dinner table in Japan! Take it from someone who found out the hard way...
- santaliqueur, on 05/28/2008, -1/+30I find the most erotic part of a woman is the boobies.
- chudgoo, on 05/28/2008, -1/+30Damnit!
Reading through these I realized that I must have appeared very much the typical American slob.
1) blew nose in public
2) used wet clothes on forehead
3) ate those nikomon things (steamed pork buns) while walking around in public
4) dressed strange
5) tried so very hard to speak broken Japanese even when they met me half way in English.
oh well, maybe next time - rpebble, on 05/28/2008, -1/+29"But seriously, I want a day off."
- birdtrio3, on 05/28/2008, -7/+35that's kind of true. they're racist to a lot of foreigners except whites who speak english. they adore them :) if you happen to be black, you'll get a lot of glances and even some requests by old women to have your picture taken with them.
- bxblox, on 05/28/2008, -0/+26From the page: "I think I've had my fair share of knock-you-on-the-floor-WTF moments. From The Greatest Question Ever ("how many women have you raped?")"
.....wow... I cant see how that could not be offensive... - acrodev, on 05/28/2008, -2/+27I've also read that it's impolite to say 'No'. Would someone please elaborate?
- warhol15, on 05/28/2008, -2/+26meh. if you've never been to japan and read a negative post about racism don't get discouraged. find your own way. there are many many many many cool Japanese people to meet, and get to know, who are not racist. trust me.
- Hangly, on 05/28/2008, -1/+24You should say instead "that's difficult." People will know you mean no, and it's much less blunt.
- CrackIsWack, on 05/28/2008, -0/+23Unwarranted hyper-sensitivity to racial issues FOR THE LOSE.
- Namaha, on 05/28/2008, -0/+223. Japanese men get nosebleeds, not erections.
- nubbler, on 05/28/2008, -1/+22No. err.. I mean It's difficult
- GTanaka, on 05/28/2008, -1/+21You, sir, apparently fly on an expensive airline.
- santaliqueur, on 05/28/2008, -4/+24Wait, America is not the most racist and evil country in the world? When did this happen?
- Orchid64, on 05/28/2008, -2/+21You can always tell the difference between the commenters who have lived in Japan and those who have not. Those who have not put the Japanese on a pedestal. Those who have possess a deeper understanding that all cultures are full of flaws and strengths and that includes Japan.
The respect thing is overblown in that one affords respect and is afforded it based on status. If your status is perceived as lower than the other party, they may treat you poorly. The reason most foreigners (tourists) are so impressed is that, as the customer, they are seen as having higher status and treated very deferentially. The experience is quite different if you work in a Japanese office with a bunch of managers, salesmen, and office girls. You'll find soon enough that the respect is supposed to go one way - from you to the males in the office and to those older than you. - edstate, on 05/28/2008, -8/+25A good Japanese friend of mine says this comes from Shinto, where the belief is that everything has a soul.
- WoollyMittens, on 05/28/2008, -0/+18My other mirror is a porsche.
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