Truths about Japanese culture?

[SKY031]

I have some things that I'm curious about, so I thought I'd ask the people in the know.

We see all these pictures of "every day life in Japan"... and although a picture may say a thousand words, it doesn't always convey the entire story.

Question 1/

Is it true that it's considered to be rude/offensive to sign your name in Japan?

...you need some sort of stamp with your name on it so that you don't offend people by using your signature?

and if this is true, wouldn't it be really easy to forge papers/documents that have been stamped rather than signed by hand?

Question 2/

Unemployment... do business men really pretend to go off to work each day when they have lost their job? Is it some kind of dishonour to their family for them to lose their job? I've also been told that there is a very high suicide rate among the unemployed.

Those are my only questions

........for now.

[akeenan]

question 1:

I dont think it is rude to sign your name here in japan. Everytime you get an important piece of mail you have to sign for it... etc etc ive signed my name so many times so i wouldnt say it is offensive

question 2:

Yes it is true that some men do pretend to go to work if they are unemployed but not all the men. and yes i have been told that suicide is high/ more common amongst unemplyed people than employed... after all a japanese mans job is basically the most important thing..

[Rezz]

1) I've never heard anything about it being rude to sign your name... I mean, we're talking about foreigners right? Just about all Japanese take it for granted that foreigners don't have a "hanko" (name stamp) and so straight away ask us to sign. I've had some very suprised looks from bank staff etc when I produced my custom "Justin" hanko. As for my wife, she never signs her name unless it's for registered mail (as Andrew said) or for credit card transactions. So as for it being rude to sign your name... I don't think so.

2) Mmmm, a bit of a grey area here with the unemployment statistics. I guess amongst older people the unemployment situation was a bit taboo, and talk about why Mr Watanabe comitted suicide centers around "personal crisis" and never solely blamed on unemployment. On the JR Kobe train line just last week there were two (2!) suicides where people jumped infront of trains... yes, this is common in Japan. Unemployment related? I don't know, but bear in mind, the pressures of living in a society were status is EVERYTHING, life can get a bit shitty if you're at the bottom. But with the younger generation, unemployment - amongst my students at least - has almost become "cool", like they are rebelling against societies expectations or something.

I haven't answered your question well SKY, so I'll shut up now...

[DaiOni]

1. is absolutely false - I see japanese people sign documents all the time

2. is not restricted to japan

[akeenan]

On the JR Kobe train line just last week there were two (2!) suicides where people jumped infront of trains... yes, this is common in Japan.

justin its common here on the JR also. Last week I was on a train and it came to a screaming halt for the same reason.

[Bakadesu!]

I was on a Yamanote line train a couple of weeks ago and noticed on the monitor a "cease of operations" on a certain line due to an "accident". That must be what they call it...

Akeenan, is RE Amemiya easy to get to in Chiba? I was there a couple of weeks ago to visit Top Secret and used the monorail from Chiba station, then a taxi, so it was pretty easy. I had planned to go to RE Amemiya but due to shady directions, I didn't bother. Should I be kicking myself?

[Nozila]

ress just out of curiosity how long have you been in nihon for?

[Rezz]

ress just out of curiosity how long have you been in nihon for?

If "ress" means "Rezz", then 4 years...

[akeenan]

Akeenan, is RE Amemiya easy to get to in Chiba? I was there a couple of weeks ago to visit Top Secret and used the monorail from Chiba station, then a taxi, so it was pretty easy. I had planned to go to RE Amemiya but due to shady directions, I didn't bother. Should I be kicking myself?

To be honest with you I havent been there as of yet. So i wouldnt be able to tell you how difficult it is to get to.

[SKY031]

Thanks for that....

Now I have a question for DaiOni.

..that irezumi in your avatar, is that yours?

I want a perspective of pain from someone who has had a tattoo done with both a gun and with bamboo needle.

I'm not a sadist, but I want to know what it feels like, and how long it takes compared to gun tattoos... also is the healing process longer?

[dan_the_man]

ok real dumb question

but what does "mooshi mooshi" mean?

or how ever you spell it

[Nozila]

mooshi mooshi more or less means hello hello, its usually said when you are asking for the other speakers attention on the phone. ie hello hello you still there.

[dan_the_man]

ah ok thanx

[Nozila]

If "ress" means "Rezz", then 4 years...

Wow 4 years is quite a long time considering you are there permanently i assuming or is it temporary. Also when you first went there if you can remember, was it a culture shock and did you feel homesick. Ive been studying jp for 2 yrs in uni now and was considering travelling to jp but wanted your experienced opinion.

cheers

[Rezz]

Wow 4 years is quite a long time considering you are there permanently i assuming or is it temporary. Also when you first went there if you can remember, was it a culture shock and did you feel homesick. Ive been studying jp for 2 yrs in uni now and was considering travelling to jp but wanted your experienced opinion.

cheers

4 years doesn't feel so long when your married! Being married to a Japanese woman in Japan gives the foreign husband/wife a whole different perspective on Japan... I think most of the Japan residents that frequent SAU are either married to a Japanese or in a long-term relationship.

When I first got here, yes, culture shock. I remember the feeling well even though now Japan is well and truly a second home. Just the feeling of walking down the street and having to think first before you do ANYTHING (not knowing the language well, monetary system, directions, the lot), and not really knowing what was going to happen next was 100% fun for me back then. Not to mention walking down the street going nowhere in particular at midday holding a Sapporo Beer 2L gass mini-keg getting largered was priceless...

[Sciby]

When I first got here, yes, culture shock. I remember the feeling well even though now Japan is well and truly a second home. Just the feeling of walking down the street and having to think first before you do ANYTHING (not knowing the language well, monetary system, directions, the lot), and not really knowing what was going to happen next was 100% fun for me back then. Not to mention walking down the street going nowhere in particular at midday holding a Sapporo Beer 2L gass mini-keg getting largered was priceless...

Japanese cars...

Japanese women...

Beer vending machines...

Drinking in the street...

Love hotels...

Japan truly is the promised land.

[SKY031]

Can I have my thread back now!

[Nozila]

they have more than just beers in the vending machines :aroused:

[Sciby]

Can I have my thread back now!

Nope, not yet...

... hmmm...

... almost there...

... okay, all your again.

I'm at work, I need to generate my own entertainment.

Edit: Actually, I'll help it get back on track... the whole height thing. I've heard that they're not all dwarfs as the urban legends may tell us... but then Streeter who's 6' tall said that he's larger than most... very confusing.

[lwells]

Sciby: the increased wealth and living standards post WWII have meant that the Japanese diet has increased in total calorie count and the percentage of proteins (particularly from meats). What does all that mean? Taller people, basically.

LW.