Don’t Even Try – Understanding Jealousy in Japan (Part 2)

Some of you may have been scratching your head on my last blog entry. If some people in Japan are so jealous of what others want, and therefore purchase especially expensive brand-name goods, but they don’t want to stand out, how does this make sense? Well, don’t forget my entry a while ago about “Who YOU are.” With the proper “aligning of the stars” certain people in Japan can get away with anything. Take Shintaro Ishihara for example! The man is not just evil, but also incompetent and a world-class blowhard, but millions in Tokyo will vote for him and elect him governor of Tokyo without hesitation. People figure that at his age he has earned the right to do anything and say anything he wants. The same goes for people from various walks of life in Japan. For all of the modest and sincerely hardworking people in Japan, there will always be those poseurs out there who think money, which school they graduated from, and who their parents were, will excuse them from all of the norms that dictate everyday life in Japan.  For the average man and woman in Japan, the worst thing that could happen to them is to be praised. Praise can lead to jealousy and jealousy will make you a target. So, when someone praises them, step one: deny it and then step two: praise the praiser. This is the best way to avoid being hated. As I said a while ago, being the victim is a position of great power in Japan.

Then again, maybe I have no idea what I am talking about and the bottomline is that people just don’t make sense.

Thanks for reading,

GBUJ

A Loaded Question in Japanese: Who are You?

Something that I have learned over my many years in Japan is that introducing yourself the wrong way is often times the kiss of death to a meeting, business or otherwise. Explaining who you are is much more important and much more challenging than many would suspect. Generally speaking, I am not sure if there is even a singular connotation to the word “you” – anata, in Japanese. In Japanese, a self-introduction starts big (as in what part of the country you come from, then which school/university you attended, then your company, then your club activity, then your family name, and lastly your first name) and then gets more and more personal. As most speakers of English would not start to introduce themselves with their nationality, this probably accounts for the thousands of times I (or any other non-Japanese) have been asked where I am from. Even having become integrated into the culture, I can’t do it. But, I am not an idiot either. I do mention my employer, my martial art experience and dan – degree of expertise, and various other “markers” when meeting someone for the first time. For in a way, Japanese are much more aware of social classes than non-Japanese are. All of those markers I mention above also give the Japanese speaker reference points in which to try to find a connection to relate to the speaker. This is often the real reason for the need for so much information when introducing onesself. So, what are the ramifications? Well, even if someone comes to Japan, speaking fluent Japanese, but has no one (or nothing) covering your back, so to say, then the Japanese will see no reason to treat your requests or questions seriously. In my field, I know hundreds of non-Japanese who have been ignored simply because they thought being themselves would be enough. It is probably the single most damaging assumption that a non-Japanese could make when dealing with people in Japan. Take for example Motorola. The company has been in Japan for years, but I will never forget how they got shut out of the mobile phone market way back in 1992. I had a friend working for them and he was saying how NTT (the Japanese phone monopoly at the time) couldn’t compete with the Motorola technology. Whether that is true or not, I don’t know. What I do know is that NTT had the connections in the Japanese government (in other words someone had their back) to stop Motorola’s requests and now all you see is NTT (and a few other Japanese competitors). As for Motorola, the average person in Japan has no idea who they are. They just couldn’t get taken seriously because no one had their back when they were meeting with the powers–that-be in the Japanese government.

In short, when meeting people in Japan, be ready to drop relevant names (places and companies as well as people) and hope that you are seen for who you are and not who you are. You know what I mean?

Oh, and obvious best case scenario? You don’t even introduce yourself. Someone highly respected in the situation/conversation (preferably an older man) does it for you! In which case Japanese ability isn’t even necessary! Go figure.

Thanks for reading,

GBUJ

“Japanese” First and Foremost

An interesting aspect of life in Japan, and something that readers of this blog may have noticed, is that I refer to job titles in Japan or vice versa. What I am intimating at is the adjective “Japanese” takes precedence over everything. There are no liberals, there are Japanese liberals. There are no communists, there are Japanese communists. There are no Catholics, there are Japanese Catholics. There are no athletes, there are Japanese athletes. There are no hospitals, there are Japanese hospitals. And so on…. One would think that being a “homogeneous” society (quotes are added to emphasize the falsehood of this claim) people in Japan wouldn’t need to endlessly stress the “Japaneseness” of everything in Japan. But it is stressed and stressed, again and again. In the business world, there is probably a good reason for this.

In the business world, the use of “Japan” is also widespread. For example, “Mickey D’s” is McDonald’s Japan. You think they would be the same, but you couldn’t be wronger. The menus are customized for the locals, the advertising is completely different, and there are no contests where you can win a million dollars. In fact there are (oddly enough) a number of companies that are out of business (or in trouble) in America that are thriving in Japan. You can go to Tower Records, eat at Sizzler’s, get a donut at Krispy Kreme (you’ll wait for over an hour though!), and evidently the Starbuck’s with the highest daily sales (over $30,000 a day!) is located in Shibuya. Their secret to all of this success? Refer to my previous posting on “pride.” Like I said before, even employees making 6-8 dollars an hour Japan will do things that many in other countries would never.

So, the adjective “Japanese” can have positive connotations, but trust me they are very few when compared with the darker side of the word’s use. Take another of my pet peeves, Japanese baseball. Recently, a number of players have been leaving Japan for greener pastures in the Majors. While some have found success and the rewards that are entailed, many have found it hard going and they are sent packing with a one-way ticket home. So, what is my beef? Well, every year a number of non-Japanese players take a chance on playing in Japan. Some are serious failures, usually because they refuse to learn something new, but many have pretty good seasons. The problem, just “pretty good” is not enough. Many of the non-Japanese will be released after one season while a bunch of Japanese shmucks are kept. What is behind this seemingly illogical situation? Simple, the mediocre are Japanese and the pretty good (if not better) are not. Furthermore, even after proving themselves, non-Japanese with outstanding stats will never be given multi-year contracts. Even high school kids (with a Japanese passport mind you) will get multi-year contracts. Every November it is shocking to me the talent that either leaves Japan or is released and picked up by another team in Japan. Even worse, watching a popular news show on Sunday mornings, it is hard not to scream when two old geezers sit and bad mouth MLB because they cut Japanese players who can’t make the grade. Excuse me?! Every Japanese player I have seen play in America is given a multi-year contract (right off the bat) and if they prove themselves they will be richly rewarded. Maybe someday there will be reciprocity? But the bottom line, it isn’t baseball, it is Japanese baseball. And this rule of thumb applies to just about everything in Japan! And that is a shame!

Thanks for reading,

GBUJ

America, The Land of the Organ?

Well after two positive entries, I thought it was time to share (IMHO) an uglier side of Japan. This entry concerns organs (the ones in humans) and the penchant (?) of people in Japan to go all the way to America for them.

Watching the news the other day, there was some little 11-year-old boy on his way to America for a heart transplant. As usual I was instantly pissed. For those reading this (the one?) you may think I am being heartless or just a plain jerk, but allow me to explain.

Generally speaking, there is no such thing as organ donation in Japan. I guess something in the culture just turns people off from the subject. There are, and have been, various efforts to get people to sign up and have their organs donated and so on, but few in this country will do so. Unlike in the States, there is no such thing as an organ donor box to check on your driver’s license application. Incidentally, one of my best friends does research on drugs that will help fight organ transplant rejection, but so few are done, I kind of wonder why he does the research. Actually, it is ironic that his work has been widely cited and he has even won awards for his efforts (outside Japan) but in our institution, his work isn’t taken very seriously. I guess one way of looking at organs is, you have what you have. Something wrong? That’s a shame, but I won’t help you.

So why I am pissed? Well, every year hundreds of people from Japan make the trip to the States simply to get a new heart, liver, etc…. But I can tell you that I know of very few cases where non-Japanese come to Japan for medical care of any sort, let alone a transplant! Where is the reciprocity? Keep in mind, as I have written previously, that racism towards non-Japanese is pretty common on various levels. But we’ll take your organs to extend our lives. It seems very strange to me. The same goes for surrogate motherhood. Every year infertile couples “use” wombs in America to have children. Japanese women will not do this not even for Japanese people. I guess one explanation for this is a what one friend years ago called a “lower level of consciousness.” Many people don’t feel the need to get “involved” with people they don’t know. Volunteerism is rare and largely unappreciated. Charity? What charity? The amount of money people in Japan donate to charities is quite small and to be honest a joke in light of GNP and the average salary. There just isn’t an awareness of doing something for a higher purpose. In short, there will never be an equivalent of MLK Jr., Gandhi, Mother Teresa, or the like. The only one I know who comes close was a diploamt in WW II in Lithuania (I believe) who is referred to as the “Japanese Schindler” because he helped thousands of Jews escape Nazi persecution. His reward? He was drummed out of the Foreign Ministry and his efforts became well-publicized only after Steven Speilberg’s movie on Oscar Schindler came out. The average person in Japan knows that being different will only get you in trouble. Helping a complete stranger is tantamount to doing something “different” ergo the average person in Japan won’t do a whole lot to help people they don’t know. I think it is fair to call that a “lower level of consciousness.” For all I know, in my lifetime, Japan will continue to use America as the Land of the Organ.

Thanks for reading,

GBUJ

The Most Useful Japanese You’ll Ever Need to Know!

When I first came to Japan in 1991, I soon found a job. Even though the “bubble” had just burst, there was very little trouble finding one. It was a pretty good job, too. The people I worked with were interesting and intelligent and the pay was not that bad considering I was just 22 years old. But what I didn’t know then was that the training we underwent was going to be some of the best I would ever receive in all my years in Japan. In particular the emphasis the company placed on aisatsu – “greetings” would later become a great help in smoothing my acceptance/integration into Japanese society and my current job. In short, if you are going to come to live and work in Japan or even just visit, the following expressions will certainly help you:

1. ohayo gozaimasu - “Good morning” (Also used anytime you enter the workplace for the first time. Of course if you are late for work, skip this!)
2. konnichi wa - “Good afternoon”
3. osaki ni shitsurei shimasu - “I am going home” (Used only in the workplace.)
4. oyasumi nasai - “Good night” (Not really used that often. In fact, I use it only with my family members at home.)
5. otsukaresama deshita – “You must be tired” (The English doesn’t really tell the whole story, but this expression is used after someone finishes work and is returning home. It would be the reply to osaki ni.)
6. ki o tsukete kudasai – “Be careful” (Here, too, the English doesn’t quite fit. But if someone were driving home from work or from visiting my home, I would say this in addition to #3, #4, or#5 above.)
7. gokurosan - “Good job” or “Thanks for the hard work” (This Japanese is mostly used by older men. I started using it about a year ago unconsciously and then I realized I was getting old – it was a sad day!)

Now the following expressions aren’t really aisatsu like above but they are often used IMHO. Using them will certainly make you sound more gentile and refined. I think their usage is very similar to English, but sometimes it can get a little over the top:

1. sumimasen – “Excuse me” (But can also mean “thanks” or “sorry for bothering you.” If someone passed you the soy sauce you could say it and sound very natural.)
2. chotto shitsurei – “Excuse me” (But this would be more likely used when asking someone to get out of your way. I use this everyday!)
3. chotto gomen ne – “Excuse me” (Same as #2 but with more apologetic undertones.)

And I think I will call it a day with the above. But trust me, I use all of them regularly! For example, I must say good morning to at least 30 people every day I come to work. Over the top? Tedious? Then you probably won’t be very successful or liked in this country; it is part of “The Way.” But more on that later!

Thanks for reading,

GBUJ