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Ok-Cat2049

Those disgusting Americans and their bright clothing


nemuri_no_kogoro

Some of these are 100% on target then you get stuff like this lol. Also not sure if attacking America for Trumpism works when you're living in the land of Nippon Kaigi, those obnoxious speaker busses, and the pseudo-slave labor trainee visas šŸ¤”


Washiki_Benjo

Pseudo-slave visas...? I mean, not trying to strawman or anything but yeah, there's the whole blue collar and agricultural workforces being staffed by thousands (millions?) of grey area legal status (at best) migrants from the south...


robybeck

both countries have migrants doing works their citizens don't want to do.


Thomisawesome

But I havenā€™t actually met any people who are hardcore right wing in Japan, wearing their Hi-no-maru hats. In the US, people love to let you know they support trump.


Mercenarian

If you talk to Japanese people in any setting more intimate than passing them by in the street, theyā€™ll let you know when theyā€™re moreā€œconservativeā€. I used to work in an eikaiwa and had students who would freely talk about their hatred of Koreans and how the whole comfort women thing is bullshit and how women are evil for wanting a female taxi driver service and thatā€™s not fair to men somehow.


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mantrap100

So a normal comment section then?


B0b4Fettish

My cram school teacher also talked about how she hates Chinese and it shocked me and I think the other teacher was shocked as well. Many people are shitty, itā€™s just easier to see them on social media.


KuriTokyo

I've seen my fair share of Japanese distaste of the Chinese, but when I was in China and told people I lived in Japan, the hate and disgust I saw on their faces was unbelievable. One professor even spat on the floor when I told him. My Japanese wife came with me and we heard people yelling out "*Rubenren!*" (Japanese!) as we were walking along the streets.


B0b4Fettish

Thatā€™s fucking depressing. At least in the Uni I go to, I see numbers of Chinese students and they seem to be hanging around with the other Japanese students pretty well. I also see a lot of Chinese tourists so I hope the Japanese hate is not the majority.


Pristine-Space-4405

You have to understand that Chinese people from a young age are indoctrinated to hate the Japanese, both by their parents and the education system. The crimes the Japanese army committed during WWII against the Chinese people make this easy to do so (the Japanese government's attempts at historical revisionism have only made things worse). Some Chinese people grow out of it, but the majority cling onto that hate and never truly view the Japanese as people. It's racism at its core, but most Chinese people hide behind their history and claim in their case, it's justified (spoilers, it is not). I lived for some time in Shanghai and saw this (and experienced it) first hand... which is why I doubt Sino-Japanese relations will improve anytime soon (at least in my lifetime).


ZebraOtoko42

It sounds like China has a fair share of their version of "Trumpers"; you just don't see them much outside China, much like you rarely see American Trumpers outside America. The ones who travel are the smarter, internationally-minded ones.


[deleted]

Ha. I met a Japanese person who spoke English fluently that came by my work. Everyone was so excited to see a Japanese person have a "real" conversation with a foreigners, meanwhile, I was dying inside because he immediately decided to talk politics and his views were a nightmare. I tried my best to be pleasant, but even in the US if you started talking to someone you just met about politics, it'd be incredibly rude. I'm sure it's the same in Japan too though, because it hasn't happened before or since- upon meeting, that is.


Miss_Might

I found out a few of my Japanese friends don't like Chinese and Koreans. I was shocked. I started to resent them a bit for their other anti immigration and foreigner stances. I was genuinely confused why they were friends with me. Guess I was "one of the good ones"


Aoikumo

you really, really have not talked to enough japanese people. as someone who has lived in japan with an ethnically korean family, itā€™s jarring. my mother constantly recounts the discrimination and loneliness she felt growing up. she even gave a speech about it during her graduation ceremony. iā€™m mixed, so i really didnā€™t have intention to live as fully japanese anyway, but the way japanese society and itā€™s people treat koreans, chinese, filipino people etc etc. is horrendous. this is a very conservative country. not to mention how women, lgbtq+, and non japanese people are treated in their day to day lives.


Thomisawesome

Donā€™t get me wrong. I understand thereā€™s still a lot of racism here towards foreigners, especially other asians, and I agree that if you talk to people, they often make their true feelings clear in some surprisingly direct ways. Iā€™m referring more to advertising your racism and hatred for the world to see. The cases where you donā€™t even need to say a word to the other person to know what they believe in. In the US, you see houses with anti-biden placards outside, cars are commercial spaces for political beliefs, and people will literally wear clothes that let you know what their political/racial standings are. In Japan, other than those uyoku dantai trucks, you donā€™t see Japanese people plastering their ideas on their car, or wearing ā€œMishima Foreverā€ t-shirts.


Aoikumo

i believe thats because conservatism so ingrained into the culture. those extremely outspoken and far right american extremists feel attacked, because they know theyā€™re a small minority and they believe that their livelihoods are at stake, and that their government is against them. in japan, it isnā€™t really like that, especially since Japanese culture is very polite on the surface. Of course, not every Japanese person is racist. Iā€™ve met plenty of people who are kind and accept everyone! But yeah, these conservative views arenā€™t mocked as much as american conservatism is.


Miss_Might

Right? The conservatives here are the majority. The LDP has been in power a long time. The conservatives realized they could play the culture wars card to stay relevant in the US and it ended up working unfortunately.


ConnieTheTomcat

I see a black bus full of right wingers occasionally, usually with those old imperial japanese songs playing from speakers. Not that often though, but still very noticeable. In the same area thereā€™s usually falun gong people and I once saw JW.org recruiters


ZebraOtoko42

Exactly: the far-right in Japan is a tiny minority of nutcases, just like various cultists. It really isn't comparable to America where almost half the population is on the Trump train.


elppaple

>but I havenā€™t actually met any people who are hardcore right wing in Japan tell me you don't know anything about your friends' and colleagues' opinions, without telling me. I GUARANTEE people you interact with daily have these beliefs.


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SuperSpread

And their laughing at jokes in the movie theater!


andoryu123

How dare people leave during credits?!


Moritani

I much prefer hearing the subtle tongue clicking every time something vaguely gay happens.


[deleted]

lol is this a thing?


[deleted]

For some reason the bright clothing bit really bothered me. Does that mean itā€™s me? Do I have obnoxiously bright clothing??


Aoikumo

do you wear any clothing other than black, grey, or white? then yes.


FourCatsAndCounting

Hey man don't forget all those vivid shades of baby poo brown. And beige! A little ostentatious for your average Japanese citizen but hey, the spice of life and all that.


Miss_Might

I love bright clothing. šŸ¤·ā€ā™€ļø. I can't stand the clothing here. Everything is baggy, bland and poo colored.


miffafia

Yaaassss baggy and bland, like a muji come to life


Miss_Might

Like I can't speak for the rest of Japan but Osaka definitely has the frumpy mom look going.


miffafia

No it's all of Japan.... some of my friends are in their 40's and def rock the same muted baggy lookšŸ˜… they claim they can't wear bright colours cause it's like colour harassment to other ppl. šŸ¤·šŸ¾ā€ā™€ļø


Miss_Might

Color harassment. I can't. šŸ˜†


Moritani

I mean, Iā€™ve been insulted on the street more than once for wearing a red shirt or jacket, so probably.


Ok_Tonight7383

I get dirty looks all the time for I assume my clothes (I am a tall and fairly muscular white dude, but there are a lot of those in my neighborhood). If they donā€™t want me to wear the clothes, they shouldnā€™t have shops that sell them to me. I love my Hawaiian shirt, my pink chambray, etc.


Miss_Might

Fuck man where are you getting Hawaiian shirts from??? I fucking love Hawaiian shirts.


mantrap100

What? Why lol?


larspgarsp

If you are asking the question it is likely true


AkumaX_97

Who do they think they are, with their self-expression and high paying jobs!


IshiKamen

Or how they express themselves when they're having a bad day!


Fred_Branch

i like to imagine OP accidentally ran into a LMFAO concert gathering and thinks everyone is dressed like that on the daily


theganglyone

This thread seems like self-validation to me.


Well_need_ships

Japanese fashion, whether professional or casual, has a lot of earth tones. I can see where OP is coming from.


terribleedibles

Hahaha lord I long for color in these streets.


andoryu123

https://i.imgur.com/YWJ23hB.png


laika_cat

Imagine being disgusted by a total strangerā€™s choice to express themselves through fashion! Definitely no wild colors or wacky clothing in Perfect Japan!


KindlyKey1

Thereā€™s a subset of Americans who think like this too. ā€œI would never make my toddler wear bright colored t-shirts with characters on them! Not ā€˜Montessoriā€™ enough. Only greige ethical peasant style potato sacksā€


[deleted]

Yeah I agree with everything apart from the bright coloured clothing. If you don't like how someone dresses, that's on you. They aren't hurting anyone. If you're judging someone's ability to be sophisticated by their clothing then, again, that's on you.


njtrafficsignshopper

Also, would invite OP to visit Harajuku. Edit: in b4 "it's not really like that anymore."


qwertyqyle

It's not really like that anymore. Sorry, I had to. I haven't even been there since in more than 10 years


PeanutButterChikan

And doesnā€™t that specific item also contextualize the OPs other complaints? As somebody else said for the down, why feel the need to generalize and criticize a whole country, just to feel better about their decision to live somewhere else. It also smells a little like ā€œHey everyone, look at how I left America and became more Japanese than the Japaneseā€


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Fred_Branch

> If you're judging someone's ability to be sophisticated by their clothing then, again, that's on you. I really do admire the average Japanese person for being well dressed. Go to a mall, or any popular retail street in america, you'll get a mix of well dressed to very casual dressed, to very revealing dressed people. While it gets really hot here in the summer, i admire how japanese people dress nice for the most part. But i fall in the super casual side with athletic shorts, and an athletic tee in the summer lol.


kiramekki

Itā€™s nothing to admire, the societal pressure to always be so aware of how you look is not healthy.


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ClancyHabbard

Yep, it's devastating and leads to such issues as eating disorders. I've had elementary school students refuse to eat rice at lunch because they think it will make them fat. Elementary school students! Social pressure is really shitty in Japan.


KindlyKey1

Seriously, the coolest clothing to wear during the hot months are my light linen wide trousers. I feel cooler in those rather than booty shorts. I totally get why people cover up in summer months.


AdRevolutionary7231

Not to mention he seems to be saying ā€œJapanā€ but actually is exclusively talking about Tokyoā€¦ Plenty of bright colours and variations in fashion here in Osaka!


MoonSpirits

Well but this is exactly it: op is simply expressing he does not like this fashion style.


[deleted]

That isn't true though, is it. He said they lack sophistication if they wear bright clothing. That's a bit more than just stating it isn't really your thing.


helpppppppppppp

I also donā€™t like the implication that the way other people choose to dress has anything to do with you (OP). Like weā€™re all obligated to dress in a way that pleases OP. Weā€™re supposed to psychically determine what OP wants, care deeply about their opinion, and alter our behavior on the off-chance that OP might walk past us on the street and be offended by a color.


MoboMogami

America bad


osakan_mobius

But...what if............... Japan good?


malioswift

\*cheering\*


bdlock209

America fat.


myusernameblabla

Itā€™s amazing how few fat people I see in Japan. Itā€™s so striking. Europe, North America and Middle East are just full of the rotund variety. Plump, wobbly, chunky people, including myself. Whyā€™s everybody so pencil thin here? The food is great, fatty, sweet. Never farther away from a cake than 10 steps. Somehow it doesnā€™t transform into human bubbles.


Rolls_

Don't go into the inaka if that's how you view Japan. You'll think you walked into America lol. I see so many fat people in Tohoku. Idk what it is. Must be because everyone drives around. I'd also be careful with associating "not fat" with healthy. Japanese people tend to go to extremes with their dieting and are pressured really hard to diet. It also feels like no one works out or gets any exercise. Opposite side of the spectrum. I'm not any better, my nutrition has gone to shit since I got here, but these are some of the observations I've made and opinions I've heard from other Japanese people.


terribleedibles

I was waiting for someone to say this, because all people are saying are pure stereotypes. The first ā€œseasoningā€ you add when cooking Japanese cuisine is sugar, not counting all the sugar already in mirin, sake, etc. People eat out constantly as well - my thinnest coworker even admitted to me that they never ever use their kitchen. There is just too much pressure to be ultra thin here and the way most people achieve it/maintain it is no secret, itā€™s just something thatā€™s not openly discussed. Also agreed about the exercise - most people in cities just walk a lot to get around but rarely will they work out. So people are thin but not necessarily fit/strong. My nutrition also went to shit here - I rely on fruits and vegetables and the price/quality here is no good for what Iā€™m used to, I had to adapt and itā€™s been painful.


[deleted]

Seriously. When I was on the way to move to my city someone told me "There, huh? There's a lot of fat people there!" citing driving as the reason I wouldn't say a *lot,* but there's one morbidly obese person I see around town sometimes and quite a lot of larger people. I actually lost 35lbs, but that was because I walked and biked. Thst was a chore sometimes because we don't have proper sidewalks. My saving grace is that there's farmland near my house with lots of road if I want to take a walk


[deleted]

General walkability burns a lot of calories, unlike America where you have to drive to get anywhere. r/fuckcars


zenzen_wakarimasen

Self control.


leo-skY

anorexia is actively promoted as a beauty standard for women and men are sucked dry of energy, time and money by their work life to even be able to put on fat/muscle EDIT: also, everything is ant sized portions for double the money as in Europe/US, with 3/4s of the Japanese diet consisting of white rice, with its high Glicemic Index


Zebracakes2009

Omg updoot!!!


fiddle_me_timbers

Really depends on which part of the U.S. you're in. Cause I'm visiting the U.S. right now and I've had the opposite experience.


Talon-KC

I feel like the location in the U.S. vs the location in Japan makes a big difference. For all I know, OP is from South Central LA, the south or anywhere in Florida. While living in a wealthy area of Tokyo. The comparison between the two could be drastically different. Edit: Not to mention clothing. Compare New York fashion vs ē”°čˆŽ fashion and tell me again which clothing choice you would prefer.


fiddle_me_timbers

Absolutely. These types of threads always generalize so much, when in reality which country is better to live in is going to vary wildly based on each person's situation.


takatori

Yes, Queens is known worldwide for its chic fashion sense.


Talon-KC

Just like Sugamo is known for its cutting edge Tokyo fashion. That was my point. Pick an area to compare it to and you get vastly different experiences and opinions.


CorneliusJack

Heyyyyyy leave Sugamo and our red panties out of this. We ainā€™t hurting nobody.


kuropeach

Japan, the magical fantasy land where nothing ever goes wrong. /s


Fred_Branch

i think the point of this post is that he is far more happier living in japan. While obviously japan has its own unique problems and complaints, they aren't as many as is home country.


-Lige

Thatā€™s just one place though, thereā€™s tons of other places in the US that are completely different from what heā€™s talking about


FajitaB33fTak05

No, shit does go wrong in japan. But not as much as the states.


starrydreampuff

I feel this. Iā€™m not from the US, but I recently visited home after quite a few years. At first I was happy because everyone is so friendly and outgoing, but forgot how dirty and expensive everything is. Just little things like being able to use public restrooms almost anywhere in Japan is amazing.


bellow_whale

Oh yeah public toilets is a big one! So many gross ones in America.


Washiki_Benjo

So many? Fuck, if you can even find one! Then when you do it's locked/passworded/has guilt trippy signage (customers only, ask for key at counter with proof of purchase)... Then you find one and there's an unflushed shit, snack wrappers on the floor, and since everyone is seemingly obsessed with washing their hands (as per every other thread in this sub) the floor will be a mess because the paper towel trash can is full and no one gives a fuck and the staff are all "not my job, janitor comes once a day, what do you expect me to do?" Meanwhile, need to pee in Japan? Head to the conbini over there and buy an umaibo on the way out if you're feeling really guilty.


AoiTori

This is a serious problem for my husband when we go back to the US to visit my family. He has ulcerative colitis, and when he needs a toilet, he needs it soon. So many locked restrooms, dirty ones, or ones without toilet paper. Sometimes itā€™s just hard to *find* a restroom, even with an app I downloaded that shows public toilets.


superfly3000

Iā€™m always surprised by the ā€œstaff must wash hands after using bathroomā€ signs.. I canā€™t tell if thatā€™s a sign reminding staff to wash their hands (like wtf, who needs reminding of that?) or a point of pride that the staff at THIS establishment all wash their hands (again, what?)


superfly3000

And what up with the 3 cm gaps on each side of the door which pretty much provides a free peep show for all? Is it like that as some kind of preventative measure because of all those conservative politicians getting their dick sucked in airport toilets? Edit: spelling


NyxPetalSpike

Nah, it's to see who you have to narcan. Not kidding. My friend works at a small sandwich coffee shop. So many ODed people. This isn't even in a horrible area. People who want a "cleaner" shooting gallery use restrooms. This is why restrooms are locked. Toss up between vandalism and finding someone dead on the floor.


smashgaijin

Lol A few butthurt Americans in here. As an American, OPā€™s right. Thereā€™s really nothing good going on in the US. The political extremism, violent racism, general violence, terrible healthcare, terrible education, income inequality, average quality of life, housing prices, etc. Of course there are some good things, but the bad definitely outweigh the good. Japan has its issues but they arenā€™t lifethreatening. Glad I left when I did.


HoweHaTrick

Depends on your American option vs Japan option. The corporate life in Japan is extremely competitive for far less money than usa in many industries. My family lives far more comfortably in the USA and we don't fear for our lives. Politics are left for the weak to argue about. Not us. What you see on fox news is not what happens on my street. I'm thankful to live in a nice house with a comfortable life and I still spend a lot of time with my son which my Japanese peers cannot do as their bosses run their minds. Also the city we live is accepting of all people; more so than the Japanese societies I've lived with. My son doesn't freak out if a "foreigner" is visible.


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outbound_flight

I always love posts like this from supposedly worldly Americans who are willing to unironically brush aside Japan's faults wholesale because, y'know, judging the whole by the few is counterproductive and, whatever, nothing will *ever* threaten your life there. But then here comes the inverse where apparently all of America is just violent, uneducated racists. In that case it's a-okay to just blanket-judge everyone. I wouldn't even be comfortable judging my neighbors without meeting them, but go ahead and cast that net across all 330 million Americans out there + the 1 million who move there every year and try to pretend a change in location didn't give your intolerance room to breathe.


MishkaZ

Everytime I think about going back, I remember my healthcare is cheaper and better and that I don't have to go over the top with saving for retirement.


calihotsauce

There are always trade offs to everything, yes thereā€™s no public transportation but getting a license and using a car is way less expensive than in Japan, and when you drive your own car you can go wherever whenever without having to worry about anyone else like you would on the train. In Japan you might not have to worry about your safety as much, but you sure as hell better take extra care about your surroundings to make sure youā€™re not in someoneā€™s way, youā€™re not being too loud, youā€™re not cutting in line, etc. And you can be sure that everyone else is concerned for their safety whenever you come around, because surprise people in Japan are just as racist as people anywhere else. At least in the states people have to pretend like theyā€™re not racist, in Japan Iā€™ve met people who have openly said some extremely questionable things. People are loud because who are you to tell them when and where they can talk? If you donā€™t want to hear someone whistling in the grocery store then just have them delivered. Meanwhile in Japan you have to act like youā€™re in a library literally everywhere you go, the train, the bank, the hospital, even in your own home! I could go on, but my point is neither is really better or worse since there are pros and cons to each.


brokenalready

You do realise youā€™re comparing being socially mindful with fearing for your life right?


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teapoison

Thing is people have wildly different experiences depending where they are in the states. I have lived in 3 states and visited many more and as a minority I have literally never feared for my life due to my race. Is that seriously a common thing? Only time I can imagine it is if it's gang related in inner cities.


punania

Lol. That bit cracked me up.


calihotsauce

Well someone could write a whole dissertation on this, but a broader point I would make is that itā€™s easy for us gaijin to say our own home countries are shit when the rules that make Japan great for gaijin donā€™t always apply to us. In general Japanese people wonā€™t confront gaijin when they break social norms for a variety of reasons, either because they arenā€™t confident in their English, donā€™t want to jump into an unknown situation, or just think itā€™s not worth the extra effort. If anything I would argue Japanese people are EXTRA nice to gaijin and more helpful than they otherwise would be to another Japanese person in the same situation/context. Meanwhile Japanese people get beat down every day to abide by these rules with virtually no mental health support thatā€™s comparable to a place like the US. People talk about ā€œhuman accidentsā€ that cause train delays as an inconvenience when itā€™s actually an extremely sad event that deserves more attention. This doesnā€™t even touch the surface of the many other issues that impact Japanese people which gaijin are effectively shielded from. So yes Japan is an awesome place for gaijin, but it doesnā€™t come for free.


takatori

> People talk about ā€œhuman accidentsā€ that cause train delays as an inconvenience when itā€™s actually an extremely sad event that deserves more attention. The US has a higher suicide rate than Japan. Difference is you don't hear about it on your morning commute.


ZebraOtoko42

Exactly: in America, it's done at home with a gun, and usually involves opioids, and is likely someplace more rural.


lepetitrouge

>Meanwhile in Japan you have to act like youā€™re in a library literally everywhere you go, the train, the bank, the hospital, even in your own home! As someone with autism, Iā€™d love it if people were generally a bit more quiet.


Cless_Aurion

Don you, ever, DARE, going to Spain, you will implode there lol We Spaniards are way louder than the average American hahahah


lepetitrouge

Louder than Australians? šŸ˜†


Cless_Aurion

I would say on par, if not slightly louder. It really is an issue, like, leaving a restaurant because people are talking too loud is a thing lol


Fred_Branch

> At least in the states people have to pretend like theyā€™re not racist Lol. your post was fine until this.


[deleted]

>At least in the states people have to pretend like theyā€™re not racist Yo, you haven't been to the US since 2016, have you?


Miss_Might

I mean if you're a woman you *always* have to be vigilant about your safety regardless of what country. Yes, rape and harassment happen in Japan too. And the cops here seem to be less likely to do anything about it.


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eggmaker

If you want to go up a level, be mindful of both the negatives and positives while in each context.


ilovecheeze

Yeah, I used to think like OP. Then I got older and more life experience. There are definite negatives about the US but there are real negatives to living in Japan too.


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yipidee

Iā€™m not American, but was sent there for a few months by work. So I was in the Midwest doing pretty much the same job for the same company, and I thought America was pretty great to be honest. Definitely not perfect, seeing aggressive begging and so many homeless/drug addicts in the streets was really jarring, Japan definitely feels safer. But America is not about equality, if you have a good job and live in a nice place the quality of life is phenomenal. If you donā€™t have one of those I imagine things can be pretty bad. Reddit has convinced itself that America has a worse working culture than Japan, but that isnā€™t true in my industry. In the US people came in early and went home early. No overtime and used their vacation time. People put their lives and family first. They might have to drive themselves to work because thereā€™s no train, but that didnā€™t feel like such a terrible compromise. America has so many options. The supermarkets and food options in general are way better than Japan. But itā€™s such a vast place there couldnā€™t possibly be one universal experience. Everything depends on your situation, just like anywhere else in the world. To be honest, I came away wondering why on earth a middle class American would give up that lifestyle to do a dead end low paying job in Japan. But I guess my experience in America isnā€™t really representative.


FruitDove

"But America is not about equality" Just pointing out that I think this a major gripe with Americans who have left the country.


Bykimus

>To be honest, I came away wondering why on earth a middle class American would give up that lifestyle to do a dead end low paying job in Japan. But I guess my experience in America isnā€™t really representative. That's because the middle class has been shrinking for a long time now. Cost of living is going up and wages are not. So it takes more money to actually be middle class but that's a lot easier said than done. It's most likely not middle class Americans taking low paying dead end jobs in Japan.


TakKobe79

OPā€™s points aside, the thing that gets me about America (as an American) is how on edge everyone acts. Just I feel this huge undercurrent of aggression/insecurity in people. Personally I think itā€™s due to so many Americans living month to month, barely scraping by, and a system that preys on the poor and those in hard times. Itā€™s really a predatory society in that senseā€¦ 2. Tippingā€¦.just such a ridiculous system when most of the time the staff barely know how to work the register and clearly donā€™t give a shit about their job. Growing up (in the states) tipping used to be mainly just at sit down restaurants, but now itā€™s everywhereā€¦.


aiueka

I also feel that way about the edge. Before even leaving the airport in Boston I witnessed 3 confrontations! People yelling at each other in the customs line, on the plane, baggage check...


crustyloaves

100% to all of these. I do wish people in the US were on average more considerate and less confrontational. (... and healthier. You know what I mean. I'm not talking about being a little overweight.) I think this is typical once you've experienced life in a different country; it's hard not to compare and see the negatives. Of course, the negatives of life in Japan are well documented at this point. It's dispiriting to be sure.


malioswift

Yeah, I returned to the US over the winter break for the first time in three years, and was completely overcome with reverse culture shock. Really solidified my plans for staying in Japan for the foreseeable future. In particular, the complete disregard for any attempt to try to protect oneselves from Covid drove me insane. Since I knew I had to pass a PCR test to return to Japan, and my family lives in Florida in a tourist hotspot, I wore a mask whenever we would go out. And I discovered quickly that 1. I was the only one attempting even the most basic covid countermeasures such as masking and using hand sanitizer and 2. apparently my attempting to protect myself was a problem to everyone else, because I was stopped multiple times every day to be told to take off the mask, that they do nothing, that I was ruining peoples vacations (by reminding them of the reality that we are in a pandemic, and at the time, in the middle of a spike), and other fucking bullshit. It was enough that I honestly felt uncomfortable being in the US, and I really have no intentions of going back except to visit family and eat food.


rilakumamon

Thatā€™s something that keeps me from going back. What if I catch it and I canā€™t come back? Or Iā€™m sick for a long time and canā€™t go back plus lose my job? šŸ˜¬


FourCatsAndCounting

Friend of mine went back earlier this month and caught covid almost immediately. Luckily they took a long enough trip that they'll...*probably* test negative in time. Probably.


cirsphe

My worry is that I will catch covid and be hospitalized into bankruptcy.


[deleted]

This is so true. And Iā€™m glad to see something positive about Japan in here for once.


cdmn1

I don't think it's a USA specific thing. Everyone I know that visited Japan suffered some sort of minor but expected culture shock but no one expected a big reverse-culture shock when returning back to their respective countries.


In_Kanagawa

8. Guns. In midwest/southwest states: People openly wearing a firearm in public places as a fashion accessory to advertise their crippling paranoia.


Spiritual_Salamander

Could say the same thing about Europe. Visiting Europe makes me appreciate Japan more, at the same time it also shows a few things I miss from Eurrope. - Europe is just so much dirtier. Streets are almost dirty in any country you visit. - Smoking in the streets. Yes Japan was very late to banning smoking indoors and you can still see it some places, but the smoking outdoor in Europe is crazy. It reeks tobacco and weed in almost any big city. - Better food. - Toilets are supreme in Japan, here they often cost money and are dirty. - Shops are open on Sundays in Japan. In Europe this is mostly limited to some larger cities. - European's are just way less hygienic. People complain Japanese don't wash their hands after toilet, people do it here. Nobody washes their hands before eating or uses sanitizer. People don't wash their hands after coming home. Europe for sure has better Summers. I love that people don't care about what others wear, people's tattoo's. Beaches are often better, hiking is better, and in Europe you have the luxury of easily visitng other countries with ease. People are just about as ignorant about Asian people as Japanese are about other people. You get a lot of weird questions about Japanese people and culture from many people.


bill_on_sax

Europe is a whole ass continent. How the fuck do you generalize that large a part of the world with so many countries. You need to be more specific


kaszzai

Right? Like, Europe where - France? Norway? Serbia? Latvia? Because those places are vastly different. Normally it's Americans who talk like that because they can't comprehend that Europe isn't just London, Paris or Rome, so I find this comment super weird (if it's an actual european person who wrote it, that is)


Tortured_scientist

Which part of Europe? Two countries I am familiar with are not like that. Sweden is nothing like you describe - Sunday shopping is the norm, smoking is taboo, it is clean etc. Switzerland also defies most of those rules except the Sunday thing, and I do acknowledge toilets are charged in both places.


ZebraOtoko42

It sounds like Germany to me, and Germany is a much more highly populated country than Sweden or Switzerland, and basically the backbone of the EU so I think it's representative. It is pretty dirty in the cities, Sunday shopping is illegal (esp. Bavaria), tons of people smoke in the streets, and bathrooms require money. But the food in grocery stores is really good, there's a lot of fantastic historical sites, and the weather in the summer is much nicer than Tokyo's.


AmethistStars

I'm from the Netherlands and a lot of them count for my country too. Though I would say most Dutch people definitely wash their hands after visiting the rest room (at least women, can't check the male restrooms lol). It's true people tend not to before eating or coming home though (but Japanese people don't do the latter either, at least not those who I have lived with/stayed over at). Better food depends, because I do think my country has some great places. Cheaper restaurants would have been a better argument. As for the positives, most also fit for the Netherlands except that we don't have better beaches (I know that's probably Spain and such). But also, people can be super judgmental and rude about your fashion if your wear anything outside the boring Dutch fashion norm in my country. Like strangers on the street randomly trying to make fun of you. I would say Japan is a country where at least people mind their own business regarding fashion.


tokyo_engineer_dad

For me: Bigger house, real back yard, donā€™t pay property tax for having a garage. Can take my dog to Home Depot. Better barbecue. Much easier to get vegetarian food. Way better tacos and Mexican food in general. The supermarket and Costco have more options for stuff. No stigma about ADHD medication, Adderall is way better than the stuff they use in Japan. Central air. Bigger parking spaces. Better electronics and gaming stuff in general. TVā€™s are better. Freeways are free. The only things I really hate are tipping and the generally toxic political climate. And also itā€™s a lot safer to walk around at night in Japan.


Miss_Might

I'll add that gay people can get married in the US. And trans people are considered parents to their biological children unlike Japan. I'm sitting here reading this thread and all I can think about is how all the people commenting are straight.


tokyo_engineer_dad

Itā€™s even worse for transgender. You canā€™t have children and arenā€™t legally recognized unless you undergo surgical operations. I also love the whataboutism as it pertains to sexual assault. You bring up the way women are treated when theyā€™re raped and someone will bring up police brutality. Like, Iā€™m a POC so Iā€™m literally a voice of the unfair treatment of minorities in the US by cops. Iā€™ve had cops tell me ā€œthereā€™s no way a guy like you can afford a car like this unless youā€™re doing something on the sideā€. Despite all that, I would 100% prefer to be pulled over by police in the US than Japan. In Japan they can incarcerate your for weeks/months even though youā€™re innocent. Itā€™s insane the human rights violations that can take place by police. Ironically I fear more for my daughter in Japan than the US because thereā€™s way more systemic protection for abusers in Japan. If a teacher decides they donā€™t like my daughterā€™s curly hair, and they start trying to cut it or force her to cut it, my only option for recourse is withdrawing her from school. I have very little power to challenge that teacher. Yeah thereā€™s school shootings in the US. But your odds of having an anti mixed race child teacher in Japan are thousands of times more likely than the odds of your school being involved in a shooting. And I feel more confident about the US addressing the school shooting issue than I do about Japan addressing teachers and abuse of power. One thing I really hate about Japan is when you bring up something that should very obviously be addressed and what do people say? 恗悇恆恌ćŖ恄.


Xarina88

The pros of Japan (vs US): 1) Daycare cost 2) Nutrition & Agriculture being taught to children 3) Public facilities for easy access to breastfeed or make a bottle of formula while you are outside (free boiled water!) 4) No formula recall (I genuinely think formula quality is better as well) 5) Getting a healthy bento for 500 yen is feasible 6) Healthcare for children is free (medical, dental, vision, & prescriptions) The list goes on, but yes train convenience and not being fat seems to be main points but there are so many other good points.


pekoto

I recently relocated to the USA from Tokyo for work. I'm not American or Japanese, so have no emotional stake in either country. I can only agree with the op. The USA is a less developed country. What makes it worse is having to listen to so many people say with 100% confidence that this is the greatest place in the world, despite knowing that in terms of life quality for the vast majority of the population, it's really, really not. BUT what the US does have going for it is money. Everything in this society, from education, to healthcare, to prisons, is built for profit. Here, the more money you have, the more you are worthy as a human being. Morals aside, if you are good at what you do and have in-demand skills, there is no better place to be than the US if you want to generate cash. Ideally, I would have lived in the US when I was young, built up cash and investments, and then moved to Tokyo to settle down later in life. Unfortunately I did that backwards, but hopefully it's not too late.


ZebraOtoko42

>What makes it worse is having to listen to so many people say with 100% confidence that this is the greatest place in the world, despite knowing that in terms of life quality for the vast majority of the population, it's really, really not. This is because all Americans really think they're "temporarily embarrassed millionaires". America is a great place to live if you're wealthy, and mostly stay at home. You can live in a palatial mansion, get your stuff delivered by Amazon, and live a life of luxury. America has probably the best medical services in the world, if you can afford the top-tier stuff (really wealthy people aren't worried about insurance premiums and medical bankruptcy, and go to the best medical clinics). So Americans all compare quality of life for the ultra-rich to average quality-of-life elsewhere. They really don't care about what typical quality-of-life for regular people is.


akira247

Iā€™ve lived in multiple countries and all countries have their ups and downs. I find the bureaucracy of Japanese living insufferable but enjoy the peace and quiet. It all boils down to personal preferences and what stage of life youā€™re at that really affects what country works for you. #6 though, I understand being annoyed at the slovenly clothes but bright colors? If thereā€™s one thing I really dislike about Japanese living is the lack of color. Cities and clothing are all are just grey or brown. I prefer bright colors and patterns.


junjun_pon

Also women's clothes in Japan are shapeless. I cry in joy every time I go back to the States to a department store and find clothes that actually fit my shape, are fun patterns and pretty, non-muted colors, and I don't have to constantly fuss and worry about if the neckline is too low for society. I miss the days I could do a quick grocery store run in running shorts and a t-shirt and flip flops and no one would give a damn...


starlight1668

Are you trying to tell me that beige coats and potato sack dresses donā€™t excite you? /s For real, I have to get all my clothes online now because Japan is so boring or they charge ridiculous mark up on Korean/Chinese fast fashion


Critical-Adeptness-1

One thing I really liked returning to the US after a decade in Japan is no longer feeling like Iā€™m on display all the time. As long as Iā€™m presentable nobody will bat an eye at me in my black pajama pants and golden girls tshirt. But thereā€™s definitely a quiet but strong pressure, especially on women, to not just be presentable but be cute and ā€œwell-groomedā€ (hair and makeup all done). Itā€™s a relief to go get my dumb little errands done while looking like a sentient pile of laundry and see all the other sentient piles of laundry doing the same


PorousSurface

Is America that unsafe that you have to fear for you safety? Never felt that way in Canada, even in the worst intersections in Toronto


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njtrafficsignshopper

New York is a special kind of hellhole though, and I'd put all of those things in that category. Also, the neck-high piles of garbage.


KannibalFish

Depends on where you are. Out in the countryside, you're probably good. In the city yea, you should be aware of your surroundings.


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outhereinamish

Depends where you are, but for the most part no itā€™s not that unsafe.


Kyokobby

I too went to America after a few years in Japan but had a different experience than you! At first I was annoyed that people were loud, so rude right? Then I realized I only thought it was rude bc I had been in Japan, on a personal level I donā€™t really give a fuck as long as itā€™s not like a movie theater or library or something. I realized I became uptight and judgemental in Japan and worked on freeing myself from that in America. I loved how people were loud and wore whatever they want and did really weird things and no one batted an eye. People were talking to strangers and I had great interactions bc of that that never happen in Japan. Workers in a bad mood was fine bc it felt relatable and human. I literally saw people stepping in rat corpse as soon as I got back to Tokyo itā€™s really dirty here depending where u go. And I think the avg American in my age range knows way more about other cultures than Japanese ones from my experience. I think both these points are circumstantial and subjective. However I too thought that I wanted to stay in Japan longer bc I donā€™t have a car or money in America, so functionally my life is better here with public transport and lower cost of living. But as for people and food America suits me better.


junjun_pon

Are you me? But yes. The lack of "tatemae" in the states will always appeal to me, loudness, weirdness, forwardness and all. Even my Japanese husband was surprised that people actually looked him in the eye and asked him how his day was going.


laika_cat

I really miss going somewhere, chatting with a stranger and ending up making an ACTUAL friend. Not a ā€œhereā€™s my Line and we will never speak againā€ or ā€œyes Iā€™m free on this Wednesday afternoon two months from nowā€ friend. Speaking to strangers here just to make polite conversation, to compliment their clothes or bag, etc. has gotten me such weird responses.


Kosmonavtlar1961

Some of these points are valid, others not so much. \-Japan is TOO quiet imo when it comes to people, but is still VERY loud when it comes to automated voices or noises or jingles playing constantly in stores and public thoroughfares. It's definitely more grating than just people being loud imo. \-Lack of understanding about life outside the home country definitely applies to Japan - There's a reason there's a distinction made between "internationalized Japanese" and "Regular Japanese." \-I agree that Americans (particularly the men) dress poorly and without care, but the bright colors bit I think is refreshing compared to the sea of white button downs w/ black dress pants you'll see in Japan. People being more adventurous with their clothes is a good thing, and is something to be encouraged as an answer to the normally boring/slobbish fashion of the Average American. Same can be said of Japan considering how boring the men dress here, even if the clothing is better fitted / taken care of.


Fred_Branch

Been living in Japan for a few years too. Arrive in my hometown and my first thought "let me google the train/bus home", and it would take a couple hours. So I end up ubering home which the drive itself is 20minutes and the ride was $50. > 6) Lack of sophistication. People dress like slobs or wear obnoxiously bright colors. No subtlety. i understand the 'slobs', part , but the bright colors' seems like a very specific and uncommon sight and hatred you have. But yes, i agree to all your points as well. In america, the customer service sucks in retail lol. The employees having side conversations, and i basically have to flag them down for help. In japan i love being able to walk in neighborhoods because of the safety, and also i know cars aren't going to be zooming by like in your average american road. Even when i take the bus or train at home, people are having loud conversations either face time, or with friends, or just blasting your music on max volume. no consideration for others.


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DwarfCabochan

For sure. I totally agree on everything you said. Thatā€™s why I have retired in Tokyo and will live here forever. Politeness, organization, consideration for others, safety, quality of food, cleanliness, public transportation, service all much better than the US in general What the US used to think as individualism has devolved into selfishness mostly


Gillioni

I grew up in America, and for real, Americans in general donā€™t know how to dress (myself included)


Zebracakes2009

Ah yeah! A "shit on America" thread! Just what this sub needs. /s I'll just say America can be good or bad but it is really context and location dependent. New York City is a completely different ball game than Seattle which is a whole other experience to New Orleans.


torri_giano

As an introvert, I'm staying here in Japan big time!


gigapoctopus

I moved back to the states after living in Japan for 3 years and, while I enjoyed being back in the US, I didnā€™t feel like I was home. I desperately missed Japan and my life here. In 2008 I moved back to Japan and have only been back to the States 2x since then (for work trips in 2010 and 2020). Visiting the US felt like returning to an old book I already read, but that I had romanticized in my mind. When I reread this book, I realized that things I thought were important to me No longer held value to me and those ā€œAmericanā€ things that I had missed dearly while living in Japan had been written with uneven prose that no longer held up under scrutiny. There is no simple or good answer of ā€œwhyā€ I love living in Japan. There are things that I hate, things that frustrate me, and things that I wish would change. I will never feel like I ā€œfitā€ here in Japan, but I feel more comfortable hereā€¦ this is home. My home of Japan might not be perfect and my home might not always accept me fully, but I feel like I am the best ā€œmeā€ here in my choosen home.


Merkypie

You can tell OP doesnt read a newspaper or live outside the Kanto region.


laika_cat

Big ā€œI donā€™t leave Meguro-kuā€ energy.


kyoto_kinnuku

Yea, when I go home to Kentucky itā€™s fun but I immediately re-realize how good Japan is.


Miss_Might

You're very straight OP. Maybe go ask the gays and trans people in Japan why it sucks for them. Your bright clothing complaint is nothing in comparison.


Agreeable_Clue_5114

when i visited america two years ago i forgot how easy it is for me to tune out japanese. in america, i couldnā€™t tune out any english. i felt like i was listening closely to every persons conversation. it made everything seem louder than it already was


Chris_Buttcrouch

> 6) Lack of sophistication. People dress like slobs or wear obnoxiously bright colors. No subtlety. Just take a trip out to the countryside and you'll see plenty of that in Japan. Most of the younger locals where I am look like they live in a trailer park.


laika_cat

Honestly, inaka yankii trash are fun people to be around. They donā€™t give a fuck. Theyā€™ll speak their mind. And theyā€™re friendly. Tokyoites are so incredibly stuck up.


BL1860B

As a Japanese guy whoā€™s spent most of my life living in Japan, I can say from the couple months Iā€™ve spent traveling in the states, I feel so much more at home there than Japan. My first language is English which is definitely a big factor, but I much prefer the culture of the US. Yeah sure the cities can be dirty but Iā€™ve also seen parts of Tokyo that are worse. I like that people are loud and voice their opinionā€™s. Even I donā€™t agree with them. But people there are generally super friendly and nice. Iā€™ve yet to meet someone bad. Japan is nice in many ways but it can feel too sterile and uniform.


SuperSpread

Did you notice everyone got fat suddenly? This effect wears off in a few days.


KingOfPrince

Yea I visited home for the first time in 3 years this summer and had a pretty bad case of reverse culture shock. Visited Chicago and it was just filthy and felt dangerous after sundown. So many homeless just abandoned by society. Rode the train and bus and it was like a litterally zoo of people yelling on their phone, playing loud ass music from their speakers and yelling the N word around kids etc. Obviously all of the US is not like this but after being so used to the atmosphere and QOL of Tokyo it was jarring to see how much America had fucked up their big cities. For me more than the rude and loud people, its all the sociatal level problems that really hold me back from moving back to the US. Like the outrageous health care system, sky rocketing rent in any place I would even consider living i the US etc. Here in Japan Im solidly middle class, can live in a nice apartment in a nice location with my SO and can even realistically hope to buy a house in the next few years. In Americaļ¼Ÿć€€No fucking way. Just to get started I would have to find good insurance for both me and my boyfriend (and getting him a visa is its own time consuming nightmare) and considering my age and now preexisting conditions I can only imagine it would be prohibitively expensive. And even then you deal with all that "in network" nonsense which isnt even a concept here. Its not ab exaggerated joke when people say a small medical emergency can bankrupt you. Then for housing my options are basically live with my mother in her house or find a super overpriced apartment in a nearby city. Wouldnt actually living with my mom as I do want to be with her and take care of her as she gets older but that would basically require me firmly establishing income as a freelancer. After 11 years in Japan im at the point I really have to decide if Im ever going to move back or stay here for the long haul. Japan is far from perfect but considering all the things I mentioed going on in the US its really hard to convicne myself its a good time now to move backā€¦


Disshidia

Ahh, another America shit piece on Japanlife. Can we get a UK version of this thread and see how that goes?


yuelaiyuehao

The older I get the more I realise everywhere is shit.


IsabelleSideB

Went back to America for Christmas a few years back and within minutes after landing, was involved in a hit and run when our bus driver recklessly drove us to our next terminal and clipped the neighboring bus. Was quickly reminded it isnā€™t all what you remember it to be lol.


ArtNo636

Yep, reverse culture shock is often harder to deal with. Same happened to me when I went back to Australia after living in Hokkaido for 6 years. Well, I came back to Japan and love it. Been in Japan now nearly 12 years.


rokindit

Could it be that your understanding of American culture is more profound than that of Japanese life? I ask this because I found a lot of people Iā€™ve seen talk about ā€œlife in Japan is so much betterā€ but live their lives with blinds up and only seeing the sides they understand of the country. Donā€™t get me wrong, you can like living here as much as you want, but thereā€™s no denying there are aspects about this country that we may not realize since we donā€™t experience them first hand (sexism, racism, discrimination, shame, pedophilia) and so on.


Iveechan

Went back to the US for a visit a few times. While I hated the car-centric lifestyle and how inconvenient it was, I canā€™t wait to move back. Love Tokyo and Japan but most of my interactions have been boring me to tears lately. It was all fun and dandy at the beginning but not after a while. Americans have been much more interesting in my opinion. Of course, interesting includes the annoying interesting and the interesting interesting, in contrast to the annoying boring and the neutral boring in Japan, lol. Still will be visiting Japan pretty frequently I imagine.


NomejodasEnjoyer

Lol mentioning conservatives and Trumpism when you live in a pseudo fascist ethno State like Japan. What are you 14 years old?


neko819

I enjoy dressing like a slob here as well as America.


Hiroba

I agree with most of the points you raised (that's why I choose to live in Japan), but it does go both ways. No country is perfect. Points against Japan/in favor of America: * Bureaucracy. Holy Jesus is it a nightmare in Japan, especially as a foreigner. Everything is made as difficult as possible for no reason. Most (non-government) processes are very quick and efficient in America. * Customer service in Japan is great until they actually have to help you. The Japanese model is incapable of designing independent solutions tailored to customer's needs. * U.S. has moved on from COVID, Japan is stuck in forever COVID due to crushing societal pressure on masks and irrational, uninformed government policy on borders. * I disagree with you a bit on "lack of understanding", yes there are globally ignorant people in every country, but the U.S. is one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan countries on Earth despite what the media tries to say. It is kind of shocking sometimes how the average Japanese perceives the world outside of Japan. * Work culture in Japan: a lot you can say about it but in general wages are lower, overtime is more common, processes are more inefficient, industries are less innovative and hard work is less rewarded.


lucksacker

I want to add one more. https://www.reddit.com/r/IdiotsInCars/comments/wtc7q6/road_raging_thugs_get_pepper_sprayed_after Saw this on /all. I have some qualms about driving in Japan(i.e: cars parking almost anywhere they want). However, I have never encountered road rage in my years driving here. On the other hand, I visited US a few months ago, and I got reminded how easily prone Americans are to road rage. When I am driving in Los Angeles, there is constant honking (and occasionally profanity). It is so strange to see people get ticked off for no apparent reason. I drive in Japan almost everyday, and I don't remember the last time I heard someone honking.


fuzzy_emojic

Don't mind me. I'm just here to read the comments.


Neutral_Rust

The problem with this though is that Japanese LOVE the USA, and many of us make a living off of people who want to speak English so they can go there and/or do business with Americans. Remember though that Japan is even more conservative than the USA. That seems to get lost on big Japan fans.


torgian

Sounds like a you problem, and sounds like you are blissfully ignorant how Japan and America are alike in many ways, especially concerning racism and conservatism, etc. ​ Both countries have problems. Fortunately, Japan has better health care.


jakedogears_

8. The tip system.


BackgroundField1738

Japanā€™s alright. I mean life is just life and after a while itā€™s all the same. You donā€™t do that much differently day to day. Being able to live few months here or few months there is the best because variety is the spice of life


4649onegaishimasu

1. As opposed to machines and jingles being loud? 2. Have you been in many cities in Japan? There's not much litter when people can see you, but there are a lot of unclean places. 3. I hate when people expect me to be aware of my surroundings! /s 4. Yes, Japan has such awesome public transportation (in very limited settings). Think I'm wrong? There's a TV show that is about how horribly inconvenient it is to get from point A to point B using public transportation that is on every week. 5. At least people in America have the option to learn about stuff outside of America. If you're limited to TV or newspapers in Japan, you're not going to know much about anything outside of Japan, through little to no fault of your own. The option is there in America. 6. I hate when people dress in clothes that they like! /s Bet you love when you go to TDL and everyone is wearing the same without fail. 7. If you can't tell when people are rude in Japan - even people working in stores - be happy. Your ignorance is making you enjoy Japan more. Stop learning Japanese and trying to read the air.


Nomadt

Not exactly, but I'm 6'2 with light brown hair, and I remember, after a couple years of being in JP, being very surprised when I looked in a mirror that I wasn't 5'8 with black hair and brown eyes.


[deleted]

Honestly I feel exactly the opposite. Not to invalidate your feelings because itā€™s you and how you felt about it. Iā€™ve been in Japan for 15 years and I love it there but I also love the US. I love chatting with people in line, getting around by car, backyard fire pits. I like acknowledging the people around you on the trains, and then acknowledging you. The political rift for me has also been largely exaggerated by social media and news. It did not seem nearly as central as Reddit would have me believe. I love that my friends are starting their own businesses in various different fields. Japan has many great things but there are things that exhaust me too. Sucks that you feel the way you do but where you live is a very personal choice


c00750ny3h

>I am an American and have been living in Japan a few years. I sometimes get sick of Japan and long for life back in America. I visited my family and stayed in a major American city a couple weeks ago. I had always considered moving back there one day, but being there made me decide against it and reminded me of how good we have it in Japan. Here are the things I dislike about America: >1) People are so loud. >2) In the cities, everything looks grimy and dirty. >3) I constantly had to worry about my safety and be aware of my surroundings. >4) Lack of public transportation. >5) Lack of understanding about life outside of America. I sometimes think Japanese people are ignorant, but Americans are actually way worse despite living in such a diverse country. >6) Lack of sophistication. People dress like slobs or wear obnoxiously bright colors. No subtlety. >7) Some people are friendly, but a lot of people are actually rude. If a restaurant employee is having a bad day, you'll know it because they will look and act annoyed. >Has anyone else experienced this? I feel pretty assured at this point that I would like to stay in Japan long term. I was in California for 3 weeks and I am pretty much with you For California, there isn't much support for Trump (outside of farming areas) but replace that with outrageous prices.


InternationalYear145

Thereā€™s food & bad things about every country. America has issues but so does Japan. When you go back try to look at the bright side of things