2010-09-27, 11:40 | Link #1504 | |
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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You *can* get hurt, mugged, raped, killed... its just a lot harder to do there. Caveat: the trends are sliding a bit to the worse - mostly due to the global economy tanking, but also because of some fraying of traditional community bonds because of multiple factors (job insecurities, worsening social safety nets -- pretty much due to local corporations picking up too many nasty habits from US corporations).
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2010-09-27, 11:42 | Link #1505 |
AS Oji-kun
Join Date: Nov 2006
Age: 74
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Groping on subways seems a bigger problem in Japan. I can't remember any stories about groping on trains here, but maybe the authorities do a better job of suppressing them. It's sufficiently widespread that a word has been created for it ("chikan") and some train lines have women-only cars. It's also a common subject in hentai.
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2010-09-27, 12:08 | Link #1506 | |
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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Quote:
Some people are adapting, some are retreating, some are intransigent ... for a society that values harmony it is very disconcerting. Even the young people are split ... the tendency of otaku to withdraw to simpler fantasies of 2D women and to worship idealized voice actresses and idols from afar is not encouraging. OTOH, quite a few young Japanese men seem to be getting the idea on how to treat real women. A fair number of the older guys are making real attempts to change their behavior as well (at least if you believe news articles on the topic). I find it kind of ironic sometimes that the same corporate shoguns who want "women to stay in the home" are the same people who are making careers less secure for the men (e.g. oh we don't hire permanent anymore, just temp, etc).
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Last edited by Vexx; 2010-09-27 at 12:19. |
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2010-09-27, 12:10 | Link #1507 | ||
Moving in circles
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 49
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Quote:
That said, I recall being awestruck by the furious outburst of an imposing obasan one night, as she very publicly lambasted a male passenger standing behind her for "groping" her. Personally, I think she overreacted, but you should have seen how the poor guy in a smart business suit was reduced to a quivering, blubbering mass, bowing and apologising profusely, though to no avail. If more women in Japan were that assertive, I'd bet that groping on trains wouldn't remain a problem for long. Quote:
Beyond those areas, Tokyo is surprisingly safe for a metropolis of its size and complexity. And, not to mention, surprisingly clean. Even slightly faded districts like Ikebukuro do not give you a ghetto feel like, say, Harlem does in New York City. Of course, I can't say that I've seen a great deal of Tokyo, but based on what I've seen experienced, I'm not surprised that it's been consistently voted as one of the most liveable cities in the world. |
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2010-09-27, 18:13 | Link #1508 |
~
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Boston
Age: 35
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I wouldn't feel unsafe walking by myself on any street in Tokyo. Inside bars can be a different story.
The only shady streets are some parts of Shinjuku and Roppongi where bars and strip clubs employ Nigerians and African-Americans (yes, Americans) to hustle people into their shops. Female prostitutes also target foreigners, but they're nothing to worry about if you ignore them and keep walking. The homeless (of which there are many) rarely beg and are nonthreatening. But if you're not male, then maybe you would have some issues (I wouldn't know). |
2010-09-27, 19:05 | Link #1509 | |
Gregory House
IT Support
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Otherwise, it's quite safe. In Tokyo I went out for quite a few nightly walks and it also felt pretty safe (not where the big nightlife is, mind you, but still). I slept in a cheap hostel in Osaka which was located in what I was told was the most unsafe quarter of all Japan, and there's streets closer to where I live that are much worse. The hostel was complete and utter horseshit though.
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2010-09-28, 15:04 | Link #1510 | |
Blooming on the mountain
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light....
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Quote:
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2010-09-29, 22:52 | Link #1511 |
Optimus Prime
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Japan/Canada
Age: 39
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In my experience, Japan is a country of very honest people. They have respect for where they live and I think that contributes a lot to the low crime rate. It's the kind of place where if you forget your wallet on the train, someone will run after you to return it or mail it back to you - all the money still inside. This has happened numerous times to different friends of mine and we are always stunned by it.
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2010-09-30, 09:10 | Link #1513 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Land of the rising sun
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"Nekobaba(ネコババ)" finding something and keeping it for yourself not reporting to the police is considered a very cheap act by Japanese society. The modern day Samurai Spirit you might say. |
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2010-09-30, 09:35 | Link #1514 | |
Optimus Prime
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Japan/Canada
Age: 39
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Shit happens to everyone, no matter what country you're in. You're telling me you've NEVER in your entire life lost something?
Quote:
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2010-10-01, 09:52 | Link #1516 |
Optimus Prime
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Japan/Canada
Age: 39
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Did you miss the "to different friends"? As in it's happened once to several different people. I apologize if that wasn't clear enough from the way I constructed my sentence. I was attempting to show that it's a general pattern in Japan, not a one-off random nice person type of situation.
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2010-10-05, 22:43 | Link #1518 | |
勇者
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Tesla Leicht Institute
Age: 34
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Quote:
And don't Japanese use metal chopstick? Never knew about that.
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2010-10-05, 22:49 | Link #1519 |
廉頗
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Massachusetts
Age: 34
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What type of minority problems are you referring to? I've heard about the problems the Ainu have faced, which saddens me since they are a particularly interesting ethnic group (I'm especially intrigued by the theory that they have connection to Amerindians... you can certainly see the cultural similarities). They even have genetic similarities to the Andaman islanders, who are thought to represent the first migration of humans out of Africa.
Edit: Actually I found some short videos about the topic if anyone is interested in the Ainu's struggles in Japan. The second one even comes with some Engrish reporting, lol. Last edited by ChainLegacy; 2010-10-05 at 23:19. |
2010-10-05, 23:04 | Link #1520 | |
勇者
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Tesla Leicht Institute
Age: 34
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Quote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_issues_in_Japan http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/wo...apan.html?_r=4
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Tags |
culture, discussion, japan, japanese culture |
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