Reflection: The People of Japan

I'm starting to worry about my flight.  My friends are out having goodbye parties, probably with booze.  And the whole SOPA issue seems to be going poorly.  Life has a lot of worries for me lately.  However, I've decided that instead of just sitting and sulking, I should do something constructive.

I had planned to start my reflections on my trip after I actually got back, but I figure now is as good a time as any to start.  Before I begin, however, I don't want people to misconstrue me.  These are not meant to be hard facts or anything like that, merely observations that I have made about Japan and her people.  These are from my experiences and I want to educate future travelers and others who have an interest in Japan through them.  So, with that set, let me talk about the Japanese people.

The Japanese people are an odd bunch, at least they seemed that way to someone like me.  For starters, they are largely contained within a separate bubble from others.  People on the train, people walking, biking, or just out, even those at my school all seemed to keep to themselves.  Listening to music, playing games, or just doing their own thing.  They value privacy and personal space.  And are a bit shy.  This is especially true when meeting foreigners, as they can be a bit intimidating and obviously stand out in a crowd.  Even children heading to cram school or traveling alone seem in their own little world.

Do not let this be misconstrued, however, that the Japanese are rude.  They are unfailingly polite.  Store clerks of all varieties, teachers, students, almost everyone, will say hello, or good morning, greet you, thank you for anything you've done, it is really shocking, actually.  Going into a store and having everyone working there welcome you, help you, and thank you for shopping with such earnest endearment is charming.  Street vendors are especially welcoming and grateful, often shouting their thanks for all to hear.  They still maintain personal space and privacy, but are very gracious people.

Do not let this be taken that there are not problems with Japan, however.  More than once I have been given the blank look of someone exasperated with, annoyed with, or just confused by the stupid foreigner.  Friends of mine have told stories of being bad mouthed or even assaulted by the elderly, and there was even an attempt at sexual assault during my stay that was, thankfully, unsuccessful, but still unsettling.  Much of this can be chocked up to a few bad apples, as the Japanese look poorly on misconduct of any kind, but it should be noted that Japan is not a paragon of politeness and safety.  They try, but there will always be risks and frustrations.

A personal frustration on my part is how distant even close friends can be.  The Japanese value their personal space so much that they are often shocked or uncomfortable when hugs are due or when people want to be close.  It is starkly different from the west in that aspect.  Though, my college wasn't the best example of this, as at Kansai Gaidai, the college students were cutting loose a bit, after having killed themselves just getting in.  But, when I wanted to say goodbye to friends or comfort them, I had to do so at a distance.

Japanese girls in particular are very genki, or energetic.  Though they need to rest and sleep a great deal in the middle of the day, like many Japanese as they work very very hard, whenever they rise they are full of energy and can even make a tired fogey like me get off his butt and sing, dance, and party.  Speaking of high energy, there are only a few things I've noticed that Japanese people get genuinely excited about.  Education and festivals.

Teachers in Japan do their very best to make classes fun and to encourage teamwork and engaged learning as a group.  Though the exams and homework are often very hard, the classes themselves are very high energy, often filled with laughter and joking.  Students share this enthusiasm, working hard in their classes and going the extra mile in school events.  Sports days or cultural festivals are full of people doing their best to try and make the event a spectacular success.  Just today, I saw a group of students campaigning for something school related with great energy and vigor.  Education really captures the hearts and imaginations of the Japanese in my mind.  Though, at times I think it goes too far, as with the cram schools and exam hells which often exhaust and depress even the most genki of students.

Despite their shyness, Japanese people who open up to others or who become friends with others are very happy to help them.  They are reliable and friendly, going out of their way to make their friends feel happy and welcoming.  I greatly appreciated this during my time in Japan.  Though, because they study so much themselves, they have to limit what they do to an extent.

I think that about covers all my experiences with Japanese people.  While there can be some bad apples, due to age or drunkenness or what have you, most Japanese are very polite and great people to be around.  They might not always understand what you're trying to say, as fewer Japanese than people think speak English, but they always try to help or understand.  I will probably miss being welcomed and thanked in stores the most, because it brings out a great feeling of mutual appreciation in people.  They thank me and I thank them for being so polite and welcoming.  The Japanese can be very genki, even if they are a bit closed off and private.

I would not say they are better or worse than people in the West or in any other country in Asia.  All I know is that I was impressed by them.  By their warmth, their politeness, and their self sufficient and energetic nature.

To those who think they might want to travel in Japan, I recommend making Japanese friends as they are kind and often make you feel happy to just be alive, especially the girls.  Be wary of those who might cause trouble, but on the whole, the Japanese are very polite and trustworthy, dare I say, honorable, people.  If ever you drop your wallet or leave a key or glove behind, expect a cashier or even a customer at the same store to pick it up and return it to you, with the money still in it.

The Japanese truly are an amazing people.  I just wish they wouldn't kill themselves on exams.