2011-01-29, 02:31 | Link #1702 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Land of the rising sun
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Now, Now where has all the tranquil fineness of traditional stalls at "Ennichi" like "Hiichimi uri" who will blend the seven herbs and spices to your liking. (I like mine with a strong aroma so I had chinpi(orange peel) added more) or "Gama no abura(bull frog ointment) uri" with an unique sales demonstration. I also loved hit the bull's eye with a bow and arrow and win a prize and/or pull the winning string from the wad and be a lucky winner attraction.
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2011-02-13, 14:13 | Link #1703 | ||
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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I decided to put this in Japanese Culture because its an example of Japanese cultural difficulties with mental health and coping with it. The non-confrontational personal behavior is an obstacle to intervention and the healthcare system (as a result) doesn't "prevent" well. In psyche terms... his threat is sometimes thought of as a "cry for help" ... unfortunately (as in the US) he's going to be treated in the criminal system.
I'm impressed the police actually pro-actively responded to this. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...0110213a1.html Quote:
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_634511.html Quote:
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Last edited by Vexx; 2011-02-13 at 14:39. |
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2011-02-13, 23:45 | Link #1704 | ||
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
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Before the Akiba slashings, the police wouldn't give a shit. And now, they have gone completely nuts over these kind of issues. Seriously speaking, they need to do something to that "bullshitto" culture and give their kids a break. And also, work at the psychological dept of their healthcare sector while they are at it (Immediately diagnose a kid with GID because he dresses the opposite way? Why not try counselling first?). Besides.... Japan economy shrinks in Oct-Dec quarter Quote:
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2011-02-19, 19:41 | Link #1705 | |
Honyaku no Hime
Fansubber
Join Date: May 2008
Location: In the eastern capital of the islands of the rising suns...
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Answering from a post in the 'Visiting Japan' thread that got long and is more appropriate for here:
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I mean who else has a freaking seperate script in their writing system for all thing 'foreign' in this planet? (If there's another, please show me) Perhaps on a 'shitlist' rating, from highest to lowest it'd be: Chinese/Korean or any other Oriental looking foreigners. Black, Indian, S American or other non white ethnic minorities. Whites Blonde hair/blue eyed whites (Ie, Russians or Scandinavians) It's more a closed minded, reserved, shy and awkward major complex going on here. Toss into the fact that they suck at speaking English despite studying it for 8 years, thus unable to communicate with foreigners more and broaden their minds and exposure, yeah you have a close knit bunch of nervous peeps who realise that the world is going ahead without them on a international/business level through the use of English. The first thing the teachers and students all asked me no matter the new school I went to teach for (even for a day) was 'Can you speak Japanese?' Of which I lie and go 'just a little' And (I'm not kidding) they literally breathe a massive sigh of relief, relax and go 'yokatta', like everything is alright with the world. After that, you find they open to you more just cause they know they don't have to deal with struggling with English. I have mixed feelings about it tbh, esp since I'm totally weak at speaking myself, there are plenty of times that I cannot express myself so I toss in an English word in hope someone will meet me in the middle. When no one can, it's a frustrating and lonely world on my end. :\ But yes, no matter if you've lived there for 6 years, you'll still get asked 'can you use chopsticks?' or ‘your Japanese is freaking amazing’. I get expressions of massive shock at work everyday because I can write my name in katakana, let alone read and write in kanji. (Insulting to me cause I learnt this during my first year at uni over 6 years ago, lol) I'm also at the stage of being here for 2 years (which apparently is too short a time to be speaking and understanding the level that I do) - so natives go all crazy and confused at why I can understand. "Because I studied it at uni back in the UK first". Apparently, if you've not lived in Japan for at least 5 years, it's impossible to speak, write or understand it. Get used to that. I'm curious to see how the natives act when I hit my 3 or 4 year mark, maybe they'll be like 'ah, that's why, ok' and freaking chill. xD The only way to lessen this is to expose them and tell them otherwise. The more foreigners they meet who are serious, who can learn the language outside of Japan, who break their preconceptions; the more they have to rethink. I've noticed lately, they've gotten better at approaching new gaijin. Instead of instantly assuming that I'm American, they ask 'where do you come from?', which is nice cause then I come out with UK, and I just see more confusion sometimes. xD Times are changing, slowly but surely, a lot of the (wealthier) educational boards are trying their best to expose Elementary kids to English more and more as well as create special rooms and decorate the schools more to expose them to a world outside of Japan. I’m seeing a major difference in level and speaking ability between 10 year olds and 14 year olds now from because of the new law that came fully into effect last year (2010), so yeah, here’s hoping. As long as you’re aware that they (subconsciously) consider ‘ethnic lineage/bloodline’ to define a person’s ID over their nationality, mentality and place of birth, then you’ll be fine with the: ‘I’ve been here 5 years, speak it fluently and adapt to all their social rules but still face discrimination or lame ass questions’. It’s not the West or America which is a country of immigrants from the start anyways, where the ethnic minority are considered the ‘same’. (Even in the UK, from the 90% odd white natives compared to the rest of us, it’s still tough times in some aspects in terms of acceptance as a Brit.) Japan wise, you’ll never be fully accepted, which is fine with me, I just enjoy breaking their preconceptions with my very existence and forcing them to rethink through exposure and education As a holiday, Japan will be one of the best times of your life. To live and work here, think very, very hard about the disadvantages (and there are many) and if you can handle it before you move over here. It’s a totally different ballgame.
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2011-03-06, 04:27 | Link #1706 | |
Moving in circles
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 49
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Family sues Japanese firms for working Chinese intern to death
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2011-05-14, 07:42 | Link #1709 |
Honyaku no Hime
Fansubber
Join Date: May 2008
Location: In the eastern capital of the islands of the rising suns...
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モノマネ - monomane is the term, something that I didn't realise was embedded in their culture until i worked at primary schools and saw teachers let the kids do impersonations either as punishment for losing in a game (like making the girls do monkey ones, lol) or simply for comic value.
Was browsing TV tonight and came across this dude 'Korokke', perhaps one of Japan's greatest impersonators. His deal for lasting as long as he has is that he impersonates enka singers but with a physical twist, this guy can move, like proper bodypop and everything. So this enka/robot combo sounds bizzare and surreal in theory, but in practice it's pretty damn amazing to see how far the human body can physically express itself if we train ourselves enough for it And if you liked what you saw, here's Korokke teaming up with another impersonator for an amazing double trouble act, watching it once isn't enough Link here, embedding is disabled. (And yes, SFX usage on JTV does rock!!) xD PS:You did Solace by giving me that hint, thankies
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Last edited by Mystique; 2011-05-14 at 08:42. Reason: Hrm. Thought I fixed it. >< |
2011-05-14, 08:22 | Link #1710 | |
lost ronin
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: in the recesses of my convoluted mind...
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2011-05-14, 08:33 | Link #1711 | |
Honyaku no Hime
Fansubber
Join Date: May 2008
Location: In the eastern capital of the islands of the rising suns...
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If you're on a 'itaku' contract (work labour laws, what laws?) where you'll most likely be exploited by the ALT company, the education boards that use these contracts accept anyone of any race or level of English even. However if you're on a 'hakken' or direct contract to the education board of the area that you're working in, depending on how much money they have and the quality of english that they want, going by my experience anyways, they will ask for native English speakers only. Race doesn't matter (it shouldn't but are you ethnically Chinese by any chance?) but if your mother tongue isn't English, they won't accept you. (US, Canada, UK, Aussie) So it depends which ALT company you work for and which area you're sent to which you'll follow that area's education board's wishes.
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2011-07-01, 08:43 | Link #1712 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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yeah, this needs no reason but it improved my outlook 200% this morning. Young japanese ladies doing what the pop culture loves.... dancing.
Solo meido version for the twin-tail crowd...
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2011-07-01, 22:42 | Link #1714 | |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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Seriously... yeah the song is some "15 minute fame" fad thing - there are literally hundreds of youtube clips of people doing this dance rather like "carameldansen" or "haruhi".
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2011-07-02, 01:26 | Link #1716 |
#1 Akashiya Moka Fan
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I was first thinking, "is this carameldansen?"... obviously not. However, I do see it as a "fad dance". And I can never get enough of dancing girls in skirts (as long as they're good looking, that is)
and I definitely like the first video better than the second... having a hard time choosing whether I like the girl in the white t-shirt or the pink shirt better (sad that I'm trying to choose which I like better, isn't it? ). And once you get past the insane fast-paced chorus, it's a fun song
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2011-07-04, 18:20 | Link #1719 | |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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I'm liking this move by the music industry in Japan and hope it pans out: they've created a group of Morning Musume graduates called Dream Morning Musume. Actual grown women (so to speak, 20-somethings). Their first dvd/blu-ray release is out in September - http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=EPBE-5417
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=EPCE-5777 Quote:
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Tags |
culture, discussion, japan, japanese culture |
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