Visiting Japan

[David J]

At long last I may finally get a chance to visit Japan this year.

Does anyone have any tips / suggestions for anything / places etc Kendo-related, or even just general good advice about visiting Japan? Is it as expensive as everyone thinks - I need to work how long I can afford to go for! Can you visit Kendo classes or tournaments easily? (plan is to go in September)

Thanks all for anything you can offer

Dave

[KhawMengLee]

Which part are you going to?

Kyushu is nice...and less expensive than Tokyo.

Eat! Eat! Eat!:D

Try Tonkatsu Ramen

Grilled ox tongue in the pub.

Unagi

but stay away from Natto...:mad:

The girls in Kyushu and Hokkaido are really cute.:D

Get yourself some good shinai's and a good pair of Kote.

Visit http://www.moribudo.co.jp/ and find their location in Tokyo in the showroom section. They do some good offers on Kendo gear.

[KhawMengLee]

Which part are you going to?

Kyushu is nice...and less expensive than Tokyo.

Eat! Eat! Eat!:D

Try Tonkatsu Ramen

Grilled ox tongue in the pub.

Unagi

but stay away from Natto...:mad:

The girls in Kyushu and Hokkaido are really cute.:D

Get yourself some good shinai's and a good pair of Kote.

Visit http://www.moribudo.co.jp/ and find their location in Tokyo in the showroom section. They do some good offers on Kendo gear.
happy hunting
meng

[David J]

I'm flexible as to where to visit - hence asking for suggestions!

[mingshi]

All the national taikai in Sep:-
(those marked with ** are the AJKF events)

1/9 in Nagoya
41st All Japan Ladies Kendo Championship**

8/9 in Tokyo
2nd "Transportation/ Shipping" Friendly Kendo Taikai

14/9 Tokyo
44th National "Postal Service" Kendo Taikai

15/9 Tokyo
45th All Japan Corporation Kendo

29/9 Tokyo
35th NTT Group National Kendo Taikai
29/0 Fujieda, Shizuoka
48th All Japan East va West Kendo Taikai**

[David J]

Thanks Mingshi - great stuff

[chidokan]

You can get some really good gear there as well, like shinai that are straight with no gaps between the strips(!!) and some really nice bogu. However be prepared with cash, not credit cards, and you get measured up ( a bit like getting a suit!) takes about a month to get it made plus shipping time to your address. They never seem to have anything that fits straight off the shelf, and also if you visit with a well known teacher you can also get a good discount!! I got some classy kote ( 2mm stitch) for about £100, knocked down from about £200...
The best part is watching the seniors get together for a bit of keiko, you just cant watch 300 plus 8dan over here in the U.K.!!I couldn't make my mind up who to watch!! Really enjoyed my trip to Kyoto taikai, so I would recommend getting something like that in if you can.

regards, Tim

[Floberg]

>KhawMengLee
Hehe Natto!, thats an interesting "food" I almost have forgotten... (since my visit to Japan in summer 1998). :D :D

Though I miss the dried squid snack (don't remember what it's called), which I can not find anywhere here in Sweden.. :confused:

[Kenshi]

..... [deleted] ..... (double post, sorry)

[Kenshi]

>44th National "Postal Service" Kendo Taikai <

Heh heh heh ..... this looks like one not to miss ..... all those frustrated posties with dog-bite marks ....

And if you are a veggie, good luck. Trust no one.

[David J]

Yep, quite a veggie challenge I can imagine. I think for those couple of weeks I'll have to invoke the curious "well fish is alright" double-standard that I save for emergencies ;-)

And as for trusting no-one....?

[KhawMengLee]

If you go to Africa avoid anything called bush pig because its actually a whumping big rat.

Actually Miso and plain rice is good. There was this ad in japan where you see this guy watching the soccer or something taking mouthfuls of rice then slurping down miso...mmm I'm hungry....:p

Onigiri is good (rice balls, katsu curry, etc) go for the kendo stay for the food!

[Kenshi]

"Trust no one" = even after explaining you are veggie (and what that entails) you might still end up with non-veggie stuff. The first couple of times i said "its probably (=300%) my terrible japanese" .... then my japanese friend explained it and guess what??

I ended up losing lots of weight (=kendo+diet+heat) so there is a benefit!

My veggie solution:

Mossburger - Rice Burger thing
Mr Donut - loads of Amerikan Kohii + Donuts
Lawsons - Onigiri and Oinari (experiment)

or

BEER

or

Friends!

[David J]

Ah, George, I get you. Yep, having been to Asia many times before I'm well aware of the risks as a veggie. (Not that a lot of Europe is much better....)

Malaysia was particularly bad - "Sizzling Tofu" from the veggie section of the menu came covered in sizzling chicken! I'm still not sure whether "vegetarian" actually really means anything in some languages....

"Sorry, I said "No Meat""
"Yes?"
"This is chicken though?"
"Yes"
"But I said no meat!"
"Yes!"
etc

But when you can get something compatible with your ethics, Mmmmmmm! :D

Not sure about your beer=weight loss equation. I know lots of people on this diet and not many of them are slim. ;)

Dave

ps Khaw - do you know Ngai Fong restaurant in KL? Great Chinese food. And as for Penang....:D

[KhawMengLee]

ps Khaw - do you know Ngai Fong restaurant in KL? Great Chinese food. And as for Penang....

Mate, next time you are in KL tell me and I will take you to eat some real food! Bak Kut Teh(pork soup)..mmmmm

Wait if you are a veggo...hmmmnn..nevermind my mom is also vegetarian (religious vow) so we can still fix u up.

Ngai Fong? where is it near?

Why are you a veggo? Politics?

If you wanna eat good in Malaysia you gotta get local support:D

Oh, Yeah try the tempura veges in japan! And those funky places where you can eat sushi off naked chicks!

[ben]

Maybe you should try and stay exclusively in Buddhist temples. At least you can pretty sure they'll be vego.

As for where to go, I concur with KhawMeng, Kyushu is the place. Kagoshima is my 'dai ni furusato'. It's really cheap, has great kendo, great onsen (its got the beach where they bury you to your neck in hot sand - Ibusuki) and from there you can visit the wild south islands like Yakushima, Tanegashima, and on to Okinawa.

While you're there, you can pop up to Kumamoto, another great kendo town, and buy a Hinokuni shinai.

[KhawMengLee]

And visit the Musashi Park!!! Though I don't think he'll give you a bout:)

[David J]

Originally posted by KhawMengLee


Mate, next time you are in KL tell me and I will take you to eat some real food!



Now there's an offer I cant refuse. I'll let you know....

Originally posted by KhawMengLee

Ngai Fong? where is it near?



Its right in the middle of Chinatown, behind the night stalls on left near the bottom (the DVD end, where the market meets the major road). Its not a fancy place - plastic chairs, waiter who gets camper by the year, and if you love seafood / chinese food this is a great place to go (so long as its not full of Hash House Harriers that night :mad: ). If you're new in town, its a great place to rest after shopping for "genuine copy" Rolex's and enjoy an 8% Guiness or three. Yum.

Originally posted by KhawMengLee


Why are you a veggo? Politics?



OK, quickly, so this doesnt become too much of a food thread ;)
I stopped eating meat when I was 16 (18 years ago...<sigh>), for a variety of reasons - I lived close to a farm, and realised that these same beautiful animals were ending up as my lunch, I was listening to The Smiths a lot ;) and I realised I wouldnt kill an animal to eat it just because it tasted nice, so someone else shouldnt be doing it on my behalf. Added to this, I became a Buddhist a while back, which just served to reinforce this, though this does mean I can accept finding meat in something unexpectedly without freaking too badly (this is where things get really complicated ;).

This isnt aimed at you (I get hassled / mocked about my diet a lot), but it still surprises me that I have to justify NOT eating meat to people whose only reason to justify wholesale animal slaughter is that it tastes nice. <big sigh>

Originally posted by KhawMengLee


And those funky places where you can eat sushi off naked chicks!

Now you're talking :D Does these places exist, or just in your mind ;) If so, then you can combine your love of food and cute girlies...you just need to work out how to get Kendo in there too ;)

Dave

[KhawMengLee]

Heh, yeah I'm a buddhist too but I'm only a vegetarian on Vesak Day (Buddha's Birthday):D . I understand what you mean though.
Killing is not a 'fun' thing.

I used to go hunting a lot and will admit that it is not fun killing your own meat, at the same time I hated it when people came up to me and said, ewww how can you shoot skippy (the bush kangaroo, I live in Oz). It really bites me when I see them tucking into a meat pie later.

My mom grew up on a rubber plantation and so they grew and farmed a lot of their food, so I got pretty used to seeing animals killed for food. (actually the decapitated cheeeeekin's used to freak me out).

The way I take things is that killing for food is part of nature's cycle but killing for sport is never justified.

At the same time I think your path is admirable because it takes a lot of control...whereas I am a slave to my appetites (read my catch phrase):p

So you are Buddhist, cool, what sect? I am a thai buddhist.

Hmmnnn....the place you mentioned is in Petaling Street, heh...there are much better places to go eat. Unfortunately, most of the good places are meat spots. Also note, that electronic devices are cheap here. Most of Sony's production and assembly lines are in Malaysia. eg. a Sony minicam (like in American Beauty) is about $4000 Ringgit=500 pounds sterling.


Yes, the dreaded Hash House Harriers, I did a couple of their runs once...I especially liked the leaches. But it keeps ya fit...and mmmm beer.


Nakid chick food trays...hmnnn...next time I am in Japan I will ask my Bosozuko or Yakuza mates...heh


Meng

[David J]

Originally posted by KhawMengLee

I used to go hunting a lot and will admit that it is not fun killing your own meat, at the same time I hated it when people came up to me and said, ewww how can you shoot skippy (the bush kangaroo, I live in Oz). It really bites me when I see them tucking into a meat pie later.


Quite. I have one friend who has killed his own animals to eat, and will eat ANYTHING eg he tried testicles recently and loved them. I can respect his view, because it is consistent. But I think few people who saw inside a slaughterhouse (I have), or had to kill the meat themselves would feel quite so comfy about their Sunday roast. You have at least seen animals killed - most city dwellers have never even SEEN a farm animal.

Originally posted by KhawMengLee

At the same time I think your path is admirable because it takes a lot of control...whereas I am a slave to my appetites (read my catch phrase):p


Thankyou. Actually once you dont want to eat meat, it takes no effort. The only effort (see George's post) is trying to get a meatless meal at times! And dont assume that I dont enjoy food - half the fun of Asia is the eating!

Originally posted by KhawMengLee

So you are Buddhist, cool, what sect? I am a thai buddhist.


I suppose I would say I was a Thai (Theravada) Buddhist, but I see value in all the traditions - different paths up the same mountain and all that. Thai Buddhism suits Thailand etc, Tibetan suits the Himalayan people etc. I find Zen very interesting, but also rather annoying at times ;) The only thing I dont like is the tendency of some people to think their branch of Buddhism is best, and pour scorn on other traditions. (I've found this, strangely, especially from monks) If even Buddhists cant get along, there's not much hope for the world!

Dave

[KhawMengLee]

I always remembered this story,

Can't remember if its Mahayana or Therevada.

3 people are lost in the desert. They wander aimlessly until they come to a high wall. The first person climbs the wall and sees an Oasis inside.

Yes! he screams and jumps over.

The second person also jumps over in joy.

The third person is about to jump over then stops...and returns to the desert to guide the other lost people to salvation.

I think this represents the Mahayanas.


************************************************** **

Quite. I have one friend who has killed his own animals to eat, and will eat ANYTHING eg he tried testicles recently and loved them.

************************************************** **

Heh:)

Naw, don't hunt much anymore, I actually have money to buy meat now.


Had a good kendo training today...I know its good because I ache allllll over....

heh, peace

Meng

[Confound]

Vegetarian food in japan isn't that hard really, it all depends on what you want to eat and what you usually eat at home. Albeit tofu dishes usually come with meat, which doesn't make things easier.

The trick is to order side dishes. many smaller dishes don't have meat. you can get cheese harumaki (ir whatever they're called, i never get the name right). Tempura is a good suggestion, but be careful when you order tempura udon, there is usually shrimp in the tempura wafer.

though i wouldn't suggest that you live off combini food, 7 11 and family mart (or lawson's, i hate lawson's), those are the safest places to get food if you want to see exactly what is in it before you buy.

incidentally, natto isn't so bad, once you get used to it. i'm not a big fan, but it could be far worse.

c

[KhawMengLee]

incidentally, natto isn't so bad, once you get used to it. i'm not a big fan, but it could be far worse.

Nope. Theres a new religion alled Mengism and one of the commandments is THOU SHALT NOT EAT NATTO! :D


Hah, I remember when I was in Kyushu and my ex's sister made me dinner. It was a big bowl of Natto and I was like (Oh...boy) looking at it thinking "great. Natto". She was looking at me with great expectation so I just wolfed it down going "mmmm...oishi!" Then she brought a second bowl.


Moral: Honesty is the best policy.:p


So much good food in Japan though...mmmm Mabo Tofu...I am going to eat very soooonnnn


Cheers,
Meng

[Florence]

David,

In order to plan your trip, have a look at www.jnto.go.jp (Japan National Tourist Information). They list cheap accomodation, food (even vegetarian), transportation tips, etc. They have an office in London (near Picadilly, look on the web site) that will send you maps, hotels listings, and all kind of useful informations, for free.

Email me for more details on how to travel to and inside Japan. Residents in Japan are notorious for not noticing the information they give is useless (or much,much too detailed) for a first time visitor who's not familiar with the language (I learned that the hard way, long, long ago) ;-)

[Florence]

Originally posted by KhawMengLee


Nope. Theres a new religion alled Mengism and one of the commandments is THOU SHALT NOT EAT NATTO! :D

Cheers,
Meng


Do they take new members in ? :D

I remember the first time I was offered natto for breakfast, I thought "and this guy had the nerve to tell me cheese stinks ?"


Just mentioning natto, I'll have to wash my mouth with beer !

Santé.
Florence

[Confound]

So true...

Sometimes we have it in school lunch, and the whole school reeks of natto for the rest of the day, not to mention the bad breath of everyone who ate it. dental hygiene is not popular in my area. i'm one of 3 teachers who goes off to use a toothbrush after lunch. natto breath...like natto, only worse.

c

[qpuppy]

hmmm can you guys tell me what is natto?!?!?!

[Confound]

Natto is fermented beans, it's sticky, it is stringy. it smells like 10 day old sweaty socks that were worn on a 50 km marathon then left to soak in vinegar.

please, for your own safety, avoid it.

c

[KhawMengLee]

heh, it draws the same reaction as Durians in Malaysia. Most foreigners die at the smell of durians, this lovely fruit. I don't mind it but as they say, smell like shit but tastse like heaven.

heh, the japanese probably have the same concept with natto...though I still say its vile...ewwww

Meng

[David J]

Yeah Meng, its no co-incidence that at the Oriental Supermarket (mall) in London, the durian stall is OUTSIDE ;)

Personally - durian: smells like onions tastes like...onions. Fruit that tastes of fruit is better - Thai sugarapples (Noi-Na)...wow :D

Each to his own....in the meantime, any more comments ideas about Japan itself?

D

[KhawMengLee]

Girls!Girls!Girls!

Heh...just because you are a Kendoka doesn't mean you are a monk...hee:D

I met one of my seniors in Singapore the other day and he was amazed by the way I could carry a deep conversation in the history and spirituality of Kendo and at the same time give a "hmmmnnn...nice" hum of approval at every nice girl that walked by.

heaven is a nice cup o' java and a beautiful girl u can utter, mmm...nice to in the morn'. That or wake up to.

I'm sure you will meet lots of nice girls...of all different walks.

(I will still never forget this girl I met called Sayaka. I had just come out of a looooonnngg lecture on archaeology and was thouroughly mind dead. I met up with a bunck of Japanese friends and I got introduced to Sayaka.

We ended up talking about tatoos and she says to me, "oh, I got two" So I naturally asked, "really, where?". In less time then it took for you to read this, she lifted up her blouse to show me.

Yes, although she had a bra on, nevertheless I was awakened from my stupor. Sigh...one was on the inner part of her left cleavage and the other on the outer part of her left breast. I can't say I was paying much attention to the tatoos...)


sigh...I miss Japanese Girls

meng:(

[Confound]

Originally posted by KhawMengLee
Girls!Girls!Girls!

Heh...just because you are a Kendoka doesn't mean you are a monk...hee:D

meng:(

why don't you go hang out with a bunch of mannequins, Meng. they have the same intelligence level, and they'll even let you TOUCH their magnificent titties.

c

[KhawMengLee]

why don't you go hang out with a bunch of mannequins, Meng. they have the same intelligence level, and they'll even let you TOUCH their magnificent titties.


I knew this was gonna come from you confound:p


heh...sigh...ah, but mannie's don't talk back.

And they don't have spirited fire...like u do. Aren't u cute when u are annoyed:D


Peace
Meng

[richard haly]

Meng,

I don't think your comments eg. "Aren't u cute when u are annoyed" are appropriate for this list as they are disrespectful whether meant in jest or not.

Mukuso.

[KhawMengLee]

sorry:(

[Confound]

Originally posted by richard haly
Meng,

I don't think your comments eg. "Aren't u cute when u are annoyed" are appropriate for this list as they are disrespectful whether meant in jest or not.

Mukuso.

Sadly, i'm not a rabid feminist, but Japanese women and their fluffy headed rabbit-like sexual habits really irritate me. living in the land of "kawaaaiiiiii" isn't easy for women who are naturally aggressive and forthright. we're expected to behave like Japanese women, and frankly that's the most degrading thing i can imagine other than polishing people's shoes with my tongue while dancing topless on tables.

i'm not cute, and i will never be cute. on the day that i am cute, please drag me out into a field and put a bullet in my head, it would be an act of kindness.

c

ps - i'm not lesbian. (i figured that would be the next comment from the illustrious peanut gallery.)

[Hyaku]

Oh Confound you dissapoint me. :p

Don't you want bleach your hair. Have your keitai surgically attached to your hand so you can say moshi moshi in a loud voice. And do that funny one foot in front of the other walk.

Now you can give us a list of all the things I missed lol

You think youve got it bad? They call me Kawaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii too.

Hyaku

[Confound]

Let's start at the top and work on down.

Hair: Bleached and stiff like a board. Try running your fingers through that, boys. it's like running your hands through thin, crinkly wires. it looks especially good when they've teased it or used 400 bobby pins to affix it in a variety of Pippy Longstockings style ponytails. As for the colour, it looks like the colour of vomit after you've been drinking too much root beer, and orangey brown colour. when their hair has been freshly bleached, it may approximate blondness, but after a few washes (read: a few weeks), it goes back to puke colour. One last thing, don't forget all the pouffy hair ornaments that you haven't seen since you were in elementary school. For those of you who LIKE elementary school plastic hair clips, baubles and other accessories, this may be an asset.

eyebrows: plucked, possibly heavily pencilled (this is a disgusting habit western women have as well). the funniest ones are the girls who have shaved their eyebrows, and don't realize that everytime they shave them, they just get bigger. I've seen some doozies.

Eyes: Now this is one thing Asian girls have going for them, their eyes are incredibly soft and brown. however, many of them are having cosmetic surgery so that their eyes look like those of western girls. in my opinion, the surgeries are pretty useless, because the end product usually doesn't look much different than the starting point.

noses: not much to say here.

lips and mouth: Wow! Dental hygiene really IS a foreign concept! If you can get your tongue between the rotting, misplaced teeth, you're an oral gymnast. i've seen it in kyoto, i've seen it all over tohouku, and in Tokyo. bad teeth are the norm, and so is bad breath. o boy. there's nothing like natto breath to knock you out at 20 paces.

Also, if you're into that shiny lip gloss thing, then these are the girls for you. every 10 minutes or so they reaplpy their lip gloss, or lip stick, or whatever cosmetics they may be using at the time. when I was coming back to japan on the plane, and the pilot announced that we were going to land in 15 minutes, there was a stampede for the bathroom as EVERY Japanese girl touched up her make up. (This is also an annoying habit of midde aged western women, i won't deny it, but at least they don't re-apply twice. i watched one girl re-apply her lipstick a record 7 times. she didn't want to wait in the bathroom, so she did it in her seat.)

skin: is there any under all that make-up?

general hygiene: the mainichi news tells us that most Japanese women change their underwear once every 3 days. I'll just leave that one right there. As for dental hygiene, I a sure i've already mentionned that there are only 5 people at my school that KEEP a toothbrush on the premises (including me), and only 3 who regularly use them (again, including me).

clothes: now this is areal doozy. I intended to refer you to my short treatise on the subject, but it seems to be unfinished and not yet uploaded to my website. whoops.

Let's summarize in point form then:

-Skirts that are more like envelopes for the hips than clothing

-Colour co-ordinated socks and underwear (because you can see them both at the same time)

-Wow! The 70s and the 80s are, uh, not back, they're still IN...

-It's not the Salvation Army, those clothes are new.

-8 foot long socks.
-neon pink and green camoflage pouffy skirts with a dark orange mohair sweater, and little TEENY TINY strappy sandals

-shoes of death (14 inch platforms, stilletto heels, sandals that snap and slap annoyingly against the pavement as the owner SCUFFS down the street... imagine being on a crowded street, and EVERYONE is scuffing... EVERYONE. try it for months on end.. you'll go insane.)

- cell phones welded onto the ear, into which the girl says "uuuUUUUUUUNNNNgghhhh, uuuUUUUUUUNNNNNnngggh" and grunts continually, punctuating it with occasional nods and the occasional verbal utterance. said cellphone has approximately 7 lbs of dangling objects attached to it. usually hello kitty or some other apparently 'cute' objects.

- denim and silk do not go together. i don't care who you are.

- pants that pool onto the floor, creating a puddle around the feet (this is more than a bell bottom boys and girls)

what did i miss, hyaku?

c

[Confound]

Originally posted by Hyaku
Oh Confound you dissapoint me. :p

And do that funny one foot in front of the other walk.

Hyaku

I forgot something already.

Japanese women walk as though they are in imminent danger of falling over. i'm not sure if this is because of their poor choice of footwear, or another aspect of the 'culture of incompetence (http://teral.blerk.org/shite/rants/incompetent.html)'. Who knows.

I also forgot the excessive giggling, and the laughing that sounds like crying. that's the worst. it is breathless and high pitched, it sounds like a demented 5 year old who has a little cut and is trying to play it up for an audience.

One good thing: when japanese women laugh, they cover their mouthes. this means youdon't need to see the rotting teeth!

c

[KhawMengLee]

Posted by Hyaku
You think youve got it bad? They call me Kawaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii too.


At least they call u kawai :( I got the nick Meng bozu...no thanks to my haircut...I did like the others though...rotating between doraemon or Jayang. (you know, that round blue bear or the bully who runs around beating up nobita).heh

***************

Confound...boy, you really have an axe to grind...eep

Then again..natto breath...eeeww.

Now wait to you get durian and petai burps...durians you know...petai...heh better if you don't.

Meng

[reicheru]

Hi everyone, I've been lurking for a while and finally decided to join up...

Confound -- you're right on with most of those points. Except that I haven't found myself "expected to behave like Japanese women." People don't really expect me to behave like Japanese men, either -- as a foreigner, I've found that (fortunately) I'm exempt from many of the social rules and expectations. Nobody frowns at me if I sit cross-legged, and in the past year that I've been here nobody has even once asked me to get tea for them.

I'd also like to point out that there are MANY exceptions to the bleached hair, plucked eyebrows, shoes of death girls. I know quite a few girls and women of all ages who are definitely NOT kawaii and never intend to be. And others who are kawaii on somewhat superficial levels, but are nevertheless really strong women whose behavior is anything but degrading. And, incidentally, of the 5 junior high school students from my local kendo club who took shodan shinsa on sunday, 4 of them were girls. And all of them passed.

David -- getting back to your original question, I can't offer that many suggestions about WHERE to go (haven't had enough time to travel myself), but if you're interested I can send you a document about how to stay vegetarian in Japan. I made it for my sister when she came to visit, and it includes an explanation and list of "taberareru" and "taberarenai" foods in English, romaji, and Japanese (if you have a Japanese font on your computer). My sister often simply just showed the list to people in restaurants, and everyone was really helpful. She got through 3 weeks here without even having to eat a fish-based soup stock, let alone anything more offensive. I'm not 100% veggie (I keep kosher), but I too have found that people are really understanding and will go out of their way to find you something to eat.

Rachel

[reicheru]

ps. I actually kinda like natto, in small doses... but then again, I also like vegemite, and brussel sprouts, and all sorts of other things that you're not really supposed to like!

Rachel

[Confound]

Originally posted by KhawMengLee

Confound...boy, you really have an axe to grind...eep

Then again..natto breath...eeeww.

Meng

Meng, every word of it is true. it was no co-incidence that i studied sociology and plan to be a journalist. i notice these things. my notes on japanese women, and things i've observed here are far too long to post, but i've summed up the women passably. i'd talk about the men, but then youo'd all rise to arms and call me a racist, because it's ok if i say nasty things about women. it's cute to see a woman maligning other women, but when we move onto men, no, that's serious territory.

c

[KhawMengLee]

Meng, every word of it is true. it was no co-incidence that i studied sociology and plan to be a journalist


Welcome to the fold sistah! Heh, what a coinkidink! I'm currently studying journalism as well...but I think my job scope with FOX news has been put on the scrapheap. There is no free speech.

I had a little argument with the host of the Big Story...basically I called him a propaganda spewing hypocrite(this is the polite version)...well he wrote back and wasn't too impressed.

The argument started over Fox's segment on whether American soldiers should be held liable in International War Tribunals. Fox was like, no, because for example, if the army accidentally bombs civilians in Afghanistan then when Bush goes over to visit the troops, people from the UN will grab him and take him to stand trail.

It was rediculous. They totally missed the topic, putting fear into the publics mind. I mean look at the My Lai massacre...Lt. Calley butchered over 400 women and children and only served 6 years in jail. He is currently running his fathers jewelry shop in NY. Looking at the US's track record on such dealings they should be made liable in an international court.

If you want to observe injustice as a journalist or hypocrisy just look at this. The US tells the WTO China should not join because they protect/subsidize their home markets. US is a strong advocate of Globalisation...free trade. They tell the whole world to open their economies to be raped.

Notice how...the US Government has just raised tarrifs to protect their Steel industry, subsidized wheat farmers and increased tariffs to protect beef farmers. Hmmnnn...it is okay for them to do it but not for the rest of the world.

It would be nice to hear the news report this but unfortunately, the US controls the media...its tough being a journalist.


PS. This is not a hate rant against American people but a rant about unfair and hypocritical Government policy.


Journalism is fun but reall taxing emotionally at times...

Peace
Mengu

[KhawMengLee]

Sigh...with the amount of Politics in the world today..kendo is one of the places I go to relax...sorta like golf.

I have loved my experiences in Japan...the little things that made the trip worthwhile...like the rice padis and bamboo clusters on the trainride to kokura in Kyushu, or the crazy big transformer boxes on the powerlines on the street.

The banners advertising various beers and pubs flying on the roadside or the picturesque scene of a japanese man reading a newspaper at the fukuoka train station...oblivious to the chaos around him.

Or even the Kia of children doing kirikaish...heh, with voices so soft they sound like angels...as opposed to the screams of adults.

A journalist is like an artist...he/she sees the world around and reflects on the surrounding in words and pictures...the world can be both beautiful and ugly...depending n what u see.

I remember also...standing at Kokura castle...touching the base of the ramparts and picking up a stone. I asked myself, what have these walls seen. I could be standing at the same spot musashi stood.

At the same time the river surrounding the castle (more a drain) absolutely stunk (didn't help it being summer)...it spoilt the beauty of the place...

What I am trying to say here Confound is that though there are lots of bad aspects to Japan(or for any country for that matter) there are aspects which are good...

**************************
ps. I actually kinda like natto, in small doses... but then again, I also like vegemite, and brussel sprouts, and all sorts of other things that you're not really supposed to like

Rachel, You like bloody vegemite...eew...wait...then again I like Bovril.:D Well...a little vegomite might be good

Peace
Mengu

[Confound]

Originally posted by KhawMengLee

I have loved my experiences in Japan...the little things that made the trip worthwhile...like the rice padis and bamboo clusters on the trainride to kokura in Kyushu, or the crazy big transformer boxes on the powerlines on the street.

Peace
Mengu

O boy.... visiting and living are two entirely different things, Meng. With Japanese kids sounding like angels, and 'poetic' bamboo groves, I see we have a full fledged case of the Romantic traveller to Japan. Let me only say that if you choose to live here someday, you may find that the small, fascinating things are crushed by the daily, annoying, rude and ignorant things.

c

[Kuri]

I concur with Confound. All of the cutesie things are quite a novelty for the first month or so. Initially, it's refreshing to see something different from your own cultural norm. But once the honeymoon is over, it becomes so annoying. I have grown to detest "kawaaaaaiiiiiiii...." and all associated accessories (including characters, people that is...). Am I jadded, possibly, but when the community is fed a diet of cuteness, association (groups) and obedience, it's not difficult to see why they turn out that way.

If you think of it in terms of percentages, there are probably the same number of "idiots" in every country. Translate that into raw numbers, due to the population and density in Japan, it's just more likely you'll have a close encouter.

[KhawMengLee]

O boy.... visiting and living are two entirely different things, Meng. With Japanese kids sounding like angels, and 'poetic' bamboo groves, I see we have a full fledged case of the Romantic traveller to Japan. Let me only say that if you choose to live here someday, you may find that the small, fascinating things are crushed by the daily, annoying, rude and ignorant things

On the contrary I feel the same of every place I have been. I have lived in Australia for over 13 years now and I still love the country. The clear oceans and the southern cross in rhe night sky...kookaburras laughing annoyingly in the dawn...at the same time the shark attacks in spring really sux...


Malaysia even...the crazy traffic jams that threaten my sanity, the smog and haze. At the same time I can sit and listen to the call of the bul bul (a bird) or note the multitude of life in the rainforests. Or even the surreal sight of a sparrow hawk nesting on a skyscraper.


Its not the case of romantic traveller blues. I just realise that every place has its ugliness as well as beauty.


It just seems like Japan is more of a chore to you...

Peace
Mengu

[mingshi]

Realize the fact: Modern culture sucks.
The romanticism of "Visiting Japan" favour more towards the tradition aspects: tidiness, discipline, politeness...
Not anymore. The more you know, the more you hate. Especially the youth culture. Pop Idols and their followers. I think this is going global, out of control.

However, consider the "Shoes of Death" girls as a liberation from the "housewives only" generation. Too many years of boring school uniforms. Yeah those "Girl Power" crap. Media manipulation works. Funny enough, the boys still likes them :)

Not many of us have a chance to practice Kendo in Japan. As a Westerner (I mean not look like "asian") you've already privilaged in not following the traditions. If Japan is that bad why go there anyway? Earth is Hell. Enjoy your stay!

[Kent Enfield]

Originally posted by Confound
what did i miss

You forgot two of my "favorites," but maybe, hopefully, they've died out since I was there.

Going with the orange hair, teased all over the place, is the excessive use of bronzer (or blackener as it usually seems) combined with with white lip gloss and white eyeshadow. I forget what the pop-culture word for these girls is. Kogyaru? Gangyaru? We usually just stuck with tanuki-gyaru.

The other one struck me as more stupid than annoying. It's the knee-high socks with all the elastic removed so that they turn into big piles of cloth around their ankles. I asked someone about this and the answer was that it makes one's legs look longer. Huh? To me, it just looked like their socks were balled up around their ankles.

Now, just to be fair, most of friends also thought things like this were stupid.

And current American fashion (like pants so low the girls need shave to wear them) arn't any less stupid.

More evidence for my model of human behaviour: everyone I do not know is an idiot. It may not be true, but it seems to be pretty functional.

[Confound]

Originally posted by Kent Enfield

We usually just stuck with tanuki-gyaru.

It's the knee-high socks with all the elastic removed so that they turn into big piles of cloth around their ankles. I asked someone about this and the answer was that it makes one's legs look longer. Huh? To me, it just looked like their socks were balled up around their ankles.


The poor tanuki, I feel insulted on its behalf. I like tanuki... as for those girls, they really are weird, aren't they.

i did forget about the socks, probably because i teach in junior high, where the girls glue their socks to their legs. Believe it or not, those piled up, 6 foot long socks don't have the elastic removed, they're actally 6 feet or 8 feet long! i've seen racks of them1 yes, the girls glue those to their legs too....

c

[David J]

Originally posted by Confound

it's cute to see a woman maligning other women, but when we move onto men, no, that's serious territory.
c

I cant say I find any of your angry rants "cute" Confound. And regarding your "oh boy, visiting and living are different" point - well, yes, but the thread is called "Visiting Japan", not "What annoys me about living in Japan". Maybe you should start another thread :D. I am realising that many westerners that are/were living in Japan really dislike it for various reasons - maybe there is an incompatibility of culture, or a way of being treated by the locals. Whatever.

Not picking on Confound here, but I was just hoping for a few travel tips. :confused:

And I'm with Meng on the romance - everywhere he goes he sees beauty. Maybe its a Buddhist thing....

<rei>

Dave

ps back _on_ topic, thanks reicheru - can you "private message" that doc to me? (dont know if thats possible). Thanks very much for this - great stuff.

[reicheru]

I can't figure out how to add an attachment to a private message -- if anyone knows how to do it, let me know; otherwise anyone who wants the being-vegetarian-in-japan document can send me his/her email address and i'll forward the document that way.

BTW, I may still be in the "honeymoon phase," but I really don't have that many complaints about living in Japan (I've been here almost a year, and am staying at least one more). Sure, there are many things that annoy me or frustrate me, but that's true of most places, and the good points here far outweigh the bad. Japan really is a beautiful country with many wonderful people and traditions. I'm sorry that not all of you living here feel that way.

Reicheru

[KhawMengLee]

Hey Rachel-san,
If I pack myself in a box and mail myself there, can I crash at your place:) ?

I wanna go to japan:( but I gots no money...

Heh, I still remember how I would wear a "Giants" cap and people would tell me only little kids wore them.

Hope you never lose sight of the world's charm!

Peace
Mengu

[Hyaku]

Confound wrote: eyebrows: plucked, possibly heavily pencilled (this is a disgusting habit western women have as well). the funniest ones are the girls who have shaved their eyebrows, and don't realize that everytime they shave them, they just get bigger. I've seen some doozies.
.......

You sure its the girls your talking about? The boys do the same thing. Don't think you missed much except for the voices.

That "uuuUUUUUUUNNNNgghhhh, uuuUUUUUUUNNNNNnngggh" has to be done loudly to let you know that she is on her keitai and she has friends.

I was in a "very" large supermarket in the Cebu last spring and heard familiar loud voices. No need erect signs to say they were in there that for sure. Sadlypeople in other countries are in absolute stiches as they pass by like a Carnival. Some one in Indonesia said to me, We usually tend to copy a lot of what comes from Japan but I hope this doesnt catch on.

I cant be so complimentary about that colour. Ive seen it on orang utans, fallen coconuts and that guy in the circus who wears similar makeup.

Hyaku

[KhawMengLee]

Well, at one point married women were meant to blacken their teeth with charcoal and shave their eyebrows...this is attractive?!?

In China a woman was thought to be attractive if she had the three inch lotus (bound feet)...eew

In europe it was the whalebone corset....yes, a woman with a waist smaller than my calves...

It's funny what people consider beauty...then again just because you are "fashionable" doesn't mean you have good taste.

lucky the whole kogal thing hasn't picked up here in Malaysia...phew

Mengu

[Hyaku]

Yes your right Mengu. That's why I am all for natural beauty.

Those Malaysian, Thai Philapinna are so pretty without all that crap.

I suppose also it might be appropriate for older women but when I see some 16 year old with makeup caked on such beautiful clear skin the mind boggles.

Hyaku

[KhawMengLee]

I suppose also it might be appropriate for older women but when I see some 16 year old with makeup caked on such beautiful clear skin the mind boggles.


Well, they'd make great bodyguards.

So bulletproof!

Shoot a gun at them, BANG, no effect...

I think the bullet stops at the third layer, won't even penetrate the fourth.:D


Mengu

[Onara]

but stay away from Natto...:mad:

.
Natto is great!

[Onara]

In less time then it took for you to read this, she lifted up her blouse to show me.

Yes, although she had a bra on, nevertheless I was awakened from my stupor. Sigh...one was on the inner part of her left cleavage and the other on the outer part of her left breast. I can't say I was paying much attention to the tatoos...)


sigh...I miss Japanese Girls

meng:(
That's all well and good for you, but let's not start smearing the reputation of all the nation's women just 'cause you ran into some *ahem*'free-spirited' bimbo

[Onara]

Sadly, i'm not a rabid feminist, but Japanese women and their fluffy headed rabbit-like sexual habits really irritate me.
And gross generalizations really irritate me. Put some thought in before picking up that broad brush of yours.

[Onara]

rotating between doraemon or Jayang. (you know, that round blue bear or the bully who runs around beating up nobita).heh


Doraemon isn't a bear--he's a cat! (and a robot cat at that!)

[Onara]

Meng, every word of it is true. it was no co-incidence that i studied sociology and plan to be a journalist.
You'll probably land a job at the New York Times. They like to twist reality to fit the subjective agenda of the moment just as you seem to. They assume their view of the world to be the only legitimate one just as you seem to. They have even made some unfortunate racist decisions just as you seem to.

[Onara]

the daily, annoying, rude and ignorant things.

c
I hate to break the news to ya, but you are those things!

[xvikingx]

Congratulations dumbass. You've managed to pick a fight with someone who has been banned from the forums for about six months now. You surpass your handle in stupidity.

[lucian]

You surpass your handle in stupidity.

haha, and I was just thinking onara = fart ?? ;)

[Onara]

Congratulations dumbass. You've managed to pick a fight with someone who has been banned from the forums for about six months now. You surpass your handle in stupidity.


Not trying to pick a fight, not conducting background checks, just responding to something I hadn't read before. Thanks for the insult though, now I know what level of communication you are at. I'll try to stoop once in a while to make you happy. Got any more pearls of wisdom for me?

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sauer/angry-smiley-009.gif

[Onara]

haha, and I was just thinking onara = fart ?? ;)

Right! A little humor, maybe?

So far all I've encountered here is some insults and bad attitude.



But I'm optimistic!

I need to contribute more myself before I draw too many conclusions, of course.

[SHONEN]

my family were thinking about going to japan, i was gutted when my parents changed it to turky!!!!!!!!!!:ogre: :ogre:

[BrokenShinai]

my family were thinking about going to japan, i was gutted when my parents changed it to turky!!!!!!!!!!:ogre: :ogre:
I live in turkey shonen, it is not that bad;)

[Erikku]

Hey all,
I found the best place to get some sleep for cheap in and around Tokyo. Try to find a Bagus Internet Cafe (there is one in Machida, for sure, and several others in Tokyo). It is a 24-hour Internet Cafe where you can have a good seat for 400 yens an hour. Plus free drinks. Cheaper if you take a cube without a computer (there is some seats with a TV and a VCR...). Plus you get to read manga. Plus free drinks. Now it only lacks a shower. But did I mention free drinks?? Like a full wall of pop, coffee, hot chocolate, slush, juice. Buy some mochi-tsuki on your way in and you've got a complete meal, although my girlfriend wouldn't really agree on the "complete".

[Erikku]

You have to find a place to take a shower though, because I have never sweat like in Japan. And it was January. Why do these guys heat the train and metro seats above 26 degrees (that's Celsius, Webster)?? That was the time I discovered you could sweat from the knees...