First thoughts upon hearing "Japan".

[Professor James]

I think of what the country looks like on a map. Same thing with Germany.

 

[otakon17]

Sorry, that's what I get when you mention Japan right off the bat.

 

[otakon17]

I tend to think of they're weird anime or commercials. Cannot embed youtube video.

(watch?v=_KXf3kwjKQ0) That's the one though.

Use [ youtube=shareurlafter/] for embedding youtube videos, just remove the / and the spaces after the front bracket.

 

[otakon17]

I've lived 10 years in Japan and thus I no longer think it's weird because I actually know what the place is truly like. It's a remarkable place and from that vantage point I can see how 'weird' and 'insane' my own country looks from the outside. Half the 'crazy Japanese trends' the Net goes crazy about are individuals' art projects, jokes or directly from satirical TV programs.

The door knob licking thing, the mechanical tails and ears thing, the 'latest crazy Japanese invention': almost always somebody having a bit of fun. The 'sex robots' are prototypes for nursing robots for the nation's ageing population. The supposed sex obsession the nation has is really more to do with the fact that sex isn't such a taboo, unlike in the West where we can show a head coming off but not bra. Remember that the modern dildo, the Fleshlight and the Real Doll are American inventions.

The idea in Japan is to keep the kinky and the obsessive in sight, not to drive them into their basements where they keep all their hooks.

I've suffered some racism, sure, but what foreigner hasn't experienced that in any country. I never get singled out, abused from passing cars or directly criticised, which is quite unlike the reports I've had from friends who've visited by home country. Most of the difficulties I have due to my foreign status is bureaucratic, because the systems the nation runs on are so honed to a typical, homogenous standard that people like me, and not just foreigners, are not caught or accommodated.

So, yeah, when I think 'Japan' I think of home. I think of the best rail systems in the world. The most convenient and trouble free lifestyle I've ever had. An amazing language which I have had a ball learning. Of great people who know how to let loose with a microphone and pint of umeshu soda. I consider myself lucky that I no longer need to define this beautiful country and culture by pop culture icons, Baby Boomer rhetoric and scraps of bloggable trivia.

Dude, that was a joy to read. I wish to go to Japan one day myself so hearing something like that makes me think it's still quite doable.

 

[742]

weird pastries, tentacle porn, some of the bad stuff, nerdiness, and flowers-in that order.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Disgusting, animated porn. Lots and lots of porn. This is what I see in Japan, the land of perverted things.

 

[Zanderinfal]

The language, pandas and anime. Not alot to say.

 

[Zen Bard]

Mostly this:

But also, Samurais, Ninjas, Godzilla, Ultraman, Harujujku Girls, an eighty-hour work week and people having heart attacks at 35.

 

[Vault101]

Sorry, I can't see any similarity except for the fact that both are drawn and colored characters

......really?...then could you tell the difference between the first example and a charachter with the "pink hair and a face thats half eyes?" because its pretty noticable

I keep saying that? Well, I guess that must mean something then...

what it means is I can't exactly tell what your saying ..just saying "the story is bad" is too general of a term to get any actual criticism out of...you would have to give at least a few reasons as to WHY (but I'm not sure thats an argument I want to get into)

ok, first of all I never used the term "bullshit",

you may as well have....
[quote/] my criticism is a lot more constructive, because I pointed out what exactly I dislike. [/quote]
actually..no...refer too the point I made earlyer...you want to make constructive criticsm you need a bit more detail, "the x is bad" really doesnt say anything

[quote/] Who has a judgmental attitude? The guy who talk about his opinion or the guy who judges him and his opinion based on his own taste?[/quote]
Opinions may be opinions in the end...however somtimes they are based on misinformation. Like somone who's veiw on Anime and manga is "pointy haird big eyed charachters and tenticle porn" I'd feel the need to say that isnt quite the case

Maybe, but in that case there must be a lot of bad "anime" out there again proving my point. If there is good "anime" out there is seems to be more of an exception than a rule...

the 90% rule applies to pretty much anything...besides...there still subjectivity involved

n
I like you writing, it leaves a lot of space for free interpretation .
First of all I don't know what an "Otaku" is, I can guess that it must be some kind of alias for "fanboy". Since I am not that firm with current nerd-slang in the japanese-craze-sector I would just leave it at that, since you do not really dismiss my opinion at that point.

Otaku means two things...its the Japanease word for "Nerd" I don't know if its specific for anime/manga but eather way its not a nice term...its somwhat shameful in japan

Anime fans also call themselves Otaku, for being into Anime specifically

Weaboos are westerners who have an obsession for Japan and in some way seem to REALLY want to be japanease, thinking Japan is better at everything, somtimes based on Misinformation ([i/]I'm gonna go to japan and get a japanease girlfreind who'll like Anime![/i]) crossover obviously

its not hard to come across such terms if spend a little time on the interent

I am not making "shit" up (that is something you do in a bathroom, not in a discussion, you should know that), I am just thinking logical and going by the known facts to get the complete picture.

so.....as I said, making shit up...OK OK your drawing your own conclusions..but in the end thats all they are..your own conclusions, not actual evidence of any kind

if you havn't been to japan mabye you should ask somone who has about this stuff

[quote/]You on the other hand seem take a rather... how do I say it... "indifferent" position regarding this subject. Is groping something you do not criticize?[/quote]
really? thats you you interpreted it? yeah sure I'M FINE WITH THAT/sarcasm

where did I imply I thourght it was ok? its not...you may be making stuff up again

But WHY is it a problem in a certain culture? Why can it become a problem? Obviously because in this culture it is not considered to be wrong even though it is forbidden by law. Cultural studies proclaim that conscience is something that is being educated also by culture. If you can not resist the urge to place your hand between the legs of a stranger in public then normally your parents failed. but id it is cultural problem, then the culture failed.

I dont know WHY....mabye somthing to do with their conservative culture but then I'm not an expert on such things...AND our veiw of their culture is also probably a bit skewed (since alot of people seem to see it as "whacky japan" which isn't true)

ALSO veiwing another culture through the eyes of our own is kind of Biased..you can talk about how weird it is to have the whole fetish for school girls and such...but then can you honestly say western culture isnt a bit messed up in it own way? I'd say America is a pretty crazy place to alot of Japanease

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

The image of Tokyo's neon skyscrape, reaching up into the night sky. A kind of meld of every single culture, merged into one, represented perfectly by a mix of electric lights, language and huddled masses on the streets below.

Den Gordzilla comes and eats dem all

 

[Syzygy23]

Weeaboos.

I loathe weeaboos.
.

just for fun...

is there a difference between weaboo and otaku?

Weeaboo is anyone not of Japanese descent or a born-and-raised Japanese citizen attempting to act like they ARE a Japanese person, usually using knowledge gleaned from animes and manga, and ONLY those sources.

Otaku is just a basement-dwelling nerd. Someone who obsesses over something excessively.

Soometimes there is overlap.

 

[Overusedname]

I've always been surprised by how iconic Godzilla seems to be as 'Japan's symbol'. It really doesn't seem to be very popular outside of the country when compared to mega-hits like Nintendo or Bones Studio or Miyazaki. Maybe I missed something.

 

[Darth Rahu]

A katana blade sticking out of the ground near a cherry blossom tree in full bloom, with petals falling graciously to the ground on the spring grass.... There's a haiku to be made out of this but I'm too lazy right now.

 

[Smeggs]

I'm...not entirely sure what you would mean by first thoughts.

My first thought would be, "We're talking about Japan."

Then, my next thought would probably be anime.

Also, as the person at the top of the page said, I'd most likely imagine a stereotypical-looking Japanese guy.

 

[katsabas]

A little story is in order cause the answer to the question depends on whether you ask me 'since yesterday' or 'since before yesterday'.

Since before yesterday makes me think of anime, games and that guy that gave 750 grand online to de-virginalize a chick.

Since yesterday, it makes me think of other things:
1) The flag of Japan is actually their naval flag. Their official one is the Rising Sun flag.
2) I found a great gift to make to a special someone. She is a nut for tea and always wanted to try green Kit Kats which I just ordered via eBay and decided to construct an awesome little box with rising suns on 3 sides of the box and kanji on the rest to put them in.

Yeah, I am awesome and my hand-painted Japanese chest also came out awesome.

 

[Okulossos]

......really?...then could you tell the difference between the first example and a charachter with the "pink hair and a face thats half eyes?" because its pretty noticable

no, not really, the only difference is that it is a bit less exaggerated... but thats about it.

what it means is I can't exactly tell what your saying ..just saying "the story is bad" is too general of a term to get any actual criticism out of...you would have to give at least a few reasons as to WHY (but I'm not sure thats an argument I want to get into)

The problem is, that "the story is awful" is already very specific. It is everything, from non-coherent storytelling, to extremely poor and in its own way generic characters where the guy seem like girls and the girls seem like helpless girlygirls to make the men look more like men, it is the exaggeration in every sense, it is the terrible dialog, the giant plot-holes... there is just so much, it is everything about it.

you may as well have....

No, I might not as well have, it is a difference. my terminology is just that much more mature, so please stick to the truth, ok? ok.

actually..no...refer too the point I made earlyer...you want to make constructive criticsm you need a bit more detail, "the x is bad" really doesnt say anything

actually.. yes, even if i say "that is bad" it is still a lot more constructive than "it is bullshit", because the latter one is just profane.

Opinions may be opinions in the end...however somtimes they are based on misinformation. Like somone who's veiw on Anime and manga is "pointy haird big eyed charachters and tenticle porn" I'd feel the need to say that isnt quite the case

So it is up to you to save the day from misinformation without ever thinking about the possible information status of the one you are trying to proselytize? ... On the Internet?

the 90% rule applies to pretty much anything...besides...there still subjectivity involved

Here's the thing: it does not apply to "pretty much anything". I would agree, that it applies to a lot of things, especially media-driven things, but still what is the rule in such a case? Do the 10% dictate to rule, or is it the 90%?

its not hard to come across such terms if spend a little time on the interent

I am not quite sure what an "interent" is, but I guess you mean "Internet". I can assure you I spend most of my time on the Internet, as most of my studies involve the world wide web and I myself have a lot of business here. I guess I have not heard the terms, because I don't spend my time near "Anime"-fanboys who use them to distinguish themselves the "normal nerds".

so.....as I said, making shit up...OK OK your drawing your own conclusions..but in the end thats all they are..your own conclusions, not actual evidence of any kind

if you havn't been to japan mabye you should ask somone who has about this stuff

But I have been to japan, i also know a few people who have been, and no, they don't know much about japanese statistics ether, because... well... do you know any statistics of the country you live in apart from some commonly known numbers (population etc...)? Would you know something like that if you are just visiting? Sorry, but that assumption is not making much sense in this context.

really? thats you you interpreted it? yeah sure I'M FINE WITH THAT/sarcasm

where did I imply I thourght it was ok? its not...you may be making stuff up again

I just said what I read from what you wrote. Also I never said it was ok with you. You just seem so attached to the thought that japan does not have a problem we need to criticize, or I am allowed to criticize even as my own opinion... if you think differently, why to you keep criticizing me?

I dont know WHY....mabye somthing to do with their conservative culture but then I'm not an expert on such things...AND our veiw of their culture is also probably a bit skewed (since alot of people seem to see it as "whacky japan" which isn't true)

I know why, I told you above.

ALSO veiwing another culture through the eyes of our own is kind of Biased..you can talk about how weird it is to have the whole fetish for school girls and such...but then can you honestly say western culture isnt a bit messed up in it own way? I'd say America is a pretty crazy place to alot of Japanease

the last sentence does seem unfinished... anyway: Yes, american culture (or at least the culture proclaimed by the USA) is messed up... very messed up, but this thread is not about America, it is about japan, so what you are saying kind of loses validity .

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Yes well, I just got off watching Mirai Nikki so... this is all I can think of.

Save me ;-;

 

[Vault101]

......really?...then could you tell the difference between the first example and a charachter with the "pink hair and a face thats half eyes?" because its pretty noticable

no, not really, the only difference is that it is a bit less exaggerated... but thats about it.

"less exaggerated" is a pretty major difference....Perfect blue wouldn't have worked if Mima was a pink haird "big eyes" charachter since the story/setting is more grounded in reality

The problem is, that "the story is awful" is already very specific.

no...its not...not when you say "the story was bad". full stop, if I read a reveiw I wan't more detail then "the story was bad" because otherwise I can't tell if I would agree with the reveiwer or if they are talking out of their ass

[quote/]It is everything, from non-coherent storytelling, to extremely poor and in its own way generic characters where the guy seem like girls and the girls seem like helpless girlygirls to make the men look more like men, it is the exaggeration in every sense, it is the terrible dialog, the giant plot-holes... there is just so much, it is everything about it.[/quote]
yeah I know what "story was bad" means but again you'd have to point out thease things specifically like I said in the point before

No, I might not as well have, it is a difference. my terminology is just that much more mature, so please stick to the truth, ok? ok.

mature?....sure..whatever then, thats makes it "better" I'm sure

actually.. yes, even if i say "that is bad" it is still a lot more constructive than "it is bullshit", because the latter one is just profane.

....how is being less profane more helpful? they are pretty much exactly the same in meaning (aside from some subtlety)..and BOTH are equally unhelpful statements

So it is up to you to save the day from misinformation without ever thinking about the possible information status of the one you are trying to proselytize? ... On the Internet?

If someone says something I find I disagree with then I'll "engage" in discussion...thats pretty much the point of forums

Here's the thing: it does not apply to "pretty much anything". I would agree, that it applies to a lot of things, especially media-driven things, but still what is the rule in such a case? Do the 10% dictate to rule, or is it the 90%?

thats somwhat subjective....one persons crap is anothers masterpeice

I am not quite sure what an "interent" is, but I guess you mean "Internet".I can assure you I spend most of my time on the Internet, as most of my studies involve the world wide web and I myself have a lot of business here.[b/] I guess I have not heard the terms, because I don't spend my time near "Anime"-fanboys who use them to distinguish themselves the "normal nerds".[/b]

neither do I...majority of my online-related activity is Gaming focused...yet I have learned thease terms...a real mystery I'm sure. Ether way I don't know what your point there is or if your trying to imply somthing

But I have been to japan, i also know a few people who have been, and no, they don't know much about japanese statistics ether, because... well... do you know any statistics of the country you live in apart from some commonly known numbers (population etc...)? Would you know something like that if you are just visiting? Sorry, but that assumption is not making much sense in this context.

wait....wasnt your whole point that you were convinced there was more rape than the statistics showed?

I just said what I read from what you wrote. [b/]Also I never said it was ok with you.[/b]

no but I was using hyperbole/sarcasm...AND you did say
[quote/]You on the other hand seem take a rather... how do I say it... "indifferent" position regarding this subject. Is groping something you do not criticize?[/quote]
I mean come on, or did I just interpret that wrong?

[quote/]You just seem so attached to the thought that japan does not have a problem we need to criticize, or I am allowed to criticize even as my own opinion... if you think differently, why to you keep criticizing me?[/quote]
I'm not....I find japan interesting both for its good and bad points, I'm under no delusion its some utopia and don't know where you got that Idea

I know why, I told you above.

you THINK you know why....all your going on is your own conclusions

the last sentence does seem unfinished... anyway: Yes, american culture (or at least the culture proclaimed by the USA) is messed up... very messed up, but this thread is not about America, it is about japan,

but I'm using it as an example..."right and wrong" are largely cultural Ideas, somthing I thourght was worth keeping in mind (and no I wasnt saying any of it in eather countrys is ok)

so what you are saying kind of loses validity .

does it now?...is that a statment you can just throw around whenever you feel like it?

 

[Okulossos]

"less exaggerated" is a pretty major difference....Perfect blue wouldn't have worked if Mima was a pink haird "big eyes" charachter since the story/setting is more grounded in reality

No, it is not such a big difference, but I guess, if you want to make a statement you take what you get... it is the little thing, am I right?

no...its not...not when you say "the story was bad". full stop, if I read a reveiw I wan't more detail then "the story was bad" because otherwise I can't tell if I would agree with the reveiwer or if they are talking out of their ass

Well, look up what a story is made out of, all that is bad, I do hope that this is specific enough.

yeah I know what "story was bad" means but again you'd have to point out thease things specifically like I said in the point before

since I am not writing reviews for a bad website I don't feel like repeating a dictionary if it is obvious what I mean.

mature?....sure..whatever then, thats makes it "better" I'm sure

It most definitely does. Curse-words are a poor emphasizing method used only if you lack the vocabulary to do otherwise.

....how is being less profane more helpful? they are pretty much exactly the same in meaning (aside from some subtlety)..and BOTH are equally unhelpful statements

First of all profanity disables others from taking you seriously . Second it does not have the same meaning, one is an excrement coming from the anus of a bull and the other is a word that describes a dislike for something. Third, I don't think that your "bullshit" is even a bit as helpful as "bad" because "bad" expresses my feelings towards something while your "bullshit" is just profanity, I guess for the lack of better words.

If someone says something I find I disagree with then I'll "engage" in discussion...thats pretty much the point of forums

And I thought forum where there to exchange interesting thoughts instead of "engaging into a discussion if someone has a different opinion", but I could be wrong . Ah, the Internet has changed so much...

thats somwhat subjective....one persons crap is anothers masterpeice

You do know that there are certain universally excepted ideas of what makes for a good movie? Well if none of them apply than you can be pretty sure that your taste will be challenged in almost every discussion you have on that subject .

neither do I...majority of my online-related activity is Gaming focused...yet I have learned thease terms...a real mystery I'm sure. Ether way I don't know what your point there is or if your trying to imply somthing

Well, I don't know which gaming sites you visit and maybe I am also blind to such words, but I did not come across them, at least not in a way that they would spark my interest (which means, that I do not exclude the possibility of having seen them before) .

wait....wasnt your whole point that you were convinced there was more rape than the statistics showed?

You do know the term "dark figures"? It is a static that tries to imply things that have not been reported. These numbers are not always correct, but they are being determined on the bases of a vast knowledge. Those are never official but always a lot more interesting If you can get your hands on them... fun fact is, that I have access to such data .

I mean come on, or did I just interpret that wrong?

Well, what does it mean to be indifferent regarding this subject? It does not mean that you are ok with that, it just implies that you don't care which is a completely different topic.

[quote/]I'm not....I find japan interesting both for its good and bad points, I'm under no delusion its some utopia and don't know where you got that Idea[/quote]
I got the idea while you where busy criticizing me for my critiques in that matter...

you THINK you know why....all your going on is your own conclusions

Those conclusions are not based in thin air, read a book about cultural studies and you will find out why I mean .

but I'm using it as an example..."right and wrong" are largely cultural Ideas, somthing I thourght was worth keeping in mind (and no I wasnt saying any of it in eather countrys is ok)

Then don't make you texts sound like that .

does it now?...is that a statment you can just throw around whenever you feel like it?

Nope, it is also based on what you have written... maybe you don't realize what you write?