An American to Japan

Hey /anime/. I moved to Japan 2 years ago, and I am currently back at my parents with my wife to introduce her to the family. I am going to take this time off to answer any questions you have about Japan. I used to go here back in early 05, and I'm surprised how much it has grown!

This is a continuation from /a/, but I am used to text-boards a little bit more due to 2ch. I will check this whenever I can!

Sup

>>2
How is your life in Japan going? How long have you lived there?

>>1 ID:rIpIJObA
>>3 ID:rIpIJObA

:O

Hah, people don't know about text boards.

people use text boards?

gay

Did you play the vidya gayms?

>>3
About a year.

It's fairly normal, nothing really special. I just kinda like how no one kills each other and that I don't have to worry about politics. Pay is fair, taxes are fair(I'm an engineer).

Japan's social engineering of simple things like trains and recycling make it a great place.

>>8
Yes, it is really great to not have to turn on the news to some bombing of soldiers every single day.

The engineering in Japan really is a step ahead of most other places.

So we have a dentist and an engineer? And I thought Americans in Japan were all English teachers.

>>2
Also, we haven't forgotten about those Megatokyo doujinshis. When it actually comes out in Japan, you know what you must do.

So

are you an esper/time-traveler/alien?

or more importantly do you understand what I am talking about?

What kind of engineer? I'm a civil, myself.

>>9
It is. I'm great friends with everyone at my workplace. The devotion to engineering brings everyone together.

I don't like Shinzo Abe trying to restore pride through strength. He needs to realize that the strong point of Japan is how peaceful it is.

Just take my word from my ID if you doubt I am the OP.

>>11
Isn't that from the anime Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu?

Did you vote in that election a few days ago?

>>11
Duh.

>>10
Most English teachers are nerds/faggots/shy guys who think asian girls are some cakewalk.
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the MT doujins. I will do my duty for anon.

>>12
Electrical.

>>14
Yes it is.

So, are you?

Also, a real question: If I do the sleazy thing and become an English teacher living in Japan, will hawt loli's fall in love with me?

>>13
'Strength'=War in my opinion, or at least a premonition to it.

Does your daughter get teased for having a foreign father? And does she watch Pretty Cure?

>>17
Just don't. All english teachers are, to be blunt, idiot otaku in comparison to someone still in middle school.

>>18
Yeah, that's the only real conceivable way to make yourself "noticed" in the international sense.

Like why North Korea keeps firing missiles into the ocean.

>>17
See >>16. So I guess odds are low.

Another dream crushed.

>>20
But

I AM an idiot Otaku. Wouldn't I fit right in?

>>19
She does not get teased. Some of the kids are amazed by me actually, it is very funny.

>>23
No. Japan does not like the American english teachers.

>>24 lol

"Wow check it out! a Gaijin!"

I'm Canadian. Will they still not like me? I didn't nuke them. I'll wear a maple leaf pin so they don't get confused.

>>25
They won't be able to tell.

>>24
I think he meant fit in with other otakus. Sort of, but most of the otakus in Japan are friends from school and have no interest in making American ones.

Japan likes students, and workers, but definitely not those teachers, hahaha

>>25
I lol'd at "didn't nuke them"

That's why I mentioned the maple leaf pin

Like, I'll get a big one that you can't possibly fail to notice

>>27
Oh alright.

You are right, and yes, the teachers are NOT wanted.

Japan hates all teachers or just English teachers?

Do Japanese people equate gaijin with Americans? Your average European can look a lot like an American, physically.

>>31
English

>>32
If you are white of skin, you are a gaijin. If you aren't JAPANESE, you are a gaijin.

do the just hate white people or all nonjapanese people?

>>33
Sorry, I phrased that incorrectly. What I meant is, do they assume that all white people = Americans?

How do I find monies without being an English teacher?

So, like even if I wear a big honkin' red Maple Leaf on my chest, are they still gonna hate me?

because i can hate Americans just as much as they can

and if they're tiny little country ever gets too overcrowded or down on resources, my country has a fuckton of space and water and wood and shit that we are eager to share

they should remember that

and not remember the internment camps during WW2 :)

I wonder how they'd react to an Asian born in America, and then visiting.

>>36
Major in something worthwhile or learn a skill.

>>34
They don't hate. They are just unfamiliar and therefore somewhat unfriendly. BTW, this isn't the majority, either. Most Japanese don't really care, and will still do whatever they do for normal people. Example; Capitalism destroys discrimination when your priority is to get as much money as possible.

>>37
Ooooh. That water and wood sounds mighty tempting.

If the news isn't about bombings, rape, and the stock market, what do they play?

This premise of a peaceful country confuses and intrigues me. I wish to know more.

>>37
Keep writing these, giving me great lulz. Nothing wrong with having Canadian pride, but they might flinch a bit at an American display.

>>38
Probably normally.

>>39
I laugh at all the people who major in Japanese just to GO TO JAPAN.

how much japanese learning did you do?

Hey, whats the public Transit system like? How much is bus fare? How common are trains? My friend visited Tokyo for 2 weeks and said that you can take a train across the country for the equivalent of around 10 U.S. Dollars, is this true?

Thanks

>>40
We know you want it, Yankee.

and we also know that eventually, you're gonna come to take it.

We have a secret plan ready for when that day comes

it's called "surrender immediately"

also, what was the hugest (cultural) shock you got? is there anything important you feel is worth sharing?

Hey OP, where did you stay? I went all over Japan, and living costs are absurdley high,

>>46
You sir, are a comic genius.

>>45
When I went there, I saw the bullet train was 25$ one way to downtown. I don't remember what the reduced fares were, but I'm guessing its the low tech trains?

>>47
That anime and manga isn't as huge as you'd think. You will be extremely surprised. It's bigger than in America (of course), but everyone doesn't talk about it 24/7.

Also, I feel it to be nicer due to the fact that I know that I am not in a country where Bush is president. It is a nice weight off of your shoulders to not hear about the Iraq war 24/7.

The culture is another shock, as you can't really say you know it unless you go to Japan and experience it.

TV isn't all WaCkY Japanese stuff, it is the same as America (their TV seems pretty crazy now actually haha [I am wanting to just go wwwwwww]). There is more anime and some other random things, but it is just TV.

More if I think of it, I am very used to Japan now.

>>49
Yes, yes, telling jokes and laughing is all we Canadians can do to avoid freezing to death in our igloos

so one gets pretty good at it eventually

also 50GET

>>52
50GET failed :(

>>48
I was lucky enough to have a very cheap apartment, but I had money saved from working part-time during college for the 8 years I was in college, so I actually went out and bought a small house (after securing my job of course).

>>53
Something more farmilliar, GETs!

Impressive. You seem to be well off.When I was there, I had to skip quite a few meals to have enough money to survive,

I am also very used to Japan. I suppose the biggest culture shock to me was the lack of trash bins, anywhere. And how it was relatively clean.

Living costs aren't high if you know where to look and if you make a steady salary(engineering again, haha)

Trains are very cheap here. You can get commuter passes if you work or go to school at a certain place, and you save tons of money. Also Shinkansen is cheap(for how far you travel), and you can get to Kyoto easily.

Learn Japanese before you come, or else you will be lost a lot of the time. Not everything is in English.

Did you go to japan on the intent of becoming a dentist?

>>56
Yeah, but my parents helped me through with college for awhile, so I was extremely lucky to be able to save some of my part-time money. Great parents is a large plus to moving-- be sure to always love them.

>>57
Agreed about how clean it is. I do see a few dirty places, but it is overall much more clean than America.

I use a commuter pass myself.

If you don't know Japanese and you move there, you will be scared and lost. I was afraid for awhile when I first moved there, and almost thought about moving back, but I had to toughen up and go finish what I had started. Learning japanese in America and speaking it in Japan are two TOTALLY different things.

>>58
That was my job plan, yes.

>>60
Engineers don't have so many hurdles to go over... hahaha

all right, i'm starving and need some food, so i'll catch you all later.

>>59

What is the expirence of speaking Japanese in Japan like? like it was a waste of time to learn it here- or?

>>61
See you later!

>>62
Interesting question. You need to learn it in America primarily, you have to learn it SOMETIME.

It is the interaction and dialects that are hard. You have to get used to the way an AUTHENTIC speaker speaks, not a tape or some anime.

>>64
what type of experience did you get to learn it? Also the internet... I heard its 100MB/s for 20$ Y/N (if n what is it?)

>>65
College and home studies. The internet is extremely useful, as well as books.

The internet is cheap, but it depends on the plan. That seems a little overblown, but it is cheap. I don't really pay a large attention to all the plans, sorry.

alright this is an easy one, whats the weather like right now? and also, did you have to change the foods you eat drastically from when you were over here still?

>>67
It's sunny where I am, but keep in mind I am in America visiting my parents with my wife.

The food was more or less the same, but there are many different choices. A lot of it is good, so branching out is great. Food in McDonalds will taste different from it's Japan counterpart. Still, there is food I am used to.

Whats your Hair color? I'm bright blonde, what kind of impact does that have on people there? Or do they just not even care?

>>69
Mine is naturally near-black, or DARK DARK DARK brown. If your hair is blonde, people will probably realize that you are a foreigner quicker. I can't really say, sorry.

I am a white girl of the female persuasion. (Yes, I know, no girls on 4chan, but since this is a text board I do not have the tits option.) Do you think the harassment of gaijin is worse for women than for men? I'm a bit worried about that when I plan to visit. (For the record, I'm very pale with blue eyes, so extremely gaijin.)

Have you visited places besides Japan? I plan on going there as a soldier. Do they have any stigmas against soldiers?

>>71
Not quite. You are a girl, so you might get hit on or something of that sort, but they probably don't even expect you to know what they are saying. I'd say that you should just go for it.

>>72
America of course and also the UK. They really don't hate soldiers, but if you are going out casually, be sure not to say AMERICA FOREVER to everyone.

is it difficult to obtain a visa for japan?  I assume you applied for a worker's visa, but do you know anything about applying for a student visa?

Holy shit. A thread on the text boards getting this many posts within two hours?

This is unheard of!!

I wish it happened more often too. Text boards actually provide real conversation opposed to just poastan piktuars and commenting on them.

>>75
I like textboards, but no one else does.

>>76
There's four other people that like text boards too! ('A` )

So, wheres op?

>>78
Probably banging his wife.

Most likely busy with his active life unlike the rest of us. So textboard user... hello... How often are there posts here?

>>80

1     An American to Japan     80     3 Aug 2007 01:31
2     Gunslinger Girl redhead     2     3 Aug 2007 01:16
3     [MANGA UPLOAD] COMIC BOMBER     23     3 Aug 2007 00:13
4     らき☆すた     3     2 Aug 2007 23:54
5     anime that makes you cry?     10     2 Aug 2007 23:05
6     Desu?     4     2 Aug 2007 22:19
7     4chan r pervs     3     2 Aug 2007 21:19
8     bird folks     10     2 Aug 2007 20:13
9     Yuri Anime     4     2 Aug 2007 19:49
10     Lucky Star     9     2 Aug 2007 16:27
11     name this anime     23     2 Aug 2007 15:43
12     [Porno] Hentae     4     2 Aug 2007 14:03
13     Recommend me an Anime     40     2 Aug 2007 13:43
14     Full Moon wo Sagashite     2     2 Aug 2007 13:40
15     Looking for music themed anime     14     2 Aug 2007 12:33
16     That old animu...     7     2 Aug 2007 12:33
17     Building a better anime series     21     2 Aug 2007 12:31
18     Which anime does this logo come from?     9     2 Aug 2007 12:30
19     Which anime should go real life?     9     2 Aug 2007 12:28
20     Long running manga/anime you read/watch     5     2 Aug 2007 12:27
21     new anime     11     2 Aug 2007 12:27
22     I like Konata     158     2 Aug 2007 12:25
23     Where can I find Dragon Ball manga?     1     2 Aug 2007 12:08
24     OMG I found Kira!!!     3     2 Aug 2007 11:12
25     Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann     4     2 Aug 2007 10:53
26     I tend to dislike comedies     4     2 Aug 2007 01:03
27     NARUTO SUCKS     24     2 Aug 2007 00:58
28     Looking for a (Good for Everyone) Hentai Vid     4     1 Aug 2007 22:39
29     Bible black     4     1 Aug 2007 22:27
30     Lucky Star     8     1 Aug 2007 20:31
31     iM LOOKING FOR THIS HENTAI MANGA     11     1 Aug 2007 16:55
32     Free Online Manga     1     1 Aug 2007 13:04
33     Transformers Unicron Medley     2     1 Aug 2007 06:41
34     this anime vengence     2     31 Jul 2007 23:07
35     I need good anime site     4     31 Jul 2007 22:29
36     !!!!!BestSite!!!!     1     31 Jul 2007 15:53
37     Luv in Nihon     10     31 Jul 2007 13:33
38     !!!!!!!!!!!     2     31 Jul 2007 13:15
39     Hellsing Petition     10     31 Jul 2007 02:30
40     Hellsing Ultimate     1     30 Jul 2007 16:02

I guess it takes a interesting topic to make people come here.

>>81
Thanks, fiGL0nTM
Did you see the epic thread yesterday on Japanese?

>>82
It's because of everyone from /a/.

>>83
No I did not :(

Enjoy your long copypasta.
Lucky I had this shit cached, might be hard to read though. Hope you have east asian languages installed...
http://www.mediafire.com/?9bdz1453lus

>>85
Oh that thread. I remember that.

:( Oh well. Semi epic?

Did either of you guys living in Japan ever get a chance to go viewing the cheery blossom trees?
That sounds ssooo dreamy.

>>88
I'm back, and I did get to do that last year. It wasn't "ssooo dreamy", but it was fun (I got drunk with some of my friends from work). Many people were passed out under the trees.

Test

Hows the traffic? Is it really congested there?

>>91
It's fine. I don't drive, I use public transportation, but it's pretty low.

IN AMERICA

Racism in Japan. Tell us about it.

I have been learning Japanese for a few years now and will probably minor or double major in it along with Computer Science. Do you think I would ever be able to get a job there working as a programmer? I know there are an almost infinite number of doujin game makers and software development companies but would they hire a gaijin who speaks Japanese fluently?

>>95
No, they wouldn't. Don't count on it. If you want to work in Japan, you'd better have some skill that noone else has. Teach a language that is uncommon for example.

Like Spanish or English?

I can't think of a language right now...but you are probably lucky if you're from a country that has a very low percentage of Japanese speakers. Doing translations and stuff should be good enough for an allowance.

>An American to Japan

The thread title doesn't make any sense.

100GET

>>99
AMERICAN IS PIG DISGUSTING

How many Mexicans did you see?