What do you not like or hate about Japan?

[Ancient_Samurai]

Hi, I just love Japan, and I can't find many reasons to have a problem with Japan in many ways.

I was wondering for those of you who live in Japan or have been there what do you not like or hate about Japan if anything?

Are Japanese Laws tight or loose? Are there a lot of laws? what law do you not agree with, and why?

peace- over and out for now!

[GaijinPunch]

Well, I think you'll find things to hate about ANYWHERE you live. I've since relocated to Hawaii, and could name a few things. In Japan...

-Not all ATMs aren't 24 hours
-TV is awful
-Apartments are small
-Takes forever to get anywhere
-Rainy season

Those are some things that got on my nerves. Minor in the light of everything, that's for sure.

[PopCulturePooka]

The ATM thing definately!
Salarymen and otakus.
The inflexibility of service.

[Iron Chef]

The high cost of living in the city (and everything associated with that)... 8-)

[Mels]

:jama:
Hello

Not much to dislike about Japan. I find things that may be frustrating or irritating, such as:
guys spitting
obasan tachi pushing me out of the way when buying a train ticket and neighborhood gossip
going to Ginza and being forced into purchasing a cake set when all I want is coffee
Spending way to much money on books at Shinjyuku's Kinokuniya
Having to race for that last train
Wishing there was furigana for all Kanji charaters

The laws never bothered me, except the animal quarantine is a bit long and harsh...my dog was in there for months.
At least Japan isnt like Singapore....the laws there are actually very funny..such as - no chewing gum..etc.

More things to love about Japan and things I miss:
Shimokitazawa's Okonomiyaki- the best
Dunken Donuts free coffere refill.....no place else
Kuri being roasted, ramen ya :ramen: , chahan and gyoza
Yokohama Shyumai
Effecient transit..whether its bus or train
Buying fresh shoku pan at the bakery....the best pastries are in Japan
Love watching nihon no programs
Miss calling the neighborhood rest to order anything I want and they deliver..piping hot food in regular dishes, not plastic or foil

[kawaiisan]

-TV is awful

I was actually under the impression that tv there pwns? I mean, all these anime, and those wacky japanese reality shows.. haha I recall "TV-Champion" being aired in Indonesia ;)

[klacid]

I like Japan mostly because of the culture and the anime.

[Mike Cash]

I was actually under the impression that tv there pwns? I mean, all these anime, and those wacky japanese reality shows.. haha I recall "TV-Champion" being aired in Indonesia ;)

Japanese TV sucks so hard that all the trees in Korea grow at a 30 degree tilt to the east.

[RockLee]

Japanese TV sucks so hard that all the trees in Korea grow at a 30 degree tilt to the east.
I liked Japanese tv actually...but if u mean commercials every 5 damn minutes, that got on my nerves too !! :okashii: But the human interests shows and things like that were fun to watch ! :cool:

[iwao]

Japanese do not understand being ironic - you always have to add "nanchatte"
administrations treat foreigners as aliens (from another planet)
changing tourist visa to buisness visa - you have to leave the island!

but if I compare all the bad things with the good features ... I still love Japan

[f4senkyo69]

Oi!
I'm from Singapore okay..


heh heh.. but anyway, Singapore's not too bad, if you don't count the last time I enjoyed a stick of gum as being around 10 years ago..

[kuntow]

Hey, gum's overrated. You know how much of it I've encountered on the underside of desks while in school?

As for hating stuff about Japan...I haven't spent enough time there to have developed any real antipathies. I never made it out of the honeymoon stage.

[Brooker]

I love Japan, but there were a few things that bothered me....

-Flourescent lights everywhere that give you a headache.
-Difficulty in getting your money out of the bank.
-Too much packaging on everything.
-The constant fake politeness in stores gets a little old after a while.
-People are leary about being approached in public.
-Overcast skies and grey buildings everywhere.
-Garbage covered beaches.
-No benches to sit on in the streets.
-Lack of public art and architecture.

Bear in mind, I had to think hard to come up with some of these.

[blade_bltz]

Grey buildings
Overcommercialization

[f4senkyo69]

I always thought they had pristine beaches... no wonder some of the tourists here have commented that our beaches look really fake.

[TwistedMac]

Japanese TV sucks so hard that all the trees in Korea grow at a 30 degree tilt to the east.
hehe. paints a clear picture.

[Brooker]

I just thought of another one....

-Everywhere you go you hear announcement, songs, and inane jingles playing all at once. :22: :nuts: :smash: :22:

...and another...

-Lack of trees (but I'm used to the Pacific Northwest).

[PopCulturePooka]

I agree with all of Brookers!

[Iron Chef]

Never a garbage can when you need one... people picking their noses in public with nary a thought of "ewww..." being stared at while I shop for groceries at the same place for the past year like I just stepped fresh off the boat... etc. Overall though, the pros outweigh the cons 10-1 imho. 8-)

[jread]

-Overcast skies and grey buildings everywhere.

Okay... you live in SEATTLE and you mentioned this? Japan must be the most depressing place ever :worried:

[smoke]

the only thing i hate about japan is the fact that i don't speak japanese so i'd feel like a pleb when i visit...technically, i've never been so i shouldn't really comment on this thread

[Brooker]

Okay... you live in SEATTLE and you mentioned this? Japan must be the most depressing place ever :worried:

I don't like the fact that Seattle is overcast either, but in Seattle we get relief from it in the summer and have perfectly sunny days. It seems like it's overcast year round in Japan. I look back at all my pictures and I don't see any with clear skies. I lived in Fuji City at the base of Mt. Fuji and saw Mt. Fuji about once a week.

[GaijinPunch]

Never a garbage can when you need one...

AMEN! Forgot about this one... guess I got used to it.

I don't know what you guys are saying about the weather. There were plenty of Sunny days when I was there. Spring and Fall are absolutely beautiful. I even like the summer. Rainy season is the only time I'm really miserable.

[Brooker]

Yeah, the lack of garbage cans is another good one. Not to mention, the people handing out advertisements everywhere and then once you get them you can't get rid of them.

[senseiman]

Concrete, asphalt and destruction of natural beauty everywhere you look is the one thing I positively hate about Japan. Or, to be more accurate it is the one thing in Japan that I positively hate. I hate this everywhere, but in Japan it seems to be a much more accute problem for various reasons.

For example, a couple weeks ago I took the ferry across the Seto Naikai to Shodo shima. I counted three mountain islands that were in the process of being completely levelled in order to produce landfill and rocks, presumably for the construction of the useless additional runway at Kansai international airport. This pisses me off to no end, the Seto Naikai is one of the most beautiful seas in the world and yet its beautiful islands are being systematically destroyed. Even on Shodo Shima, which is the tourist spot that sells itself as a place of natural beauty, I counted no fewer than 9 mountains that were in the process of being completely razed, leaving the most horrendous eyesores to mar what would otherwise have been a breathtakingly beautiful natural environment.

I've travelled pretty extensively throughout Japan and this is happening everywhere, which is a real shame. I can't help but think that the only way this'll end is when they run out of mountains to destroy.

[zero g]

dang I'm from U.S. and I was planning when I graduate from college to go to Japan but now I realize japan is pretty bad... What I like about Japan is the Culture, Anime,and Music. It would be nice getaway for me to straighten my life... are there bugs in japan that get on your face all the time? because in india flies and mosquitos are always bothering you...

[Flowerbird]

I didn't like the way some people treat their pets. For instance, I used to live next to a family with a dog, which they always kept chained. I never saw them taking the poor thing out for a walk. I complained to my host family and they told me the dog was 12 years old and had always been chained like that. What a miserable life! Then I started to notice other dogs being kept in the same way. It's really a disgrace to see this happening in a first world country.

[Index]

I'm not a fan of majorly crowded subways like the Tozai and Ginza lines. Also racism wrapped up in polite words.

[Shibuyaexpat]

Things I love about Japan (Tokyo specifically):
- Though rare, ATMs that take coins when depoisting money!
- Cigarette vending machines (and the cost of cigarettes)--now. now. I know all about the health risks so spare me ;P
- Trains that actually run on time (barring the occasional accident). I lived in the SF/Bay Area and anyone who's taken the Muni or BART will totally understand what I'm saying.
- Clean taxi cabs! Ever take a cab in NYC? One feels like a perp in the back of a squad car or a caged animal behind that plexiglass shield.
- Little hand towels at restaurants.

Things I find irritating:
- People (more guys than women) who "slip" through closing doors without a thought to keep it open for the person behind them
- People who see a crammed train car, and think, "Yeah, there's room for me still!" and jam their way in.
- Not being able to deviate from a set menu. Onion rings instead of fries; not lettuce, extra onions, etc.
- Being of Korean descent, going to Korean restaurants and being charged for rice and the little side dishes that are normally complimentary. I could forgive the side dishes, but RICE?!!! That's an integral part of the meal. It's like ordering a ham sandwich, and being charged extra because you want bread!
- Eki-net Shinkansen online ticket ordering. What an absolute nightmare! The only way to know if there is a seat available is to go through the hassle of reserving and then wait for a confirmation email. If that particular train you selected is full, you have to repeat the process from the beginning. They don't even suggest which trains have available seats. And there is no way of doing a round trip reservation. If you're planning a trip during high season, you can generally expect to receive a least 20 emails from Eki-net. Advice for foreign visitors planning trips within Japan: have your local travel agent do your booking. The money you spend will equate into time saved and aggravation averted.

[Brooker]

dang I'm from U.S. and I was planning when I graduate from college to go to Japan but now I realize japan is pretty bad... What I like about Japan is the Culture, Anime,and Music. It would be nice getaway for me to straighten my life... are there bugs in japan that get on your face all the time? because in india flies and mosquitos are always bothering you...

Japan is great. This thread is just about the bad things. Everyone here, despite the bad things they've listed, really likes Japan or they probably wouldn't be here at this site. There's bad points about everywhere. Don't let any of this scare you.

[Index]

Japan is great. This thread is just about the bad things. Everyone here, despite the bad things they've listed, really likes Japan or they probably wouldn't be here at this site. There's bad points about everywhere. Don't let any of this scare you.

That's right. I'm planning on moving back next year. Can't wait...

[Flashjeff]

Well, the only thing I hate about Japan is that it's so damned far away. 17 hours by plane from Philly to Tokyo! AARRGGHHH!!!
:okashii:

[Mahoujin Tsukai]

High prices.
Incredibily stressful education system.

That's all I can name at the moment.

[ArmandV]

I have not found anything yet I don't like about Japan itself, but there is one annoying thing that the Japanese do: their penchant for the avoidance of "no." Instead, they use "it is difficult" or similar phrases.

[jet_dee]

Hmm, apart from everything else that's probably been mentioned so far, it "really" annoys me that they love white people, and increasingly black people , so much, and the rest of the world (especially asian people, I'm of indian ethnicity) get screwed over in the pecking order.

[Kleenex]

Things that I like about Japan:
1) They make good video games
2) Japan is nice place to shop although goods are too expensive.
3)Shinkansen

Things that I hate about Japan:
1) Young teenagers who wear stylish clothes. They swear(saying nasty words) in the public too much with broken english. Plus, they intentionally pick up fight to people they don't even know.

2) Subway stations.Some places are OK, but some are really unclean.

3) Japanese beer

4) Japanese people's attitude towards other Asians.

[Kleenex]

One more ting. Tokyo from Narita airport is too far away. If you take by taxi, then WOW too expensive

Well, the only thing I hate about Japan is that it's so damned far away. 17 hours by plane from Philly to Tokyo! AARRGGHHH!!!
:okashii:

[Shibuyaexpat]

Things that I hate about Japan:
1) Young teenagers who wear stylish clothes. They swear(saying nasty words) in the public too much with broken english. Plus, they intentionally pick up fight to people they don't even know.

And they are different from teenagers in the US and S. Korea? U.S. teens are awful (I should know, I probably trained most of them ;p), and S. Korean teenagers are no better. I was in a train in Seoul with a Caucasian colleague (speaking English) and a group of teenagers started making comments about us. I immediately shot them a look to tell them that I understood what they were saying, and then they started to harass us even more!


2) Subway stations.Some places are OK, but some are really unclean.

Compared to what? Either I've been to many crappy subways or you're living in a hygenic bubble.


3) Japanese beer.

I haven't sampled all of what's out there, but on the whole, I think it's pretty decent. Ebisu draft (not can or bottle) is pretty good. Recently tried some of that happoshu, and it's pretty much akin to beer flavored soda water.


4) Japanese people's attitude towards other Asians.
I don't know that it's the individual citizens or the government (which I classify as coddled, middle- to late-aged men, more obsessed with groping young girls and taking kickbacks than running a government for people). Individuals I have met have been extremely kind and interested in other cultures, whereas the gov't policies seem based on the narrow-minded, under-educated, reality via manga attitudes. Don't get me wrong. I think the same way for American government as well. Government's means of perpetuating its existence is to create the fear of the unknown and then act as the solution. The beauty of this scenario is that there really is nothing to fear so they can sit on their fat asses and do nothing and it looks as if they are successful. What a crock-o-sh#t!

[mad pierrot]

Man, recently the NHK man has been getting on my nerves. He's hunting me down like a dog. Last week he sent a bill to my Board of Education because he couldn't find me. I hide in fear......

[Ancient_Samurai]

This has all been very interesting. I have learnt things about Japan that I had NO idea about. I think I should put in my two cents now.
One thing: Certain things are very irrelevant, and answers will change for the individual preferences. I have no reason to see how weather would say anything positive or negative about a country. People are ALL over the planet- from tropical to sandy deserts to deserts of ice, and people have survived fine all these years, so yeah, no need to complain about the weather- Land plants and water animals/plants need water to survive! (duh)

Also there was a comment about gray buildings in Japan. Gray gloomy buildings are in many cities and Japan may have some, but it also has many beautiful buildings. I much admire their amazing ancient craft of architecture. Although this link does not have many old buildings some of the new buildings are interesting. check it out!: http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/?id=100297 and check the icon "Images" to see some neat pics. Of course cities always look scary with their many people and high buildings, but around the world many amazing buildings have been built.
This building from Tokyo is amazing, check it!: http://www.emporis.com/en/il/im/?id=233474 To find it: Go to the first link and click on the buildings Icon, then the famous buildings link to find a page of interesting buildings.

Also for those of us who LOVE graffiti you can visit some Japan Tokyo graffiti at: http://homepage3.nifty.com/Graffiti/ Sorry, this link seems broken, I will update when I can find out a way to get it to work. If you click on "what's new", then try clicking back and forth enough- it works eventually!


I love picturesque Japan- that is I love the traditional culture, the clothing, food, the language, the celebrations. Much of Japans history is quite fascinating, especially if you read some of the myths such as- The floating world, or Izanami and Izanagi, or World without sun.
But the new Japan has some amazing contributes, along with some sad decisions- Just like in many parts of the world, at this time.
Years ago, China gave the Western world (Europe/Britain) Paper, writing and gun powder but in these last few decades Japan has opened up to present us with Anime, Video gaming, and superior technology. It can attribute much more then that, just as China has much more to share then paper, but only Japan came up with its unique animation style that captivates many, its supreme technologies that spawned Video Gaming, and the Japanese Cities contain some of the most brilliantly built transportation the world has seen.
A person can go to the Japanese Temples and absorb the life of the monks, then switch to a completely different lifestyle just by going into one of the cities and amercing ones self with anime, lots of bright lights, and video games, then one can go see another side of Japan and hit a Karaoke house. So it seems like many unique forms of life gets expressed in Japan.
(some of you may be thinking that Video games are bad news, but really many games are very impressive like: For the older gaming days; games like the bubble bobble series, to the newer games such as the Chrono trigger series or the Seiken Densetsu series (Secret/Legend of Mana.) Or puzzle games like Magical drop! So yeah, many Japanese Video games are amazing and fun and stimulate the mind and lift the spirits.) (Of course having a beautiful untouched place on this planet to go and honour and appreciate is VERY important, so lets not all get glued to the screen, be it TV or video game, and go outside and enjoy and help preserve nature!)

With a country filled with so much diversity you really wonder where this brilliance comes from. I think if you study its ancient past- you can uncover its mysterious now, and maybe realize its grate potential for the future.

-Over and out :-)

[cicatriz esp]

The increasing chav-ness of the Japanese young population is becoming increasingly annoying. But to each his own, I guess.

[Doc]

Pokemon' (Poke Your Mom as friends like to say), Digimon (don't get me started), The Big O, and the Yakuza piss me off. :okashii: I also forgot to mention Japanese schoolgirls who like to giggle and talk about you behind your back. Then when you confront them about it, you have them both go into a straight face and say that you can trust them. That drives me up the wall the most! :okashii:

Doc:(:bawling::(

[Ancient_Samurai]

The youth population? we don't need to heckle the youth, thank you- they are the future. And enough with GENERALIZATION, thank you! It is impossible to say that a country of many, many people are ALL one way. The youth of Japan is a diverse group just like the youth in every country.

Also to add: Many Japanese youth are loaded with creative abilities. They have some of the most peculiar street fashion in the world. And if anyone is to comment on the Japanese youth using drugs- listen to this- The more something like drugs are suppressed, the more people will want to use it, sort of a silent rebel. And by the way, scientists can not find anything harmful with the plant drug, marijuana. And it is sad that marijuana isn't free around the world. I know that in Japan Drugs are a big no no, and seeing as Asia countries are very strict, I could see why people would need a drug to help release that logical 3rd demential consciousness continually chanting on their control, wile manipulating the lives of the people. Like in China, how many people turned to opium during a government suppression.

People need creativity, culture, an understanding of Grate Spirit, and we need to love our planet, and ourselves, our cities and towns. If love and freedom truly existed around the world I am sure people would want to achieve a planet that is fascinating and adventuresome- Too bad we are locked in the current human dilemmas!

[PopCulturePooka]

Also to add: Many Japanese youth are loaded with creative abilities. They have some of the most peculiar street fashion in the world.
A creative spirit?
I didn't see too much of taht during my few years in Japan.

And what little I did see was ground away by a pulverising and soul crushing education system.

Remember, even Japanese youths 'peculiar' fashion is still very rigidly defined within Japan, dicatated by fashion magazines and popular (and increasingly western) celebrities. Heaven forbid a young person REALLY go their own fashion path of 100% their own design and style.

[bossel]

Remember, even Japanese youths 'peculiar' fashion is still very rigidly defined within Japan, dicatated by fashion magazines and popular (and increasingly western) celebrities. Heaven forbid a young person REALLY go their own fashion path of 100% their own design and style.
Yeah, that's my impression, too. Strange, how something like this can be seen as the expression of individuality. Although, on the other hand, for some Japanese this might appear as already going too far in the direction of individuality.

[Index]

A creative spirit?
I didn't see too much of taht during my few years in Japan.

And what little I did see was ground away by a pulverising and soul crushing education system.

Remember, even Japanese youths 'peculiar' fashion is still very rigidly defined within Japan, dicatated by fashion magazines and popular (and increasingly western) celebrities. Heaven forbid a young person REALLY go their own fashion path of 100% their own design and style.

I wouldn't go so far as to say there is no creativity; just because a lot of people jump on to an idea and make it a fad doesn't mean that something was not creative in the first place. It's the idea that counts, not the way it goes on to manifest itself. Like Bossel said, it's an interesting effect, where individuality is expressed through a group dynamic, although I'd say it was a sense of belongingness and distinction rather than individuality. Creativity on the other hand, is not dependant on individuality; there are many case of new ideas in science being created through the work of a team.

Japanese are quite highly regarded in some fields like architecture (the new Gugenheim museaum building in NY was designed by a Japanese architect) for example.

[Index]

. And by the way, scientists can not find anything harmful with the plant drug, marijuana.

Actually it has been linked to schizophrenia.

[Glenn]

Really? Well, that's the second new thing I've learned today. I'd never heard of that.

[Index]

More specifically it has been linked to latent schizophrenia. In other words, people who are predisposed to schizophrenia may trigger it by smoking.

[Ancient_Samurai]

A creative spirit?
I didn't see too much of taht during my few years in Japan.

And what little I did see was ground away by a pulverising and soul crushing education system.

Remember, even Japanese youths 'peculiar' fashion is still very rigidly defined within Japan, dicatated by fashion magazines and popular (and increasingly western) celebrities. Heaven forbid a young person REALLY go their own fashion path of 100% their own design and style.
Well, I can't say I know the exact situation, because I have not been to Japan yet. All I Know is what I have seen and learnt from pics, T.V. shows and what people tell me. Ever seen Americas next top model when they went to Japan? We got to see how free and creative street fashion in Japan is. So it seems that in Japan the youth is free to express themselves through fashion, unlike some places in North America that I can think of!!

Obviously Japan is an extremely creative country. Of course one needs to search before they will find. You wont find creative expression in everyday wear- it may be hidden at a rave, or in a certain area of a district that may not be so well known.

[ccg]

what i like about japan-the handsome guys are nice to look at.hahahahaha
what i hate about japan- the handsome guys who are stuck-up,who doesn't want to consider a girl even as a friend or try to understand her more first if she's not attractive or charming enough to him.BASTARDS

[Brooker]

what i like about japan-the handsome guys are nice to look at.hahahahaha
what i hate about japan- the handsome guys who are stuck-up,who doesn't want to consider a girl even as a friend or try to understand her more first if she's not attractive or charming enough to him.BASTARDS

Yikes! She says they're handsome one minute and calls them bastards the next. Scary.

[Mal]

Yikes! She says they're handsome one minute and calls them bastards the next. Scary.


Women are the definition of scary :)

[TenMonGaKuSha]

what i hate about japan- the handsome guys who are stuck-up,who doesn't want to consider a girl even as a friend or try to understand her more first if she's not attractive or charming enough to him.BASTARDS

I guess Japan is not perfect.

[Chipi]

(..another topic that makes me rather sad, angry and disappointed..I canｴt really see the purpose of digging all the negative things, it just makes everyone piss off, and forget the good side of things..And if there are some negative things, shouldnｴt we try to understand the reasons behind them?Cause and concern. I donｴt mean to see everything with roses, but whereｴs the middle-way at least... try to see things from the point of view of another culture, and not just your own..)

About the creativity of Japanese youth, just my thoughts;
I do think that in Japanese design schools the students are encouraged for real creativity and expressing their even outrageous ideas freely, and the students imagination and the growth of it is supported. Unlike in Europe, where weｴre stuck in the old traditional european (german) way of making patterns and basing all the designs on to that...In Europe I think people are more afraid of taking risks, and that kills the creativity.
In Japan I saw so many young people (maybe from ages 12 to 30) with really clever ideas, cool style, expressing themselves and being bravely _themselves_, walking down the street, and being proud (in a healthy way) about their appearance. I mean all the really Japanese/Asian ideas (not all the girls with ｴhaihiiruｴ, jeans, britney spears make-up etc.) - cool new cuts, buttons, colors, combinations, recycled ideas..
I just _wish_ we could all do that. Of course many people donｴt approve their style etc, but also many(at least the same amount) people support their style, they let them be, as they are. Here you get far more easily judged, and it takes a lot of character to keep on doing your own thing. I raise my hat to the Japanese creative youth, the teachers who encourage imagination, the people who let wacky people be wacky, Japanese style in general...etcetc..!

P.S. ..yeap, of course Japan is not perfect, there is no such place... but itｴs quite close in being one, neh? ;)

[ccg]

some r handsome n r bastards
some r handsome n nice.i also like those who don't talk much but has charisma.
it's impossible u only read "positive" stuffs in forum.maybe the moderators should state as a rule "no negative comments in any form".then everyone will only write the nice things about japan?

[Ma Cherie]

What do I like about Japan? Let's see, I like their Avant Grade fashion. I like the cherry blossoms, I like the bullet trains. And what I don't like about Japan, I hate how their negative mentality towards foriegners isn't changing.

[nakeday]

what i didnt like was the flight over there, just so long

[Benjaqq]

I like Japan mostly because of the culture and the anime.
Pls kindly tell me what is Anime? :bluush: I have no idea of this japanese phrase, kind tell me via mail: gqw008@yahoo.com.cn
Many thanks!~ :souka:

[Brooker]

We have a lot of threads dedicated to the things we like about Japan, so this thread is about the things we don't like. There are always going to be some things that you don't like. And I think everyone here likes Japan despite some of the things they don't like about it or else they wouldn't be here on this website, ne?

[Faustianideals]

I really dislike the whole respect factor in the language. Japanese would be so much better without it. :cool:

[Pachipro]

Not much really.

Thinks I dislike(d) in Japan:

- Trains that do not run all night as you have to cut out your partying with friends in order to catch the last train home. Often before midnight or risk getting stuck in Tokyo until 5 am.

- No 24hr ATM's

- No more 24 hr beer/whisky and cigarette machines. I loved that when I lived there as I could use them at all hours of the night when studying or when getting home late. These days they shut them off at midnight or earlier.

-The loud incessent vans of the politicians during election time.

-Trains that do not turn on the air conditioner, regardless of the temperture or humidity until a specified day, usually in May.

-The seven minute walk to the train station from my apartment when I was a student and the 15 minute walk I now have from/to the in-laws house.

-Pachinko parlors closing at 9pm, then 10 pm. Now it's 11 pm.

-Smoking on long distance trains. Although I am a smoker I hate it on trains and planes.

-The ungodly long distance, and cost, from Narita airport to Tokyo, then home.

-The high cost of beer compared to the US. (But Asahi Dry is worth it!)

-Riding my bicycle in the rain with one hand while holding an umbrella in the other!

-The high cost of parking my car while living in an apartment- 30,000 yen/month! Not to mention the high cost of tolls on the "expressways" and the cost of gasoline.

-Getting turned down for an apartment/house because the owner didn't want to rent to foreigners.

-Teaching English to the same people for six years and still they cannot hold a decent, coherent conversation!

-The fact that when a fad or fashion starts all Japanese take part in it.

-The high cost of concert tickets.

-The fact that Japanese trains run on time, to the second, and if my watch was not set to the second on the NHK hourly tone that I would miss my train even if I were a few seconds off.

-Young Japanese girls touching my hair or making a fuss over me when I was a student back in the day. At first it was fun, but it did get old after a while.

-Giving away my hard earned cash to hostesses when I was young and but a few days (and longer) in Japan.

-Getting the Disney song "It's a Small World After All" or "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" getting stuck in my head all day after the Kerosene man, or newspaper/comic book recycling man around or whatever they were, I can't remember.

-Waiting at red lights when there were no cars in sight. I often crossed anyway.

-Taxis that refuse to stop just because you are a foreigner.

There are probably more, but that's all that come to mind at the moment.

The likes far outweigh the dislikes however, and I posted them somewhere else on this board.

[Uncle Frank]

it's way to far away to travel to from Maine!

Uncle Frank

:blush:

[Dutch Baka]

Older man that go to concerts from music groups like Morning musume to see girls from 12 -18 dance in short skirts.. people like that would be called Pedo's

[RockLee]

Older man that go to concerts from music groups like Morning musume to see girls from 12 -18 dance in short skirts.. people like that would be called Pedo'sHey hey, watch it man! I'd do that too if they were good singers :giggle:

[Dutch Baka]

I know that you are a MM fan rock, thank god you are not 35-40.. and i know you arn't watching then young kids .... i hope...

[Carlson]

i hate the car insurance.. and taxi's from japan.. lol

my insurance went up 15000 Yen every 3 months for a accident that wasnt even my fault.. i bumped into a taxi and they are buying a new bumber and paint job.. lol

[RockLee]

i hate the car insurance.. and taxi's from japan.. lol
my insurance went up 15000 Yen every 3 months for a accident that wasnt even my fault.. i bumped into a taxi and they are buying a new bumber and paint job.. lolThe fact you said "I bumped into a taxi" would infer you are in fault, right :p Else it would be "The taxi bumped into me" :p

[Carlson]

the taxi hit car infront of him.. and then i hit taxi.. like at 2 km... and in japan the rule of thumb is.. no matter what its atleast 10% your fault.. if you didnt have your car it would of never happend..

[Mike Cash]

If you hit the car in front of you....then you bear blame for the collision. It doesn't matter what the car in front did. If he magically decelerates to zero instantaneously, you have a responsibility to maintain a sufficient cushion of space between your car and his to safely brake and come to a stop without hitting him. No excuses.

The Japanese term for the cause of this accident is 前方不注意.

But take comfort that at the very least you're not alone; Japanese drivers tend heavily toward tailgating.

[hamutha]

the fact that lots of pretty Japan kawaii girl being an AV idol. Eventough there would be normal guy dislike it :p...but can't they find another normal job or like normally young idols

[If time can talk...]

What I like about Japan:
1.Literature;
2.Firmness;
3.Politeness;
4.Always ready to learn.

What I dislike:
1.Government;
2.History;
3.Racism;
4.Sexism.

[Carlson]

If you hit the car in front of you....then you bear blame for the collision. It doesn't matter what the car in front did. If he magically decelerates to zero instantaneously, you have a responsibility to maintain a sufficient cushion of space between your car and his to safely brake and come to a stop without hitting him. No excuses.

The Japanese term for the cause of this accident is 前方不注意.

But take comfort that at the very least you're not alone; Japanese drivers tend heavily toward tailgating.


well the fact that my ass end was still in the intersection... i was trying to get as close to the guy so i wouldnt get hit... lol next time ill just let me get hit... lol

[Mike Cash]

You're also responsible for not entering an intersection that you can't clear prior to the light turning red.

[Yokan]

What I like -
Jrock
Video game industry
Culture
The people themselves

What I dislike -
I don't really have many dislikes to Japan, really, well, Tokyo is the deerest vity to live in the world XD

[Gaijinian]

And they are different from teenagers in the US and S. Korea? U.S. teens are awful (I should know, I probably trained most of them ;p), and S. Korean teenagers are no better.

It is always charming to see people stereotype ten of hundreds of thousands of people after MAYBE, what 50 examples or less (how that equates to "most" teenagers in the US, I have no idea)?

Your just jealous because you going to die soon.

Oh, and from your profile: you like "Modern culture," right? In general, what age group do you associate with "Modern culture?" ....maybe it is because you having a mid-life crisis (of which the people effected are MUCH worse than teenagers).

Anyway, it is not my generation that is ruining the world, the economy (quite the contrary, do you know what the economy would be like without teenagers? We buy A.LOT), and voted Bush into office...
~
As far as this thread is concerned, I was only there for two weeks, so I tried to make the best of it as I could.
THINGS I LIKED:
1.) Being a serious chic magnet. :cool:
2.) In general, the food (BUT--heh, sometimes this could go either way).
3.) Using/hearing the Japanese language (I don't know why, but I love studying the language soooo much).
4.) Watching 80 year olds climb hundreds of stairs to put a few coins in a bucket at some shrine (it was inspirational).
5.) The trains (especially the shinkansen, I loved being able to rotate my chair).
6.) Seeing people bow while talking on a 携帯. :-)
7.) Toilets (the cool ones).
---
Things I didn't/don't like:
1.) Yasukuni jinja.
2.) 白い目で見られる事。 I felt like I was a criminal.
3.) Even if I spoke Japanese, people would reply in English (or in not English, some thing like: Nihongo Joooo~zu!!! Sunngoi!, and if in a group, they'll often talk amongst them selves: Sono GAIJIN, nihongo shabereru'nda!, as if it is too unreal to believe).
5.) In general, the people are pretty ignorant of politics and other cultures.
6.) So HOT! No AC!! I'm going to go crazy!
7.) The toilets (the not cool ones, the "Japanese" style ones).

[Ravenwood]

The only thing I do not like about Japan are some of the attitudes of older Japanese men. They seem very sexist.
This may be a stereotype due to the limited broadcast of things Japanese in the US. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[Gaijinian]

Hello, my fellow Wisconsinite!!!!!
Hmmm, you might be somewhat right, 残念ながらそうかもしれません・・・。

Where in WI do you live?

[Mike Cash]

Anyway, it is not my generation that is ruining the world

Yes it is.

Before your generation it was my generation that was ruining the world. And before mine, it was my parents' generation. Before them, theirs. Ad infinitum backwards one step at a time all the way to Cane and Abel.

[Carlson]

lol damn it.. you know what i mean.. it could happen to anyone...

[Mike Cash]

lol damn it.. you know what i mean.. it could happen to anyone...

Absolutely I know what you mean. We're all human, it could happen to anyone, and I certainly don't think any less of you because you had a little fender bender.

I only wanted to point out that it is important to recognize that you weren't an innocent victim; you caused the accident.

[Carlson]

well then what about the amount of damage i caused and what they actualy charged for?

i did not push the bumper in at all.. it ended up with a slight around 15 cm vertical scratch.. did not break the paint. and they charged me for a new bumper and new paint job for the car...

[Ravenwood]

Hello, my fellow Wisconsinite!!!!!
Hmmm, you might be somewhat right, 残念ながらそうかもしれません・・・。

Where in WI do you live?

I live north of Madison.

[Mike Cash]

well then what about the amount of damage i caused and what they actualy charged for?
i did not push the bumper in at all.. it ended up with a slight around 15 cm vertical scratch.. did not break the paint. and they charged me for a new bumper and new paint job for the car...
Welcome to the land where insurance companies don't require three estimates and where the person at fault has little other option than to cough up the dough.

What was your attitude at the scene? I once had glass from a broken mirror (mine) fall down and damage the paint on the door of a taxi. At the scene I accepted full blame for the damage, promised full restitution, and apologized sincerely for the inconvenience....and the cab company said "Forget about it, we have paint around the shop and we'll just touch it up ourselves."

[Child_prey]

I read somewhere here on the jref.forum that they consider it OK to take baths with their 20 year old doughters (the fathers) and that the chiildren sometimes sleep in the same room as their parents, even though they are like 14-16 years old...?!!! Thats... something I wouldn't want to do..... And that they don't seem to have a real sence of humor, they laugh at anything, esp the school girls... quite annoying..... And the fact that they love themselves so much and look down on others.... Women are supposed to quit their job when they marry.... heh, I can go on and on.... But they have good sides too.

[Mike Cash]

I read somewhere here on the jref.forum that they consider it OK to take baths with their 20 year old doughters (the fathers) and that the chiildren sometimes sleep in the same room as their parents, even though they are like 14-16 years old...?!!! Thats... something I wouldn't want to do..... And that they don't seem to have a real sence of humor, they laugh at anything, esp the school girls... quite annoying..... And the fact that they love themselves so much and look down on others.... Women are supposed to quit their job when they marry.... heh, I can go on and on.... But they have good sides too.

Any opinions based on something other than hearsay garnered from the internet?

[Child_prey]

Any opinions based on something other than hearsay garnered from the internet?

it's only the part about the parents and children that I read about, the other stuff I experienced....

[yukio_michael]

Dislikes, hmm... obatarian, the cost of a commerical music compact-disc, the cost of beer!, generally speaking the cost of everything, mayo on pizza, people not looking where they are going a lot of times, cheesy yankii tuff guys & their loud cars, the lack of a good Meixcan joint or Italian restaraunt (I'm sure the latter exists, I just havent found it....), spaghetti sauce from the store tasting like "Chef Boyardee", the use of English primarily as an aesthetic device on packaging or clothing etc, obnoxious designer wear such as Red Monkey, or A Bathing Ape which create value through scarcity or fad, rather than actual quality or worth (I know that scarcity and fad can create a percieved value anywhere, but this is the exact intention of Nigo's Bathing Ape line, to instill an instant value through scarcity...), 'binbo culture, or poor culture' on television and in the media, 'slow life' culture proponents who don't acknowledge that you can't actually practition such a lifestyle in Japan unless you're a freeter living with your parents, too much manga...

[Mike Cash]

it's only the part about the parents and children that I read about, the other stuff I experienced....

I stand corrected. My misunderstanding arose from the way your post was phrased up until the words "quite annoying". Each of those items was connected back with stuff you read on JREF.

[Raoul_Lion]

hi at all,i'm a newcomer and i don't know well how to use this site,soon i'll write what a like of the beautifull japan!!

[Carlson]

well i thought i was nice.. lol..

my gf did most of the talking i just waited and answered whatever questions she asked...

[yukio_michael]

hi at all,i'm a newcomer and i don't know well how to use this site,soon i'll write what a like of the beautifull japan!!This is the dislikes thread.

[Carlson]

he got lost?... lol

[Ebichu_chan]

Geographic conditon (earthquake, typhoon, etc)
Everything is soooooo expensive!!!!! (hotel, transportation, clothes, even foods! Can't shop much there ... :bawling: )
Some areas are too crowded :mad: