Westerners in Japan?..,?

Question:

Just for westerners living in Japan, have u had any issues with the locals or culture since moving there?

Answer:

Japan is a different experience. I have been living near Tokyo for the past 10 months, and there are some differences from the United States.

Cultural Attitude: One of the biggest differences that I noticed is the attitudes of Japanese versus those in the US. Individuals are reserved, but will be polite. When dealing in groups, each individual works to benefit others, not trying to put themselves ahead. One example of where this occurs is in driving. When two lanes merge, drivers will zipper in, without any individual directing them. Given the same situation in the US, most drivers will attempt to jump ahead of other traffic.

Crime Rate: Compared to the US, the crime rate in Japan is significantly reduced. One of the biggest reasons for this is the cultural attitude, although another reason is that it is expensive to own a firearm (as a result, few civilians own firearms, save for the Yakuza). The biggest threats that a US Citizen is likely to face would be run-ins with the Yakuza (you stay out of their way and they leave you alone - most of the time) and the Roppongi (Party District) Club Advertisers, who are large fellows that attempt to pull you into the club and extort large amounts of money out of you. If you ignore them and keep walking, they will focus on someone else and leave you alone.

Insurance: Driving is hectic no matter where you go. Insurance in Japan is expensive compared to the US, and you have to pay for two different policies, one of them being the JCI (Japan Compulsary Insurance). The JCI is payed every two years, and requires re-registration and vehicle inspections (any discrepancy at all must be fixed prior to re-registration).

Most accidents will be the fault of all parties involved. This is called no-fault, and applies to most situations, except for ones where you couldn't have prevented it (such as being parked in a proper zone, and away from your vehicle). Simply being at the scene places you at fault, for if you weren't there, then it wouldn't have happened. Each party involved is automatically responsible for at least 10% of the damages.

The laws regarding driving have a positive effect: Drivers are polite and reserved. In Japan, each driver is considered a professional driver. Anyone wishing to drive has to complete a driver's schooling. (Being US Military will afford you many breaks and discounts).

Trains: There is an excellent system of trains in Japan, especially around the Tokyo Metropolis. The farther you go, the more expensive it is, but this is the tradeoff to not using a car, which would take longer to get to the same spot, in most occasions.


Gaijin - Some places in Japan will not cater to foreigners, especially as you travel away from tourist frequented areas (Such as Tokyo). This is normal. If they say "no Gaijin", just smile, nod, and walk back out the door.


Have fun, it's a heck of an experience!