Laurent Burté
08R12127
Charms and disadvantage points of
Japan
compared with the other countries
The thing most foreigners will remember of Japan in general is its population. But the
different ways people remember the latter depends on how long they have stayed in Japan.
Tourists, mostly staying for overall tour of around 2 weeks, don’t really have time to
grasp the full culture of the denizens and so most of what they will remember of this
fascinating population is its kindness, its helpfulness not mentioning its politeness. On
another hand if the tourist is a westerner, he will see from time to time in the eyes of their
interlocutor sparks of curiosity and interest.
They might as well be surprise by the feeling of complete safeness while walking
down street of Tokyo, or any big cities, late at night. Compare to the fear of been alone in
some of South Asia’s big cities, or even in big European capitals, it really feel as warm and
cozy as a place called home.
But before even setting foot on the Japanese ground, most people are attracted by its
long history that includes the mysterious Samurais and Ninjas that a lot of young people all
over the world can acknowledge through Manga and Animation, specialty of Japan. Of
course, as a memento of the old ages, throughout all Japan one can admire the special
Japanese architecture featured within pagodas, temples, shrines or castles. One particularity
of the Japanese architecture is its capacity to “absorb” earthquake or to be rebuilt easily as
some has nearly no metal connecting parts being just assembled together.
Once exhausted after a long visit, walked what not, our tourist will also experience
one of the best to relax both its mind and body: Onsen. Whether it is an artificial one or an
open air one in the middle of a superb environment, the hot water allied to the smell of
mineral charged steam.
An hour later after, feeling ready to conquer the big city with its shining, blinking lights
all over the road and buildings our tourist will be facing another attracting image of Japan: its
modernity and advance technology that inspires not only developing country but also the
developed ones. Some people even believe that robots are broadly used for day to day task,
which is not so far from becoming a dream come true…
Those were the first impression anyone could have about this country’s people and
culture. However for those who have the chance to stay longer and experience more contact,
discussion with Japanese people, share events, parties or even job experience, they will,
little by little, start to discover more charms of Japanese society, but also some of its
drawbacks.
First the overcrowded places of big Japanese cities, which amaze at the beginning,
will start to annoy you more and more, especially in train or train station when comes the
rush-hour or when going out on a Saturday night at any major blocs of Tokyo…
Then as people start spending less and less time in main touristic area, the scenery
changes from shinny lofty skyscrapers, or sumptuous temples, to more functional brut
building which are usually not matched in a aesthetic way (There are actually no so many
urbanization rules limiting constructor in their choice of architecture) . Moreover you can
often see highways or railways running through the city sky underlined by the spider web-like
electrical cables, thus enhancing the idea of being trapped one on top of the others. After a
couple of month spent in Tokyo or other big cities, you usually start missing the wideness
and sprightliness of the countryside.
But these two disadvantage points are quiet easy to overcome, just avoid rush-hours
as much as possible, don’t pay too much attention to your surrounding and find à relaxing
place in Tokyo (or other big cities) for each time you feel the need for trees and calm.
However for the next point people usually react in 3 ways: renounce to your previous one to
embrace the new one, wisely mix both or only stick to our own solely. And depending which
one you choose (consciously or not), your Japanese experience can vary from very good to
really bad. You have guessed right, I am talking about culture.
Although I said at the beginning that Japanese people are kind, helpful and polite
(which I am not denying), nevertheless they are very difficult to link to, especially for
westerners with whom the cultural gap is the widest. To understand better some of the
barrier existing between most western culture and Japanese culture, one should consider the
following factors (which are, for me, most relevant among many other factors): Uncertainty
avoidance and collectivism.
In general Japanese people have great uncertainty avoidance. Simply put they fear,
and so try to avoid, things for which the result can’t be predicted or known. This explains why
Japanese people have systematic needs for rules or protocols (which they follow with haste),
helping them know how to behave at any time thus making them feel safer. For this reason,
many westerners think Japanese people as shy or lacking some spontaneity.
Moreover Japanese’s collectivism way of thinking explains their will to preserve group
harmony above oneself, leading most Japanese to rarely say things directly and to consider
westerners, whom do so, as rude. This is probably the most difficult barrier to cross for both
sides.
In the end, as all country and culture, Japan has many charms and disadvantage
points (those mentioned previously are only some I had more interest to talk about) which
are more and more understood as you extend your stay here. And for those able to mix
wisely or embrace fully another culture, they will have such a great experience here that they
will usually make them want to stay for a longer period.