Becoming Japanese

[Neferti]

How the world would benefit by turning Japanese

HAVING just returned from my second visit to Japan, I’m struck by the vast differences between them and us.

I was in Japan with my boyfriend to see Boston rock band Extreme (everyone knows their biggest hit, More Than Words) and I asked the drummer what they enjoyed most about touring there. It’s their kindness, he said, and if everyone acted a little more like the Japanese the world would be a better place.

I feel as though I’ve left a country which has perfected humanity; a society of people who are helpful, giving, self-aware, respectful and innovative — qualities which unfortunately are disappearing in Australia.

So here are some things we and indeed the rest of the world can, and should, learn from Japan.

More here:
http://www.news.com.au/travel/world-tra ... 0f987bde65

I have a Japanese email friend and we have been corresponding for about 20 years.

[Black Orchid]

I have a friend who moved to Japan a couple of years ago and they hassled and hassled him to do a tv commercial. He finally relented and now he is a 'star' and they can't get enough of him

[AiA in Atlanta]

After 16 years in Japan I found that article just the kind a newbie to the country would write.

[Neferti]

After 16 years in Japan I found that article just the kind a newbie to the country would write.

I know. I was just trying to post some new Off Topic content to encourage "discussion".

I used to write to a Canadian guy in Vancouver, BC (until he died in 2011) who was a former Canadian Newspaper Editor and he lived in Tokyo for 20+ years, his 2 kids were born there. So I have discussed Japan and life there in the past.

My current Japanese epal is retired now but worked as a Translator for a German company in Tokyo and every so often I would get an email asking for my advice about an English word, sentence or whatever. He was born in Japan. He has a daughter who is studying in Finland for a year ... how she can understand Finnish (she does speak English as well as her native Japanese) I don't know. It isn't an easy language. I have Finnish friends.

[AiA in Atlanta]

i could go back to Japan. maybe i will. but i have no enthusiasm for it.

[Neferti]

I have never been to Japan but my former husband lived there for 6 months when studying Judo .... many many moons ago. Japan looks pretty at Cherry Blossom time.

[skippy]

I'm going to go on a holiday there next year. My son is crazy about all things Japanese. He does karate, has done for seven years ( half his life) so he wants to go to Okinawa. He loves Japanese anime, he loves Japanese computer games. He loves Japanese food.

[Black Orchid]

My oldest plans on going in January to snowboard.

[AiA in Atlanta]

news from japan is weird. that is why i follow it:

Japanese suicide pensioner blows himself up in park, injures three others


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuter ... --NHK.html