Job Discussion Forums

[Cool Teacher]

[OneJoelFifty]

That the education system in Japan is training an obedient workforce is no secret. But to label people as cowards suggests they would like to go against the grain but are scared to, rather than just accepting the status quo because they are satisfied with it. While I'm sure there are things that people would choose to change (off the top of my head...long working hours and compulsory office transfers are probably high on the list), I'm not convinced that there's an underlying desire for widespread change. The people quoted with these strong opinions have had the benefit of living abroad and experiencing a different way of doing things. There's nothing to suggest that the average Japanese person has gained the same insight.

And although I've witnessed first-hand the extent to which Japanese students find it hard to think creatively, it seems strange to talk about a lack of innovation in a country that has provided hundreds of things that help provide convenient living.

[Mr_Monkey]

[Cool Teacher]

[Mr_Monkey]

How many of those in the list are refinements of concepts rather than out-and-out innovations?

[stumptowny]

pros and cons both ways I suppose. yeah, it's a safe society and a well oiled machine and yes, completely dumbed down by blandness from obedience. its cultural milk toast on the surface for sure, and sadly, deeper I would guess. some people just look so wound in a japanese societally whipped kinda way on the trains that I can imagine they go home to routine and bleah till the next day. and that is their free time. cool, it's safe, and look at the cost. again, it's what they know so long as they don't travel and remain here, they will be much better off than realizing what it could be like and then be stuck.

I think the most glaring examples of how obedience has impacted this culture are situations where japanese are not restricted by structure/rules and then are expected to do something truly independent... like dancing. been to a club? you seen how they 'own it' on the dance floor, feeling the music? neither have I. it is an awkward disaster, hence people standing around watching.. in this creative sense, they are cowards for not taking their lumps like us other goons.. they are trained to be squares so it certainly is not their fault. like pushin square pegs into round holes.. and the japanese variety shows are another example of their ineffective ability with creative authenticity (a different form of innovation one could argue). the default on these shows is more or less, retard. sugoi's and huge surprises for the weakest things. society did not raise them to be co-hosts with 10 other people on a talk show.. and because society did not tell them how to deal with these unstructured situations, a small picture box with one of the hosts faces is in the corner of your tv screen to let you know how to feel about the last sugoi belted out.. or sad moment.. (social referencing)

so imagine at meetings, sitting around, sharing new ideas for innovation sake.. people would get huffy and bent out of shape rather than listen, accept, and further new ideas.

the list of significant innovations is paltry over the last 20 years said the npr guest. VHS and radio technology are older than that so no, and rice cooker and instant noodles, really? but many thanks for the sony walkman in the late 80's early 90's. truly. the bi-plane... my god, if we go that far back and list all the innovations from America we would have books.

"normal behavior development" (I'm taking a shot at this one here) would be displaying a range of universally recognized behaviors freely. the reason japan is not normal, I am guessing, is because 'normal' behavior is suppressed in many contexts of day to day life..and of course that then is norm here.

I asked the teacher, who prompted me to write this, about what he meant by 'coward' and listened intently. his answer was simple. he said they do not speak what is in their hearts. I asked him where and what context he was talking about. he said everywhere. many people have trouble speaking their hearts, not just a japanese thing, but collectively it must be much more prevalent here given that everything is beat down for obedience sake. it would be frustrating for a japanese person with traveling perspective to accept things here as they are.. such as this teacher..

[mitsui]

I admit I saw a Japanese girl who could dance but actually she was an exchange student from Brazil.

If returnees have a hard time adjusting to living here, so do we.
It isn`t easy working here, since at a lot of places your opinion is not valued.
And since many people (myself included) are on limited contracts, we can be effectively ignored.

[Cool Teacher]

[Cool Teacher]

I think some people hear are a bit hard to please.

Did you notice that there were lots of protests against the nuclear power plant over the weekedn? Not so shrinking violets now, eh?

[rxk22]

[stumptowny]

[Cool Teacher]

[stumptowny]

[Tsian]

stumpytown:

Japanese working conditions are certainly very different from America. As is group cohesion. But, again, what inherently makes the current state of Japanese group dynamics inherently bad?

Yes, I can criticize Japan for having too long working hours... but a European could say the same thing to an American.

I will admit that there is probably some line where it becomes "too much work" or "too much individualism/collectivism"... but on what grounds do we judge the boundary?

[stumptowny]