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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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 Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| Stalin84 wrote: |
| I can see why people like Japan but I've experienced more kindness, openness and warmth in my two weeks back in Seoul than I did in the entire year I lived in Japan. The only time people even talked to me on my adventures in Saitama/Tokyo/Gunma was when I was inadvertantly doing something wrong and they didn't want me to do it or they were bringing me my food. Every other kind of conversation was "eigowa shirimasen... gomenesai! byeee..." before I could even talk. |
I kinda like that. I feel it's more respectful.
I find it more relaxing when small kids say 'konichiwa' politely as opposed to a jeering shout of a 'hello'.
I also find it disrespectful when Koreans often interrupt your conversations with friends in public places, just so they can practice their English on you.
In the end, I think it's really what you are comfortable with.
That being said...Tokyo is more of the extreme that you are talking about - as I read you spent your Japan vacation entirely in the greater Tokyo area. I'm not in Tokyo, but I feel that reserved feeling of anal-rententiveness in the air there.
The rest of the country...Osaka, Kansai, Fukuoka, etc. I find that refreshing imbetween between Tokyo and Korea. |
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Stalin84
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Location: Haebangchon, Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
The rest of the country...Osaka, Kansai, Fukuoka, etc. I find that refreshing imbetween between Tokyo and Korea. |
Yeah. I spent my entire time in Japan in Tokyo or it's many suburbs. I've heard that people were much more friendly down south. I guess everything I said about Japan can be read as being about Saitama/Tokyo.
When I go back to Japan to visit, it's definitely going to be a southern city. |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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osaka had a bit more of that korea grime to it. old ladies taking off their shoes and putting their feet on the seat in front of them on the train. old guys refusing to let you sit next to them. old guys peeing in public, etc. random guy in his 30s trying to shush your english speaking group just as a loud mob of teenagers comes by.
on the whole, though, people were more polite. these things didn't quite happen to me everyday like they sometimes seem to in korea...or maybe i was more forgiving as the quality of life was higher.
incidentally, i believe osaka has the highest concentration of zainichi (japanese born koreans) in japan....just sayin'  |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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| nukeday wrote: |
osaka had a bit more of that korea grime to it. old ladies taking off their shoes and putting their feet on the seat in front of them on the train. old guys refusing to let you sit next to them. old guys peeing in public, etc. random guy in his 30s trying to shush your english speaking group just as a loud mob of teenagers comes by.
on the whole, though, people were more polite. these things didn't quite happen to me everyday like they sometimes seem to in korea...or maybe i was more forgiving as the quality of life was higher.
incidentally, i believe osaka has the highest concentration of zainichi (japanese born koreans) in japan....just sayin' |
Tiger Beer 'Seal of Approval' all over this!!!
My experience as well...Osaka has that Seoul grit..with none of the Korea 'eye rolling' behaviors that you see there all the time.
But people in Osaka are well-known for their rough around the edges, more grit, more people-friendly, and well-known as the country's origin for comedians, because any topic is a good topic for them. In short, it lacks all of Tokyo's anan-rententiveness.
Anyways, you nailed Osaka with 100% accuracy, in my opinion. |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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| yep, osaka's a great town. i miss her often. doesnt hurt having the beauty of nara and kyoto nearby, along with the downright livable nature of kobe. |
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