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Depression is over-exaggerated in Japan. It's like those reports on how the salarymen work these long and crazy hours and are ready to throw themselves off a b

Depression is over-exaggerated in Japan. It's like those reports on how the salarymen work these long and crazy hours and are ready to throw themselves off a building any minute but it's massively overblown. Virtually everything is overblown or sensationalized about Japan. It reminds me of those herbivore men and "declining sex" articles that popped up recently. Writers like to write about some obscure sub-culture or push some misleading statistic and then write about it as if it applies the entire country. I lived there for 14 months and it wasn't what I expected at all. I was prepared for massive culture shock but it just never happened. There was some, but no more than one would experience on an extended vacation. Japan, in my experience, is just like anywhere else.

Shinkei 13y ago
Where in Japan were you living? I found people in the country to be much more balanced and well-adjusted. But living in Tokyo and expecting to see 'culture shock' may be disappointing because people are not so 'open' about their social lives. A lot of the personal problems are kept away from the public eye until it's too late and they are throwing themselves in front of a train, hanging themselves in a forest or comitting seppuku in their homes. It's classic honne/tatemae--you never saw what was beneath the surface.
- mahranch 13y ago
  "Where in Japan were you living?" I was bounced around a bit, but most of my time was spent in Tokyo, Sapporo and in Hachinohe.
  - hkmurakami 13y ago
    Off topic, but I'm jealous that you got to live in Sapporo :)
hkmurakami 13y ago
I have to ask: did you work in a traditional Japanese bigco?
- mahranch 13y ago
  "did you work in a traditional Japanese bigco?" Yes & no, I actually worked for several companies as a consultant. Only one of them I would consider "traditional" but I didn't spend much time interacting with them. I was more of a go-between.

Shinkei 13y ago

Where in Japan were you living? I found people in the country to be much more balanced and well-adjusted. But living in Tokyo and expecting to see 'culture shock' may be disappointing because people are not so 'open' about their social lives. A lot of the personal problems are kept away from the public eye until it's too late and they are throwing themselves in front of a train, hanging themselves in a forest or comitting seppuku in their homes. It's classic honne/tatemae--you never saw what was beneath the surface.

mahranch 13y ago
"Where in Japan were you living?" I was bounced around a bit, but most of my time was spent in Tokyo, Sapporo and in Hachinohe.
- hkmurakami 13y ago
  Off topic, but I'm jealous that you got to live in Sapporo :)

hkmurakami 13y ago

I have to ask: did you work in a traditional Japanese bigco?

mahranch 13y ago
"did you work in a traditional Japanese bigco?" Yes & no, I actually worked for several companies as a consultant. Only one of them I would consider "traditional" but I didn't spend much time interacting with them. I was more of a go-between.