Draft · 5 min read
Everything Right and Wrong About Japanese
This is my own super generalized opinion about people in this dark hole. First, lets start about the good part.
What is right about Japanese
- Organized. Everything about us is very organized, streamlined, designed so you wont have to bother anyone in the process. our system is fast, reliable and effective. You could get you resident card (or KTP) in under 1 hour. Commuting is the best example for this. Our movement speed is very fast and automatically adjusting to others so the process will be the fastest possible. All done without talking. Imagine being trapped in a sea of moving mannequin. We like it to be tidy and clean so say goodbye to kaki lima.
- We are respectful, obedient, smart, diligent, do not protest nor have any opinion. These traits make us the best kind of employee you will ever want. We have levels of “respect” embedded in our language designed precisely to kiss your ass. We are not going to protest to anything, we might be depressed because your ugly manner but confrontation? Nah. Don't get me wrong though, some of us, especially those in high position could be harsh. They could throw “stupid” all around your face if you are less than excellent.
- We have the safest cities in the world. We are very thoughtful of others for the sake of being “fast” as a herd. Its a good collective trait but unfortunately, it actually come from our gene. We are designed to be as unnoticeable as possible. We creep from place to place giving no single shit unless it interferes with our movement. I think its a different kind of individualism. We understand that being thoughtful of others could actually make the system move faster and we are doing it for our benefit.
- Our social safety net is great. We could literally live “enough” by only doing part-time job. By enough I mean: an apartment, food in your fridge, air conditioning, a bike, phone but not car.
- As one of the G7 countries, our GDP is so high everything become expensive and no matter how you were able to use your money without thinking in your own country, you will broke here. It also mean that if you get employed legally here, you will be rich in most of the country in the world.
- The technology we use it great. Our hospitals are using cutting edge treatments. The transportation system is very reliable its only able to late by 1 minute max. Whenever disaster come, everyone’s phone is ringing with detailed alert and what to at any situation. There are still a lot of stuff but lets keep it later.
What is wrong about Japanese
- Everything else.
- No kidding, im going to mainly demonstrate this part using examples. Lets start.
- Emotional detachment.
Imagine being in a long distance relationship and your other Japanese shitnificant other is not responding for days. If your conscience still work, of course you will contact him as you are worried if he might be dead. Then, what do you think my people will respond to it? Right, out only response would be texting you “scary!” days after your texts and missed calls. Its later followed up by “You are so possessive, I don't want to see you for a while”. Nice.
There are stories from my professors too. There is this woman professor. She is very great in her field. She is married but has been living her whole marriage in distant with her husband. Then, somehow she come before 8 am and go home after 8 pm without taking much leave. Then, there is this male professor. He said in a party (after drinking of course) that the last time his wife kissed him was 20 years ago.
Do you think they do deep talk? Because when I compare social lives between countries, we only do superficial talk here. Its sort of obligation to talk even though you get nothing from it. Maybe this superficial talk also normal in our marriage. Deep down we are just this insensitive, heartless, not so thoughtful, unaware of other’s feelings, emotionally immature and disconnected assholes.
I just cant grasp how we could be that detached. I think its because we dont really need any relationship. We are emotionally inept people who is used to cold social interaction. Biologically? Dont need either. We are either asexual, addicted to porn or fucking a fantasy. We have everything we need sold. Porn is pretty much taxed and legal and sex toys are obvious.
Maybe for Indon, this kind of could and loose relationship is scary. One of you might be thinking that could relationship is the last thing you want. Well, makes sense. If marriage is something you want to do only once, it can be your eternal relish or regret. So if you want to find a warm home which can bring “ramai ke pintuku yang sepi” then don’t look in japan, or xxxxxx” - Role model
My professor used “Dr. Ichiji Tasaki” as an example how we should behave. He explained passionately how Dr. Tasaki works 7 days a week, publishing an average of two scientific articles a year in respected peer-reviewed journals and still wont retire at 91 years old. When I heard that, I was like “Does he even fuck his wife?”. I don't mind with people being very workaholic, but if a nation’s role model is this bone wrecking, no wonder no one wants to breed. - Weak to dirty drink/food/atmosphere
It was our first day in Jakarta. We inhaled years of pollution, ate at warteg and drank tap water. The next morning, we booked hours of doctor appointment since everyone was muntaber. We didn’t get it, out tap water back in Japan was drinkable. - Zero fuck to socializing
Is emotionally detached not enough? Well, we can do more. We practically give zero fuck to socializing. We don't do “keep in touch” because we are just wind that could easily come and go without anyone noticing. We could play an assemble/concert without frequently practicing together under kuorum. We only need to practice by ourselves then try it together once before concert. That's how good and pathetic we are. Furthermore, we don't have many social medias, no dating app, groups etc. None. Even if we do have one, its empty. Its literally a hollow void pitch black well of “why the fuck should I talk to you outside work”. It happen everywhere, even the faculty chat group with hundreds of people. - Most annoyingly, we rather not to try rather than try but fail. Don't be surprised if you are coming to a cashier in a minimarket with you all Indon look and greeted in Japanese. We wont even bother to fucking try to speak the slightest English because we don't want to fail. Now imagine how fragile we are to failure. Imagine how we would think suicide is a relief from the shame of failures.
- Suicide was a tolerable and honorific thing. It was used mainly by samurai to cut their own belly whenever faced with defeat. Its to maintain their honor rather than killed by other, captured or tortured. It was also used in kamikaze attack during World War II which was literally rain of planes launching itself to enemy’s ship. Its a lot more respected to kill yourself after your plane got shot down.