How not to hate the natives Part Six

The worst book I have ever read about Japan, Shutting Out the Sun, has more or less made up for the dental work I need from gnashing my teeth while reading it, by reminding me of another way to deal with living abroad without the irritation that the writer of the book obviously couldn’t keep down. The trick is, to take the criticism that you read, hear or that pops into your head, and see if you can’t replace the world “Italians” (to choose one random example of a nationality you might find infuriating) with any other group of people, such as some or even all other nationalities. Let’s all try this trickwith some opinions about Japan from that book, shall we:

- The Japanese government had to use public money to bail out financial institutions

- The Japanese government protects domestic companies from competition until forced to change

- Only a small percentage of Japanese companies are internationally competitive

- The Japanese government was caught out by the end of the financial bubble

- People who start up small companies that go against vested interests like low cost airlines feel like the system is against them

- In Japan, geniuses are often considered to be weirdoes

- The Japanese government do not copy the American economic model both to save the public from its side effects and to keep the elite in place

- Some Japanese families are unhappy, and that can lead to screwed up kids

-Young people in Japan are looking round for new values because they don’t accept those of their parents. This process can be difficult

- Japanese mothers are upset and lacking purpose when their children no longer depend on them and leave home

- The Japanese is so slow to accept new medical disorders and social problems that people suffering from it and their parents are forced to start pressure groups and support groups

- Some very intelligent and sensitive people have trouble fitting into Japanese society and find escape by shutting themselves away in their rooms, immersing themselves in a fantasy world or a hobby, or leaving the country

- Some young Japanese are unhappy due to bullying due to being different, pressure from parents and teachers to succeed, claustrophobic nuclear families, apathy, lack of goals, doubts about the society they live in, being a spoiled only child, Most young Japanese don’t understand that individualism includes individual responsibility

-Modern Japanese suburbs are drab, characterless places without a sense of community

If that hasn’t lessened your irritation, you can find How Not to Hate the Natives Parts One to Five with the search function above.

My own irritation at this book was so bracing, I gave it a blog all of its own- Shutting Down the Bullshit- the anti- Shutting Down the Sun blog.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 pmand is filed under Cultural differences/ cultural training, Culture shock. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.