Massive quake hits Japan; Tsunami in Pacific, nations on alert

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

To Merry White, an anthropology professor at Boston University who studies Japanese culture , the real question is why looting and disorder exist in American society. She attributes it largely to social alienation and class gaps.

"There IS some alienation and indeed some class gaps in Japan too but violence, and taking what belongs to others, are simply not culturally approved or supported," White said in an e-mail.

Orderly disaster reaction in line with deep cultural roots – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs

Only a professor could think up that stupid shit. They use that excuse for the people looting to make it seem ok. The other part of the story is that in the US you get a slap on the hand and in Japan you can spend 3 yrs in jail for just steeling some candy.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Only a professor could think up that stupid shit. They use that excuse for the people looting to make it seem ok. The other part of the story is that in the US you get a slap on the hand and in Japan you can spend 3 yrs in jail for just steeling some candy.

No. The Japanese are just a truly gentle people in their homeland. They don't avoid crime because of criminal penalties - they just don't even think about committing crimes to begin with. I lived in Japan for two years and was struck by how different, in a good way, many Japanese folks are from many American folks. I'll bet many Japanese folks do not know the penalties for theft simply because they have never thought about the reality of stealing.

This difference from many Americans begs the question of why many Americans behave like barbarians in many situations where many Japanese folks would behave gently.

I disagree with the professor because she overlooks something in her thesis: while the Japanese are gentle and civilized in their homeland, they can become very violent abroad. The Rape of Nanjing is just one example of what I am talking about. Violence which is literally unthinkable to Japanese folks in Japan becomes a reality to the same Japanese folks in foreign contexts. Therefore, to me any explanation of why Japanese and American cultures are so different must take into account the neo-Confucian group-think which is part of everyday Japanese life.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Lotus

No. The Japanese are just a truly gentle people in their homeland. They don't avoid crime because of criminal penalties - they just don't even think about committing crimes to begin with. I lived in Japan for two years and was struck by how different, in a good way, many Japanese folks are from many American folks. I'll bet many Japanese folks do not know the penalties for theft simply because they have never thought about the reality of stealing.

This difference from many Americans begs the question of why many Americans behave like barbarians in many situations where many Japanese folks would behave gently.

I disagree with the professor because she overlooks something in her thesis: while the Japanese are gentle and civilized in their homeland, they can become very violent abroad. The Rape of Nanjing is just one example of what I am talking about. Violence which is literally unthinkable to Japanese folks in Japan becomes a reality to the same Japanese folks in foreign contexts. Therefore, to me any explanation of why Japanese and American cultures are so different must take into account the neo-Confucian group-think which is part of everyday Japanese life.

Until all this happened I never realized they have almost daily tremors there... what was that like? Something you just get used to?

And on a totally unrelated note, how's the sushi there?

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Until all this happened I never realized they have almost daily tremors there... what was that like? Something you just get used to?

And on a totally unrelated note, how's the sushi there?

The small tremors are easily overlooked and forgotten. The more midsized tremors are frightening although much less common.

The sushi is so f&^%ing awesome that it is difficult to describe. Totally fresh, full of flavor, melts in your mouth. It is much better than the vast majority of American sushi because most Americans are not the sticklers for freshness that Japanese folks are.

I'll never forget being in a sushi bar with my American girlfriend. I ordered some shrimp. The cook chopped off the head of a live shrimp and placed the rest before me on a plate, body still wiggling. My girlfriend screamed a bit. I relished the totally fresh flavor. Most Japanese sushi is not THAT fresh but the story gives a sense of the emphasis on freshness.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Lotus

The small tremors are easily overlooked and forgotten. The more midsized tremors are frightening although much less common.

The sushi is so f&^%ing awesome that it is difficult to describe. Totally fresh, full of flavor, melts in your mouth. It is much better than the vast majority of American sushi because most Americans are not the sticklers for freshness that Japanese folks are.

I'll never forget being in a sushi bar with my American girlfriend. I ordered some shrimp. The cook chopped off the head of a live shrimp and placed the rest before me on a plate, body still wiggling. My girlfriend screamed a bit. I relished the totally fresh flavor. Most Japanese sushi is not THAT fresh but the story gives a sense of the emphasis on freshness.

Ditto your thoughts on Japan and the people. I felt my only earthquake tremors there....and again agree, the mid-size ones are no fun. I'm not a big fan of sushi, but loved the Udon, had my only shark steak (excellent), and miss the "grill at your table" buffet places. I was there for three years back in 86-88 (Yokota AB), I think you may have mentioned before, but when were you there?

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Ditto your thoughts on Japan and the people. I felt my only earthquake tremors there....and again agree, the mid-size ones are no fun. I'm not a big fan of sushi, but loved the Udon, had my only shark steak (excellent), and miss the "grill at your table" buffet places. I was there for three years back in 86-88 (Yokota AB), I think you may have mentioned before, but when were you there?

I was there roughly at the same time as you (86-87), in Nagoya. At once it seems like a long time ago and seems like yesterday.

[SmootSmack]

Wow!

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