Yeah so I've been in Japan for a month now, and tomorrow I return to the states. And now I think I'm gonna talk about everything I hate about being a Japanese major, though I think I will disclaim, ahead of time so this doesn't make the collective "nice people" blood boil excessively, that I love Japan and I love the language. My problem with being a Japanese major? 2fold, other Japanese majors, and Japanophilewannabes. Some people are both at once. Let us begin, shall we.
You know them. Their eyes bloom with cherry blossoms when they start to talk about Japan, the land where porn flows like water and yet women are safe to walk the streets after dark alone. Land of unparalleled civilit where the exotic flowers of girls are sweet and traditional and know the value of a good man and how to submit and listen. Ah! The sweet country where they really belong, you see they were never meant for the barbarous country of America with it's independence and it's "intolerance" and blahblahblah...they can yammer on and on...You know them. You may be one.
It's a bunch of bull.
If you are one of these people the depth of my loathing and pity can barely be described you poor sap. Besides not being true thinking that way is demeaning and lame and only is setting yourself up for disappointment at the hands of cold reality.
Japan - The Reality
Now I've only been here for a month but some things are so bloody obvious even to me that you could be a 2 year old and figure them out.
#1: If you come to Japan prepare to be laughed at and demeaned by the populace.
I.e. the no matter how good you are in Japanese class, it ain't good enough. Japanese people are in many ways completely kind, and very generous. They are also some of the most selfcentric demeaning people I know. It must be some sort of cultural thing, but it is freakishly wide spread. If you come and even remotely try to speak Japanese socially you will 90% likely be subject to: The Loaded Compliment. Say "yes" in Japanese and someone will likely gasp and say something completely unwarranted like ‚ ‚ �I‚·‚²‚¢“ú–{Œê�I(wow! great Japanese) followed by applause. You may feel flattered the first time and respond with the appropriate "oh no, not yet" but after the fifth if you have a brain the size of a gnat's it will begin to dawn on you that this is a complete and utter diss. It means one of two things 1. your accent sucks the big ones and I am just stroking your hairy white foreign ego. 2. I expected you to be such an ignorant clod that I am shocked you can say "yes" go figure, they can teach even dogs to talk. After the tenth time someone asks you to "say something in Japanese" the best thing to do is launch into a well prepared self introduction speech. 9 times out of 10 you will get a much lesser praise. Which follows to the next point.
#2 Japanese people are not interested in you. No, not even the women.
Most Japanese people don't really want to be your friend because you have no concept of correct behavior. No, your culture class didn't count. No anime doesn't count. Only thing that counts is time and you probably won't have enough. You may, you may not, but recognize the big problem about relationships in Japan: Assumptions and Lip Service. It will be assumed that you will do certain things, like bring house gifts, and exchange pictures you took with people but one thing will not be assumed: "Let's meet sometime" often means "well you kinda suck bye." There are multiple tales of guys being stood up by Japanese girls acting NORMAL for them. And face it punk, the nice traditional ones aren't yours for the taking anyway. They're gonna get an arranged marriage and like it (actually arranged marriages are more successful here...which brings me to my next point...)
#3 Japan is civil like my ass.
Before you go trying to prove that Japan has some innately bred or genetic civility remember that Japan did this to China that their half assed apologies make those of our lamer leaders seem like true remorse and that most of them don't even know what really happened in WW2. That at one time some 95% of schoolgirls had been molested on the trains (and I don't mean idly brushing up against someone because it is crowded) and that the signs warning about it sound nearly identical to ours warning against shoplifting. Remember that in Japan there is such a complete lack of ability to communicate between the sexes that women are opting to not get married and that's one of the reasons the birth rate is declining. It's normal for families to live apart indefinately especially if the husband has to work elsewhere because to take the kids out of school would be to subject them to classmate torment at a new school. And let's not forget the massive lolita complex of pretty much the entire society.
Granted that a lot of Japan is nice, on the surface, which is what fuels the country. Underneath you're dealing with no different than anywhere else and in some ways worse.
#4 Anime is everywhere!
Like my ass. Anime is nowhere, punk unless it's ten years old or brand spanking new. You can get anything Gundam, Sailor Moon, Miyazaki, or sometimes Evangelion. You can get Takahashi manga. You can get 20 year old stuff on the TV in Hiroshima. And dvds cost upwards of $40 each. No joke. I was in DeoDeo (best buy) and it is still true. Manga used is cheap at Book Off (I don't name the stores) but your selection will be large and still somehow slightly whack.
#5 Japan is Not a good place to go get a job as a translator and make bucks and retire in America rich.
This one gets me. Japan is land of �‚‚¢(expensive) you aren't gonna retire anything. Cost of living is insane, monthly rent is sky high rice costs $10 for a tiny bag because imported rice is of the devil. Cream is $4 a pint. Cream cheese, $4 for 8 ounces. Tortillas are REALLY still $5 for 12. No joking. Electronics are not cheap, not by a long shot, there is hardly such a thing as the clearance sale or the bargain item. There are 100\ ($1) stores but clothing is around $30 to $40 for a "cool" shirt with some retarded english on it. Add to this the fact that Japan doesn't want you (Mazda has no foreign engineers on this side.) and taxes take nearly half your income and give it to the old Japanese who's pensions are in danger because noone wants to have kids anymore, you got a pretty dismal life plan if that's what you want to do with your life.
Okay, once again, I LIKE Japan. But if you're going to Japan with big ideal dreams, I may not like you. Do me a favor and let the place be human. Let it be real. And for crying out loud get your head out of Anime.
And from Japan - Love and Peace.