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[Black_Beer_Man]

When I take a look around here, I see many French words on businesses - especially apartment buildings for some reason.

Near my apartment, there are two apartment buildings with French names. One is Maison de Penses (House of Thoughts) and Maison de Poisson (House of Fish). There's a coffee shop called Pere Noel (Santa Claus). Of course, most Japanese people do not know what these words mean including the real estate agent that showed me these apartment buildings. I guess it's just fashionable to use French as it is to use ridiculous names for Japanese restaurants back in North America.

I've seen many businesses with French names, but the only one I can remember now is the Vie de France (Life in France) bakery chain. Doutor coffee shop sounds French, but I think it's an invented word.

Please add your own examples or post your thoughts on why the Japanese love the French language.

It's not a bad thing or a good thing. It's just my observation. I don't see nearly as much Italian, Spanish or German used in Japanese advertising.

[Black_Beer_Man]

Part two of my post is the question, are the Japanese like the French? I have heard some people say that the Japanese are similar to the Germans. While this might be true in terms of work ethic, it is not true in terms of character. Most Germans that I have met are cheerful and funny while most Japanese that I meet are negative (everything is either "taihen" or "dame") and reserved.

I think a stronger case could be made that they are more like the French. Both countries are crazy about bureaucracy. There are forms to fill out for every little thing and there are more rules than you can shake a stick at. Both countries view cooking as an art. And both countries have rocky relationships with their neighbors. Furthermore, the people in both countries go to great lengths to look fashionable.

Maybe the one key difference between the Japanese and the French is the tendency of the French to show their emotions. Whereas the Japanese keep their feelings to themselves.

[Pitarou]

I live in Japan and I've lived near Paris. The Japanese are not like the French.

Hope that helps.

No? You want a fuller answer?

Okay.

Of course there are overlaps between the two. There are overlaps between any two cultures, if you look hard enough. But the overlaps you've identified (bureaucracy, food, fashion) are not especially French or especially Japanese characteristics. They are shared by many countries.

And I'm not sure where you get the idea that France has poor diplomatic relationships: it's at the core of the EU! Japan can't even manage to bribe its way to the core of the International Whaling Commission.

But if you want to play this game, here are some more things they have in common:

- a fairly tame press that keeps its mouth shut about the private lives of public figures

- public spending out of control

- long life expectancy

- a recent strengthening of right-wing political movements

- Disneyland

Now, let's look at what makes France different:

- 35 hour work week

- a social service system so generous that most Americans wouldn't believe you if you described it to them

- grimy public toilets

- dog turds in the street (maybe that's changed since I was last there)

- outside of institutional life, a general lack of respect for the rules of public order

- frequent, large scale, street demonstrations

- high unemployment

- rude, surly shop staff; arrogant waiters

- a strong sense of the rights of the individual

- the idea that the government must serve the people

- a vigorous public intellectual life; celebrity philosophers, and so on

Have you heard of a book called Bonjour Parasse (Hello Laziness or Bonjour Laziness in translation). It was published a few years go by a middle manager at Electricite de France (a giant utility company). Her core claim was: big companies are dysfunctional bloodsuckers, and middle-managers should seek to bring the system down from within by being as lazy as possible. The author published this book openly, under her own name, with her photo on the back cover. She kept her job.

Can you imagine that happening in Japan?

One more thing: have you heard of Paris Syndrome? French culture, and Paris in particular, are so romanticised in Japan (whence all the pseudo-French shop names) that when middle-aged Japanese woman visit Paris for the first time and see what it's really like, they have the shock of their lives. Some end up in hospital.

[Black_Beer_Man]

Excellent answer Pitarou. Having lived in France, you would know well.

I know that they are different in many respects. I just think the Japanese are more like the French than the Germans.

The Japanese even built a huge homage to France.

It's called Tokyo Tower.

...but there is nothing like the Brandenburg Gate in Japan.

[kpjf]

I agree with what Pitarou says about the French in general - it's very true. For the Japanese France = elegance, quality, sophistication so it's only natural they put French names on companies, especially bakeries, as French sweets are delicious and well known for being good quality (German sweets on the other hand: yuck! As my friend who lives there said Germans generally prefer quantity over quality, so you might see big, but not so delicious cakes). Thus by putting a French name on the shop they can charge more.

Germans, when we generalise, are quite boring, with no sense of humour, uptight, unfriendly etc. Watch this short clip

If you ever see Germans getting on long distance trains they're extremely inconsiderate. Yet, Germans are a lot more respectful than the French, you only need to look at them in the street. In my experience the majority wait at the traffic lights waiting for the green man; yet, the French! Boy, they can't wait for a second and are constantly running across the road regardless of the danger. When I'm in Germany I feel safe, but in France I don't feel so safe, truth be told.

To answer your question, I think it's more so that the Japanese admire, or think certain French things are elegant and of higher quality and that the nation are stylish. So, I don't think they like the French personally, and aren't so alike in character.

[kpjf]

Oh, and check out this about the French

[mitsui]

I think they are more like the Swedes, or the Swiss.
The Swedes are more tolerant, though.

[Pitarou]

[rxk22]

LOL, I do like how there is a Paris Syndrome. Man, I hate France!



But I do think France is way too over hyped in Japan.

[rxk22]

[budgie]

Japanese women over fifty love all things french. They listen to Edith Piaff and eat something they call 'collon'. It's sounds French see.

[Black_Beer_Man]

I once had Japan Post Bank send me back some forms that I filled out. I couldn`t understand what was wrong with them, so I took them to the post office in person.

They told me that I should have used all CAPS when I filled them out instead of the regular combination of big and small letters. Then, they forced me to re-write my name in all caps on the forms.

Another time, they insisted that I write my address all in kanji as the clerk would not accept romaji on the form. I politely asked her to copy my address in kanji for me, but she refused and had me copy my address from another document.

These encounters with Japan Post Bank made me very angry. I would guess that if any country in Europe would give me the same hassles, it would be France (because they`re rude and bureaucratic). The Japanese can often be rude too, but in much more subtle and indirect ways. The short-term foreigner in Japan can`t usually detect it, but long termers can.

And if I may add, to all those needing a new bank account in Japan, please deal with a real big name bank like Sumitomo or Mitsui and avoid the Japan Post Bank. Your life will be much easier.

[kah5217]

I had a Japanese person tag along for opening my post account, but even then, they sent the forms back and said they needed fixed. So they're not just picking on the foreigners.

[ssjup81]

My first time in Japan, I had a Japan Post account. I had no problems at all. I went back home, though the next year and when I returned last year, I'd misplaced my old bank book..so I just dealt with the local bank. After that job ended and I moved up here, I went with Japan Post again. Once again, I didn't have any problems opening an account with them at all.

Maybe it depends on those who work there. They were pretty friendly and cooperative with me, although, granted, my first time here, the address was really easy to write out, including the kanji. The second time, however, pretty difficult for me. They helped me write it out.

[Pitarou]

I recommend Shinsei.

But the Japanese banking system is so backwards that you may find you have to go with a different bank. For example, we have to have an account with Chiba Bank, because our local City Hall will only do business via them.