Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles I would say one of the things is the convenience people very much keep to themselves Japanese people are real hard workers being an artist There's so many things happening here caring more about the group harmony than caring about maybe the single person in it Sometimes people can't be as flexible throws a gigantic because some people are so fixed on certain traditions Hierarchy in Japan is a big things that is actually the foreigners not allowed places Hey guys, this is Cathy cat and today we're gonna talk about the things I love and hate about Japan There are so many things I love about Japan, I mean that's why I'm here So it's really hard to start with something But since I'm already holding this drink here, I would say one of the things is the convenience in Japan. It's incredible How much Japanese people have worked and how many intelligent people have made de life here a lot more convenient This is also a thing that many Japanese people will say about their own culture There is like vending machines in every corner in winter. You can get a hot coffee out of a vending machine My family was absolutely excited to see that the convenience stores in Tokyo opened 24 hours and in other parts of the country as well There's quite a lot of things I just tailored towards making life more easier in Japan and more convenient in Japan and a couple of things that when I go back to Germany I kind of miss like in the middle of winter heat of toilet seats are a brilliant invention stuff like that You kind of would miss sooner or later I mean, of course you can live without it. But if you got used to it, it's really hard to sometimes let it go Yes One of the things I really love here in Japan is that people very much keep to themselves. There is a big Live-and-let-live kind of mentality even if people don't like especially what you're doing or maybe don't agree with it No one will rub it into your faces so one of the things is this stranger would never just randomly come up to you and like Tell you their opinion on what you're wearing your choice of fashion This is the thing that really puzzled me in Europe in Japan people. Just they see you. They noticed you but they won't like Really really steer or come up to you and say like, why do you dress like that? I think you shouldn't dress like that They don't wash their opinions on other people and they just let you be and I really really appreciate that Especially with my kind of fashion Japanese people are real hard workers that kind of thought of gambit ISM about trying your Very best is one thing. I really inspired me. Nothing in the end. It brought me here For example one of my classmates when I did an exchange here He was not only learning on - really late at night for his university entrance exams He was also at the same time teaching himself to instruments while also having a school clock running There's so many things he was doing in one week and I was really highly motivated and impressed how hard some Japanese people Will work to just get the most out of their lives make the most with their lives and just experience their lives I found that really really inspiring What many people say that they love about Japan and not also counts for me is that the opportunities here are great So if you are a person who tries really hard Who's inspired to do things you can actually have more opportunities to do that here? For example in Japanese fashion and expression being an artist. There's so many things happening here. I've seen lots of downtown theaters So just like on the lower floor under like another store or just people saying yes I started my own brand or I'm exhibiting things Lots of people are making loads of things happen here, and I don't think it's maybe easier than it might be in your country But they're just more opportunities here and people are taking these Opportunities trying to make a change and trying to push what they really want to do So something people will have a full time job and still have a really cool hobby. I found that super inspiring But to be honest the thing I love the most about Japan Is on a much deeper level in a way and when I feel here in Japan is because Japanese Culture is a wee culture another my culture meaning it's caring more about the group harmony And I'm caring about maybe the single person in it I find that so many things work here that wouldn't work in other countries and I really really love that idea My example that usually give as five people meet and for example in Europe, it'd be the one who has the strongest character Who shouts the loudest saying? I want to go to the cinema and everyone just goes like I didn't really wanna go we went they'll be okay. Everyone just goes But in Japan is a different way. In Japan five people will come together and everyone will say "What do you want to do?" I mean once one person wants to go to the cinema really quiet and shy person want to maybe go and do go to a cafe and stuff like that and people will try to find a group harmony and Say hey, how about okay, we could go to the cinema but how about afterwards we go to that cafe that she wants to go to or we go to the cafe and make some we Go to the cinema because you've already watched it recently stuff like that people Just look at what after the group harmony and sometimes people won't say very hurtful things to other people In order to just keep up the group harmony I think in Germany we were very direct and will sometimes say things that maybe we just Shouldn't say or just maybe look after each other a little bit more And I think that thought of just caring more about the group harmony than just about yourself Is the thing that we can all learn something from of course? everything has its plus and minus and some people will not look out for others, but Generally the idea of looking out for each other is the thing What makes Tokyo run so well here because people look out for the other person even in the crowded trains We have a system that works and I think without this Tokyo wouldn't work the way we see it now The customer service in Japan is absolutely amazing But sometimes what I have realized and some of my friends have realized here, sometimes people can't be as flexible So for example in America it's okay to can I have this dish without this but instead of this with that and I change it around with that and people We're like, oh it's fine as the kitchen Well in many places in Japan It doesn't work like that certain things come as a set and you can't change anything in it Even though it's maybe them just taking an item or switching it for something It doesn't work like that. Now if you use to that culture, it's a very it's been impractical. I mean, it's the Psychology the sales rack dilemma One of my friends saw an item in a store the next time she came in it was on sale so she wanted to get that item and Try it on first and they said no you can't because it's on the sales rack and she was like, yes But I could have tried it on last week when it was on the sales rack. So can I just try it on it? They were like no because now it's on the say lipstick and the argument She just kept repeating is it's a sales item and that's why you can't try it on so she wasn't being able to flex about That so she asked the manager and says why can I not try on items that are on the sales rack and her answer was? Because it's on the sales rack. So some things are not as flexible as they might be just be prepared for that It's sometimes a little bit inconvenient. But apart from that customer service here is pretty great The nature here in Japan is a lot different to the nature in Europe For example, which means there are typhoons there earthquakes. There's tsunamis that quite a lot of natural disasters Also the insects here are huge compared to Europe. This is the whole thing So I'm not used to even the crows a gigantic and I understand that certain things are different But sometimes I'll just be absolutely scared apparently in Tokyo You are always close to some kind of roach somewhere because a lot of roaches out because people put that garbage out In front of their places just in a plastic garbage bag the crows open it the roaches eat it This is the only thing I'm just like a little bit freaked out about that. I Don't particularly like and I'm up. So do you freaked out and scared by the roaches because they're really big and Really intelligent and yeah Yes Japan is a culture of Traditions and I think thanks to those traditions We still have some really valuable aspects of Japanese culture that haven't been removed by the new culture But you know the new area which is great and I'm grateful for that However, because some people are so fixed on certain traditions We sometimes don't have things that I wish we had a little bit more of like equality issues glass less of the glass ceiling and Also just late LBT LGBT inclusion certain things like that There's some things that are still a couple of years behind for example compared to you Europe in such a case And it's a little bit of a shame, but I know The times are changing some things are changing already right now But sometimes I just I just wish we had a little bit more of these things to make a lot of people a lot happier Hierarchy in Japan is a big thing So there's the whole senpai kohai? How you react to? The person was over you the persons under you and I think due to that we have some very great things. For example That the same pie looks out after the kohai so they might for example If someone joins the company they pay them a meal they help them out. That is really great. But um Everything in culture always has a plus and a minus side and I find sometimes what I see is that the hierarchy in certain? situations especially business situations is So far away that new people young people who come into your company of great ideas. They can't really voice them they can't really bring them up because the higher Generation the older generation doesn't quite understand it or the younger Generation is not in the position yet to voice such ideas and I think that is such a shame because I think with the connection between younger and older people on people of different hierarchies We could make so many more things happen in Japan We could create so many cool things and I know their companies We're not trying to break this up and trying to change that patent So, like I said, they're really good things about hierarchy in Japan but sometimes I feel some people suffer from Being on the bad side of the hierarchy and not being able to do what they really want and voice your opinions and ideas So I think Japan will hopefully change that a little bit So it's a little bit easier for everyone No matter if you just start out or if you've been in something for a long time to do that I know that we need the feature of the higher-ups of the people have more experience than us totally and agree with that But sometimes I think if it's just a hierarchy thing and you can't say certain things. It's a shame we can make it better To be honest, the first 4 points is something a I can still live with you know, I know that times are changing However, this special one is one that I'm really Personally sad about that I have cried about because it's upset me so much and that is actually the foreigners Not allowed places and what I mean like there are if you look for apartments You will get turned down at many apartments if you are a foreigner And it's makes me so sad I've seen perfect apartments where I really wanted to live and a real estate agent called them and they were like Oh you are you free, and they were like, yes, we're looking for tenants And then it turns out that they just don't accept me because I'm a foreigner It doesn't matter how well your Japanese skill is it doesn't matter how long you've lived in Japan? They'll just see foreigner and they straight turn you down. And that makes me really sad. I know there are reasons for that but It's just one thing that I hope will change because You know, you're foreigners are really trying to make a change in here trying to you know Be good tenants and do all of that and it'd be nice if what Japanese people give them a chance to do that I mean, it's the older generation who might still have negative views about having a tenant who is a foreigner so I hope that will change but um Yeah, does one of the things I love personally has upset me quite a lot and hope that will change But I love living in Japan it's a great adventure And before you come to Japan or if you intend to live in Japan maybe make yourself aware of the things that are negative every any Culture every culture has plus and minus points to it and you just need to find out if your priorities Much with that culture and that country because you will sooner or later have to adapt to certain Cultural standards that are in the country. So I hope you learned something I hope you enjoy the sweetie, please please leave a like it makes a big change for us as youtubers and I'll say if you new don't forget to subscribe because we bring you stuff from Tokyo every Week to give out in whichever country. All right. Hope you enjoyed this. This is me being real honest So I hope you leave some nice comments down below about what you love and hate either about Japan or maybe your culture What is great about your culture? What is not so great about your culture? Let us know. Let's be honest with each other. I Because I hope I catch you soon for more staff on Japanese
A2 people culture japanese hierarchy harmony japanese people Things LOVE & HATE in Japan 46 2 Summer posted on 2020/06/08 More Share Save Report Video vocabulary