A few questions

[treefingers]

I have a few questions for you guys...


(1) How many expats are there in japan: a huge amount? Or not that many? How fast is the expat community growing? And what effects does this have on japanese culture?

(2) Has japan become too westernized?


(3) I have heard that pale skin is considered attractive in japan. Is this true in china as well?


(4) Are western women different than asian women? (in how they behave) I have heard people say that asian women are more feminine and more classy.

[treefingers]

No replies? What am I radioactive or something?

[yukio_michael]

I have a few questions for you guys...
(1) How many expats are there in japan: a huge amount? Or not that many? How fast is the expat community growing? And what effects does this have on japanese culture?About 1.5 percent of Japan's population are foreigners, of that, mostly Koreans, Chinese, and other Asian nationalities. It's not growing if the Japanese government has anything to do with it. It effects Japanese culture in that old people & women will have to return to factory, farm & construction jobs, I suppose...

(2) Has japan become too westernized?Without getting into it: No.

(3) I have heard that pale skin is considered attractive in japan. Is this true in china as well?What colour skin do you think Asians have? In some Asian countries pale skin is highly regarded as opposed to darker skin, as darker skin would indicate that you work out in the sun as a peasant... I've never seen it indicated anywhere other than the minds of the hopefull that a particular shade of pale was considered to be 'attractive', however.

(4) Are western women different than asian women? (in how they behave) I have heard people say that asian women are more feminine and more classy.No, they are absolutely & completely the same in that both are women & human beings.

I don't know if they are more or less classy, I think that's what people who want an 'exotic beauty' think... Japanese society is different alltogether than western society, the softness of Japanese women is only equal to the fierce consternation & lecture they can give you over spending too much money.

[Tollen]

well yet another useless thread where the OP has a report/essay to write and is too layzy to use the search function... these questions have been answered several times since i joined the forums and many many times before that... when will they learn???

maybe the forums should have an auto-prompt to suggest people to use the search function when post contain the phrase "Has japan become too westernized?" or "Are western women different than asian women?"

*rant over*

[ghettocities]

Do you know how like New York, California, Oregon, Washington, pretty much everywhere has a "China town" or a "Japan town" a sort of district-like area that is made up almost entirely of chinese or Japanese related places and people? Well there are so many foreigners in Tokyo right now that soon you will be able to call Shibuya or a place like Shinjuku in Tokyo "America town."

Enjoy!

[Ewok85]

Hahaha, riiiight. Theres only about 70,000 Americans in all of Japan, half tourists, half living there. Shibuya and Shijuku aren't going to be turning into any sort of America Town anytime soon, for a kickoff theres probably all of 2 or 3 stores themed or owned by Americans :p

[yukio_michael]

There are probably the most amount of "Americans" in Ueno... that I saw... Nor do I think that Shinjuku / Shibuya are in any danger of any sort of American invasion... I think it's an overly active imagination, or maybe a hopeful one that imagines more than a loosely connected American-presence in Japan.

Like I've said, regardless of race, Japanese society isn't welcoming or permiting for coalitions of non-Japanese.

[GaijinPunch]

Shinjuku is indeed, Japanese. it's where Japanese go to be decadent (foreigners go to Roppongi).

[nice gaijin]

where did you go for decadence again, ghetto?

[MeAndroo]

Shinjuku is indeed, Japanese. it's where Japanese go to be decadent (foreigners go to Roppongi).

Shinjuku could probably be replaced by a number of wards of Tokyo in this sentence.

The westernization of Japan, like everything else, enters Japanese society through a filter. The rise of gairaigo in print and in speech is somewhat offset by the odd combinations and abbreviations of the mother language's words, like my proverbial example, using the term "cash corner" for an atm.

[yukio_michael]

where did you go for decadence again, ghetto?Isn't the defacto answer, womens' panties?

Shinjuku is indeed, Japanese. it's where Japanese go to be decadent (foreigners go to Roppongi).But, what would that make Ginza? "If you have to look at the price tag, you can't afford it." ;)

[GaijinPunch]

But, what would that make Ginza?

Indeed, there are many sleazy alleyways in Tokyo, but Shinjuku (specifically Kabukicho) to me has always been the flagship. If you think otherwise, you're either not going late enough, or you're not going deep enough. 6AM in the area behind Koma Eigakan, specifically. @_@

Although things could've changed. I hear there's no flyering at all, for anything, in Kabukicho anymore.

[ghettocities]

Hey you might not notice the change because you either live there or don't travel there as much as I do but it's changing.

And now with Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift? Do you know how many people have Tokyo burnt on their brains right now? I can't even have a regular day anymore without everyone in my city saying "I SAW TOKYO DRIFT AND I WANT TO GO TO JAPAN WITH YOU NOW." Do you know how annoying that is?

And if that's in my little dinky city think about the world? Can you imagine how many people are planning their summer trips right now? Their winter trips? Their rest of their life trips to Tokyo?

Like I said in half my other posts, if you don't believe me fine, but I'm a prophet's profit when it comes to this Japan so I gots to know and I know this:

Right now the world is planning/experiencing their trips to Tokyo to experience it, the world is doing it offline so there won't be any clues until I shoot more photos of the amount of foreigners who are ruining your Japan.


Japan is being ruined, you will see and everyday I'm history in the making.

Josh

[Ewok85]

Geez, so there are foreigners in Japan, big whoopeedo. Theres less than 600,000 non-asian foreigners in Tokyo by my estimates (both tourists and living), and considering theres close to 10,000,000 Japanese people here, I wouldn't say theres any kind of an invasion happening.

[ghettocities]

Geez, so there are foreigners in Japan, big whoopeedo. Theres less than 600,000 non-asian foreigners in Tokyo by my estimates (both tourists and living), and considering theres close to 10,000,000 Japanese people here, I wouldn't say theres any kind of an invasion happening.


You shouldn't be troubled by any statiscal populas numbers as much as you should be troubled by the types of people who are going to Japan.

There was one julius ceaser, one napolean, one george washington, one abe lincoln but he got shot, one george bush (the second one), all those people changed the world, your life, so with this whole you being alive once and there being people who can make or break everything, individuals with the power to change the world's world, you know? That's what you should be troubled by and that's what is going to ruin Japan.

It will never be a matter of there being too many white people in the streets of Tokyo, what will matter is the white people's intentions and they aren't good.

It's pilgrams and indians all over again but this time the indians aren't fighting.

You can quote me on that before or after Japan is gone,

Josh

[nice gaijin]

you should be troubled by the types of people who are going to Japan.
More true than you know.

[treefingers]

It will never be a matter of there being too many white people in the streets of Tokyo, what will matter is the white people's intentions and they aren't good.
It's pilgrams and indians all over again but this time the indians aren't fighting.
You can quote me on that before or after Japan is gone,
Josh


And what exactly are these 'white people' trying to do to japan?

[nice gaijin]

looking for young teenage girls to seduce, then post lewd pictures and videos of them on their website, claiming pimp status for fooling some gaijin groupies into touching their naughty parts.

Despicable, aren't they. Apparently they're flying over in droves.

[ricecake]

looking for young teenage girls to seduce, then post lewd pictures and videos of them on their website, claiming pimp status for fooling some gaijin groupies into touching their naughty parts.



What sources do you have ?

Are these teen girls,Japanese or Thais ?

[MeAndroo]

looking for young teenage girls to seduce, then post lewd pictures and videos of them on their website, claiming pimp status for fooling some gaijin groupies into touching their naughty parts.

Despicable, aren't they. Apparently they're flying over in droves.

Sadly, I've actually met people like this. People who use their new-fangled keitai camera as some sort of validation of their existence.

And it wasn't limited to white people.

[Ewok85]

There was one julius ceaser, one napolean, one george washington, one abe lincoln but he got shot, one george bush (the second one), all those people changed the world, your life
Actually, those last two had no effect on my life at all. You see I live outside of the USA and as such what goes on there doesn't affect me, my country, or my life.
It will never be a matter of there being too many white people in the streets of Tokyo, what will matter is the white people's intentions and they aren't good.
It's pilgrams and indians all over again but this time the indians aren't fighting.
You can quote me on that before or after Japan is gone,
Josh
Done, I'll remember that when North Korea wipes out Japan :cool: Your not a shining example of foreign intentions in Japan yourself Josh, pot calling the kettle black?

I like how you can bundle an entire race of people in Japan into the same bucket and make blanket statements as you do. What about people like Mike and myself who live here and work professionally?

[ghettocities]

What about people like Mike and myself who live here and work professionally?


Professionally? I'm in Japan professionally. What do I think of you and the rest of the world? You all lost your would-be integrity after conversing with the likes of me.

If I were you I wouldn't waste my time with me and for you to say I am not changing the world would be a lie because the minutes you spent reading what i wrote or possibly browsing my website will never again come to you, in a way I stole part of everyone's life who reads this. Hot dog!

Josh

[Ewok85]

Professionally? I'm in Japan professionally. What do I think of you and the rest of the world? You all lost your would-be integrity after conversing with the likes of me.

I work for Fujitsu as a network designer and administrator, I collect a salary and gain recognition for my work. Your a freelance photographer at best - wheres the professionalism? Do you publish your work with someone?
If what you do is "professional" then hell, I must be a professional photographer too!

If I were you I wouldn't waste my time with me and for you to say I am not changing the world would be a lie because the minutes you spent reading what i wrote or possibly browsing my website will never again come to you, in a way I stole part of everyone's life who reads this. Hot dog!
Josh

I choose to come onto JREF, read the threads, sometimes write a reply. Its my choice to be here and spend time doing this, so you aren't stealing anything. If you were to stop me in the street and have the same line of conversation, you would be stealing my time :p

[nice gaijin]

Exactly. Just because I'm wasting my time reading your posts, doesn't mean you're stealing any time from me.

[JimmySeal]

(3) I have heard that pale skin is considered attractive in japan. Is this true in china as well?
Not actually answering your question, but... I don't know how Japanese men view Japanese women (and pretty much don't want to know), but some women certainly seem to be of the opinion that pale skin is beautiful. Some women plaster white makeup on every day. Some carry parasols with one hand and steer their bikes with the other, to keep the sun's rays off of them. I've heard of skin creams and sunblocks that contain bleach, but I haven't seen them with my own eyes.
Whatever attraction there is towards pale-skinned women, I don't think that extends to non-Japanese.

I think it's funny that some Japanese people seem to think white people are literally white. The reason I say this is that we were having some elementary school kids draw pictures of people the other day. They were coloring in the skin with peach colored crayons, and the other teacher asked me, "what color would Americans use?" I said, "The same one." She said, "You wouldn't use white?" I said, "My skin's darker than yours!" and she said, "But that's because you've been out in the sun." Sigh. Anyway, I hope you gleaned something useful from all this.

[nice gaijin]

...Some women plaster white makeup on every day. Some carry parasols with one hand and steer their bikes with the other, to keep the sun's rays off of them. I've heard of skin creams and sunblocks that contain bleach, but I haven't seen them with my own eyes...
While on the other end of the spectrum, there are girls who literally bake themselves in tanning salons and smother themselves with bronzers. I guess it's safe to say that there are examples of extremes on both side, and plenty of people who don't really care either way.

[JimmySeal]

It's certainly true that there are plenty of girls who think that a tan look is better. I think that viewpoint is more popular with the younger generation than the older generation.

[Ewok85]

I've had plenty people look at my pasty English skin and go "I wish I was that white", while I sit and scowl at the beautiful natural skin color they have. I'm a beach bum, a nice light brown is what I want, I have to settle for taking naps in the park at lunch to get some color :p

[undrentide]

For many Japanese women (including myself), antonym of "pale skin" is not "tanned skin" but "spotted, freckled, and wrinkled skin".
These spots, freckles and wrinkle mean aging (in negative way) which we want to avoid at any cost (exaggeration), and we try not to get tanned, and some even apply so-called 美白 cosmetics.
（美白 here means to make your skin beautiful and white, advertisements say it has melanin-pigment inhibiting effect, or encourages the regeneration of skin cells, etc.)

Of course tanned skin is one of the fashion nowadays, but in old time tunned skin meant weathered skin, possibly from long hours hard labour outside.
We have even this old saying 色の白いは七難隠す (having pale skin covers up seven defects).

So this is the background idea that many (not all) Japanese women prefer pale skin.
:-)

[yukio_michael]

It will never be a matter of there being too many white people in the streets of Tokyo, what will matter is the white people's intentions and they aren't good.Josh, desptie alll your preening and mugging for the camera, you look no less white than Vanilla Ice... You need to stop throwing around the 'W word', as for a person who usurps black culture, and goes to an Asian country seemingly with the sole specific intention of pillaging their women, by definition, you're about as white as it gets.

Professionally? I'm in Japan professionally. What do I think of you and the rest of the world? You all lost your would-be integrity after conversing with the likes of me.In what way Josh? Please explain it to me, because after looking at your website, I still don't know what you do, assides from what I mentioned earlier.

For a website called 'ghettocities clothing', there is a real dearth of actual merchandise there... You seem to sell your own used condoms that you link to some sexual conquest of yours, but maybe (god help us) this is just some sort of cruel joke.

Surely you must have some public entity, or profession, or something that you can tell us, that we might be able to peruse or fact check?

[GaijinPunch]

"I SAW TOKYO DRIFT AND I WANT TO GO TO JAPAN WITH YOU NOW."
I weep for humanity.

EDIT: And for abilities to spell better.

[ghettocities]

You seem to sell your own used condoms that you link to some sexual conquest of yours, but maybe (god help us) this is just some sort of cruel joke.

I seem to sell my used condoms? More like I am really selling my used condoms and not only that but I'm selling it (among other things,) for thousands of dollars which someone will eventually buy. Not that you care but in order to respond to your talking-down-my-greatness --- my promotional part of my clothing section should be stocked up with non-cafepress clothing right now but I had promoted out every single thing except all the stickers I had produced while I was over in Japan late March/early April but the rest of the year I'm working on stocking everything (aswell as a bunch of new stuff,) up and I'll probably start offering $200+ worth of my promotional items for free to anyone who can match my photos/videos.

Josh

[JimmySeal]

For many Japanese women (including myself), antonym of "pale skin" is not "tanned skin" but "spotted, freckled, and wrinkled skin".
These spots, freckles and wrinkle mean aging (in negative way) which we want to avoid at any cost (exaggeration), and we try not to get tanned, and some even apply so-called 美白 cosmetics.
Surely, the majority of these heavily-tanned women will end up with premature wrinkles (or worse) soon enough. Not that I wish them any harm.

[Rich303]

Surely, the majority of these heavily-tanned women will end up with premature wrinkles (or worse) soon enough. Not that I wish them any harm.

So true - many sun-worshippers often end up looking like they are made of leather.
Give me pale and interesting any day ! I saw many ladies in Japan with parasols, not even in the peak of summer - I think it's a wise idea.

[yukio_michael]

I seem to sell my used condoms? More like I am really selling my used condoms and not only that but I'm selling it (among other things,) for thousands of dollars which someone will eventually buy.Well, that seems like a sound enough business model.