The Japan thread

[patrick457]

Just for fun...a thread about Japan, where you could ask some questions about it.

[Deo Optimo Maxi]

Hy Patrick!!
Before my daughter was born my dream was to live in Japan for a while but now it is a bit difficult. I have to wait untill she is a bit older to travel. I always imagined Japan where everyone is calm and really respectfull and of course everything is in a perfect order. I dont know why?? I guess this is what we saw on tv, but recently I was lucky enough to travel a bit and working in hotels.
I got to tell you it is not easy, specially when we had big groups in the restaurant, but every staff member was more relaxed when we had japanese groups. You guys are much more organized than anyone else in the world, maybe germans? I know a japanese women who is married to a german guy, interesting combination. I wonder what their kids are going to be like?? Supersmart, superorganized,
The biggest thing I admire about you is the respect you have for each other and specially for elders. We should learn from you guys, we all could use a bit of respect.
keep it up
respect, God bless

[patrick457]

Originally Posted by Deo Optimo Maxi

Hy Patrick!!
Before my daughter was born my dream was to live in Japan for a while but now it is a bit difficult. I have to wait untill she is a bit older to travel. I always imagined Japan where everyone is calm and really respectfull and of course everything is in a perfect order. I dont know why?? I guess this is what we saw on tv, but recently I was lucky enough to travel a bit and working in hotels.
I got to tell you it is not easy, specially when we had big groups in the restaurant, but every staff member was more relaxed when we had japanese groups. You guys are much more organized than anyone else in the world, maybe germans? I know a japanese women who is married to a german guy, interesting combination. I wonder what their kids are going to be like?? Supersmart, superorganized,
The biggest thing I admire about you is the respect you have for each other and specially for elders. We should learn from you guys, we all could use a bit of respect.
keep it up
respect, God bless

Let me clear up and answer some things here a bit:

1.) I'm not really a pure Japanese; I'm only half-Japanese myself, living in Japan for two-three years now.

2.) Yep, respect and honor is important in Japanese culture (then again, they're very important in many cultures in the world, it's just that most of the West had lost them ); sadly, materialism and many other modern-day problems common to 'developed' countries also plague the country today.

3.) Japan is actually just like any country in the world: having a good side and a bad side.

Not to malign the country or those who report about it, but it seems that some people try to gloss over or ignore Japan's 'bad' side that it would almost come as a shock for someone when they finally get to see them (I know; I am witness to quite a bit of them). Don't be discouraged though.

And I do hope your daughter would get the chance to go to Japan, even if just for a visit.

[Deo Optimo Maxi]

Well I gues they are just humans after all. We all have good and bad sides. I dont know why we dont hear their bad sides, might be politics, that only good news come out of the country and as you sad you are up for a surprise when you visit the place. You know- never meet your hero!!!!!
Anyway It is still in my plans to visit Japan. Could you give me advice where to go tough?? I dont want to go to a big city, they are pretty much the same everywhere. I am looking for a nice little traditional place, where they still live life they used to.
Thanks

[Danuska]

The country has always fascinated me... the movies and the culture - but that is not what I would like to ask - I wonder about Catholics in Japan - where are you from originally Patrick?

[Shoshana]

There is a nun in Japan that I trained with in the convent 40 years ago. She is a sister of charity of ottawa (formerly the grey nuns) and is still stationed there...wish I knew how to get in touch with her....

[Danuska]

Shoshana, you have been to Japan? That sister is Japanese?

[Shoshana]

Originally Posted by Danuska

Shoshana, you have been to Japan? That sister is Japanese?

No, I have not been in Japan...maybe one day. This nun and I were in formation in the novitiate in Ottawa, Canada to become a grey nun sister....they are called sister of charity of ottawa now. She is not Japanese but her name is St Rita Labrosse sco. I would love to get her address or e-mail as I cannot find it anywhere....

I am married now for 34 years and still think of my days in the convent....

[patrick457]

Originally Posted by Deo Optimo Maxi

Well I gues they are just humans after all. We all have good and bad sides. I dont know why we dont hear their bad sides, might be politics, that only good news come out of the country and as you sad you are up for a surprise when you visit the place. You know- never meet your hero!!!!!
Anyway It is still in my plans to visit Japan. Could you give me advice where to go tough?? I dont want to go to a big city, they are pretty much the same everywhere. I am looking for a nice little traditional place, where they still live life they used to.
Thanks

Hey, most of us are humans in this little planet that God created.

If you want to visit a quiet place, I would advise you to stay away from big places such as Tokyo or areas near it. Try going to more 'provincial' or remote locations, such as Lake Chuuzenji in Tochigi Prefecture; I went there once and it was very beautiful, in my opinion. Nature at its finest.

[patrick457]

Originally Posted by Danuska

The country has always fascinated me... the movies and the culture - but that is not what I would like to ask - I wonder about Catholics in Japan - where are you from originally Patrick?

From the place where there are a lot of Catholics--Philippines.

As for Catholics in Japan, there are approximately 509,000 Catholics - just under 0.5% of the total population (all in all, Christians are in the minority, forming 1% of the total population; Japan is one of the most secular nations in the world as per World Values Survey). There are 16 dioceses, including 3 archdioceses with 1589 priests and 848 parishes in the country. The bishops of the dioceses form the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan.

Since Christians are in the minority, a lot of people only have very basic ideas about Christian concepts. A lot of them may have seen the occasional cross or a work of art depicting Biblical characters or even churches, but many have no idea who Jesus even is, save for His name and perhaps for the fact that He was crucified (case in point: some even confuse "resurrection" with "zombification").

Out of these, a few even make the mistake that Christianity is a western religion, sometimes calling it "the white man's religion" and attacking Christians in popular messageboards such as 2channel (where one can post anonymously; the anonymity was of great advantage to these people). Thankfully, a few people (God bless them, whoever they are) take the trouble to explain that by its essence, Christianity is a religion that started and grew in Asia and that Jesus and a majority of the first generation Christians were Asian.

[Danuska]

Hey Patrick, thanks for the info, but part of it is something that I can find in Encyclopedia or online - I would be interested to hear about your impressions, your experiences, your visits to the churches there and meeting the local Christians - that part about white man's religion was very interesting though.... anyway, i am all ears...

[patrick457]

Originally Posted by Danuska

Hey Patrick, thanks for the info, but part of it is something that I can find in Encyclopedia or online - I would be interested to hear about your impressions, your experiences, your visits to the churches there and meeting the local Christians - that part about white man's religion was very interesting though.... anyway, i am all ears...

Honestly, I've yet to meet someone that would openly say 'Hi, I'm a Christian.' Since Japan is a group-based society (instead of some parts of the West, where individualism is prized), people usually try to 'fit in' since standing out is seen as undesirable.

Now for a random piece of trivia: in order to go to the nearest Catholic Church in my area, I've got to ride a train (if going to St. Ignatius' in Tokyo, near Sophia University) or take a bus. There is a church in my neighborhood which quite looks like a Catholic Church from a distance (it has a cross and a steeple), were it not for the sign in the front which says that it is a Baptist Church.

[patrick457]

So, anymore questions?

[Danuska]

Sure, if you think you are going to get away with it so easily after starting this thread

So how long does it take you to get to Church? And the priests are locals or? Do you find the local people friendly?

[Shoshana]

i guess I am being igored????