The flight to Japan was a nightmare, so many of us were very anxious about the ride home. The morning proved more difficult than I was expecting. Not having any Kakehashi responsibilities the next day, I stayed up pretty late the night before. I finally decided to stay in instead of exploring Tokyo. My feet were pounding from the constant exploration and my wallet was empty from the constant consumerism, so staying in seemed like an admirable choice. I had to pack my bags, anyway. Needless to say, I didn't get my bags packed that night so I had to do it quickly in the morning before we left. I had been dreading this moment since before we even left the states. How was I going to get all of the stuff that I bought into the same bag as all my clothes? Turns out it was easier than I thought. I was never good at Tetris, but I can fit seemingly random sized items together in a suit case pretty damn well.
We all met in the lobby for the last time. People were taking pictures and exchanging numbers with new friends. I think most of us were ready to go home, but although I was tired and missed America I wasn't satisfied yet. I wanted to stay. There was so much more I wanted to see and do! Instead, I was to board another overcrowded plane with over 12 hours to kill. This time however, I had 9 days worth of new experiences to stir in. There were so many things that needed to be put into perspective, with coinciding emotions to sort through as well. One thing was certain: I wanted to return. I don't know by what means or for what purpose, but I knew there was something out there for me. I would continue my Japanese language studies, that was a given, but now I know exactly what to improve to make everyday life in Japan go more smoothly.
The ride home didn't feel as constricted and unbearable. Maybe it was because we all had a 10 day ice breaker to get to know each other, or perhaps it was that we were all expecting the flight to be a nightmare. They say that psychologically the ride home always feels like it goes by faster than the ride there. There's science and math behind it I'm sure, but I don't have to check the data to tell you that every time I do long interstate drives or flights the ride back really does feel like it goes by quicker. This flight felt like 6 hours instead of 12.
Arriving back in the states, it was time to go through customs again. The difference between going through customs in the U.S. and going through customs in Japan is stark. In Japan it was very quiet. The line moved in an orderly fashion, and Japanese workers nearly killed themselves trying to get everybody taken care of. The customs agents were very approachable, calm and courteous. In the States customs was a zoo. It was loud; not quite deafening, but you certainly didn't feel the need to speak in a hushed whisper to be polite.
The customs officer who checked me in was the typical alpha male shaved head with a badge douche bag. He asked me all the pertinent questions, but with a snarky cop-like attitude. I seem like a harmless individual. In reality I am, and today my looks allowed me to avoid a pat down. Hooray for me! We were on our way to a connecting flight back to Charlotte, and although I wanted more time in Japan at this point I was deathly tired. I didn't sleep on the flight from Tokyo, and our connecting flight would only be a little over an hour so getting home and getting some rest would be a welcomed respite.
Little did I know that when I finally did get sleep, it would be a 17 hour body battery recharge. In those 17 hours, I intermittently dreamed about being back in Tokyo. Although I was back home, my mind was still in the Far East.
Conclusion
10 days in Japan just wasn't enough. I've had about 2 weeks back home
to decompress and sort out my experiences abroad, and the bottom line is that
it was far too appealing for its own good. Its clear now that I chose the right
foreign language to study, as if I had any doubt prior to this trip.
My view on Japan really wasn't changed in any way. I think I knew what to expect, (I have been studying Japanese language and culture for the past year, after all) and seeing everything first hand really only solidified all the notions I had about this nation and its culture. The Japanese culture is pretty specific, intertwined with the language and its people were as courteous and helpful as I imagined they would be.
Its hard to pinpoint U.S. experiences as to compare them to Japanese ones. We had many discussions on this trip about Japanese culture, comparing it to our own culture back in the U.S. The popular opinion was that there is no defined U.S. culture; we're just a hodgepodge of other cultures all brought together in the melting pot. Of course, I had to be the one to disagree with popular sentiment. I argued that the U.S. does have a defined culture, and it is this: do everything big, and to excess. Everything we do needs to be huge. Our food, our sports, our cities, our movies and especially our bills. When using this as your point of view, its easy to compare the typical U.S. experience to the typical Japanese experience. Our itinerary had us take part in more traditional Japanese activities than you can shake a stick at, so comparison between the two should be easy. The first thing that is most apparent is the food and food portions. Let's use McDonald's as the example here, the most American food possible but done with a Japanese twist. First of all, the fries and drink that came with my meal weren't gigantic. They would be considered small here in the states, but in Japan its the norm. You aren't automatically given something you may not be prepared to finish. (this was also the case in all the meals we ate over these 10 days: the food portions weren't over the top) Second, the burger I ate wasn't greasy and flat. It seemed like it was actually prepared well to engage the consumer's maximum satisfaction.
And here's where things get interesting: America is known for its rabid consumerism, correct? If that's the case, then why do I feel like I was treated better as a consumer in Japan than I ever have been here in America? Japanese shops and eateries really make sure you're getting what you want and given to you in the most fashionable way possible. American Capitalism has gotten to the point where the businesses just want your money in the moment, and don't seem to care about getting your return business. (I say this as a general statement that is true for larger corporations, whereas small businesses in the states break their backs to get you to return to them) The largest convenience store chain in Japan, 7-11, offers food that is presentable and appetizing. You know, food that actually looks edible? Not something that's been churning on a hot rack since last week.
We had a lot of help from our tour guide Okada-san throughout our tour of Tokyo and Osaka. He was incredibly knowledgeable about every place we visited and obscenely punctual. The Japanese are incredibly punctual regardless, but Okada-san really drove that point home for us. Do they even have snooze buttons in Japan? I certainly didn't see any.
We were a good group of students, with most of us arriving on time every day. I can't blame Alice for being routinely late, she had layers and layers of makeup to put on so she could look presentable. But joking aside, its evident that Japanese leadership is helped along by a culture of people who have far more respect for their elders than the culture I was raised in. Personally, I have plenty of respect for my parents at home, bosses at work and leaders in general. Its tough being in a leadership role, so the last thing that leaders need are subordinates that don't give a crap about them. But Japanese culture is infused with respect for those older than you. They know no other way. I'm sure they go through rebellious periods just like we do, we're all human after all, but I bet they feel much more guilt about it than our spoiled younger generation does here at home.
At a higher level, it seems as though on average Japanese leadership has more respect for its base than our leaders do here in America. American politicians put most of their effort into getting elected, then kind of coast off of their own popularity through however long their term might be. Its all about appeasing the masses, gently stroking their attitudes with promises about how much better life will be once you're elected. After being sworn into office however, most of those promises turn out to be empty and things usually don't get done. Just look at our crumbling infrastructure. Parts of major cities are falling apart, not because we don't have enough money to get them repaired, but usually because those in office need to satisfy themselves or their lobby before satisfying the people. Not all American politicians are without a sense of morality, but it sure seems like a hell of a lot of them are. I wouldn't exactly call our current Congress's obstructionist views and refusal to work with the President to further progress appropriate behavior, would you? Regrettably, that's been the truth of life in Washington over the last 6 years.
Japanese politicians, though? All about helping those that got them elected. Look at the bullet trains criss-crossing the country. Why don't we have them here in America? Because people like the Koch brothers pay millions of dollars every year to ensure that politicians keep the masses paying over $3 for a gallon of gas to drive across the country instead of allowing companies to build common sense transportation that's faster, more efficient, and better for the environment.
Look, I'm not an expert on this by any means and certainly not well versed in Japanese politics. I am however incredibly talented at observing human behavior, and the way people act can tell you a lot about how they feel. If I had to boil it down I'd do it like this: the masses in the U.S. are like a herd of sheep, fearful and ignorant of the world around them. The masses in Japan are intelligent and courteous, helping the people in power so they can work together to make the place in which they live better for everybody. Why do you think Tokyo is so clean? There's a hefty amount of personal responsibility required for that to occur, and when the people do their part it makes the jobs of those in leadership that much easier. Hell, just look at the Japanese congressmen that got us into the martial arts competition on Day 6. He went out of his way to make sure that us foreigners not only experienced part of Japan's rich traditional culture, but also had lots of fun in the process. Now that's how leadership needs to function; doing something thoughtful and nice for the people on your own dime and time. Well done, Japan. Well done.
My view on Japan really wasn't changed in any way. I think I knew what to expect, (I have been studying Japanese language and culture for the past year, after all) and seeing everything first hand really only solidified all the notions I had about this nation and its culture. The Japanese culture is pretty specific, intertwined with the language and its people were as courteous and helpful as I imagined they would be.
Its hard to pinpoint U.S. experiences as to compare them to Japanese ones. We had many discussions on this trip about Japanese culture, comparing it to our own culture back in the U.S. The popular opinion was that there is no defined U.S. culture; we're just a hodgepodge of other cultures all brought together in the melting pot. Of course, I had to be the one to disagree with popular sentiment. I argued that the U.S. does have a defined culture, and it is this: do everything big, and to excess. Everything we do needs to be huge. Our food, our sports, our cities, our movies and especially our bills. When using this as your point of view, its easy to compare the typical U.S. experience to the typical Japanese experience. Our itinerary had us take part in more traditional Japanese activities than you can shake a stick at, so comparison between the two should be easy. The first thing that is most apparent is the food and food portions. Let's use McDonald's as the example here, the most American food possible but done with a Japanese twist. First of all, the fries and drink that came with my meal weren't gigantic. They would be considered small here in the states, but in Japan its the norm. You aren't automatically given something you may not be prepared to finish. (this was also the case in all the meals we ate over these 10 days: the food portions weren't over the top) Second, the burger I ate wasn't greasy and flat. It seemed like it was actually prepared well to engage the consumer's maximum satisfaction.
And here's where things get interesting: America is known for its rabid consumerism, correct? If that's the case, then why do I feel like I was treated better as a consumer in Japan than I ever have been here in America? Japanese shops and eateries really make sure you're getting what you want and given to you in the most fashionable way possible. American Capitalism has gotten to the point where the businesses just want your money in the moment, and don't seem to care about getting your return business. (I say this as a general statement that is true for larger corporations, whereas small businesses in the states break their backs to get you to return to them) The largest convenience store chain in Japan, 7-11, offers food that is presentable and appetizing. You know, food that actually looks edible? Not something that's been churning on a hot rack since last week.
We had a lot of help from our tour guide Okada-san throughout our tour of Tokyo and Osaka. He was incredibly knowledgeable about every place we visited and obscenely punctual. The Japanese are incredibly punctual regardless, but Okada-san really drove that point home for us. Do they even have snooze buttons in Japan? I certainly didn't see any.
We were a good group of students, with most of us arriving on time every day. I can't blame Alice for being routinely late, she had layers and layers of makeup to put on so she could look presentable. But joking aside, its evident that Japanese leadership is helped along by a culture of people who have far more respect for their elders than the culture I was raised in. Personally, I have plenty of respect for my parents at home, bosses at work and leaders in general. Its tough being in a leadership role, so the last thing that leaders need are subordinates that don't give a crap about them. But Japanese culture is infused with respect for those older than you. They know no other way. I'm sure they go through rebellious periods just like we do, we're all human after all, but I bet they feel much more guilt about it than our spoiled younger generation does here at home.
At a higher level, it seems as though on average Japanese leadership has more respect for its base than our leaders do here in America. American politicians put most of their effort into getting elected, then kind of coast off of their own popularity through however long their term might be. Its all about appeasing the masses, gently stroking their attitudes with promises about how much better life will be once you're elected. After being sworn into office however, most of those promises turn out to be empty and things usually don't get done. Just look at our crumbling infrastructure. Parts of major cities are falling apart, not because we don't have enough money to get them repaired, but usually because those in office need to satisfy themselves or their lobby before satisfying the people. Not all American politicians are without a sense of morality, but it sure seems like a hell of a lot of them are. I wouldn't exactly call our current Congress's obstructionist views and refusal to work with the President to further progress appropriate behavior, would you? Regrettably, that's been the truth of life in Washington over the last 6 years.
Japanese politicians, though? All about helping those that got them elected. Look at the bullet trains criss-crossing the country. Why don't we have them here in America? Because people like the Koch brothers pay millions of dollars every year to ensure that politicians keep the masses paying over $3 for a gallon of gas to drive across the country instead of allowing companies to build common sense transportation that's faster, more efficient, and better for the environment.
Look, I'm not an expert on this by any means and certainly not well versed in Japanese politics. I am however incredibly talented at observing human behavior, and the way people act can tell you a lot about how they feel. If I had to boil it down I'd do it like this: the masses in the U.S. are like a herd of sheep, fearful and ignorant of the world around them. The masses in Japan are intelligent and courteous, helping the people in power so they can work together to make the place in which they live better for everybody. Why do you think Tokyo is so clean? There's a hefty amount of personal responsibility required for that to occur, and when the people do their part it makes the jobs of those in leadership that much easier. Hell, just look at the Japanese congressmen that got us into the martial arts competition on Day 6. He went out of his way to make sure that us foreigners not only experienced part of Japan's rich traditional culture, but also had lots of fun in the process. Now that's how leadership needs to function; doing something thoughtful and nice for the people on your own dime and time. Well done, Japan. Well done.
Last night, I was looking over a postcard that I got while
in Tokyo. It had a map of Japan, listing all the major cities across the country. Nagasaki, Hiroshima,
Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hakone, Kamakura, Tokyo, Sapporo...as I poured over this seemingly simple graphic, it
made me realize how much of Japan remains unexplored to me. So much to see, and so much
to do...there are even many more corners of Tokyo to explore! The experiences I had on this trip were amazing and I'll
remember them for the rest of my life, but there was a feeling of constraint
throughout. My favorite moments were when I was on my own, exploring, learning
and growing as a person. That made me randy to get out and see the rest of this
great country under my own terms.
So where do I go from here? Heh, that's an easy one. I return. As quickly and for as long as possible. Studying abroad isn't just an option now: its a goal. There is another Odyssey to experience, but next time I'm determined not to look and act like a gaijin. I've been initiated, and now I want more.
So where do I go from here? Heh, that's an easy one. I return. As quickly and for as long as possible. Studying abroad isn't just an option now: its a goal. There is another Odyssey to experience, but next time I'm determined not to look and act like a gaijin. I've been initiated, and now I want more.
I will now end this with a
list of things that we need in America:
1. Smart Toilets
WE ARE THE RICHEST
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. WHERE ARE OUR FUTURE
TOILETS?
90% of the toilets I encountered in Japan had a side panel that controlled a whole slew of
different things on the toilet. A seat warmer, deodorizer, bidet, and butt
sprayer were all located right on a convenient side panel. There were also
options for controlling the water pressure. So...why don't we have these here? Us fat Americans would
destroy them, that's why. I can only imagine the typical 200+ pound man
spraying the remnants of the previous night's Taco Bell all over these pristine
devices. Plumbers would work overtime just trying to learn the technical specs
of how to fix the side panels after our stubby fingers get nacho cheese and
Budweiser all over them.
But seriously, as one who suffers with an unpredictable bowel disease, the prospect of using foreign toilets was intimidating. I had no cause for worry, however. The smart toilets of the future made using rest rooms in public easier than using the one I've got at home!
But seriously, as one who suffers with an unpredictable bowel disease, the prospect of using foreign toilets was intimidating. I had no cause for worry, however. The smart toilets of the future made using rest rooms in public easier than using the one I've got at home!
2. Smart Soda Cans
Its no secret that Americans like soda; we drink 44 gallons of the sugary fizz every year.
So where are our smart soda cans? They keep the soda fresh over a longer period
of time after initially opening it.
I got a Coke that came in one of these smart cans at the Shinkansen station in Tokyo. After arriving in Osaka over 3 hours later my soda still made that 'hissss' sound every time I opened it, just like it was new. It tasted new every time, too! So why aren't these common in the America? Is it our propensity to litter? Or perhaps our reluctance to recycle? C'mon Coke, step it up in your homeland!
I got a Coke that came in one of these smart cans at the Shinkansen station in Tokyo. After arriving in Osaka over 3 hours later my soda still made that 'hissss' sound every time I opened it, just like it was new. It tasted new every time, too! So why aren't these common in the America? Is it our propensity to litter? Or perhaps our reluctance to recycle? C'mon Coke, step it up in your homeland!
3. Bullet Trains
I've already ranted
about this quite a bit throughout this piece, so I'll try to keep my thoughts
to a minimum here. I just think its a little silly that our country is so big
and yet we rely on the transportation of the 19th century to get us across it.
The MTA needs an upgrade, and what a better way to take it to
the next level than installing just a single cross-country bullet train? Or
shit, why not a smaller one connecting NY to Washington D.C.? Baby steps America, baby steps.
Our ultimate goal should be NY to LA. We need to put more people to work, right? Why not decrease the jobless rate by installing just one bullet train? I don't know, it just seems like common sense to me. (which probably explains why Americans haven't adopted it yet)
Our ultimate goal should be NY to LA. We need to put more people to work, right? Why not decrease the jobless rate by installing just one bullet train? I don't know, it just seems like common sense to me. (which probably explains why Americans haven't adopted it yet)
4. Gachapon
Capsule machines. These things are out in force all
over Japan, and the toys and knick knacks they contain aren't
shitty, either. They're quality. (and at $1 or $2 a pop, they'd better be!) We
love wasting our money on infantile trinkets here in the states, so where are
all our gachapon?
Well, we do have them but ours suck. Always put the bottom dollar before the consumer, right? As long as you get some extra pocket change who cares how your patron feels? Well, there seem to be a bunch of outside factors keeping us from installing an army of capsule machines in front of every Wal-Mart and Harris Teeter. The first is the currency. The Japanese have a very cash based culture, and it certainly helps when your dollar is a coin. Its easier to spend $2 in a capsule machine by putting in two coins, not 8. Who's walking around with 8 quarters in their pocket, anyway? Hobos, and they hate gachapon.
Another reason is that I believe there's a bigger market for gachapon in Japan. The target audience for capsule machines here in the States are children, usually up to 10 years old. Gachapon in Japan is aimed at older people, mostly teenagers. You know, the anime and gaming crowd. I think there are a lot more people willing to spend a dollar or two on a random toy than there are here...but I could be wrong. It's happened once or twice.
Well, we do have them but ours suck. Always put the bottom dollar before the consumer, right? As long as you get some extra pocket change who cares how your patron feels? Well, there seem to be a bunch of outside factors keeping us from installing an army of capsule machines in front of every Wal-Mart and Harris Teeter. The first is the currency. The Japanese have a very cash based culture, and it certainly helps when your dollar is a coin. Its easier to spend $2 in a capsule machine by putting in two coins, not 8. Who's walking around with 8 quarters in their pocket, anyway? Hobos, and they hate gachapon.
Another reason is that I believe there's a bigger market for gachapon in Japan. The target audience for capsule machines here in the States are children, usually up to 10 years old. Gachapon in Japan is aimed at older people, mostly teenagers. You know, the anime and gaming crowd. I think there are a lot more people willing to spend a dollar or two on a random toy than there are here...but I could be wrong. It's happened once or twice.
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