Japan has no culture

[FeatherDaemon1]

:beatdeadhorse5: Please don't feed the Trolls...

lol

I've had a crappy day. I've had 1 hour of sleep in the last 48 hours. I was just about to go to sleep. When I saw this. lol

 

[the_jimmy_james]

I'm seeing a problem here, one person... FeatherDaemon... has actually misinterpreted the words and their meanings. Not doggin' ya, FD, I'm calling it like I see it.

What meangry said is that Japan has tossed out all that culture in the name of commercial consumerism. He's not saying it never existed, he's saying that they replaced it with Worship of the Almighty Yen.

It's actually true. Post 2000 Japan to the world at large means little more than neko neko kawaii-desu-desu neh.

I have a similar thought though. One which can be summed up easily in a question:

Why do so many western kids give so much of a shit about Japan?

That's what I don't get. I'll see kids wearing T-shirts written in Japanese or whatnot. Just doing things that prove to the world how much they wish they were yellow. They're posers, pretenders, wishing desperately for something they know nothing about.

FD went and learned some stuff about the place, good. FD, was your wifey a Japanese-American, or really from Japan? Born and raised there. Went to Japanese schools and jumped on the parallel bars or whatever they do? See what I'm saying?

Who knows? I just don't understand the Japanamania.

 

[player 01]

^It's exotic, exotic = popular, welcome to globalization.

This is a good thing mr reactionary 😉

 

[Bashiku]

Ok this is a little insulting to me.

First off I have studied past and current Japanese culture for years now, and trust me that they are not about selling themselves, but unlike most countries they managed to get good national grip onto goal to become a world wide power. They managed to accomplish that in less than 50 years and to preserve at least 60% of their previous culture. They have deeper meaning that desu desu, anime, manga, their music etc. They are country that didn't give up their culture to advance and America should be impressed by that.

Now to say something to meangry. So far I didn't neither despise you, nor hate, nor even dislike you. You were bothersome, but you attitude is really, excuse my language, pain in the rear. Where ever I go I find egocentric members like you that raise themselves above the heaven how they are intelligent, how they don't need this forum, how everyone would be at loss if they leave, how everyone is stupid and their opinions don't matter... I really hate that kind of people. Neither do they do anything constructive, nor do they try to. They just 'troll', but I would call that action 'proving themselves they are powerful'. 'Trolls' can't live without recognition from other people, even if they say they don't need them... and so far meangry you have proven yourself more than needy of all people here. No matter how you say it, or answer this post... you are in need of people here.

 

[Excess]

I'm seeing a problem here, one person... FeatherDaemon... has actually misinterpreted the words and their meanings. Not doggin' ya, FD, I'm calling it like I see it.

What meangry said is that Japan has tossed out all that culture in the name of commercial consumerism. He's not saying it never existed, he's saying that they replaced it with Worship of the Almighty Yen.

It's actually true. Post 2000 Japan to the world at large means little more than neko neko kawaii-desu-desu neh.

I know right! Kind of like how America stopped using Tommy Guns. WTF? I mean Tommy Guns were awesome and totally the symbol of the early 1900's. It's clearly just throwing out for the almighty dollar.

I have a similar thought though. One which can be summed up easily in a question:

Why do so many western kids give so much of a shit about Japan?

That's what I don't get. I'll see kids wearing T-shirts written in Japanese or whatnot. Just doing things that prove to the world how much they wish they were yellow. They're posers, pretenders, wishing desperately for something they know nothing about.

FD went and learned some stuff about the place, good. FD, was your wifey a Japanese-American, or really from Japan? Born and raised there. Went to Japanese schools and jumped on the parallel bars or whatever they do? See what I'm saying?

Who knows? I just don't understand the Japanamania.

Because of Anime. Because most american toons started sucking ass, and that's when anime started showing up. And it was a bit more thought out, atleast appeared to be. So blame America for making shitty cartoons now days, assuming they make any at all. I mean really, what happened to Saturday mornings? Or cartoons on any of the network stations period?

 

[FeatherDaemon1]

I'm seeing a problem here, one person... FeatherDaemon... has actually misinterpreted the words and their meanings. Not doggin' ya, FD, I'm calling it like I see it.

Nah, we were both arguing about modern Japan.

What meangry said is that Japan has tossed out all that culture in the name of commercial consumerism. He's not saying it never existed, he's saying that they replaced it with Worship of the Almighty Yen.

My reply to that was that his opinion is too broadly painted. There is no one culture in any country. There are subcultures. He chose one aspect of Japan and elevated it above everything else. You simply can't do that. That would be like pointing to corporate New York culture and saying the idea of corporate New York culture represented all of America.

It's actually true. Post 2000 Japan to the world at large means little more than neko neko kawaii-desu-desu neh.

That's the fanboys (girls), that is not Japan. We are either arguing fanboys or Japan. It's one or the other.

I have a similar thought though. One which can be summed up easily in a question:

Why do so many western kids give so much of a shit about Japan?

I grew up on Godzilla movies, I can't speak for other people. Japan is a hobby to many people. In addition a person can have more than one hobby. I have several.

That's what I don't get. I'll see kids wearing T-shirts written in Japanese or whatnot. Just doing things that prove to the world how much they wish they were yellow. They're posers, pretenders, wishing desperately for something they know nothing about.

You'll get no argument from me. But then again why do people get into music, sports, NASCAR, law enforcement... there are lot's of posers there as well. Many people living in the U.S. wish they were living in the EU. They're just as much a poser. But then again... that's the fanboy, not the subject of the fanboys devotion.

FD went and learned some stuff about the place, good. FD, was your wifey a Japanese-American, or really from Japan? Born and raised there. Went to Japanese schools and jumped on the parallel bars or whatever they do? See what I'm saying?

She was born in Japan. Came to live here in the U.S. with me.

Who knows? I just don't understand the Japanamania.

That's fine, that's honest. I respect your honest position. Like I said... nobody is required to love Japan, Anime, whatever. But his statement went beyond that which pissed me off.

 

[StF342]

Because of Anime. Because most american toons started sucking ass, and that's when anime started showing up. And it was a bit more thought out, atleast appeared to be. So blame America for making shitty cartoons now days, assuming they make any at all. I mean really, what happened to Saturday mornings? Or cartoons on any of the network stations period?

Outsourcing for the win! And what of the current gen of American cartoons? Most of them are trying to be Anime.

Sorry. I don't say much here, and I saw a chance to make my voice heard if only for the moment. I hope my little tangential rant didn't derail this.... trainwreck any more than it already was.

 

[Excess]

Outsourcing for the win! And what of the current gen of American cartoons? Most of them are trying to be Anime.

Sorry. I don't say much here, and I saw a chance to make my voice heard if only for the moment. I hope my little tangential rant didn't derail this.... trainwreck any more than it already was.

I know, and that sucks just as bad. Instead of coming up with their own design, they just try to cash in on what's popular. Shit still sucks.

 

[Ninjaboo]

The statement that started this thread is obviously an uneducated and biased one. All groups of people have a culture, an opinion of that culture means nothing.

Speaking of anime... isn't the little dude in my siggy cute? :teehee:

 

[player 01]

I know, and that sucks just as bad. Instead of coming up with their own design, they just try to cash in on what's popular. Shit still sucks.

Ashame too since there are a lot of domestically produced comics and literature of high quality with their own style that could be adapted, especially ones that can compete with anime like Seinen, but America's animation industry is so pathetically weak willed and hollywoodized that it doesn't have the balls to do a decent job, long gone are the days of 90s era Simpsons and HBO Spawn.

 

[Sorcerer Lance]

eh, I'll admit I am a bit curious and interested about Japanese culture and the animation they do was usually a breath of fresh air and something different back in the 80s and 90s before it became as mainstream as it is today.

But by all means that doesn't mean I obsess with anything Japanese, I'm just a sucker for different cultures and customs...it just kinda so happens cartoons today from the US have gotten downhill after the 90s I'm left with little choice than to resort to anime.

I too share the hate for the fanboys and girls who say anything in Japanese they saw on an anime, memorized and think they're suddenly cool...
Then again, anyone obsessing on anything in general is harmful if you think about it.

 

[Jaynin]

I figured I would toss in here.

To the OP, if you could actually see the struggle of everyday Japanese and the pressures they face from both sides of modern and traditional culture, you might sing a different tune. The Japanese traditional culture is just something that is not flashed to outsiders like the commercial culture is. It's considerably harder to understand and usually steeped in the nation's history, along with the language which is hard to comprehend for people who haven't studied it.

I am not an expert of Japan, nor am I an expert of the language, so don't read those statements into what I said above. There's a lot about Japan that I don't understand, and can't understand because I can't ask them why. But I find it disingenuous to claim that their culture is based on racism and exclusion. Is it a homogeneous culture? Probably, as it has to do with the fact that the spread of physical features is considerably more limited, but to claim that they all look alike is also false. Cultures based on mass physical similarity are probably going to develop some exclusionary aspects, and there is no "perfect" culture. You might say that American culture is based on inclusion, yet in its own way breeds anti-intellectualism and a contempt for achievement, because to succeed above the heads of many is to be "exclusive" to others. Argue that however you wish, I'm simply saying there is no culture without flaws.

If Japanese were wholly based on exclusion and racism, then why have so many been so friendly to me? Why do they applaud and encourage even my pretty bad Japanese, or compliment me on how well I'm learning about their culture even as I make a dozen mistakes that I can recall? Why have small children virtually flocked to me when I go to their school simply because I'm different, instead of cowering meekly from the giant, ignorant barbarian? Every time I attempt to incorporate world culture into a lesson, it's received incredibly well - and I can make an aside here to prove a different point, that being, Japanese kids are just as ignorant of everything outside Japan as most American kids are ignorant of everything outside America. American kids don't have a monopoly on stupid.

All of Japan is not Akihabara or Tokyo. I live in a place where my next door neighbor is a farm. Traditional culture still exists, kendo is wildly popular, most every kid still knows the bon-odori, people will still wear kimonos as normal everyday clothing to go shopping or to a restaurant. Beside that, not on top of it, is the culture of cute, the commercial Hello Kitty culture that the world sees, and some people dismiss as vapid and shallow. Even with my lack of mastery over the language, I can still hold conversations with people, and I do ask them about their culture. What I have told you comes from the mouths of Japanese people themselves, and I don't see how you can get any more to the source than that.

Disclaimer: I live and work in Japan as an English teacher.

 

[alf1]

What's the point of this thread actually ? first i thought it was a bad joke, but i don't think so.... saying you don't like a country and its habitants cause their culture is not your taste, or is funny .... well it's odd.

 

[MistressValerie1]

Reminder to all: Please remember to follow the "be polite" rule.

 

[juggernaut]

Go watch The Karate Kid Part II and tell me Japan isn't awesome. They have the Bone Dance. And Godzilla.

I read about 4 posts here and predicted the end. You have a guy who's never been there with a strong opinion about it based on TV. Not worth reading. Bye.

 

[Excess]

Reminder to all: Please remember to follow the "be polite" rule.

Don't worry MistressVal, if this topic gets out of hand I will simply give out pancakes. Because everyone likes pancakes.

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

Don't worry MistressVal, if this topic gets out of hand I will simply give out pancakes. Because everyone likes pancakes.

Not the Japanese. They like rice cakes.



I really didn't want to enter this silly discussion, but I think the original poster would have done everyone a great service if they'd clarified their thoughts on the matter in their very first post, rather than having to backtrack through the rest of the thread, explaining what indeed they were trying to get at.

Remember kids: When posting intoxicated, always preview your thoughts before hitting that "Post" button. Save everyone alot of angst and all... 😉

 

[meangry1]

Not the Japanese. They like rice cakes.



I really didn't want to enter this silly discussion, but I think the original poster would have done everyone a great service if they'd clarified their thoughts on the matter in their very first post, rather than having to backtrack through the rest of the thread, explaining what indeed they were trying to get at.

Remember kids: When posting intoxicated, always preview your thoughts before hitting that "Post" button. Save everyone alot of angst and all... 😉

I was stone sober when I posted, which says more about your reading/comprehension skills than anything.

 

[Darth Vegeta]

Wow that was a fun-filled little rant.
I know people who feel similarly about the French or American culture etc.
And though i'm usually pro America i don't really think the Americans can teach us much about 'freedom' or non prejudice. Or vice versa.

 

[Comfort Eagle]

lol weeaboos make me laugh. lol

 

[QueenBeeBeeMari]

Japan has lots of culture and they are highly intelligent and athletic.Some if not most of what we have in the US comes from them.

 

[Darth Vegeta]

Japan has lots of culture and they are highly intelligent and athletic.Some if not most of what we have in the US comes from them.

Explain that. I assume you are referring to hightech gadgetry, robotics etc?

As their industrialization and modernization was based on Western know-how and examples. That's why unlike so many 'old powers' they advanced so 'early' to the level of a Western Power.

So i'm assuming you are merely referring to less distant things?

 

[QueenBeeBeeMari]

Not just technology.They are highly athletic,they could win any sports competition and they are awesome with art.They made anime.Without Japan there would be no anime

 

[Darth Vegeta]

Ah. Well i do enjoy mangas and anime.
As for athletics i wouldn't know about that.
I usually tend to link the modern-day Japanese with the stereotypical elements:
Industriousness, loyalty, manga and technological enginuity.

 

[PurpleStyle]

From a military standpoint, the United States and Israel have superior technology. Japan has... cartoon robots, and dance dance revolution? :stickout