The Myths Of Japan

You know how you always hear so much about Japan, there are countless reasons why people want to, or suggest you visit Japan though much of it is in fact either untrue or very vague in its reality.

I’m here to clarify what Japan is really about and why or why not you shouldn’t visit. As well I’ll touch on some little known and interesting facts about Japan.

First off whenever I heard about Japan in North America people would associate this country with cheap electronics. Everything is made here so it’s cheaper.

Wrong, very little is actually made in Japan and the items that are (Camera Lenses for example) retail for very large sums of money. Many items are in fact designed here and the companies themselves are situated in Japan but most of the actual construction is outsourced to China and Taiwan much like North American goods.

Prices are just as expensive if not more-so and the language barrier (if you can’t read Kanji) makes many items that would be fantastic to own much less useful.

JAPANESE WOMEN.

This is a topic that contains much controversy and differing opinions.

The main stereotype would be that they are very interested in foreign men and that it is easy for foreign men to date Japanese women.

From my experience here I would say that is true but situationally different. Like anywhere there will be a certain amount of people that fulfill any stereotype, otherwise said stereotype would not have a basis to begin with. I think the trouble with this stereotype regarding Japanese women is that.

A: Japan has a very large, dense population so with so many people packed into such a small area it is easier to find the stereotypical examples.

B: there are places known as “Gaijin bars” (Foreign people bars) where Japanese women go to specifically meet foreign guys.

So yes overall it is easy to date a Japanese woman if you are foreign (especially a visible minority) but at the same time not all Japanese women are interested in foreign men, quite the contrary many Japanese women are either scared of Gaijin or avoid them if possible.

Also I find that if I bring up the topic of how easy it is for foreigners to date Japanese women with Japanese people they resent it and think that it is a very negative element of Japan and they will not openly discuss it. I tend to agree that it is a very negative way to look at a countries female population but unfortunately don’t make the stereotypes, I just comment on them.

STEREOTYPE: Japanese schools are very disciplined and strict

False. Absolutely totally unfounded and false. Perhaps years ago the school system was in fact strict and disciplined with corporal punishment and rules in place but by today’s standard it is a mad house.

I grew up in Canada where I attended school from Kindergarten to University and I while there wasn’t always a harsh discipline system in place, kids generally didn’t act up or get in trouble all that often. I mean it happened but it was quickly brought under control and the class was resumed.

Lets say the teacher is talking and explaining an assignment that all the students are expected to do. Now in Canada the class would stop even their slight whisperings and pay attention because they recognize this part of the class to be important and they need this information. In Japan at this point I’d say there are an average of 3 or 4 students sleeping and probably 2 - 5 students speaking loudly.

What does the teacher do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. If it gets completely out of control to the point where in Canada the entire class would face a detention then the teacher will tell everyone to be quiet, which only occasionally works and for a very brief period if at all. I’ve seen students go so far as the punch a male teacher in the nuts… yup right in the beanbag, what did the teacher do? He made a noise as if in pain and slapped the kid in the back of the head.

Now these kinds of kids exist in Canada and America but they aren’t the responsibility of teachers, they would be put in a separate class for kids with emotional or social problems until they learn to co-exist with the rest of the population. Even students who have mental disabilities are right there alongside the rest of the class, I’m standing up in front of everyone trying to teach English and while I know half the class if bored and sleeping because they know all of this already, I know the other half is completely oblivious to what I’m saying and is either talking to their friends or just off in a world of their own.

It’s a problem that is acknowledged by Japanese and Foreigners alike but yet none of these issues seem to be addressed. It’s a strange state of affairs.

I’m not saying that the class doesn’t ever pay attention or that they aren’t smart and don’t learn its just that there is no disciplinary system so when some student decides he doesn’t want to learn, the entire class is then forced to halt or degrade as a result.

Maybe if I could speak more Japanese this would make more sense, but somehow I doubt it.

FACT: almost every Japanese student goes to school after school. This is called Juku, and it is basically a cram school where they probably learn 85% of what they know, I’m sure there is a rigid disciplinary system in place and I’m sure its horribly boring and dry but it is necessary because the classes they take during the regular course of the day are wasted from lack of discipline.

STEREOTYPE: Japan is a very tech based society where everything is crazy and new.

To a point I would agree, there are bright flashing lights every two inches and the gadgets you can get and the toys they offer are at times far beyond the current norm in other countries. The problem is this general acceptance of cool gadgets doesn’t translate over to the realm of computers. From my experience while the average Japanese person can easily manage everyday tasks on a computer, the mentality that they are “uber” computer users seems exaggerated. I would say the average North American would be much more proficient on a computer than a similar Japanese citizen, the cause being the delay in computing being able to handle the Japanese language. Computers powerful enough to integrate Kanji (an alphabet of 5000+ characters) were established long after computers had flooded homes throughout North America. I’m pretty sure my old 486sx with its 4 Megs of ram would not have been able to handle the complexities of Kanji and the Japanese language.

So while the cool gadgets and toys run amok in the streets of Japan I would say that the average user is less knowledgeable than a North American consumer. We’ve just had more exposure to computing though Japan will certainly catch up in a few years.

FACT: Almost every school in Japan has some sort of Uniform or strict dress code. As a result once students are out of the bounds of school fashion takes a turn for umm well it gets a little crazy. Go to a Japanese university and its like a fashion war zone, everyone has competing and conflicting styles, I think that’s why places like Harajuku are renowned for their unique take of fashion, being restricted to a skirt and jacket for the better part of 20 years can do something to you. For further proof look at Japanese citizens aged 60 - 70 and older, for some reason it is perfectly normal and acceptable to, at this age, Dye your hair PURPLE. I don’t know… I suppose they are rebelling in their eternal wisdom that comes with age, speaking out against the injustice of having spent all those years in the same repetitive clothing. Or perhaps they just all like the colour purple. It’s basically straight out of a wrinkly, slow, humpbacked anime. Next thing you know they’ll all have purple contact lenses too…

STEREOTYPE: Japan is safe! No crime or vandalism.

I would primarily agree, for the most part this country is very safe. Unfortunately with the population as high as it is there are bound to be some bad apples, and with so little happening crime-wise, when something does happen it is showcased and spread like mad.

I’ve had one occurrence with a strange man coming to my apartment building and harassing the female foreigners that live there, I’ve heard of several bikes stolen that were located the next day sometimes with an apology note and I know that everyone, myself included sleeps on all forms of public transportation.

So overall it is a very safe place to live, though as a foreigner you will be a target for police and just general criminal categorization. I have been stopped by the police once to be questioned and my white neighbor has been stopped twice to verify that his bike was not stolen.

That’s all for this segment of Japanese Stereotypes.

Check back for some more interesting facts and looks at the differing elements of Japanese society in comparison to North America.

Please feel free to leave comments or e-mail me with any suggestions or questions. (brad.crawford@gmail.com)