When I first moved to Tokyo, my biggest cuture shock was the " Honne-Tatemae" concept that is so deeply ingrained in the Japanese people. I was born and grew up in Switzerland with the background of Dutch-German. And both Dutch & German people are known for their no-nonsense, straightforward blunt way of speaking. It's the total opposite of the Japanese in general.
I'm a Student who is staying in Akabane. I have been a fan of your videos for a long time! I'm staying here until January and I am rally hoping ti see you in the streets once XD
I could add quite a few…especially if you add the word “rural” before Japan. Just one now: 自治会, or ‘neighborhood committee’. Takashi might not be able to relate to this living in a city. But in small-town or rural Japan you join one of these committees when you move in to a house. It collects money from all the members to manage upkeep on a meeting hall, where it has regular meeting about all kind of local issues that community members are suppose to attend. It organizes area cleanup and weeding days (and more) that residents are expected to take part in. It has a fire brigade that members are expected to join. Everything on a rotating basis, so eventually, all able bodied community members will have to do everything, even be the area leader for a year or two. “You won’t have to do all that as a foreigner”. People told me. But I did… and still do…. and it’s a lot of work. 😅
@@earlysda It’s the cost of being accepted as true member of the community you live in. I guess I could have just refused…but then I would be ‘one of those foreigners who doesn’t follow the rules properly’. But I’d rather be a community-member…even if it’s a bit of a pain sometimes.
Just found this channel. You're really good interviewer. You'll talk to anyone and you allow them to speak freely without trying to frame their answers. Your informal style allows people to speak their mind. I'd like to travel to Japan, especially rural Japan.
Hi Takashii!! I'm Brazilian and third generation of japanese. Since I find out your channel I've been watching all your videos. I lived in Japan when I was a child during 10 years, I think it would be interesting to interview some parentes about what it's like to raise a half or foreign child in Japan. Thank you for your great videos! ❤️
I'm brazilian too and a english student and futurely a japonese also and i loved this channel. Takashii interviews it's very interesting to watch and your suggestion will be a nice content to bringing to us!
I had a good friend who lived in liberdade in Sao Paulo. Her parents were originally from Japan, and she was comfortable in both cultures. She would always tell me about the culture clashes between latin america and japan. One was puntuality. I remember laughing at her when she told me something like “mais ou menos as 11:17” (More or less at 11:17 am) She was being ambiguous and precise at the same time. She was confused at why i was laughing at her but then when I pointed it out, we both busted out laughing.😊
I've been to Japan 5 times vacationing and going to concerts, I made 1 really good Japanese friend while traveling which was unusual because he approached me for a conversation (that's not typical of native Japanese people) and I later learned he spent his university years in the U.S. so that explains his open minded approach.
I watch this channel because I'm interested in what other cultures like Japan are like and the simplicity and purity of interviews is such a great way to see that. You do a great job too! I do hope to travel to Japan someday.
Clubbing life would be super cool subject! Different sport activities also with locals and foreighners together. Tennis, golf, trekking, mountainbiking, paragliding, roadbiking, rockclimbing in Japan etc.
LOL. When you said clubbing life, my mind instantly went to Tokyo's nightlife. Mainly because I have never joined a club at my schools (I never had the opportunity to) and I love to party.
@@Mwoods2272 I wouldn't say chaos is the right word though. Don't you find it strange that a bunch of people are standing closely together for an extended period of time without talking to each other, just standing there silently? It's kind of nice to have a conversation / small talk
The french woman at the end has an excellent view of Japan. It seems she understands that Japanese people have specific values (cleanliness, order, etc.) and that is made manifest through the way people communicate, interact, and live daily life and it is to be respected.
@@luckylos5398 I would say that she better understands Japanese people simply because she works in a Japanese company. Most of the other people interviewed are students who are mostly just interacting with each other on a daily basis. Which is far more different than interacting with Japanese people in a work environment.
Yeah but could definitely use some healthy change. The whole work life balance and no one allowed to be themselves if it’s even mildly out of the usual.
but she quickly forgot how slow and what a PITA administration in France is... I don't think we (French people) can complain about how complicated it is abroad when it's such a pain here
Thanks Takashi for another outstanding video. You are the best interviewer on RUclips. I always learn so much from your programs. Take care and have a great week. ❤️🇯🇵🙏🌎🕊
Hey Takashi. First of all, love your channel. I have an idea for you if you haven't done it yet. I think it would be cool if you asked people what their favorite hobbies in Japan are. You can even get 2 videos from it. One interviewing native Japanese people, and one interviewing foreigners in Japan. Thanks for all the videos, you're doing great man!
Interviewing Japanese people would be kinda difficult since they would use tatemae even in the interview to respond so they wouldn't be totally real in their answers
Interesting topic as always. One day I would like to travel to Japan and hope to have positive experiences with both Japan and Japanese people. Nice work Takashii. Keep it up. こんにちは、また会いましょう. 😊
Hi Takashi. From watching your videos I was under the impression that most foreigners in Japan are westerners. But afterwards I read that most foreigners and naturalized citizens in Japan are from fellow East/Southeast Asian countries like China, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Westerners are actually a very small minority of foreigners in Japan. Hope you can do more videos about Asian foreigners and naturalized citizens in Japan.
You are 100% correct about that. :D I believe 80-90% of foreign people are from East/Southeast Asian countries. I am a half Japanese from USA and when I was at the government office to finish paperwork to receive my Japanese citizenship, I was told that I was the only US citizen to receive a Japanese citizenship in that prefecture so far lol. The rest were East/Southeast Asians lol. It's a prefecture next to Tokyo too 😂
8:13 i agree with her. the rules in japan might be a little tough but that's what makes japan a safe country. unlike here in the philippines where everyone is free to do whatever they want which backfires most of the time. especially in the road where everyone almost breaks the traffic rules. just got recovered from a car accident due to the car that beats the red light
@@gentlemaninjapan1994 And yet its one of the places in Asia where You can leave stuff at a bar go for a smoke and still find your stuff untouched, pass out on a street after a wild night and wake up in the morning with all your stuff with you, Japan isnt perfect but its probably far safer than where You are from.
Dear Takashii, I love your videos! I have a recommendation: flip them horizontally when editing, if you're using a "mirror mode" or similar when shooting. That way, they will be seen as they are meant to (texts will go the right way, etc.) Cheers!!
Your channel is great! Although I’ve only passed thru airports in Japan on biz trips as an American, my wife is from the Philippines, we live in North Carolina. I’ve learned a lot about Japan & the people you interview 😀
I always find it so interesting the amount of people that move to a foreign country to study or work and know none of the language. To me, learning at least some of the language should be the first step when planning to move to a foreign country.
@@Ahmed-ob6ec ‘should be required’? Why should they be? They are there to study and advance their research. Unless they are actually studying Japanese they should not be required to do that. Obviously it is always a plus to learn the language of the country you are in, but students, especially researchers, don’t really have much time on their hand.
@@amauritaniannomad6533 With that logic someone going abroad to study in the US or UK should not have any obligation to know English for their studies or to function in the country.
First time commenting, so I hope you notice this. One thing this video seemed to miss is that living in Japan long term (I have been living here for 40+ years) is it is always a love-hate relationship. I also find it irritating to hear non-native Japanese complain about the language barriers when they have made no sincere effort to really learn the language. I met my Japanese wife in college in the U.S. and we came to Japan to find work after graduating from graduate school. For me, personally, I had no problem getting a job that did not involve teaching English, but the first thing I noticed is the managerial culture - they didn't know what to do with me and since it was also my first full-time job, I had a hard time with not being given a specific job to do. For example, I had an MBA from an American university, and the first assignment I was given was to go check garbage cans to see how much of the garbage was made up of our company's product. Also, this was way before PC's were widely available, so any and all calculations needed to be done by hand. I had many models that I had learned through my MBA course, but almost none of them were applicable in Japan and perhaps more importantly, the management did not understand the meaning of the models that were applicable (such as "price elasticity" where you can lower the price of your product and actually end up making more money when you sell more units because of the lowered price.) The way I got through the love-hate relationship was to go home to America to visit family once a year. Fortunately, that was one of the perks of the second job I got in Japan.
Congratulations on hanging in there. I had to bail - twice. Were you not offended by the heading. "No one" tells you? These comment scould have been lifted from40 years ago.
I agree, I'd like to hear more from the foreigners that have been here longer like myself, I came before Corona. No where near as long as you though. I have made a serious effort with the language but still haven't gotten it, I guess some people are just better at language or are smarter. The people in this video haven't really had enough time in Japan to form concrete opinions.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I don't mean to be condescending to those who have been interviewed, but I would say most of them are new to Japan. Whatever they tell you about their experience, it tends to have a short-term perspective, such as being overwhelmed by the new culture, systems, etc. The language barrier is another common issue, but if you think that mastering the language is the key to developing deep and meaningful relationships with Japanese people, then you are in for a disappointing surprise. We need a club for expats who have lived, worked, married, and raised kids in Japan for 10+ years. What no one tells you about living in Japan is that it's one of the most crowded yet loneliest places on earth.
@@iyadart My initial comment did say living in Japan was a love hate relationship. I dealt with that by going back to the US to visit family once a year throughout the time my children were in school. I made sure to have the little things that make life more livable for me like favorite desert and drink mixes. I almost exclusively watch American television shows. As to the dense population, I go out of my way to avoid crowds. I also give a lot of credit to my wife who takes very good care of me.
You do an incredible job of interviewing. And the people you find to interview are so insightful about their experiences in Japan. In fact, they almost all seem like very thoughtful and engaging citizens of the world. Keep up your excellent work.
TAKASHii from Japan, thank you for your informative videos. I personally have been watching Black Experience In Japan for the past year, and my daughter and I have been watching TabiEats for the last 7 years together as one of her bedtime routines. I just enjoy getting another perspective about Japan from another source. Plus it helps me with my process of a secret graduation gift possibly for my daughter to Japan. I wish you well, and I hope your platform continues to help others. Thank You.
In my work with Japan, I have found that body language and tone often mean much more than correct language. I admire Japanese because everything they do seems to be with purpose. Once we found common ground, conversation flowed.
This is an insightful and informative video. Every foreigner in Japan have their own separate and unique experiences. Thanks for the content as always. May God continue to bless you.
It's very nice that takashii gets to do this videos, it takes some courage to do this not having had the best source to learn English, I am guessing it is a rather good level of pronunciation he achieves, and still he sounds convincing to me.. I do wish though, that some things were less formal and the videos a bit more edited and straight up. On the other hand I appreciate the seriousness he puts in certain things like microphone audio and the personal handling of people, it makes one think he read the book fun Dale Carnegie. Thanks Takashii !!
I love how you have been featuring the experiences of foreigners trying to figure out how to deal with everyday/practical issues. I am not sure if I will ever be able to visit Japan but if I do, your videos will be so useful. 役立つ情報ありがとうございます 👍
Long term resident here, almost forty years. It's a very paradoxical sensibilities culture....clean and dirty, polite and rude, sensitive and crude. It depends on who you come in contact with and where you are. It's a safe country in terms of crime, even in the big cities, a very big plus.
Hi, I can't be sure as to what sort of advice it is that you might be seeking.....there being a myriad of nuances to the culture. Knowing the manners and simply having the confidence in being yourself in the foreign land, that is a good base in which to approach the education and makes for being at ease and having fun. The traditional culture is still quite interesting to me even after so many years, while the contemporary stuff seems flighty and rather shallow. If you can make friends with older people that adhere to traditions, their mannerisms and the way that they keep their homes for example, within that there is depth and it keeps things fresh and makes for comfort and intrigue. Older folks often have known hardships, from which they have developed sensitivities that often weren't passed on.
@@kafrikotroll8610not to mention never drive a car. No matter what if you are a foreigner it’s your fault. They could run a red light and t bone you and you will be at fault
I love your channel and I love you I think you really do a great job of bringing things out. I’ve been working in Japan often on for the last 22 years and I’m in love with the country it’s absolutely amazing when you compare to any other country in the world it represents everything that’s right about humanity. It’s not perfect there are things that frustrate me but when you compare and contrast it to every other country in the world the only thing I can come up with is wow! For a point of reference the only thing that drives me crazy about Japan is the blind bumps on the sidewalks and then the train stations, airports and hotels. In 22 years I’ve seen six blind people I’ve stopped in to interview them only one of them use the bumps the rest of them are always with their friends or family. In contrast I seen thousands and thousands of people struggle with their suitcases to roll across these things. I’m convince somebody’s brother-in-law in the Bump business got the contract to do this it makes absolutely no sense they could’ve paid someone to be with every blind person in the country for the next 300 years for the cost of putting these things in.
MORE LIKE THIS PLEEEEEEASE 😃🙏 this was really really fun to watch, I am from NY and I stayed in Japan for 3 months and loved it and am fascinated by the experience (my sister also lives there for 3 years with her husband and 3 children), I really miss it there and hearing foreigners describe their experience there is fun (also I am coming back for a visit in 2 weeks hehe 🤓)))
@@kittyindigital my sister lives there so I stayed with her, it seems on the same level as NYC so if you are paying to stay it would likely be high prices but the city is worth it and you could stay further outside city center because the metro system is very good
Excellent interviews. We lived on Okinawa from 94 to 97 and from 08 to 11. I was in the U.S. military and we lived on military installations. My family, and I, loved venturing out in the the community and meeting Okinawan and Japanese people. We also visited Tokyo and Kyoto, which we enjoyed very much. In the aftermath of the 9.0 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis at Fukushima in 2011, I am proud have have been part of the U.S. Marine Corps team who participatd in Operation Tomodachi. I ended up at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo during that Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response Operation. I also enjoyed representing the U.S. military a few months prior to the earthquake, in a major humanitarian disaster planning conference led by the HQ, Japanese Self Defense Forces, Ichigaya, Tokyo
I used to work for the DoD and talked to a lot of servicemembers from all the branches (intelligence base) and I remember this one story a marine told me about how a few guys in his unit (is that the right term? I can't remember.) were stationed in Okinawa I believe and one night they got extremely drunk. Supposedly they went "into town" and were a menace to the ordinary citizens. He also said in their alcohol fueled rage they kicked in someone's door and terrorized the family living there. I don't think he got into the specifics of their punishment (which I imagine was very severe) and for some reason, that story stuck with me. I know some Japanese are against the US having permanent bases on their soil, and I imagine tales like this didn't help any. A nightmare scenario if you will. Anyway, your comment made me glad. I understand that those guys made a terrible mistake, but they have to be in the extreme minority to pull a stunt like that. Most US military members are decent folk fulfilling their duties and focus on the mission at hand. Thanks for your service and helping out people in desperate need.
@@YaowBucketHEAD If the story is true, which I doubt, it is as rare an occupation as Purple Unicorns are. The Japanese people love Americans, and America…probably more than the average GenZer American does today. This is especially true because of the U.S. Armed Forces helping them big time in 2011 when a 9.0 earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear disaster brought mainland Japan to its knees. I was there as part of Operation Tomodachi and Operation Pacific Passage. Ended up at the U.S. Embassy with a small team of Marines, when it was all over
@Captain Willard I was an Army MP at Torii Station from 2007-2010 and was a PMO desk sergeant in my final year there and read the blotter reports from Camp Foster and Kadena airbase. Unfortunately, drunk Marines damaging private property of local Okinawans and assault and battery of locals wasn't all that rare. I am sure you remember the restrictions imposed after the rape of that young teenage girl, and then the hit and run manslaughter by the Special Forces Soldier. We surely help the local economy, but our young Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, and Sailors often cause a lot of trouble, especially when drunk. I hated that, especially considering how incredibly warm and friendly the Okinawan people are.
@@alexanderjamieson7971 I remember. Thankfully, even those events were rare occurrences. Nevertheless, it was extremely concerning and certainly damaged relationships with local government and the Okinawan people
@Arslxn_Ash Arsixn makes comments on RUclips, then doesn't like it when other people make comments on RUclips. . But thanks for explaining the reason for your lack of maturity.
@@arslxn_ash8237 Nah, this ain’t one of those “but our society is different” type of things. If someone is having a medical emergency, they should receive the help they need regardless of their citizenship status or extraneous conditions. This isn’t like renting an apartment where someone can find something else, this is someone’s life that could be at threat. If you were just ran over by a car and bleeding out, you wouldn’t want me to deny you medical services because you didn’t have the right insurance or are a foreigner to my country. You, just as anyone else, possess the right to live a life and by extension shouldn’t be automatically denied medical services by for any extraneous reason.
There's a few things that are funny and unusual: 1. People are polite to an extent but now that I understand and speak more of the language, lots of it is fake. 2. "Side eye" is a problem for me. Japanese people communicate with their eyes but they do it passive aggressively. I'm from NZ and we don't tolerate this style 3. If it's a little cold = must dress to go to the snow If it's Summer Hot = must keep my image and wear Jeans + sweat like crazy 4. Train etiquette is spoken about but there is inconsistency actually doing it by Japanese people 5. Fax Machines? FAX MACHINES? 6. It takes way too to do basic things. Paper work, Paper work, Paper work. 7. Younger people are like sheep and rarely express their thoughts about ANY topic 8. Many older people, especially men, act very entitled. I come from a place where we respect elders but they aren't often rude to us. Older men's attitudes, especially businessman, are straight up rude (in my experience) 9. I don't need a plastic bag for every item I buy 😂 10. When you ask Japanese people WHY they do something, they stare back at you like you've asked a difficult question 😂😂😂
Living in Tokyo as foreigner, I agree with these points. I would add as my biggest problem here, "arubaito" contract which makes it easy to exploit workers with infinitely renewable 3-month contracts. In addition to having the lowest salary, having no job security or bonus and asking for impeccable performance. I do it to stay with my kid in Japan but it's no what you expect from a developed country.
Nothing wrong with fax machines. It is actually a very secure way to communicate, no hacking. That's why in the US, in the medical field, fax is still used. Japanese kept using it because it's an easier way to communicate with the kanji writing system
Live•Laugh•Love~ ~ALWAYS~ ライブ•笑い•愛〜 〜常に〜 Raibu• warai•-ai 〜 〜 tsuneni 〜 Thank u! Very informative for my American friends here in the PNW, WASHINGTON STATE
my boyfriend’s cousin worked for Honda and lived in Japan for 3 years. He also did a lot of snowboarding indoors, which I would love to try! He speaks so highly of the japanese, can’t wait to visit in March!
Culture shock hides both positive and negative aspects, and can easily change be felt by those who experience it, depending on the national character and nature of the foreigner, the timing, and other circumstances.
I really like this channel. As a gaijin running a business here, it's heartening to see how open, positive and friendly the younger generation is here in Japan. Also encouraging to see is how extremely nice almost all of the gaijins you interview are. My own generation of gaijins, and of Japanese as well, especially the men, are much less positive, much less flexible, much more set in our ways. I think Japan is facing a great, great future!
I almost moved to 🇯🇵 in 2017 for professional reasons! I would still consider to live there if I have the opportunity Cheers from San Diego California 🇺🇸
I hope you will be able to interview foreigners (not half-Japanese) who have lived in Japan for a minimum of 20 years. Also, can you (yourself) please comment on the video if you can hear there is a specific "accent". This would also be interesting. I love coming back to check out new videos. Thanks for sharing :)
I have studied in Lyon, France and I love it there. I have visited Tokyo, Japan. I love it there. The young French woman is correct. I agree with her that the rules is what makes Japan a very safe place to visit and possibly stay. I love Japan and Japanese people. I hope to bring my wife and kids to visit very soon. Thanks for this channel sir!
Yeah it always confuses me when I hear someone say "I love how Japan is so clean and safe and organized and punctual; I just don't like the pressure of having to follow all these rules all the time." Like, uh, how do you not realize that following rules is what makes everything clean, safe, organized and punctual?
Can’t believe foreigners could get a job in Japan without learning single Japanese😱😱 As a foreigner myself, I never know that Japan workplace is sooo tolerant to foreigners. It’s been 8 years and no matter how fluent I got, how my pronunciation sounds just as natives, they are still some natives criticizing my speaking. Why this huge difference? Ahh. Maybe I just don’t fit here.
Seoul could easily be Melbourne with Korean street signs and most of the people I encountered spoke excellent English, but when I landed in Tokyo I knew I could be nowhere else. An old lady gave me complex directions to the train station from my hotel and I thanked her with the small amount of Japanese at my disposal but I never felt confident that I really knew my way around that city. I loved the clean streets and the lack of deadbeats that you encounter in virtually every modern city but ultimately Tokyo overwhelmed me - that said, I would go back in a heartbeat.
Because Korea during the K-wave really prioritized their country to be tourist friendly, Japan up until now has that age old mindset of "we dont want to be discovered" the only main difference I really noticed is that Korean transport system is far more easier to use than the Japanese and Koreans dont really speak English as good as You claim, but Korea does have more English speakers than Japan
@@GCS88 in the tourist-oriented center of Seoul where I was staying, I had zero problem finding people with excellent English - they have a financial motive for being able to speak the language fluently.
That last lady said a mouthful! The same thing I was thinking and would say! Being in the U.S. Navy for 14 years and spent a good portion of it in Japan it felt like home! The one girl complained about the no talking on the train! I love there train system and the rule! Try being on a New York and see all the weird stuff that goes on and people do on that train it's crazy! I left my phone and keys on trains and cabs in various countries but Japan is the only place I got it back! Two times in Tokyo! When you go to another country for whatever it is and you going to be there a significant amount of time I think it would do yourself justice to try and learn the language and people from that country would be more accepting and see that at least your are trying!
It's very satisfying using the trains in Tokyo, incredible system that you can set your watch by. I'd step on my first train to work each morning as the doors closed
4:30 Something similar happened to me in a train in Osaka 3 years ago. The carriage was full of young men, who were sitting, but no one stood up to give a place to an old lady.
When I was an exchange student I found that the other foreigners travelling the world to learn a new language and culture are a lot more open-minded than average person in ANY country. So it's reasonable that other foreigners in Japan will simply have a lot more in common with you (love Japan, want to learn Japanese, open to new cultures, have the same issues).
Thank you Mr takashii. I was wondering if you could do a video about Japanese and special needs. My son is special needs, and I really want to take him to visit, possibly for awhile. But he has issues that may make it real difficult, or may make some people uncomfortable. Example : voice or volume control, when he may have to be quiet in places.
Oh..this is a serious topic for me. I've been working in Japanese company fir several years and when I am thinking of moving one-day to Japan for business purposes I feel scared. I think it will be the biggest stress for me to get used to living there. Although I like my Japanese colleagues very much
Just try! Maybe that will be the best opportunity in your life, it will take some time to get used to culture and mannerisms but after a while u will adapt, and living in the safest country on earth will remove lot of anxiety.
I don’t know about others but I’ve lived in Japan for 4 years and I’ve rarely had an issue using my card or some sort of cashless payment. I also live pretty far from central Tokyo, the only places I’ve had to use cash is really small mom and pop shops.
Ive been to Japan numerous times and stayed with a friend for a while also. The biggest problem with Japan is in the red light areas where the authorities do nothing about the crime and bullying of single male foreigners. You try walking alone in Kabuki-chō and youll be harassed by the African bouncers, even stalked and followed down streets until you talk to them. And there are even signs on the outside of clubs where the police say if you accept a free drink and get into trouble you are on your own. Which is a shame because there are some nice shops and restaurants in that area, the robot cafe, the Godzilla Hotel Gracery etc. I tried a simple 5 minute walk from my hotel to the robot restaurant and got harassed by a bouncer from a nearby club, he literally would not let me get to the restaurant, pushing me back to his club. I had to turn around and try to go back to my hotel but he followed me literally down a few streets to the lobby. Its a frightening experience. The morning I checked out and walked to the station, I saw a young American guy naked except for his underwear crying and scrambling through his bag, I asked if he was ok and he said the nightclub bouncers drugged him, stole his wallet and threatened to destroy his passport if he didnt pay them more. The Japanese police literally turn you away if you report this. Such a stain on an otherwise great country.
Hey takashi I am just wondering how you approach to people for interview.. I mean do you just randomly approach to them and request them and from some of these people you approach do they reject you sometime..? Yeah it would be a very interesting to see..
Dane here Japanese wife, 14 year old son. I love Japan. Have been living in Tokyo for 6 years. There are somethings that drive me nuts though. The endless bureaucracy and the paperwork, this is 1970's level Denmark/EU. All the paper seriously in every procedure is just stupid -hint: there is a smarter faster and better way. Another thing is the snitching culture were you tell on your neighbors as soon as you see an anomaly. This is the hammer down the nail that sticks out thing. This I find to be a double edged sword depending on what your objectives are. I think it severs creativity and creates robots that all do the same with no independence no conflict. Conflicts, differing views and confrontations are needed to spark change IMO. On the other hand if you don't see a need to change why pursue it. I also hate Japanese TV which I find to be hilariously superficial they talk about cats and have panels discussing ramen oooishiii absolute garbage - I mean Japanese politics which is rotten could be a subject IMO.
Very nice! It brought back memories of when I visited in 1981. Being a sansei who doesn't speak Japanese was kind of difficult because there's naturally an assumption since I look Japanese :). I could identify with a lot of things that were being said!
The politeness ends at the train station and when trying to hail a cab when it’s 2 of you on the corner and the oncoming cabs are taken 😅 That being said, take cue and do what they do
And don't be hesitant to push back assertively. In one instance a young man had a bag on the seat beside him. The Japanese people around him were giving him the evil side-eye which he blithely ignored. I approached him and said Sumimasen! He looked up, met my eyes and since I can't speak Japanese I motioned for him to pick up and move his bag. He did, I said domo (because a formal thank you would be too polite for the situation) and sat down. Those around us enjoyed the exchange and I got a number of smiles and thumbs up. Another time a very muscular man sat beside me and began manspreading and deliberately pushing me from his shoulder as well. I said nothing but held my space, resisted him and pushed back. Eventually he stopped. But I wasn't going to shrink on his account.
@@lynda.grace.14 Lynda, kudos to you! I used to have smokers put out their cigarettes on the platform, and many people around me were secretly smiling.
@@lynda.grace.14 The passive aggressiveness in daily life in Japan is real. Almost no one would say anything out loud, by the body language and facial expressions would tell you of their disapproval. I've been a visitor to Japan multiple times and experienced something similar.
Another beaut video. IMHO I thought the last woman was so accurate in her assessment that 'the many rules in Japan are what makes Japan such a safe place'. TBH I hadn't thought of it like that before. But I think she is exactly right.
I also think that Asian people speak too fast in general, however Japan is an amazing country with such rich culture, flavorsome food and lovely welcoming people!💛
@@Mwoods2272 Good point, Maurice. Actually, languists have said that each syllable in Japanese is spoken roughly 50% faster than in English. It takes many more syllables in Japanese to get the same information conveyed as in English, so the actual time spent is roughly the same. . Personally, I cannot stand to listen to normal speed English anymore, so this video, along with all other English ones, I put at 1.5x. Thank you RUclips!
Outside of Tokyo or other big cities, whenever I ask Japanese people, in Japanese, to repeat what they've said more slowly, rather than doing what I've asked, they ALWAYS switch to terrible broken katakana English, which is even harder to understand than their speedy Japanese.
At least they don't seem fighting when they talk. When 2 italians talk it seems they are about to jump on each other with all their hands and waving head.
Good interview. And I do appreciate you putting in subtitles the amount for cost in U.S. dollars. It helps to see how much cost of living is there in beautiful Japan.
Sorry, most of these interviews are with people who do not really "live" here or will leave eventually. Ask people who have settled here permanently...the comments will be more accurate and real.... Good Luck TAKASHI from Japan.
Man Takashi is one of my favourite asian youtubers he listens everyone patiently and acknowledges them.....Theres this other korean guy that sometimes pops up on my youtube feed whos exact opposite of takashi and just annoying...if i come to japan i wud surely want to meet this guy fr...🔥
I really agree with the french girl at the end. As someone who made Japanese friends, I can say that I like the way they do it more. Like she said, it takes a lot of time and effort but when they see you really care and really mean it, it's one of the best friends I ever had. I know it's something a lot of people can't relate to me but I was always very traumatized and I have extreme trust issues so I like the slow paced Japanese style. I always made friends fast but it was always the reason I suffered a lot. I agree it's a little difficult to make japanese friends but as someone who never trusts or likes a person unless I known them at least for 6 months. It's the reason i struggled a lot with even people in my own country because I won't open to people fast. So for those who struggle and want Japanese friends, don't give up, it's a very rewarding experience but it will take a lot of time and effort. The friendships I have with my Japanese friends are the most honest and best friendships I ever had. I believe we all should make friends outside of our cultural bubble, even if it's difficult. It's how we grow as people.
Nice to see your video. I followed you for a long time. My personal suggestion for you; make videos like Japanese food, Japanese Tourist spots, and so on. Thank You
Best way to learn is to have someone to speak to. They got three alphabets and barely sentence structure with particles instead! Only was to get good food is to have friends to practice with. Though basic phrases should be learnt first of course.
I had to chain trains at Shinjuku each day to go to work and i have to amid it is rather complex, but once you are familiar with it i found it amazingly well organized. When my train came in the train i have to take came in 20 seconds later and i can't think of any time it was late. I really like the subway in Tokyo.
I never lived In Japan but Visited. This is the thing which makes Japanese so programmed, if once the train does not come, they are almost panicing. Not much relaxness In Japan. It is quite annoying for a Nordic person. Also the different outfit- cultures seems not To be genuine, it is More like a play.
@@talvetar3385 It is a very different culture, almost alien. I do see some similarities to other cultures, such as the formal rules of the English upper-middle class and so on, but at its core it is very different.
Some shops don't allow foreigners to conduct business with them. And that the reason why domestic abuse isn't high is because it isn't reported to the outside world due to Japanese society's ways of dealing with such issues.
TOKYO GUIDEBOOK
takashifromjapan.com/tokyocompleteguide
When I first moved to Tokyo, my biggest cuture shock was the " Honne-Tatemae" concept that is so deeply ingrained in the Japanese people. I was born and grew up in Switzerland with the background of Dutch-German. And both Dutch & German people are known for their no-nonsense, straightforward blunt way of speaking. It's the total opposite of the Japanese in general.
Presisely
Hopp Schwyz
So if someone cooks a dish and it tastes bad Germans and Swiss say "it tastes bad" ?
It has to do with Quality not with Race or Origin
@@asdfghjjhgf Most likely they would say " this doesn't taste good" or " I don't like this" or " it is not for me".
Thank you so much for watching!!
It’s getting cold in Tokyo
I guess there’s no fall this year 😂
@Artur hi
Shogo-san has a similar video
Yeah, there is Fall this year.
I enjoyed it last week by climbing up some low mountains - beautiful!
I'm a Student who is staying in Akabane. I have been a fan of your videos for a long time! I'm staying here until January and I am rally hoping ti see you in the streets once XD
Don't give up brother believing your mother's homeland.
I could add quite a few…especially if you add the word “rural” before Japan. Just one now: 自治会, or ‘neighborhood committee’. Takashi might not be able to relate to this living in a city. But in small-town or rural Japan you join one of these committees when you move in to a house. It collects money from all the members to manage upkeep on a meeting hall, where it has regular meeting about all kind of local issues that community members are suppose to attend. It organizes area cleanup and weeding days (and more) that residents are expected to take part in. It has a fire brigade that members are expected to join. Everything on a rotating basis, so eventually, all able bodied community members will have to do everything, even be the area leader for a year or two. “You won’t have to do all that as a foreigner”. People told me. But I did… and still do…. and it’s a lot of work. 😅
Why do you do that? Is it from a desire to "fit in"?
I don't have to do that as a foreigner, and for that, I am truly grateful. My poor wife, on the other hand...
@@earlysda It’s the cost of being accepted as true member of the community you live in. I guess I could have just refused…but then I would be ‘one of those foreigners who doesn’t follow the rules properly’. But I’d rather be a community-member…even if it’s a bit of a pain sometimes.
@@OfTheGaps lucky you. 😆
You're one of them one of them! I wish people wouldn't litter in my neighborhood or at least clean up every now and then.
Just found this channel. You're really good interviewer. You'll talk to anyone and you allow them to speak freely without trying to frame their answers. Your informal style allows people to speak their mind. I'd like to travel to Japan, especially rural Japan.
Hi Takashii!! I'm Brazilian and third generation of japanese. Since I find out your channel I've been watching all your videos.
I lived in Japan when I was a child during 10 years, I think it would be interesting to interview some parentes about what it's like to raise a half or foreign child in Japan.
Thank you for your great videos! ❤️
Sounds like you have had a very interesting upbringing. Thank you for sharing.
I'm brazilian too and a english student and futurely a japonese also and i loved this channel.
Takashii interviews it's very interesting to watch and your suggestion will be a nice content to bringing to us!
@@CronoFreeman I agree
good idea!!!
I had a good friend who lived in liberdade in Sao Paulo. Her parents were originally from Japan, and she was comfortable in both cultures. She would always tell me about the culture clashes between latin america and japan. One was puntuality. I remember laughing at her when she told me something like “mais ou menos as 11:17” (More or less at 11:17 am) She was being ambiguous and precise at the same time. She was confused at why i was laughing at her but then when I pointed it out, we both busted out laughing.😊
I've been to Japan 5 times vacationing and going to concerts, I made 1 really good Japanese friend while traveling which was unusual because he approached me for a conversation (that's not typical of native Japanese people) and I later learned he spent his university years in the U.S. so that explains his open minded approach.
I watch this channel because I'm interested in what other cultures like Japan are like and the simplicity and purity of interviews is such a great way to see that. You do a great job too! I do hope to travel to Japan someday.
Clubbing life would be super cool subject! Different sport activities also with locals and foreighners together. Tennis, golf, trekking, mountainbiking, paragliding, roadbiking, rockclimbing in Japan etc.
LOL. When you said clubbing life, my mind instantly went to Tokyo's nightlife. Mainly because I have never joined a club at my schools (I never had the opportunity to) and I love to party.
Once you party in Japan, nowhere else can compare
The silence in Japanese trains is one of the best and most comforting things over all!!!
Foreigners are used to loud and noisy people, so they miss the chaos.
@@Mwoods2272 No, I don't!!! ;)
@@Mwoods2272
That's a huge overstatement my dude. It's just that everyone being so silent in a social area is simply odd
@@cooliipie It's odd because people are used to the noise. It's like White Noise, you only notice it when it's gone.
@@Mwoods2272
I wouldn't say chaos is the right word though. Don't you find it strange that a bunch of people are standing closely together for an extended period of time without talking to each other, just standing there silently? It's kind of nice to have a conversation / small talk
The french woman at the end has an excellent view of Japan. It seems she understands that Japanese people have specific values (cleanliness, order, etc.) and that is made manifest through the way people communicate, interact, and live daily life and it is to be respected.
@@luckylos5398 I would say that she better understands Japanese people simply because she works in a Japanese company. Most of the other people interviewed are students who are mostly just interacting with each other on a daily basis. Which is far more different than interacting with Japanese people in a work environment.
Yeah but could definitely use some healthy change. The whole work life balance and no one allowed to be themselves if it’s even mildly out of the usual.
@@Bovlaad not really. I know people working in Japanese companies and still complaining about many things
but she quickly forgot how slow and what a PITA administration in France is... I don't think we (French people) can complain about how complicated it is abroad when it's such a pain here
She also said on 420 instead of unfortunately😂
The BEST thing about Takashi is that he seeks comments but never appears judgemental or offended or excited. He just appears so neutral
Typical Japanese🙂
He is using tatemae, Don't show his true side .
@@narin6011 hmmmm
Look up " Crisis and Uprising: Canada's Role in Haiti " on yT.
Insightful...not so peaceful after all........
wish we americans would do more of that. i don't need to know everyone's every thought and feeling on a topic...
20k more to 500k subs! You're getting there. Nice video as always. 素晴らしい!
You felt more relaxed than ever doing these interviews. I really like your videos!
Thanks Takashi for another outstanding video. You are the best interviewer on RUclips. I always learn so much from your programs. Take care and have a great week. ❤️🇯🇵🙏🌎🕊
Hey Takashi. First of all, love your channel. I have an idea for you if you haven't done it yet. I think it would be cool if you asked people what their favorite hobbies in Japan are. You can even get 2 videos from it. One interviewing native Japanese people, and one interviewing foreigners in Japan. Thanks for all the videos, you're doing great man!
yeah i second this... let's get going Takashi
Yea I’m sure you’d get some interesting results!
Interviewing Japanese people would be kinda difficult since they would use tatemae even in the interview to respond so they wouldn't be totally real in their answers
Interesting topic as always. One day I would like to travel to Japan and hope to have positive experiences with both Japan and Japanese people. Nice work Takashii. Keep it up. こんにちは、また会いましょう. 😊
Takashi Japan is one of my bucket list country’s to go to, and when I come will be my guide! Great work you’re doing 👍🏼
Hi Takashi. From watching your videos I was under the impression that most foreigners in Japan are westerners. But afterwards I read that most foreigners and naturalized citizens in Japan are from fellow East/Southeast Asian countries like China, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Westerners are actually a very small minority of foreigners in Japan. Hope you can do more videos about Asian foreigners and naturalized citizens in Japan.
You are 100% correct about that. :D I believe 80-90% of foreign people are from East/Southeast Asian countries.
I am a half Japanese from USA and when I was at the government office to finish paperwork to receive my Japanese citizenship, I was told that I was the only US citizen to receive a Japanese citizenship in that prefecture so far lol. The rest were East/Southeast Asians lol. It's a prefecture next to Tokyo too 😂
@@rubyrose7858 埼玉県？
You are correct, please do feature more Asians like the migrant workforce like Indians, Pakistanis , Indonesians, Malays and Filipinos.
@@rubyrose7858 you gave up you US citizenship?!
Thank you! Your videos are always nice and insightful 😊
8:13 i agree with her. the rules in japan might be a little tough but that's what makes japan a safe country. unlike here in the philippines where everyone is free to do whatever they want which backfires most of the time. especially in the road where everyone almost breaks the traffic rules. just got recovered from a car accident due to the car that beats the red light
Japanese drivers are awful too though
Meanwhile in Indonesia: "Rule? What's that? It's tasty?"
Japan isn't as safe as one would believe, but the crimes are well covered up, organised crime still exists here
@@gentlemaninjapan1994 nobody reporting crimes in Japan is one reason the crime is low.
@@gentlemaninjapan1994 And yet its one of the places in Asia where You can leave stuff at a bar go for a smoke and still find your stuff untouched, pass out on a street after a wild night and wake up in the morning with all your stuff with you, Japan isnt perfect but its probably far safer than where You are from.
Dear Takashii, I love your videos!
I have a recommendation: flip them horizontally when editing, if you're using a "mirror mode" or similar when shooting.
That way, they will be seen as they are meant to (texts will go the right way, etc.)
Cheers!!
Your channel is great! Although I’ve only passed thru airports in Japan on biz trips as an American, my wife is from the Philippines, we live in North Carolina. I’ve learned a lot about Japan & the people you interview 😀
I always find it so interesting the amount of people that move to a foreign country to study or work and know none of the language. To me, learning at least some of the language should be the first step when planning to move to a foreign country.
Yeah, I agree. I am a planner, so that level of improvising just feels jarring to me.
Yeah it is not that easy, especially when you are a student and you have way too much on your hands already.
@@amauritaniannomad6533 Students should be required to learn the language as part of their studies. This is the norm in many if not most countries.
@@Ahmed-ob6ec ‘should be required’? Why should they be? They are there to study and advance their research. Unless they are actually studying Japanese they should not be required to do that. Obviously it is always a plus to learn the language of the country you are in, but students, especially researchers, don’t really have much time on their hand.
@@amauritaniannomad6533 With that logic someone going abroad to study in the US or UK should not have any obligation to know English for their studies or to function in the country.
First time commenting, so I hope you notice this. One thing this video seemed to miss is that living in Japan long term (I have been living here for 40+ years) is it is always a love-hate relationship. I also find it irritating to hear non-native Japanese complain about the language barriers when they have made no sincere effort to really learn the language. I met my Japanese wife in college in the U.S. and we came to Japan to find work after graduating from graduate school. For me, personally, I had no problem getting a job that did not involve teaching English, but the first thing I noticed is the managerial culture - they didn't know what to do with me and since it was also my first full-time job, I had a hard time with not being given a specific job to do. For example, I had an MBA from an American university, and the first assignment I was given was to go check garbage cans to see how much of the garbage was made up of our company's product. Also, this was way before PC's were widely available, so any and all calculations needed to be done by hand. I had many models that I had learned through my MBA course, but almost none of them were applicable in Japan and perhaps more importantly, the management did not understand the meaning of the models that were applicable (such as "price elasticity" where you can lower the price of your product and actually end up making more money when you sell more units because of the lowered price.) The way I got through the love-hate relationship was to go home to America to visit family once a year. Fortunately, that was one of the perks of the second job I got in Japan.
Thanks Dale !
Congratulations on hanging in there. I had to bail - twice. Were you not offended by the heading. "No one" tells you? These comment scould have been lifted from40 years ago.
I agree, I'd like to hear more from the foreigners that have been here longer like myself, I came before Corona. No where near as long as you though. I have made a serious effort with the language but still haven't gotten it, I guess some people are just better at language or are smarter. The people in this video haven't really had enough time in Japan to form concrete opinions.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I don't mean to be condescending to those who have been interviewed, but I would say most of them are new to Japan. Whatever they tell you about their experience, it tends to have a short-term perspective, such as being overwhelmed by the new culture, systems, etc. The language barrier is another common issue, but if you think that mastering the language is the key to developing deep and meaningful relationships with Japanese people, then you are in for a disappointing surprise. We need a club for expats who have lived, worked, married, and raised kids in Japan for 10+ years. What no one tells you about living in Japan is that it's one of the most crowded yet loneliest places on earth.
@@iyadart My initial comment did say living in Japan was a love hate relationship. I dealt with that by going back to the US to visit family once a year throughout the time my children were in school. I made sure to have the little things that make life more livable for me like favorite desert and drink mixes. I almost exclusively watch American television shows. As to the dense population, I go out of my way to avoid crowds. I also give a lot of credit to my wife who takes very good care of me.
You do an incredible job of interviewing. And the people you find to interview are so insightful about their experiences in Japan. In fact, they almost all seem like very thoughtful and engaging citizens of the world. Keep up your excellent work.
TAKASHii from Japan, thank you for your informative videos. I personally have been watching Black Experience In Japan for the past year, and my daughter and I have been watching TabiEats for the last 7 years together as one of her bedtime routines. I just enjoy getting another perspective about Japan from another source. Plus it helps me with my process of a secret graduation gift possibly for my daughter to Japan. I wish you well, and I hope your platform continues to help others. Thank You.
What a sweet father you are😭🌈
Wow Jeff - That is incredible. Best to you and your daughter, I am certain you will have the best trip ever.
I am working with Japanese MNC, I know they are too much polite and honest. Lots of love from India ❤❤❤
This is really helpful, we appreciate Taki, counting down 2 weeks now until I get there.
I envy that, I'm from SA also hopefully one day we'll meet there
@@mydamnseizures yeah I'm also from Mzantsi, DK and I'm fortunate to work for a company that allows us to travel. We can meet up, sometime next year.
@@nkosikhonangidi7251 that's great, I cannot wait, can I have your socials?
In my work with Japan, I have found that body language and tone often mean much more than correct language. I admire Japanese because everything they do seems to be with purpose. Once we found common ground, conversation flowed.
This is an insightful and informative video. Every foreigner in Japan have their own separate and unique experiences. Thanks for the content as always. May God continue to bless you.
It's very nice that takashii gets to do this videos, it takes some courage to do this not having had the best source to learn English, I am guessing it is a rather good level of pronunciation he achieves, and still he sounds convincing to me.. I do wish though, that some things were less formal and the videos a bit more edited and straight up. On the other hand I appreciate the seriousness he puts in certain things like microphone audio and the personal handling of people, it makes one think he read the book fun Dale Carnegie.
Thanks Takashii !!
I love how you have been featuring the experiences of foreigners trying to figure out how to deal with everyday/practical issues.
I am not sure if I will ever be able to visit Japan but if I do, your videos will be so useful.
役立つ情報ありがとうございます 👍
Long term resident here, almost forty years. It's a very paradoxical sensibilities culture....clean and dirty, polite and rude, sensitive and crude. It depends on who you come in contact with and where you are. It's a safe country in terms of crime, even in the big cities, a very big plus.
Hi, I can't be sure as to what sort of advice it is that you might be seeking.....there being a myriad of nuances to the culture. Knowing the manners and simply having the confidence in being yourself in the foreign land, that is a good base in which to approach the education and makes for being at ease and having fun. The traditional culture is still quite interesting to me even after so many years, while the contemporary stuff seems flighty and rather shallow. If you can make friends with older people that adhere to traditions, their mannerisms and the way that they keep their homes for example, within that there is depth and it keeps things fresh and makes for comfort and intrigue. Older folks often have known hardships, from which they have developed sensitivities that often weren't passed on.
It's almost as if Japanese people are humans too. Funny
It’s a very “bipolar” place. It goes from one extreme to the other real fast. 🤣😉
You forgot to tell to the foreigners that they don't wanna mess with police , they will be in jail almost for life.
@@kafrikotroll8610not to mention never drive a car. No matter what if you are a foreigner it’s your fault. They could run a red light and t bone you and you will be at fault
I love your channel and I love you I think you really do a great job of bringing things out. I’ve been working in Japan often on for the last 22 years and I’m in love with the country it’s absolutely amazing when you compare to any other country in the world it represents everything that’s right about humanity. It’s not perfect there are things that frustrate me but when you compare and contrast it to every other country in the world the only thing I can come up with is wow! For a point of reference the only thing that drives me crazy about Japan is the blind bumps on the sidewalks and then the train stations, airports and hotels. In 22 years I’ve seen six blind people I’ve stopped in to interview them only one of them use the bumps the rest of them are always with their friends or family. In contrast I seen thousands and thousands of people struggle with their suitcases to roll across these things. I’m convince somebody’s brother-in-law in the Bump business got the contract to do this it makes absolutely no sense they could’ve paid someone to be with every blind person in the country for the next 300 years for the cost of putting these things in.
You have one of the best channels on RUclips. Love it!
I loved visiting Aomori when I was an exchange student! I absolutely miss the Summers there!!! 🥰
It surprised me too when I was there last summer. Young people who really wanted to make something of the city.
MORE LIKE THIS PLEEEEEEASE 😃🙏 this was really really fun to watch, I am from NY and I stayed in Japan for 3 months and loved it and am fascinated by the experience (my sister also lives there for 3 years with her husband and 3 children), I really miss it there and hearing foreigners describe their experience there is fun (also I am coming back for a visit in 2 weeks hehe 🤓)))
Have fun going back to Japan.
can i ask u how much it was to stay for 3 months? did u have someone to stay with or hotel/airbnb? :0
@@kittyindigital my sister lives there so I stayed with her, it seems on the same level as NYC so if you are paying to stay it would likely be high prices but the city is worth it and you could stay further outside city center because the metro system is very good
I have just recently discovered your channel and I love it! Been watching your videos for hours now. Keep up the good work. 😊
crazy value in this, thanks for making these vids
Always enjoy your videos, thank you..!!
2:22: Aomori prefecture is the northernmost part of the island of Honshu, just south of the island of Hokkaido.
Excellent interviews. We lived on Okinawa from 94 to 97 and from 08 to 11. I was in the U.S. military and we lived on military installations. My family, and I, loved venturing out in the the community and meeting Okinawan and Japanese people. We also visited Tokyo and Kyoto, which we enjoyed very much. In the aftermath of the 9.0 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis at Fukushima in 2011, I am proud have have been part of the U.S. Marine Corps team who participatd in Operation Tomodachi. I ended up at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo during that Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response Operation. I also enjoyed representing the U.S. military a few months prior to the earthquake, in a major humanitarian disaster planning conference led by the HQ, Japanese Self Defense Forces, Ichigaya, Tokyo
I used to work for the DoD and talked to a lot of servicemembers from all the branches (intelligence base) and I remember this one story a marine told me about how a few guys in his unit (is that the right term? I can't remember.) were stationed in Okinawa I believe and one night they got extremely drunk.
Supposedly they went "into town" and were a menace to the ordinary citizens. He also said in their alcohol fueled rage they kicked in someone's door and terrorized the family living there.
I don't think he got into the specifics of their punishment (which I imagine was very severe) and for some reason, that story stuck with me. I know some Japanese are against the US having permanent bases on their soil, and I imagine tales like this didn't help any. A nightmare scenario if you will.
Anyway, your comment made me glad. I understand that those guys made a terrible mistake, but they have to be in the extreme minority to pull a stunt like that.
Most US military members are decent folk fulfilling their duties and focus on the mission at hand.
Thanks for your service and helping out people in desperate need.
@@YaowBucketHEAD If the story is true, which I doubt, it is as rare an occupation as Purple Unicorns are. The Japanese people love Americans, and America…probably more than the average GenZer American does today. This is especially true because of the U.S. Armed Forces helping them big time in 2011 when a 9.0 earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear disaster brought mainland Japan to its knees. I was there as part of Operation Tomodachi and Operation Pacific Passage. Ended up at the U.S. Embassy with a small team of Marines, when it was all over
@Captain Willard I was an Army MP at Torii Station from 2007-2010 and was a PMO desk sergeant in my final year there and read the blotter reports from Camp Foster and Kadena airbase. Unfortunately, drunk Marines damaging private property of local Okinawans and assault and battery of locals wasn't all that rare. I am sure you remember the restrictions imposed after the rape of that young teenage girl, and then the hit and run manslaughter by the Special Forces Soldier. We surely help the local economy, but our young Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, and Sailors often cause a lot of trouble, especially when drunk. I hated that, especially considering how incredibly warm and friendly the Okinawan people are.
@@alexanderjamieson7971 I remember. Thankfully, even those events were rare occurrences. Nevertheless, it was extremely concerning and certainly damaged relationships with local government and the Okinawan people
I don’t like that people can legally be denied Emergency Medical Care (especially foreigners) for any reason at all which can be life threatening.
@Arslxn_Ash Arsixn talks about getting Japanese citizenship. LoL.
@Arslxn_Ash Arsixn makes comments on RUclips, then doesn't like it when other people make comments on RUclips.
.
But thanks for explaining the reason for your lack of maturity.
Why is that?
You aren't from their so I imagine they treat you like a tsar they even do that here. that's old and they just wanted to do it again
@@arslxn_ash8237 Nah, this ain’t one of those “but our society is different” type of things. If someone is having a medical emergency, they should receive the help they need regardless of their citizenship status or extraneous conditions. This isn’t like renting an apartment where someone can find something else, this is someone’s life that could be at threat. If you were just ran over by a car and bleeding out, you wouldn’t want me to deny you medical services because you didn’t have the right insurance or are a foreigner to my country. You, just as anyone else, possess the right to live a life and by extension shouldn’t be automatically denied medical services by for any extraneous reason.
There's a few things that are funny and unusual:
1. People are polite to an extent but now that I understand and speak more of the language, lots of it is fake.
2. "Side eye" is a problem for me. Japanese people communicate with their eyes but they do it passive aggressively. I'm from NZ and we don't tolerate this style
3. If it's a little cold = must dress to go to the snow
If it's Summer Hot = must keep my image and wear Jeans + sweat like crazy
4. Train etiquette is spoken about but there is inconsistency actually doing it by Japanese people
5. Fax Machines? FAX MACHINES?
6. It takes way too to do basic things. Paper work, Paper work, Paper work.
7. Younger people are like sheep and rarely express their thoughts about ANY topic
8. Many older people, especially men, act very entitled. I come from a place where we respect elders but they aren't often rude to us. Older men's attitudes, especially businessman, are straight up rude (in my experience)
9. I don't need a plastic bag for every item I buy 😂
10. When you ask Japanese people WHY they do something, they stare back at you like you've asked a difficult question 😂😂😂
Hahah yes can relate Lawrence
Living in Tokyo as foreigner, I agree with these points. I would add as my biggest problem here, "arubaito" contract which makes it easy to exploit workers with infinitely renewable 3-month contracts. In addition to having the lowest salary, having no job security or bonus and asking for impeccable performance. I do it to stay with my kid in Japan but it's no what you expect from a developed country.
I agree with all of these things as well. But unfortunately #5 is still sadly a big thing in USA also 😢
Nothing wrong with fax machines. It is actually a very secure way to communicate, no hacking. That's why in the US, in the medical field, fax is still used. Japanese kept using it because it's an easier way to communicate with the kanji writing system
@@sunahamanagai9039 it's less about what is right or wrong but more about being behind. Japan surprisingly is ancient in many many areas
Live•Laugh•Love~
~ALWAYS~
ライブ•笑い•愛〜
〜常に〜
Raibu• warai•-ai 〜 〜 tsuneni 〜
Thank u! Very informative for my American friends here in the PNW, WASHINGTON STATE
Great content as always! 💛
Those three girls are cool omg😂 I wish I could meet them and chill!! I love their positive vibes, and smiles ❤❤
Thinking about living in a different country seems hard, especially at the start.
That’s true, but it’s an adventure!
Love these videos 🤩 Impressed with the excellent flawless English of the French women by the way.
Takashii, you are really good interviewer, very nice and interesting vids! Subscribed!
my boyfriend’s cousin worked for Honda and lived in Japan for 3 years. He also did a lot of snowboarding indoors, which I would love to try! He speaks so highly of the japanese, can’t wait to visit in March!
Okay so I had zero idea that "snowboarding indoors" was a thing until you stated it. I have now been enlightened.
Culture shock hides both positive and negative aspects, and can easily change be felt by those who experience it, depending on the national character and nature of the foreigner, the timing, and other circumstances.
I really like this channel. As a gaijin running a business here, it's heartening to see how open, positive and friendly the younger generation is here in Japan. Also encouraging to see is how extremely nice almost all of the gaijins you interview are. My own generation of gaijins, and of Japanese as well, especially the men, are much less positive, much less flexible, much more set in our ways. I think Japan is facing a great, great future!
I almost moved to 🇯🇵 in 2017 for professional reasons! I would still consider to live there if I have the opportunity
Cheers from San Diego California 🇺🇸
I hope you will be able to interview foreigners (not half-Japanese) who have lived in Japan for a minimum of 20 years. Also, can you (yourself) please comment on the video if you can hear there is a specific "accent". This would also be interesting.
I love coming back to check out new videos. Thanks for sharing :)
I have studied in Lyon, France and I love it there. I have visited Tokyo, Japan. I love it there. The young French woman is correct. I agree with her that the rules is what makes Japan a very safe place to visit and possibly stay. I love Japan and Japanese people. I hope to bring my wife and kids to visit very soon. Thanks for this channel sir!
Yeah it always confuses me when I hear someone say "I love how Japan is so clean and safe and organized and punctual; I just don't like the pressure of having to follow all these rules all the time." Like, uh, how do you not realize that following rules is what makes everything clean, safe, organized and punctual?
I'm thinking of moving over to Lyon myself! How's the daily life over there?
@@spacepotato2277 I hate to say it but Diversity is also a factor. Japan is 97% which means a majority of the people are on the same page.
The French woman is not correct. She has only lived here for one month, and has no clue about Japan at this point.
@@Simku I Know Lyon, it is a Nice city , a lot of things to do, but just be careful sometimes..
Delinquency.
Glad you upload so much
Can’t believe foreigners could get a job in Japan without learning single Japanese😱😱 As a foreigner myself, I never know that Japan workplace is sooo tolerant to foreigners. It’s been 8 years and no matter how fluent I got, how my pronunciation sounds just as natives, they are still some natives criticizing my speaking.
Why this huge difference? Ahh. Maybe I just don’t fit here.
I have always had a special place in my heart for Japan i find it a beautiful country and interesting people greetings from the Netherlands
Great to know about 🇯🇵 Japan
Seoul could easily be Melbourne with Korean street signs and most of the people I encountered spoke excellent English, but when I landed in Tokyo I knew I could be nowhere else. An old lady gave me complex directions to the train station from my hotel and I thanked her with the small amount of Japanese at my disposal but I never felt confident that I really knew my way around that city. I loved the clean streets and the lack of deadbeats that you encounter in virtually every modern city but ultimately Tokyo overwhelmed me - that said, I would go back in a heartbeat.
Because Korea during the K-wave really prioritized their country to be tourist friendly, Japan up until now has that age old mindset of "we dont want to be discovered" the only main difference I really noticed is that Korean transport system is far more easier to use than the Japanese and Koreans dont really speak English as good as You claim, but Korea does have more English speakers than Japan
@@GCS88 in the tourist-oriented center of Seoul where I was staying, I had zero problem finding people with excellent English - they have a financial motive for being able to speak the language fluently.
That last lady said a mouthful! The same thing I was thinking and would say! Being in the U.S. Navy for 14 years and spent a good portion of it in Japan it felt like home! The one girl complained about the no talking on the train! I love there train system and the rule! Try being on a New York and see all the weird stuff that goes on and people do on that train it's crazy! I left my phone and keys on trains and cabs in various countries but Japan is the only place I got it back! Two times in Tokyo! When you go to another country for whatever it is and you going to be there a significant amount of time I think it would do yourself justice to try and learn the language and people from that country would be more accepting and see that at least your are trying!
It's very satisfying using the trains in Tokyo, incredible system that you can set your watch by. I'd step on my first train to work each morning as the doors closed
Love from Pakistan 🇵🇰❤️🇯🇵
4:30 Something similar happened to me in a train in Osaka 3 years ago. The carriage was full of young men, who were sitting, but no one stood up to give a place to an old lady.
When I was an exchange student I found that the other foreigners travelling the world to learn a new language and culture are a lot more open-minded than average person in ANY country. So it's reasonable that other foreigners in Japan will simply have a lot more in common with you (love Japan, want to learn Japanese, open to new cultures, have the same issues).
Patience overcomes all things
And haste always led to trouble.
Thank you Mr takashii. I was wondering if you could do a video about Japanese and special needs. My son is special needs, and I really want to take him to visit, possibly for awhile. But he has issues that may make it real difficult, or may make some people uncomfortable. Example : voice or volume control, when he may have to be quiet in places.
I wish I loved japan back in the 90’s I would of went to school there. 😢 hoping one day I will get there
Oh..this is a serious topic for me. I've been working in Japanese company fir several years and when I am thinking of moving one-day to Japan for business purposes I feel scared. I think it will be the biggest stress for me to get used to living there. Although I like my Japanese colleagues very much
Just try! Maybe that will be the best opportunity in your life, it will take some time to get used to culture and mannerisms but after a while u will adapt, and living in the safest country on earth will remove lot of anxiety.
I don’t know about others but I’ve lived in Japan for 4 years and I’ve rarely had an issue using my card or some sort of cashless payment. I also live pretty far from central Tokyo, the only places I’ve had to use cash is really small mom and pop shops.
Ive been to Japan numerous times and stayed with a friend for a while also.
The biggest problem with Japan is in the red light areas where the authorities do nothing about the crime and bullying of single male foreigners.
You try walking alone in Kabuki-chō and youll be harassed by the African bouncers, even stalked and followed down streets until you talk to them.
And there are even signs on the outside of clubs where the police say if you accept a free drink and get into trouble you are on your own.
Which is a shame because there are some nice shops and restaurants in that area, the robot cafe, the Godzilla Hotel Gracery etc.
I tried a simple 5 minute walk from my hotel to the robot restaurant and got harassed by a bouncer from a nearby club, he literally would not let me get to the restaurant, pushing me back to his club. I had to turn around and try to go back to my hotel but he followed me literally down a few streets to the lobby. Its a frightening experience.
The morning I checked out and walked to the station, I saw a young American guy naked except for his underwear crying and scrambling through his bag, I asked if he was ok and he said the nightclub bouncers drugged him, stole his wallet and threatened to destroy his passport if he didnt pay them more. The Japanese police literally turn you away if you report this.
Such a stain on an otherwise great country.
Fascinating.. again!!
I learned on Nomihoudai just take beer because the drinks are too weak :)
nice video :) We need part 2!
The French girl is very empathetic, I loved how she understands the system and the society.
Takashi, thank you for great content. I miss Tokyo a lot :D
Hey takashi I am just wondering how you approach to people for interview.. I mean do you just randomly approach to them and request them and from some of these people you approach do they reject you sometime..? Yeah it would be a very interesting to see..
Looking forward to the time when I will be a part of these street interviews 😄
Dane here Japanese wife, 14 year old son. I love Japan. Have been living in Tokyo for 6 years. There are somethings that drive me nuts though. The endless bureaucracy and the paperwork, this is 1970's level Denmark/EU. All the paper seriously in every procedure is just stupid -hint: there is a smarter faster and better way. Another thing is the snitching culture were you tell on your neighbors as soon as you see an anomaly. This is the hammer down the nail that sticks out thing. This I find to be a double edged sword depending on what your objectives are. I think it severs creativity and creates robots that all do the same with no independence no conflict. Conflicts, differing views and confrontations are needed to spark change IMO. On the other hand if you don't see a need to change why pursue it. I also hate Japanese TV which I find to be hilariously superficial they talk about cats and have panels discussing ramen oooishiii absolute garbage - I mean Japanese politics which is rotten could be a subject IMO.
Very nice! It brought back memories of when I visited in 1981. Being a sansei who doesn't speak Japanese was kind of difficult because there's naturally an assumption since I look Japanese :). I could identify with a lot of things that were being said!
The politeness ends at the train station and when trying to hail a cab when it’s 2 of you on the corner and the oncoming cabs are taken 😅
That being said, take cue and do what they do
And don't be hesitant to push back assertively. In one instance a young man had a bag on the seat beside him. The Japanese people around him were giving him the evil side-eye which he blithely ignored. I approached him and said Sumimasen! He looked up, met my eyes and since I can't speak Japanese I motioned for him to pick up and move his bag. He did, I said domo (because a formal thank you would be too polite for the situation) and sat down. Those around us enjoyed the exchange and I got a number of smiles and thumbs up.
Another time a very muscular man sat beside me and began manspreading and deliberately pushing me from his shoulder as well. I said nothing but held my space, resisted him and pushed back. Eventually he stopped. But I wasn't going to shrink on his account.
@@lynda.grace.14 Lynda, kudos to you! I used to have smokers put out their cigarettes on the platform, and many people around me were secretly smiling.
@@lynda.grace.14 The passive aggressiveness in daily life in Japan is real. Almost no one would say anything out loud, by the body language and facial expressions would tell you of their disapproval. I've been a visitor to Japan multiple times and experienced something similar.
@Critical Strike Forge What exactly is silly and middle-school-ish? A culture of passive and micro aggressions or resistance when confronted by it?
@Critical Strike Forge I'm curious. How long have you lived in Japan?
Great channel! Suggestion: help warn tourists about Shinjuku at night.
You always come up with nice content, Bro ❤️🍀✨ Ganbare 🥰🍀✨
Thanks for the video. ❤
good job Takashii!
Last French lady is sooooo sensible, respectful and understanding ❤❤❤👍👍👍
Another beaut video. IMHO I thought the last woman was so accurate in her assessment that 'the many rules in Japan are what makes Japan such a safe place'. TBH I hadn't thought of it like that before. But I think she is exactly right.
She was the only one I disagreed with. After she stays in Japan another month or more, she might change her tune.
@@earlysda Might change her tune how? You believe she may consider Japan unsafe? The Japanese are by nature sticklers for detail & Rules.
@@BelloBudo007 Bill, you made a false premise, then made a false conclusion. That is odd.
@@earlysda Given that these are merely my opinions, based on my experience with Japan & the Japanese, what is false & what is odd?
@@BelloBudo007 Bill, I see your English comprehension is not up to native level yet.
Another great video. Interesting too.
Arigatō!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😃
I also think that Asian people speak too fast in general, however Japan is an amazing country with such rich culture, flavorsome food and lovely welcoming people!💛
They are not speaking too fast, you are listening too slow.
@@Mwoods2272 Good point, Maurice.
Actually, languists have said that each syllable in Japanese is spoken roughly 50% faster than in English. It takes many more syllables in Japanese to get the same information conveyed as in English, so the actual time spent is roughly the same.
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Personally, I cannot stand to listen to normal speed English anymore, so this video, along with all other English ones, I put at 1.5x. Thank you RUclips!
Outside of Tokyo or other big cities, whenever I ask Japanese people, in Japanese, to repeat what they've said more slowly, rather than doing what I've asked, they ALWAYS switch to terrible broken katakana English, which is even harder to understand than their speedy Japanese.
They can't speak faster than our Thalaiva Rajnikanth. Yenna rascala mind it... Okay va?
At least they don't seem fighting when they talk. When 2 italians talk it seems they are about to jump on each other with all their hands and waving head.
Good interview. And I do appreciate you putting in subtitles the amount for cost in U.S. dollars. It helps to see how much cost of living is there in beautiful Japan.
Sorry, most of these interviews are with people who do not really "live" here or will leave eventually. Ask people who have settled here permanently...the comments will be more accurate and real.... Good Luck TAKASHI from Japan.
Man Takashi is one of my favourite asian youtubers he listens everyone patiently and acknowledges them.....Theres this other korean guy that sometimes pops up on my youtube feed whos exact opposite of takashi and just annoying...if i come to japan i wud surely want to meet this guy fr...🔥
I really agree with the french girl at the end. As someone who made Japanese friends, I can say that I like the way they do it more. Like she said, it takes a lot of time and effort but when they see you really care and really mean it, it's one of the best friends I ever had. I know it's something a lot of people can't relate to me but I was always very traumatized and I have extreme trust issues so I like the slow paced Japanese style. I always made friends fast but it was always the reason I suffered a lot. I agree it's a little difficult to make japanese friends but as someone who never trusts or likes a person unless I known them at least for 6 months. It's the reason i struggled a lot with even people in my own country because I won't open to people fast. So for those who struggle and want Japanese friends, don't give up, it's a very rewarding experience but it will take a lot of time and effort. The friendships I have with my Japanese friends are the most honest and best friendships I ever had. I believe we all should make friends outside of our cultural bubble, even if it's difficult. It's how we grow as people.
Nice to see your video. I followed you for a long time. My personal suggestion for you; make videos like Japanese food, Japanese Tourist spots, and so on. Thank You
“I have trouble finding Japanese friends because they’re shy”
“Do you speak Japanese?”
“No”
Pretty much sums it up, haha!
Best way to learn is to have someone to speak to. They got three alphabets and barely sentence structure with particles instead! Only was to get good food is to have friends to practice with. Though basic phrases should be learnt first of course.
I had to chain trains at Shinjuku each day to go to work and i have to amid it is rather complex, but once you are familiar with it i found it amazingly well organized. When my train came in the train i have to take came in 20 seconds later and i can't think of any time it was late. I really like the subway in Tokyo.
I never lived In Japan but Visited. This is the thing which makes Japanese so programmed, if once the train does not come, they are almost panicing. Not much relaxness In Japan. It is quite annoying for a Nordic person. Also the different outfit- cultures seems not To be genuine, it is More like a play.
@@talvetar3385 It is a very different culture, almost alien. I do see some similarities to other cultures, such as the formal rules of the English upper-middle class and so on, but at its core it is very different.
Some shops don't allow foreigners to conduct business with them. And that the reason why domestic abuse isn't high is because it isn't reported to the outside world due to Japanese society's ways of dealing with such issues.
Yep.
Its very interesting that you speak to everyone in English and the people you interview all speak English.