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  •  Sanosuke
      Sanosuke
Re: Japan...What I need to know
#15
Insane Hikki Fan
Joined: 2007/6/30
A/S/L
Posts: 2937
Hmm, I think jigenbakuda and AnimeLunatic pretty much summed it up. You should learn a few polite phrases to greet every person you meet. Try to bow often since this will help them recognize your respect to their culture.

Simply just be very polite, and enjoy your time over there!
Posted on: 2008/1/2 14:06
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  •  jigenbakuda
      jigenbakuda
Re: Japan...What I need to know
#14
Hikki Obsessed
Joined: 2007/9/30
A/S/L 23/M/Jacksonville FL
Posts: 417
Quote:


Ok, some things hes saying here are true, but things like "always eating rice" isnt exactly true and the Gaijin thing doesnt seem to really mean anything, well im not sure about grandparents and all but my host family and my friend's host family never referred us to gaijin or anything like that. You WILL be eating rice more than usual but you wont eat it EVERY day. When I went to Japan, I ate rice, actually, I ate rice a little less then I usually eat here in America, but im Asian, I live off of rice. Anyways, a couple of tips. When you talk to the Japanese people, don't give up on trying to communicate with people. Sure they might not understand what you might be saying, but making a few gestures to help them understand is always a good way to make communication. Giving up trying to communicate with them make them feel uncomfortable and stuff.


Well I was just talking about my personal experiences and people I know in japan. My girlfriend always has rice in the rice cooker, waiting to be eaten... And my main reason for saying that was so that their mindset was right. Some people come to foreign countries and expect it to be america with different people. A lot of people do not realize it is a different culture and cuisine. I had a friend who went to china and said they ate too much rice...WTF do you expect little girl, lol thats what I told her. So obviously that girl was not prepared for the different eatng habits. I didn't want the OP to fall into the same trap. Although I must admit the way I said it was kinda extreme. But I'm african america, rice is not really a big part of our cuisine. At least not like it is in japan. So its little things (information) like that, that can help with the culture shock.

I agree about the talking to people part. Depending on where you are, a lot of japanese will be very nice a actually listen to you struggle in japanese and try to help you. I had a guy help me with a map for like 15 minutes...but that was in hiroshima. I'm not sure they will be so nice in tokyo... I heard fukuoka and osaka had friendly people. But I've never been to any of those places. Also another tip for speaking to japanese. Bring a pen and paper so you can write to them. They may not be able to speak english well, but most can read okay. So if they can not understand your english or vice versa, whip out the pen and paper, it will be great!

@roscoe

I can ask my girlfriend about the tipping strippers thing. She goes to the strip club all the time with her friends (please don't ask me why...I have no idea why she would go, but it's free for women to get in). But she lives in okinawa and the american presence is big. So they do things in an american kind of way. They tip waitresses there.

But I remember I went to miajima (not sure of spelling) and we got there after the last bus ran. And this guy that worked at a hotel (drove a van) told us he would come back after his shift was over and take us 5 miles to the camp site. He saved our *ss big time. We tried our hardest to give him a tip (a big one) and he turned it down every time. Its just their culture...
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Posted on: 2007/12/25 20:49
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  •  ioruk
      ioruk
Re: Japan...What I need to know
#13
Hikki Obsessed
Joined: 2007/11/18
A/S/L 23/M/USA
Posts: 375
cool japan! for school best of luck do your best!!!!
i hope u see hikki too!!!
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Posted on: 2007/12/25 18:46
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  •  <3_UtadaHikaru_Aijin_<3
      <3_UtadaHikaru_Aijin_<3
Re: Japan...What I need to know
#12
Show Off!
Joined: 2007/7/24
A/S/L 17/M/Cal
Posts: 8413
awwww... =/ lolz

well ok then =)
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Posted on: 2007/12/25 18:44
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  •  Paine101
      Paine101
Re: Japan...What I need to know
#11
UtadaNet Newbie
Joined: 2007/12/21
A/S/L 15/Female/America
Posts: 16
AnimeLunitic01: "Oh and question, which part of Japan are you going too?"

<3_UtadaHikaru_Aijin_<3: "which part of Japan are you going too? and are u gonna try and meet hikki! if u are u got to take me with u on ur trip>."

My host family lives in Tokyo so that's where I'll be...but I won't be sure until the meeting on January 26; since this trip is an academic type thing which will help me get university/college credits. In that case, I don't thing I'll be able to take you with me <3_UtadaHikaru_Aijin_<3, but if I can, I'll try to meet Hikki and send all you guys photos or put a video on Youtube.
Posted on: 2007/12/25 18:32
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  •  Roscoe
      Roscoe
Re: Japan...What I need to know
#10
Hikki Obsessed
Joined: 2007/6/5
A/S/L 20/M/New Hampshire
Posts: 897
Well, I haven't gone to Japan myself - but I did go to a short seminar once about preparing for a trip (mostly money saving aspects). This is what I picked up from it:

I guess there are these bed and breakfast type places that are a real money saver as far as living arangements. The guy I spoke with said they're much cheaper than a regular hotel, and a lot better in terms of an "authentic" Japanese cultural experience.

Another thing they mentioned is that it's a good idea to get a railroad pass if you're covering a lot of territory.

They also said not to tip waitresses, busboys, or housekeeping. I suppose it's considered an insult, because those professions are paid normal living wages, unlike in America, where tips are pretty much expected as part of your salary. I forgot to ask if it was okay to tip strippers.
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Posted on: 2007/12/25 15:30
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  •  <3_UtadaHikaru_Aijin_<3
      <3_UtadaHikaru_Aijin_<3
Re: Japan...What I need to know
#9
Show Off!
Joined: 2007/7/24
A/S/L 17/M/Cal
Posts: 8413
i know... where is lawliet? 0.o
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Posted on: 2007/12/25 13:21
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  •  laijunjie14
      laijunjie14
Re: Japan...What I need to know
#8
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Joined: 2006/11/17
A/S/L 24/M/Singapore
Posts: 6223
where's lawliet when we need him?
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Posted on: 2007/12/25 9:10
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  •  AnimeLunatic01
      AnimeLunatic01
Re: Japan...What I need to know
#7
Insane Hikki Fan
Joined: 2007/5/15
A/S/L Male
Posts: 2932
Quote:

jigenbakuda wrote:
Quote:

Paine101 wrote:
Hey guys,
This summer, I'm going to be leaving the U.S to go to Japan and I need to know as much as possible so I don't look like an "American Idiot" to them. So...to those who are living in or know anything about Japan...can you help me?


Sorry to break it to you, but there is nothing you can do to make yourself not look like an stupid american. You can learn the language, be versed in their poetry, you can play a teiko better than them, you can be respectful, but you will always be a 外人(gaijin). The japanese are very xenophobic. But I must admit, the younger people are less like that, but with old people...forget it. Now what you can do is not act like an *ss when you go to drink. You can be respectful, and you can be friendly. These things will earn you lots of friends in japan. Well the ones interested in gaijin. Well the major thing is not to rock the boat... Their culture frowns upon it... But If you are respectful, your time there should be enjoyable. But try to learn some japanese before you leave. Not every japanese person will know english, but a lot will, but just incase, learn some elementary japanese, just in case you run into someone who only knows japanese. Also get used to rice. Its not america...they eat rice with almost every meal. Try to make a friend in japan before you go. It will be so much easier!

Sorry if it came off as harsh at the start, but just telling you what I have learned and what I experienced. I spent 3 months there. But I talk to lots of americans who live in japan. direct your questions to gaijinpot.com, they are experts.

Ok, some things hes saying here are true, but things like "always eating rice" isnt exactly true and the Gaijin thing doesnt seem to really mean anything, well im not sure about grandparents and all but my host family and my friend's host family never referred us to gaijin or anything like that. You WILL be eating rice more than usual but you wont eat it EVERY day. When I went to Japan, I ate rice, actually, I ate rice a little less then I usually eat here in America, but im Asian, I live off of rice. Anyways, a couple of tips. When you talk to the Japanese people, don't give up on trying to communicate with people. Sure they might not understand what you might be saying, but making a few gestures to help them understand is always a good way to make communication. Giving up trying to communicate with them make them feel uncomfortable and stuff. Oh and taking a shower in Japan is quite different. Probably the RUDEST thing you can do it waste their water in their showers. Apparently, water tax in Japan is quite high so you will have to take a shower the Japanese way. That way is taking a quick rinse, turn off the shower, cover yourself with soap, shampoo, etc. and rinse it off. After, you can choose to take a nice and soothing bath in their little mini tub, this is HELLA RELAXING! Oh and if (You are staying with a host family right?) your host family is kinda bugging you too take a shower, it probably mean they want to take a shower cause in Japan, they have a special order in which family members takes baths. 1st is guest, 2nd is grandparents, 3rd is parents, and 4th-5th is children from oldest to youngest.

Really thats all you need to know. Just be friendly, talk alot, try to communicate with them as much as you can so it shows you have a bright personality. Hope you have as much fun as I did when I went to Japan.

Oh and question, which part of Japan are you going too?
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Posted on: 2007/12/25 3:01
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  •  <3_UtadaHikaru_Aijin_<3
      <3_UtadaHikaru_Aijin_<3
Re: Japan...What I need to know
#6
Show Off!
Joined: 2007/7/24
A/S/L 17/M/Cal
Posts: 8413
Quote:

Paine101 wrote:
Hey guys,
This summer, I'm going to be leaving the U.S to go to Japan and I need to know as much as possible so I don't look like an "American Idiot" to them. So...to those who are living in or know anything about Japan...can you help me?


omg ur so lucky ur going to japan!!! =D can i come with?? xD

what part of japan are u going too? and are u gonna try to meet hikki! if u are u got to take me with u on ur trip >.< xD lolz

well anyways good luck and have fun there ^^

btw nice siggy ^_^
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Posted on: 2007/12/24 20:50
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