Going to Japan in 2 weeks!!!

[Save]

But the point is that you or I can never be accepted by most Japanese as an equal, yet you keep trying.

That is funny since I've never said I was here to be accepted by some, most or all whether they be Japanese, Australian or Martian. The only thing I try not to do is be an asshat regardless of what country (or forum) I'm in that even goes for my own. In my case it seems to work like a charm.

[bluemax151]

You guys really got to cut that crap out. I dunno why you can't respect each others opinions when they're based on actual experience..

I want a view like this personally

[sketchley]

I dunno why you can't respect each others opinions when they're based on actual experience..

The question is not what is the actual experience, but the interpretation and the objective behind the experience. On the one hand, we have someone who is disgruntled because he attempted to ascribe modes of behaviour and cultural beliefs onto the Japanese which are utterly alien concepts to the Japanese, and you have another who accepts the situation as is, and is completely okay with it.

[Valkyrie Nut]

You know, Valkyrie Nut, I have almost the same exact shot in my pictures from Tokyo Tower! See?

I'm hoping to get to Japan sometime this year. I was originally hoping to go this month, but it looks like I might have to wait until later this summer, or sometime in November.

My next trip will be to a destination that I've never been before, Fukuoka. A very close friend of mine is currently living there, and I've been given an open invitation to stay with him anytime I want.

Actually, Lott, the only thing I want to do is wake up one day to find that all the anime I've been watching will have suddenly given me the ability to speak fluent Japanese!

Of course, if I actually got off of my butt and took some Japanese classes, I'd probably be fluent by now. Sadly, I've been saying this for the past 20 years or so. It could be worse, though, at least I've been able to get myself to Japan every couple of years.

Wow, that's virtually identical!

I've been "learning" Japanese for at least a few years. I've still got a long way to go as well... I think I'll go look for a college nearby that does a course

Edited May 8, 2010 by Valkyrie Nut

[Lott Sheen]

If you guys really want to be able to use functional Japanese you pretty much have to spend a chunk of time in the country in real situations, the classroom will only get 99% of people so far. I have met 1 or 2 extremely intelligent individuals who spoke well without ever going to Japan but that is really the exception. Thats not to say class and study time isn`t valuable, it will prepare you to take in more information and learn much faster once you get to Japan.

[Lott Sheen]

A bizarre house (I think) that was behind my hotel:

btw this is amazing, I`ve seen a similar house in Harajuku from street level but I`m sure it wasnt that big. Can you please tell me what area of Tokyo this was and what the nearest station was? I have to check it out next time I`m there.

[Gubaba]

btw this is amazing, I`ve seen a similar house in Harajuku from street level but I`m sure it wasnt that big. Can you please tell me what area of Tokyo this was and what the nearest station was? I have to check it out next time I`m there.

It was in Taito-ku, behind Juyoh Hotel. The closest station was Minami-Senju, a few stops from Ueno.

[Lott Sheen]

Thankyou Gubaba! I will definately be inspecting more closely probably later this year.

[Beltane70]

You guys really got to cut that crap out. I dunno why you can't respect each others opinions when they're based on actual experience..

I want a view like this personally

That little white building with the curves is the Shinjuku Washington Hotel which just happens to be where I stayed on my first two visits to Japan. I always think it's neat when someone else posts pictures of place I'm familiar with.

The neat thing about my trips is that they've been far apart enough for me to see how much Tokyo has changed over the past 19 years. Back when I first visited in 1991, there were very few skyscrapers in Tokyo. Save for Shinjuku, there were probably only about a dozen or so skyscrapers that dotted the landscape in various places. Thanks to all the new skyscrapers these days, the view of Shinjuku from Tokyo Tower is pretty much completely obscured. It's kind of sad, actually.

[Valkyrie Nut]

If you guys really want to be able to use functional Japanese you pretty much have to spend a chunk of time in the country in real situations, the classroom will only get 99% of people so far. I have met 1 or 2 extremely intelligent individuals who spoke well without ever going to Japan but that is really the exception. Thats not to say class and study time isn`t valuable, it will prepare you to take in more information and learn much faster once you get to Japan.

To be honest I doubt I'll be able to do that. If I get the chance to do do a third trip to Japan it probably won't be for a long time, being in a full-time job and a long-term relationship stack the odds against me. Oh well, can't have everything

[Lott Sheen]

Google maps streetview

[Gubaba]

Google maps streetview

THANK YOU FOR THIS!

I stayed at that hotel for three months at the end of 2007/beginning of 2008, and looking at those backstreets brought back such a flood of memories...

[Beltane70]

I'll have to check that place out the next time I visit Tokyo.

[transfan52]

Wow I can feel the love in this thread... /sarcasm.

NE way Japan seems like a great place to visit and spend a vacation but I dunno about actually living there from a day to day basis. It's true that there is a lot of prejudice in the region but that stems more from their own history and lack of ethnic diversity than ne thing else. Still atm its a lot less dangerous in japan on the street's than it is in most other countries.

The japanese may not like "foreigners" much but at least they're not outright hostile and abusive toward's them. Unfortunately that is something that may never go away in japan but you have to take the good with the bad. They have some cool stuff over there but they're still just ppl. Still its unrealistic and foolish to make the assumption that japan is a utopian society compared to ne where else in the world.

I just don't like the kind of western otaku that think that japan and it's ppl are the best thing on earth... That's just fanboyish and stupid IMO.

[Gubaba]

I'll have to check that place out the next time I visit Tokyo.

Do you know when you're going next?

[Beltane70]

Do you know when you're going next?

I'm trying to go sometime this year, but this time around I'll actually be skipping Tokyo and staying at a friend's place in Fukuoka.

[Gubaba]

I'm trying to go sometime this year, but this time around I'll actually be skipping Tokyo and staying at a friend's place in Fukuoka.

I've never been to Fukuoka...I've heard it's nice, though.

[Beltane70]

I've never been to Fukuoka...I've heard it's nice, though.

This'll be my first time as well. It will also be the first time that I've been to Japan without staying in Tokyo.

[Bri]

Going in autumn to Kobe for work via Osaka. Will be first time for me not to go through Tokyo either. I plan to take up a week of leave after, to visit the Kyoto area. Hope it's as nice as people say. Looking forward to visit that city.

Edited May 22, 2010 by Bri

[Beltane70]

I don't think you'll be disappointed, Bri. I really enjoyed Kyoto when I visited there five years ago.

[Lott Sheen]

Wow I can feel the love in this thread... /sarcasm.

NE way Japan seems like a great place to visit and spend a vacation but I dunno about actually living there from a day to day basis. It's true that there is a lot of prejudice in the region but that stems more from their own history and lack of ethnic diversity than ne thing else. Still atm its a lot less dangerous in japan on the street's than it is in most other countries.

The japanese may not like "foreigners" much but at least they're not outright hostile and abusive toward's them. Unfortunately that is something that may never go away in japan but you have to take the good with the bad. They have some cool stuff over there but they're still just ppl. Still its unrealistic and foolish to make the assumption that japan is a utopian society compared to ne where else in the world.

I just don't like the kind of western otaku that think that japan and it's ppl are the best thing on earth... That's just fanboyish and stupid IMO.

Well put.

[Wes]

<!--quote(post=849432:date=May 8 2010, 03:55 PM:name=Lott Sheen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lott Sheen @ May 8 2010, 03:55 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=849432"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->But the point is that you or I can never be accepted by most Japanese as an equal, yet you keep trying. <img src="http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> That is funny since I've never said I was here to be accepted by some, most or all whether they be Japanese, Australian or Martian. The only thing I try not to do is be an asshat regardless of what country (or forum) I'm in that even goes for my own. In my case it seems to work like a charm. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

FYI everyone hates you they just don't say it to your face yes even your mom. So yeah get over it you losers. I think like someone was saying yes people do want to be nice when in Japan, I've been told as long as you can give respect you'll get it back. Ever notice most people foreign to your homeland try to be extra nice? Usually they're in a strange land and they know not to crap on it is the best method to see the most of it.

Oh and on coffee, frak your weak sh1t real americans only drink the badass stuff around here.

[Retracting Head Ter Ter]

Hey guys, I am in Tokyo for one whole month!

Staying at Roppongi Hills!

Any fellow Macross-geeks around?

[Gubaba]

Hey guys, I am in Tokyo for one whole month!

Staying at Roppongi Hills!

Any fellow Macross-geeks around?

I'll be arriving in about two and a half weeks...

[Valkyrie Nut]

Hey guys, I am in Tokyo for one whole month!

Staying at Roppongi Hills!

Any fellow Macross-geeks around?

I'll be there in just over a weeks time

[Gubaba]

Okay...I've been in Tokyo a month now, and I finally had MY FIRST HORRIBLE ENGRISH ADVENTURE OF THE YEAR!!!

Earlier this evening, I was walking past Shibuya 109 to get to the ATM. I had my iPod with me, blasting the Stooges' first album at a relatively high volume. I became aware of someone shouting nearby, and realize this guy is running up the street to catch up with me. As I pull out one of the ear buds, he's saying, "You! American boy! Me! Japan boy! You! Me! Communication! English! Japan! Communication!"

I just did what I always do in situations like this in Tokyo, let my eyes go a little glassy and shake my head uncomprehendingly. He said, "No? Not American boy?" and looked crestfallen. I quickened my pace, and either he didn't follow me, or I lost him when I went into Citibank.

But yeah. Weird.

[sketchley]

Yay for crazy people to remind us who nice life is (without them).

Have you had the schoolgirls and boys shout random English at you? Or the crzed mama's forcing their kids in front of you and prompting them to speak English?

[Gubaba]

Have you had the schoolgirls and boys shout random English at you? Or the crzed mama's forcing their kids in front of you and prompting them to speak English?

No, not at all. Last time I was here, though, it was drunk businessmen trying to talk to me. One even rubbed his hand on my cheek and exclaimed, "Jori jori!" My girlfriend at the time got a real kick out of that...

[Valkyrie Nut]

Me and my girlfriend had similar situations while there a few weeks ago. We were on the Metro in Tokyo one morning and this guy sat opposite us tryed to make conversation in English with my girlfriend. She just smiled and nodded, mainly because she couldn't make out what he was saying. Also, in Nara, a group of middle school children walking by were saying hello (again to my girlfriend) while I was taking a photo of the Todaiji temple gate.

If recall correctly there were a few other moments she had too, this was probably due to her looking like a stereotypical foreigner (blonde, fair skinned, blue eyes).

Still, we saw the funny side of it, even though it was a bit annoying at times

Edited July 22, 2010 by Valkyrie Nut

[sharky]

Me and my girlfriend had similar situations while there a few weeks ago. We were on the Metro in Tokyo one morning and this guy sat opposite us tryed to make conversation in English with my girlfriend. She just smiled and nodded, mainly because she couldn't make out what he was saying. Also, in Nara, a group of middle school children walking by were saying hello (again to my girlfriend) while I was taking a photo of the Todaiji temple gate.

If recall correctly there were a few other moments she had too, this was probably due to her looking like a stereotypical foreigner (blonde, fair skinned, blue eyes).

Still, we saw the funny side of it, even though it was a bit annoying at times

At least he was trying to talk to you to have a conversation. Everytime I'm in Shanghai the only people that want to talk to me in English are the ones trying to sell me crap. LOL!

[F-ZeroOne]

Just to balance the books a bit, there have been a couple of occasions where I've had positive "communication" experiences (excluding those with friends or contacts of friends). One time me and my brother were looking for a particular fashion shop [1] in Harajuku and the quest was getting to the point where it was looking likely we would be taking separate flights back home... Out of the blue, this voice says, "Excuse me, can I help you?" and this complete stranger, a young Japanese man, spends the next 15 minutes helping us find the shop we were looking for. Turned out that he had studied in England for a bit. We never did get a chance to thank him properly.

On another occasion, I was on my way to Yokosuka to look at the warship Mikasa, and didn't realise that I had to change trains on the way. An elderly Japanese man on the same train told me what was happening with no prompting from me and in no less than a Texan accent! Turned out he had lived in Texas back in the 60s.

[1] I admire Nigo, the founder of "A Bathing Ape", who is a Star Wars fan and therefore One Of Us. In the unlikely event I ever meet him, though, I will kick him very hard in the lower regions for only putting directions to the shops in the shops [2].

[2] Things are a bit easier now; the brand was a bit less well known and there was much less internet information available at the time.

Edited July 22, 2010 by F-ZeroOne

[Valkyrie]

It's almost my turn, at last!

In just under a month, I'll be on vacation in Japan for two weeks. The first week, I'll be touring the country a bit. From Tokyo to Osaka to Fukuoka, to Kyoto (and I'm hoping to squeeze in a stop in Nagano too.) The second week is all Tokyo. Suffice to say, I can't wait

But, I've been looking for stuff that'll be happening while I'm there, and I'm not finding much of anything that interests me... I'm thinking along the lines of shows, concerts, movies, etc. Would any of our resident Japan-dwellers have any suggestions?

And if anyone wants to hang out and get some drinks or something, by all means, hit me up!

And not to worry, I have hotels booked, so there will be no begging for crash space

[Beltane70]

I just mentioned in another thread that I'll be in Fukuoka next month visiting a friend. If you're going to be in Fukuoka between the 15 and 20 of November, I'll be in the area.

[Valkyrie]

So close... I'll be there november 10-11

[F-ZeroOne]

It's almost my turn, at last!

But, I've been looking for stuff that'll be happening while I'm there, and I'm not finding much of anything that interests me... I'm thinking along the lines of shows, concerts, movies, etc. Would any of our resident Japan-dwellers have any suggestions?

If you're into sports you could try going to a soccer game or possibly a baseball game (though I think it might be the "off" season for baseball just now). Providing its not a big game (e.g. for baseball Giants vs Tigers) you should be able to just walk up and get tickets on the day. I'm not into sports but my brother is and we attended a soccer match on one of my trips.