Job Discussion Forums

[standingbymorning]

Way off topic I know, but one of the funniest memories I had was how it was cool to act "American" vs. acting in Japanese manorisms (which I did alot of while I was there). When I say American I mean loud over happy and very extrovert.

fyi. I was in Japan for 8 days over xmas break soon returning to teach.

Example just one story:
On the JR line in Tokyo going to Shibuya I think. Everyone was dead quiet on the packed train. Getting bored and numb I scanned the crowd. I noticed A baby staring intently at me. So, being fun loving I started making faces at him. This went on for some time. I didn't realize but I was entertaing the whole train car with this. When the family's stop came the parents came over and thanked me for being so kind and even had the kid waving goodbye to me as they watched me leave. People on the train smiled and bowed to me.

I got other stories like that in karaokee bars to Shinjuku station, but I'll leave it at that.

Is this just me? Or is this a cultural trend? Loving the loud and fun tourist vs. the act like the crowd one?

[azarashi sushi]

How was that being loud though? You didn't speak.

[standingbymorning]

well for that case it was more "acting" loud. People were staring off in space, sleeping or quietly thinking to themselves all blank faces. Except mine which was noticed immediately. Loud in that sense.

[Eva Pilot]

That's acting "American?"

I do things like that all the time and I've never considered myself acting American.

[japolak]

What happened at the karaoke bars?

[standingbymorning]

I put the quotes on american. a sterotype that I was often told about in europe was (don't know what the sterotypes are in aisa that well yet) that americans are loud and crazy and always looking for a fight. When I was there I thought it was the same because when I was walking around shinjuku by myself I was either given a wide birth or homeless looking folk would run up to me asking for what I think was drugs.

Just a sterotype I've heard often. Its thanks to good ambassadors that are starting to change that perspective.

[JimDunlop2]

Any time I go out to the local and happen upon any given group of Japanese people -- men, women or a mixed group, I can virtually guarantee you that they'll be the loudest, rudest, most obnoxious people in the whole damn bar. Much, much louder than a similar group of Americans.

[fluffyhamster]

I guess if the baby on the train had starting bawling its lungs out, you'd've been considered the "loud" (disruptive) foreigner alright.

Hmm I'd agree with Jim that Japanese in bars can be pretty loud - and are often such boring drunks. They seem to be the loudest though on trains - all agegroups and types seem to like holding competitions (often simultaneously) to win a 'most vocal schoolboy/schoolgirl/salariman/old lady/old git of the minute' award.

[gaijinalways]

Entertaining people on the train is not big here in Japan, so it's okay sometimes to liven things up. That being said, there are times when I just want to sleep on the train. I still missed my chance to bear hug the people holding free hug signs in English and Japanes near Harajuku station (but my wife was giving me the evil eye) !

[Nismo]

Every foreigner speaking a foreign language in any other country sounds 'loud', because their language sticks out.

I've had a person ask me why I speak English so loud, but speak Japanese at a normal level. There isn't any difference in my volume, it's just that English pops out like a neon pink shirt in a group of black suits. Actually, if anything I speak English quieter.

[Vince]

My guess is that most Japanese would have categorized you in that incident as a refreshingly fun-loving foreigner, not a loud American. Japanese who don't have enough English to say "refreshingly fun-loving foreigner" might mistakenly express it with words like "loud American."

[J.]

to the comment on loud train conversations.

The solution is ear plugs (available at the drug store). You can read the paper, chill out or snooze, and even tone down those ear-splitting announcements and bing-bongs on local trains before every station.

It' s made me like people ( on the trains) again.

[gaijinalways]

My students must wear them, I often tell them the same thing again and again (don't talk during a test/quiz, if you have a question, raise your hand, write your name on the top of the paper, etc.) and they still give me blank looks until I draw my sword out. Handy, that sword .