8 ms·

That’s all well and good but IMO this isn’t inspiring any confidence. Japanese companies make some incredible tech that never finds its way off the showroom flo

That’s all well and good but IMO this isn’t inspiring any confidence. Japanese companies make some incredible tech that never finds its way off the showroom floor. And worse, There’s little interest in marketing their technologies to foreign firms. I wish there was more in this plan to attract foreign talent, and offer easier access to investment for individual entrepreneurs.

redis_mlc 5y ago
1) Japan doesn't want foreigners. 2) Their central bank owns everything, hence their stock market is frozen.
warent 5y ago
Agreed. From my perspective, the Japanese are so hostile to foreigners/immigrants that it's borderline xenophobia. I'm not seeing a way forward for them as a technological power again until they first address some of their social issues. It's like someone wanting to become a marathon runner while refusing to quit smoking cigarettes.
- jvanderbot 5y ago
  A native-Japanese-turned-US-citizen colleague once told me that career advancement is slow, because you pay dues with time, not accomplishments. Also, family matters in business. So, if we apply that one bit of knowledge I have, I can imagine newcomers from overseas are not pushed against because they are from another country, they might just chafe the traditions. Culture clash. He works in the US for that reason.
- blacktriangle 5y ago
  You say that as if both the US and Europe aren't having some pretty massive downsides from their immigration policies.
  - keewee7 5y ago
    There is a difference between skilled and unskilled immigration. There is little opposition to skilled (or educated) immigration in Europe.
  - rejectedandsad 5y ago
    The US is notably the most immigrant-friendly country in the world*, and has been since 1965. Birthright citizenship is unheard of in most of the world, but it's a constitutional right in America. Even skilled workers have a fair shot in America, but I do personally think it should be easier and more flexible than the H1B system we have today. More immigrants of all kinds are good for this country. *recent president notwithstanding
    - dukeyukey 5y ago
      > Birthright citizenship is unheard of in most of the world Well, unless you're almost anywhere in the New World [1]. > The US is notably the most immigrant-friendly country in the world I wouldn't necessarily disagree, but countries like Canada and Australia give the US a run for their money. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jus_soli#/media/File:Jus_soli_world.svg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jus_soli#/media/File:Jus_soli_...
      - rejectedandsad 5y ago
        You’re correct, I do think Canada is going to continue to be a major competitor in this regard. They do have a lot of our advantages here with a more skills-focused immigration policy.
    - MrBuddyCasino 5y ago
      > More immigrants of all kinds are good for this country. The way a discussion works is you are supporting something like the above sentence with arguments.
    - Rd6n6 5y ago
      I know somebody who was highly skilled who spent years trying to get permanent residency in the USA, but gave up, moved to Canada, and got it almost immediately.
- runawaybottle 5y ago
  So, what are you saying, Japanese over abstract their society? That sounds about right actually. You’ll never beat the pragmatism of Americans.
- neither_color 5y ago
  Compared to what other Asian technological power? Japan at least has a pathway to citizenship for foreigners, China does not. In China if you're Elon Musk you might get an offer of permanent residence or if you're well-connected to the party, but regardless they are not a nation of immigrants(their words, not mine) and they're doing fine.
  - robjan 5y ago
    It's not impossible for a foreigner to become a Chinese citizen but for most people it's not particularly attractive because you have to renounce your original citizenship. Since the passport isn't particularly strong at the moment that would mean you most likely need to go through an annoying visa process just to visit your home country.
  - grillvogel 5y ago
    >Japan at least has a pathway to citizenship for foreigners pretty sure that is not true, unless you are of japanese descent. you can get permanent residency but not citizenship
    - laurieg 5y ago
      There is a pathway to citizenship. It requires over 5 years of residency and relinquishing other citizenships (among other conditions). Many myths around obtaining Japanese citizenship persist online. This site offers some good rebuttals. https://www.turning-japanese.info/p/misinfo.html?m=1 https://www.turning-japanese.info/p/misinfo.html?m=1
    - koilke 5y ago
      About ten years? The Minister of Justice may permit the naturalization of an alien notwithstanding that the alien does not fulfill the condition set forth in item (1) of paragraph 1 of the last preceding Article, provided that the said alien falls under any one of the following items, and is presently domiciled in Japan: (1) One who has had a domicile or residence in Japan for three consecutive years or more and who is the child of a person who was a Japanese national (excluding a child by adoption); (2) One who was born in Japan and who has had a domicile or residence in Japan for three consecutive years or more, or whose father or mother (excluding father and mother by adoption) was born in Japan; (3) One who has had a residence in Japan for ten consecutive years or more. http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/information/tnl-01.html http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/information/tnl-01.html
- maccolgan 5y ago
  I don't think it's reasonable to look at every country's society and demand a US-style society
  - alephnan 5y ago
    Yesterday I learned about the case of Michael P. Fay that left a strain on US-Singapore relations. Michael Fay was an American who was sentenced to caning by the Singaporean court. The United States felt this practice archaic. One of Singapore's senior ministers responded: "If you like it this way, that is your problem. But, that is not the path we choose"
    - xxpor 5y ago
      It's kind of silly considering it was the British that introduced the practice in the first place. It's not like it's some ancient tradition.
    - hn_throwaway_99 5y ago
      FWIW, I remember this case well when it was in the news, and saying it "left a strain on US-Singapore relations" is a bit of a stretch. Most importantly, there were plenty of Americans, I'd bet a majority, that agreed with Singapore. Not necessarily that we want caning in the US, but more that this boy didn't deserve any special treatment just because he was American. To me it felt like the media (and, in fairness, the boy's parents) were really trying to play this up because it had the elements of a good story.
    - soperj 5y ago
      The entire world feels that the imperial system is archaic, isn't going to change anything in the U.S.
  - deltaonefour 5y ago
    It's hard for people in the US to completely respect this. Just look at US attitudes towards China. From our perspective some of the things China does are Atrocious, but from the Chinese perspective it's just normal enforcement of rules from a central regime for the betterment of society. Essentially US cultural standards mark certain behaviors as horrible in the same way Muslim countries think women wearing a bikini is a crime. Very hard to change the way we think and arguably maybe we shouldn't change the way we think.
- alephnan 5y ago
  > I'm not seeing a way forward for them as a technological power again until they first address some of their social issues Japan closed its borders for a period of 214 years known as Sakoku 鎖国. The collapse of the Shogunate was because Samurais lived off tax revenue on farmers, while the wealthy merchants ( who were the the lowest in the class system) were not directly taxed because commerce was viewed as an immoral activity. After World War II, Japan became insular and focused on improving domestically, and almost became the superpower. I don't think they care about being the financial superpower if it means having to give up the very thing which makes them great ( tradition ). It's a very American ideal / virtue to treat financial wealth as the ultimate goal ( ironically not necessarily the highest standard of living ). Modern China on the hand is more willing to import ideas. That said, during the Meiji restoration where Japan rapidly industrialized, one of the mottos was 'western technology, Japanese spirit'. Covid-19 has barred out foreigners which means less tourist revenue, but my impression is that tourist revenue was a 'nice to have' since they're here anyways. Only a small minority of business owners in Kyoto have indicated to me they actively want tourists back. Japan's preservation of its tradition and culture is two faceted. Unfortunately, you can't pick and choose the things you think is backwards about Japan while admiring their tradition. It's a bundle.
  - neither_color 5y ago
    It's important to note that part of what contributed to Sakoku was overzealous missionaries destabilizing Japanese society. Makes you wonder if there is a modern equivalent overzealous belief system in the west that has caused country after country to to fall into revolution and disarray. Christianity and the two colonial powers it was most strongly associated with were seen as genuine threats by the Tokugawa bakuf... Religious challenges to central authority were taken seriously by the bakufu as ecclesiastical challenges by armed Buddhist monks were common during the sengoku period. The Empress Meishō (1624–96) also had grave doubts when she heard about how the Spanish and Portuguese were settling in the New World, and thought that Japan would soon become one of the many countries in their possession. Protestant English and Dutch traders reinforced this perception by accusing the Spanish and Portuguese missionaries of spreading the religion systematically, as part of a claimed policy of culturally dominating and colonizing Asian countries. The Dutch and English were generally seen by the Japanese to be able to separate religion and trade, while their Iberian counterparts were looked upon with much suspicion. The Dutch, eager to take over trade from the Spanish and Portuguese, had no problems reinforcing this view. The number of Christians in Japan had been steadily rising due to the efforts of missionaries, such as Francis Xavier and daimyō converts. The direct trigger which is said to have spurred the imposition of sakoku was the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637–38, an uprising of 40,000 mostly Christian peasants.
- tjpnz 5y ago
  >the Japanese are so hostile to foreigners/immigrants that it's borderline xenophobia. That's not been my experience over the previous six years I've lived here. Initially I had a company sponsor me for a work visa but I've now got two relatively straightforward paths towards PR if I want it. Locals have been very accommodating and have bent over backwards to help me integrate into this society - that even includes the older generations.
  - alephnan 5y ago
    > that even includes the older generations. I've personally found the older people to be the most friendly. That was one of the biggest surprises. Not sure how much of that is older people just being happier in general. This could totally be biased as the older people I interact with are either in a service role, or a wealthier traveler, which may be more friendly than the general population. It's refreshing to see other foreigners not feel bitter about Japan. The subreddit of foreigners in Japan feels like a cesspool of people with this dogmatic view that Japan isn't like their home country
    - tjpnz 5y ago
      >Not sure how much of that is older people just being happier in general. That's the vibe I've been getting which did come as a surprise. I think the movies I watched (both Hollywood and Japanese) do a disservice to them - especially the ojiisan's.
    - spike021 5y ago
      It's been a mix for me. One time I accidentally lost my paper ticket for the metro before I had gotten a Suica, and an older gentleman hanging out with friends near the ticket gates went and bought a new ticket outside for me to put into the reader so it'd let me out. On the other hand, I've met a plethora of young people who've become friends I meet and stay in touch with.
      - alephnan 5y ago
        You can be friends with old people too :p
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- spike021 5y ago
  >the Japanese are so hostile to foreigners/immigrants that it's borderline xenophobia Have you ever actually visited Japan? If so, how do you usually behave? I'm white and haven't really had a single negative experience. I've also made several friends who are incredibly friendly, keep in touch, etc. When I've been lost, random Japanese citizens, not even government officials, have helped me find my way, even taking me over a block away from where they were to make sure I found what I was looking for. Occasionally there are glances and stares but I'd definitely not classify that as "hostile".
  - blinzy 5y ago
    Not the person you replied to but I've been to Japan twice, with different people, each for a month across Honshu/Kyushu and can definitely say there's a duality in how they behave towards foreigners... On one hand, as you mention, we experienced lots of acts of politeness, as I would put it, e.g., being helped to find some location as in your example, being helped to understand some menu dishes when I couldn't decipher them (I had at most intermediate level of Japanese), being bowed to upon entering hotels, ryokans, etc. On the other hand, we also experienced straight up nasty behaviour, e.g., someone standing up and leaving the train wagon when we sat next to him (and then reentering through the next door and sitting far away from us), being forbidden from entering a bar because of being foreigners (despite the fact I can speak Japanese, not great admittedly, but more than sufficient to order, pay, etc.). When talking with people from my country settled there the common negative theme is "you'll never be accepted/treated as one of them".
    - spike021 5y ago
      >On the other hand, we also experienced straight up nasty behaviour, e.g., someone standing up and leaving the train wagon when we sat next to him (and then reentering through the next door and sitting far away from us), being forbidden from entering a bar because of being foreigners (despite the fact I can speak Japanese, not great admittedly, but more than sufficient to order, pay, etc.). Sure, I observed some of these things and didn't always feel comfortable about it. But I wouldn't consider them hostile. The way I was told, some of the things about bars not allowing foreigners is more that they get booked for post-work drinking parties. Maybe that's not always the real explanation, but I realized it wasn't a big deal. If you're in a large city like Tokyo, Sapporo, or Kyoto, there are bars and restaurants everywhere, just move on to the next one. As far as people coming and going out of trains or not sitting next to you, yeah, I had that happen. But I'd be lying if I said I've never observed or even done the same thing here in the US.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- falsaberN1 5y ago
  My experience, and that of my colleagues, has been the opposite, and I'm a walking mess of a man when not at work. I have made very high quality friendships with Japanese people and the average Joe isn't any more racist than people in the US, I'd dare say they are a lot less racist than people was in Spain. They dislike illegal immigrants like most countries do, and tourists that think Japan is like an anime and they can go around groping waitresses or making a spectacle in the middle of busy crossroads. Anything else you can think of is nothing the general populace partakes into, blame who you need to blame. It's like saying every Chinese person is in line with the CPP's interests, that's nonsense. I never understood why Japan of all places is so demonized online. It's far, FAR from a perfect country, but most people just do their non-outrageous, boring life things. There are no used panties vending machines littering the streets, not everyone is obsessed with cute things, there are no child wives everywhere and there are no game shows where guys fuck their female relatives. With every other country there are at least people calling this stuff out, but when it's Japan everyone just accepts the fabricated or misunderstood article at face value and goes "oh Japan you are so wacky/xenophobic" or even "Two nukes weren't enough" (I swear this comes up more often than it's comfortable, I'm not making this up). If anything I get the impression that people is very racist against Japan.
  - Barrin92 5y ago
    I've worked in Asia and I know quite a few foreigners who worked in Japan and the country is still very xenophobic. It is still common for say, landlords to flatout not rent out to foreigners. I've heard numbers like 20%-30% thrown around. There's also still "Japanese only" bars, sometimes with that literal sign on the door. You'd be very hard pressed to find that attitude even among very nativist Europeans or Americans. Japan also still virtually has no legal protection against this kind of stuff, discrimination of that type is often not being prevented. That said a lot of the younger Japanese don't share these attitudes. Large cities are more diverse than they were 20 years ago.
    - falsaberN1 5y ago
      I don't know, I was very foreigner and I stick out like a sore thumb (you could probably spot me from satellite photos in a busy street), and I had absolutely no issues finding rent, banking and all other services outside of obtuse language. Other English speakers I met around never had issues with it either, including other Asians and even people of color (who you'd think would be affected a lot, but Japan's actual racism is very targeted to their neighbors, not unlike everywhere else I've been at). It seems to me nobody has any problem with you if you make a minimal attempt at speaking using Japanese (most of them don't understand English at all and that puts them "on the spot", and while you can find some who are adept at Spanish and Italian and other languages you'd never expect, by raw statistics you aren't going to meet one of those in the streets if you are asking for directions or something). They seem to be pretty reasonable about it if you suck or make mistakes, but they seem to really value the effort. About the bars, I never pried too much, but I was told it was Yakuza hangouts and I probably don't want to go in there anyway. I don't think locals are welcomed either. Not sure if they were messing with me or not, but to be honest they didn't look like a place I would have fun into if I was magically accepted. None of the actually fun places seemed to have an issue having me or my colleagues as patrons. I have far more people checking me out while shopping like if I was a shoplifter, giving me weird looks, troubling me with paperwork and rent, trying to charge me more in restaurants or shops, and generally making me feel unwelcomed when I am in Spain. And I was born there! (I did lose the accent and I don't look very "typical" so they think I'm British or American).
jvanderbot 5y ago
I sure do love my Ryobi tools. They have a hobby-user engineering and price point, and features for people who are bad with tools, like myself. Some plastic makes it light / cheap. Brushed motors because of the lighter workload. Plenty of guide lights that you don't find on Dewalt. Half the price. Hell, the Toyota Tundra is one of the best loved pickups around. It feels like a Ryobi pickup: For the light workload, probably urban, non-career-hauler.
- coopsmoss 5y ago
  I'm pretty sure Ryobi just licenses their name, and the tools are designed/made by Hong Kong's Techtronics. I don't think you can even buy Ryobi tools in Japan.
  - fomine3 5y ago
    I don't know other countries situation, but Ryobi's tools are widely available in Japan, along with Makita, Hikoki. It seems that the tools dept and brand on Ryobi in Japan is sold to Kyocera.
keewee7 5y ago
>Japanese companies make some incredible tech that never finds its way off the showroom floor Japanese tech does find its way into industrial robotics and CNC.
_edd 5y ago
I've had the opposite experience with one of the largest ISPs in Japan. We were supposed to have a lucrative deal between both companies but our side fucked up. Instead of a polished working product, it didn't pass basic tests by their engineers. Nonetheless, we were given a few opportunities to remedy the problem.

redis_mlc 5y ago

1) Japan doesn't want foreigners. 2) Their central bank owns everything, hence their stock market is frozen.

warent 5y ago

Agreed. From my perspective, the Japanese are so hostile to foreigners/immigrants that it's borderline xenophobia. I'm not seeing a way forward for them as a technological power again until they first address some of their social issues. It's like someone wanting to become a marathon runner while refusing to quit smoking cigarettes.

jvanderbot 5y ago
A native-Japanese-turned-US-citizen colleague once told me that career advancement is slow, because you pay dues with time, not accomplishments. Also, family matters in business. So, if we apply that one bit of knowledge I have, I can imagine newcomers from overseas are not pushed against because they are from another country, they might just chafe the traditions. Culture clash. He works in the US for that reason.
blacktriangle 5y ago
You say that as if both the US and Europe aren't having some pretty massive downsides from their immigration policies.
- keewee7 5y ago
  There is a difference between skilled and unskilled immigration. There is little opposition to skilled (or educated) immigration in Europe.
- rejectedandsad 5y ago
  The US is notably the most immigrant-friendly country in the world*, and has been since 1965. Birthright citizenship is unheard of in most of the world, but it's a constitutional right in America. Even skilled workers have a fair shot in America, but I do personally think it should be easier and more flexible than the H1B system we have today. More immigrants of all kinds are good for this country. *recent president notwithstanding
  - dukeyukey 5y ago
    > Birthright citizenship is unheard of in most of the world Well, unless you're almost anywhere in the New World [1]. > The US is notably the most immigrant-friendly country in the world I wouldn't necessarily disagree, but countries like Canada and Australia give the US a run for their money. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jus_soli#/media/File:Jus_soli_world.svg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jus_soli#/media/File:Jus_soli_...
    - rejectedandsad 5y ago
      You’re correct, I do think Canada is going to continue to be a major competitor in this regard. They do have a lot of our advantages here with a more skills-focused immigration policy.
  - MrBuddyCasino 5y ago
    > More immigrants of all kinds are good for this country. The way a discussion works is you are supporting something like the above sentence with arguments.
  - Rd6n6 5y ago
    I know somebody who was highly skilled who spent years trying to get permanent residency in the USA, but gave up, moved to Canada, and got it almost immediately.
runawaybottle 5y ago
So, what are you saying, Japanese over abstract their society? That sounds about right actually. You’ll never beat the pragmatism of Americans.
neither_color 5y ago
Compared to what other Asian technological power? Japan at least has a pathway to citizenship for foreigners, China does not. In China if you're Elon Musk you might get an offer of permanent residence or if you're well-connected to the party, but regardless they are not a nation of immigrants(their words, not mine) and they're doing fine.
- robjan 5y ago
  It's not impossible for a foreigner to become a Chinese citizen but for most people it's not particularly attractive because you have to renounce your original citizenship. Since the passport isn't particularly strong at the moment that would mean you most likely need to go through an annoying visa process just to visit your home country.
- grillvogel 5y ago
  >Japan at least has a pathway to citizenship for foreigners pretty sure that is not true, unless you are of japanese descent. you can get permanent residency but not citizenship
  - laurieg 5y ago
    There is a pathway to citizenship. It requires over 5 years of residency and relinquishing other citizenships (among other conditions). Many myths around obtaining Japanese citizenship persist online. This site offers some good rebuttals. https://www.turning-japanese.info/p/misinfo.html?m=1 https://www.turning-japanese.info/p/misinfo.html?m=1
  - koilke 5y ago
    About ten years? The Minister of Justice may permit the naturalization of an alien notwithstanding that the alien does not fulfill the condition set forth in item (1) of paragraph 1 of the last preceding Article, provided that the said alien falls under any one of the following items, and is presently domiciled in Japan: (1) One who has had a domicile or residence in Japan for three consecutive years or more and who is the child of a person who was a Japanese national (excluding a child by adoption); (2) One who was born in Japan and who has had a domicile or residence in Japan for three consecutive years or more, or whose father or mother (excluding father and mother by adoption) was born in Japan; (3) One who has had a residence in Japan for ten consecutive years or more. http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/information/tnl-01.html http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/information/tnl-01.html
maccolgan 5y ago
I don't think it's reasonable to look at every country's society and demand a US-style society
- alephnan 5y ago
  Yesterday I learned about the case of Michael P. Fay that left a strain on US-Singapore relations. Michael Fay was an American who was sentenced to caning by the Singaporean court. The United States felt this practice archaic. One of Singapore's senior ministers responded: "If you like it this way, that is your problem. But, that is not the path we choose"
  - xxpor 5y ago
    It's kind of silly considering it was the British that introduced the practice in the first place. It's not like it's some ancient tradition.
  - hn_throwaway_99 5y ago
    FWIW, I remember this case well when it was in the news, and saying it "left a strain on US-Singapore relations" is a bit of a stretch. Most importantly, there were plenty of Americans, I'd bet a majority, that agreed with Singapore. Not necessarily that we want caning in the US, but more that this boy didn't deserve any special treatment just because he was American. To me it felt like the media (and, in fairness, the boy's parents) were really trying to play this up because it had the elements of a good story.
  - soperj 5y ago
    The entire world feels that the imperial system is archaic, isn't going to change anything in the U.S.
- deltaonefour 5y ago
  It's hard for people in the US to completely respect this. Just look at US attitudes towards China. From our perspective some of the things China does are Atrocious, but from the Chinese perspective it's just normal enforcement of rules from a central regime for the betterment of society. Essentially US cultural standards mark certain behaviors as horrible in the same way Muslim countries think women wearing a bikini is a crime. Very hard to change the way we think and arguably maybe we shouldn't change the way we think.
alephnan 5y ago
> I'm not seeing a way forward for them as a technological power again until they first address some of their social issues Japan closed its borders for a period of 214 years known as Sakoku 鎖国. The collapse of the Shogunate was because Samurais lived off tax revenue on farmers, while the wealthy merchants ( who were the the lowest in the class system) were not directly taxed because commerce was viewed as an immoral activity. After World War II, Japan became insular and focused on improving domestically, and almost became the superpower. I don't think they care about being the financial superpower if it means having to give up the very thing which makes them great ( tradition ). It's a very American ideal / virtue to treat financial wealth as the ultimate goal ( ironically not necessarily the highest standard of living ). Modern China on the hand is more willing to import ideas. That said, during the Meiji restoration where Japan rapidly industrialized, one of the mottos was 'western technology, Japanese spirit'. Covid-19 has barred out foreigners which means less tourist revenue, but my impression is that tourist revenue was a 'nice to have' since they're here anyways. Only a small minority of business owners in Kyoto have indicated to me they actively want tourists back. Japan's preservation of its tradition and culture is two faceted. Unfortunately, you can't pick and choose the things you think is backwards about Japan while admiring their tradition. It's a bundle.
- neither_color 5y ago
  It's important to note that part of what contributed to Sakoku was overzealous missionaries destabilizing Japanese society. Makes you wonder if there is a modern equivalent overzealous belief system in the west that has caused country after country to to fall into revolution and disarray. Christianity and the two colonial powers it was most strongly associated with were seen as genuine threats by the Tokugawa bakuf... Religious challenges to central authority were taken seriously by the bakufu as ecclesiastical challenges by armed Buddhist monks were common during the sengoku period. The Empress Meishō (1624–96) also had grave doubts when she heard about how the Spanish and Portuguese were settling in the New World, and thought that Japan would soon become one of the many countries in their possession. Protestant English and Dutch traders reinforced this perception by accusing the Spanish and Portuguese missionaries of spreading the religion systematically, as part of a claimed policy of culturally dominating and colonizing Asian countries. The Dutch and English were generally seen by the Japanese to be able to separate religion and trade, while their Iberian counterparts were looked upon with much suspicion. The Dutch, eager to take over trade from the Spanish and Portuguese, had no problems reinforcing this view. The number of Christians in Japan had been steadily rising due to the efforts of missionaries, such as Francis Xavier and daimyō converts. The direct trigger which is said to have spurred the imposition of sakoku was the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637–38, an uprising of 40,000 mostly Christian peasants.
tjpnz 5y ago
>the Japanese are so hostile to foreigners/immigrants that it's borderline xenophobia. That's not been my experience over the previous six years I've lived here. Initially I had a company sponsor me for a work visa but I've now got two relatively straightforward paths towards PR if I want it. Locals have been very accommodating and have bent over backwards to help me integrate into this society - that even includes the older generations.
- alephnan 5y ago
  > that even includes the older generations. I've personally found the older people to be the most friendly. That was one of the biggest surprises. Not sure how much of that is older people just being happier in general. This could totally be biased as the older people I interact with are either in a service role, or a wealthier traveler, which may be more friendly than the general population. It's refreshing to see other foreigners not feel bitter about Japan. The subreddit of foreigners in Japan feels like a cesspool of people with this dogmatic view that Japan isn't like their home country
  - tjpnz 5y ago
    >Not sure how much of that is older people just being happier in general. That's the vibe I've been getting which did come as a surprise. I think the movies I watched (both Hollywood and Japanese) do a disservice to them - especially the ojiisan's.
  - spike021 5y ago
    It's been a mix for me. One time I accidentally lost my paper ticket for the metro before I had gotten a Suica, and an older gentleman hanging out with friends near the ticket gates went and bought a new ticket outside for me to put into the reader so it'd let me out. On the other hand, I've met a plethora of young people who've become friends I meet and stay in touch with.
    - alephnan 5y ago
      You can be friends with old people too :p
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
spike021 5y ago
>the Japanese are so hostile to foreigners/immigrants that it's borderline xenophobia Have you ever actually visited Japan? If so, how do you usually behave? I'm white and haven't really had a single negative experience. I've also made several friends who are incredibly friendly, keep in touch, etc. When I've been lost, random Japanese citizens, not even government officials, have helped me find my way, even taking me over a block away from where they were to make sure I found what I was looking for. Occasionally there are glances and stares but I'd definitely not classify that as "hostile".
- blinzy 5y ago
  Not the person you replied to but I've been to Japan twice, with different people, each for a month across Honshu/Kyushu and can definitely say there's a duality in how they behave towards foreigners... On one hand, as you mention, we experienced lots of acts of politeness, as I would put it, e.g., being helped to find some location as in your example, being helped to understand some menu dishes when I couldn't decipher them (I had at most intermediate level of Japanese), being bowed to upon entering hotels, ryokans, etc. On the other hand, we also experienced straight up nasty behaviour, e.g., someone standing up and leaving the train wagon when we sat next to him (and then reentering through the next door and sitting far away from us), being forbidden from entering a bar because of being foreigners (despite the fact I can speak Japanese, not great admittedly, but more than sufficient to order, pay, etc.). When talking with people from my country settled there the common negative theme is "you'll never be accepted/treated as one of them".
  - spike021 5y ago
    >On the other hand, we also experienced straight up nasty behaviour, e.g., someone standing up and leaving the train wagon when we sat next to him (and then reentering through the next door and sitting far away from us), being forbidden from entering a bar because of being foreigners (despite the fact I can speak Japanese, not great admittedly, but more than sufficient to order, pay, etc.). Sure, I observed some of these things and didn't always feel comfortable about it. But I wouldn't consider them hostile. The way I was told, some of the things about bars not allowing foreigners is more that they get booked for post-work drinking parties. Maybe that's not always the real explanation, but I realized it wasn't a big deal. If you're in a large city like Tokyo, Sapporo, or Kyoto, there are bars and restaurants everywhere, just move on to the next one. As far as people coming and going out of trains or not sitting next to you, yeah, I had that happen. But I'd be lying if I said I've never observed or even done the same thing here in the US.
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falsaberN1 5y ago
My experience, and that of my colleagues, has been the opposite, and I'm a walking mess of a man when not at work. I have made very high quality friendships with Japanese people and the average Joe isn't any more racist than people in the US, I'd dare say they are a lot less racist than people was in Spain. They dislike illegal immigrants like most countries do, and tourists that think Japan is like an anime and they can go around groping waitresses or making a spectacle in the middle of busy crossroads. Anything else you can think of is nothing the general populace partakes into, blame who you need to blame. It's like saying every Chinese person is in line with the CPP's interests, that's nonsense. I never understood why Japan of all places is so demonized online. It's far, FAR from a perfect country, but most people just do their non-outrageous, boring life things. There are no used panties vending machines littering the streets, not everyone is obsessed with cute things, there are no child wives everywhere and there are no game shows where guys fuck their female relatives. With every other country there are at least people calling this stuff out, but when it's Japan everyone just accepts the fabricated or misunderstood article at face value and goes "oh Japan you are so wacky/xenophobic" or even "Two nukes weren't enough" (I swear this comes up more often than it's comfortable, I'm not making this up). If anything I get the impression that people is very racist against Japan.
- Barrin92 5y ago
  I've worked in Asia and I know quite a few foreigners who worked in Japan and the country is still very xenophobic. It is still common for say, landlords to flatout not rent out to foreigners. I've heard numbers like 20%-30% thrown around. There's also still "Japanese only" bars, sometimes with that literal sign on the door. You'd be very hard pressed to find that attitude even among very nativist Europeans or Americans. Japan also still virtually has no legal protection against this kind of stuff, discrimination of that type is often not being prevented. That said a lot of the younger Japanese don't share these attitudes. Large cities are more diverse than they were 20 years ago.
  - falsaberN1 5y ago
    I don't know, I was very foreigner and I stick out like a sore thumb (you could probably spot me from satellite photos in a busy street), and I had absolutely no issues finding rent, banking and all other services outside of obtuse language. Other English speakers I met around never had issues with it either, including other Asians and even people of color (who you'd think would be affected a lot, but Japan's actual racism is very targeted to their neighbors, not unlike everywhere else I've been at). It seems to me nobody has any problem with you if you make a minimal attempt at speaking using Japanese (most of them don't understand English at all and that puts them "on the spot", and while you can find some who are adept at Spanish and Italian and other languages you'd never expect, by raw statistics you aren't going to meet one of those in the streets if you are asking for directions or something). They seem to be pretty reasonable about it if you suck or make mistakes, but they seem to really value the effort. About the bars, I never pried too much, but I was told it was Yakuza hangouts and I probably don't want to go in there anyway. I don't think locals are welcomed either. Not sure if they were messing with me or not, but to be honest they didn't look like a place I would have fun into if I was magically accepted. None of the actually fun places seemed to have an issue having me or my colleagues as patrons. I have far more people checking me out while shopping like if I was a shoplifter, giving me weird looks, troubling me with paperwork and rent, trying to charge me more in restaurants or shops, and generally making me feel unwelcomed when I am in Spain. And I was born there! (I did lose the accent and I don't look very "typical" so they think I'm British or American).

jvanderbot 5y ago

I sure do love my Ryobi tools. They have a hobby-user engineering and price point, and features for people who are bad with tools, like myself. Some plastic makes it light / cheap. Brushed motors because of the lighter workload. Plenty of guide lights that you don't find on Dewalt. Half the price. Hell, the Toyota Tundra is one of the best loved pickups around. It feels like a Ryobi pickup: For the light workload, probably urban, non-career-hauler.

coopsmoss 5y ago
I'm pretty sure Ryobi just licenses their name, and the tools are designed/made by Hong Kong's Techtronics. I don't think you can even buy Ryobi tools in Japan.
- fomine3 5y ago
  I don't know other countries situation, but Ryobi's tools are widely available in Japan, along with Makita, Hikoki. It seems that the tools dept and brand on Ryobi in Japan is sold to Kyocera.

keewee7 5y ago

>Japanese companies make some incredible tech that never finds its way off the showroom floor Japanese tech does find its way into industrial robotics and CNC.

_edd 5y ago

I've had the opposite experience with one of the largest ISPs in Japan. We were supposed to have a lucrative deal between both companies but our side fucked up. Instead of a polished working product, it didn't pass basic tests by their engineers. Nonetheless, we were given a few opportunities to remedy the problem.