WTF Japan?

[clear_tranquil]

I want to first start this entry off by saying that I truly am fascinated by Japan. I love learning about the Japanese culture, both their traditions and their advancements in modern technology. With that said, I got a used copy of Shadow Hearts: From the New World and I must say: WTF Japan?! Is this what the Japanese think the US looks like? What

Comments

[ageha_ya]

Heh, boy I wish I could see your reaction to Japan were you able to visit. XD That said, the do, sometimes, have some pretty wild ideas about us. How much of what's reflected in the game you mentioned is how the general population feels, I can't really say...

..but hey, a taxi driver commented to a friend of mine that he was surprised that foreigners got colds just like Japanese people, so....(remember, however, that this is out in the Japanese countryside ;p).

[clear_tranquil]

Well I guess most of it comes from the fact that Japan is still a fairly isolated country. There may be a good amount of non Japanese people living in the country, but it's no where close to being the melting pot that the US and many other western countries are. So, some of the ignorance they may have towards other cultures is somewhat understandable. But still, the developers, story planners, script writers, etc. could have done more research.

But that aside, their portrayals of gays is what really REALLY upsets me. They could learn a lesson from some recent movies and tv shows from the US, the UK, and Australia (though, here in the US positive depictions of gays and lesbians in entertainment is becoming less and less after having such great strides a couple years ago. But that's an entirely different topic.)

[caffeinatedjedi]

Sometimes I think people don't bother to research things properly because it would mean changing their beliefs, and hey, changing your beliefs is hard. I've met people who build their identities around beliefs they haven't examined that closely--and I'm not just talking about religion and politics--and therefore reject any evidence to the contrary. I can't say I completely understand this, but sometimes you just can't convince people to leave the safe little bubble they've created for themselves.

...but I don't know how to explain things like Meg's anecdote about the taxi driver. (I guess it explains how the game developers could be so misinformed, though.) Foreigners don't get colds? Really? As ignorant as some Americans can be, I don't think anyone would suggest that people from other races/cultures aren't vulnerable to illnesses that affect all humans.

[clear_tranquil]

Well, there are people even here in the US who are ignorant enough to believe that a disease or a virus is only able to affect one group of people. Some people still believe that only gay people can contract AIDS or be HIV positive. There are some who even believe it to be a cure for homosexuality.

Although, believing that Americans are immune to the common cold is very far fetched.

[caffeinatedjedi]

...what.

Maybe I'm just lucky I've never had to deal with extreme ignorance, then? I mean, I was shocked by people who assumed that I'm an exchange student or that my first language is anything other than English. Aside from some asshole kid in kindergarten, I didn't encounter that sort of thing until I was 20 or so.

[caffeinatedjedi]

Oops, that was me. Forgot to log in.