Hey guys it's Cathy Cat and today we are gonna go onto the streets of Tokyo
and ask the youth what they are unhappy about in Japanese society.
Usually Japanese people don't really like to talk negatively about their society
but we got some interesting answers.
If you are curious about more of our videos, don't forget to hit the subscribe button...
Let's start the video!
What stinks in Japan these days?
Monotone fashions are in style right now so...
Many people just wear black and white.
Well, less white, mostly only black. - Lots of black.
It's such a waste! - It is!
People are too uptight about Harajuku fashion.
What do you mean?
I come from the countryside of Yamanashi to Harajuku.
If I ride the train here, highschool boys will say "There is a weird person here" and such.
They will point their fingers behind my back and such...
It makes me feel bad, but when I arrive here, I feel better.
I wish it wasn't like that.
So in Harajuku you can wear your own styles freely, but not in other areas?
It's exactly like that.
The same counts for people who color their hair.
Colorful hair and fashion are not really accepted.
What do you say about that, with your colorful hair?
Well, I am still going to University right now.
It's a music university.
Other students tell me they like my hair.
But people at work...
in areas like that, people don't have the same tolerance.
So you should look like everyone else?
Yeah...
reading the atmosphere, it often spells that out.
So in recent Japan, unique styles are not very accepted by society?
It hasn't been officially said, but generally our fashion is not very accepted.
People often treat us as rare oddities.
So if you are different, will people distance themselves a little?
Yes, people will distance themselves a little.
I feel like Lolitas in Harajuku have become less these days.
I think things have not been getting any better.
Do you mean Japanese society has become less tolerant about this fashion?
Instead of opening up, it has become more tight?
Yeah it feels like that to me.
I feel pretty certain that Lolita fashion girls have become less in Harajuku.
Do you think so too? - I think so...
In the 90s GAL fashion was a real boom in Tokyo.
During those days, there were a lot more colorful people in Japan.
I think there are less nowadays.
How do you want things to be in the future?
I want Japan to give work to people who have colorful hair or clothes too.
That includes the customer service industry.
Even at the convenience stores, you can only work if you have black hair as Japanese.
Even convenience stores? - Yes.
I would like to be able to work normally like other people.
So once you need to find a job, do you need to quit dressing and styling unique?
The vast majority has to do that.
This topic moves away from fashion but...
I want fees of private and public university fees be halved.
Please, they need to only be half. - Why so?
Entering university education should be made easier.
I am a university student. In Japan, you need to go to university to get the job you want.
But many young people don't have that kind of money.
If you don't have enough money for the fees, you can not enter university in Japan though.
I want this to be more equal.
There are a few young people who manage to save up their own money for university...
If you are one of the best, you might get a scholarship.
But that's a rare case example. It should be made easier to go to university for more people.
Going to university, how much are you paying in fees per year?
I pay about ¥500,000 per year. (around $4580)
That is quite a hefty sum of money. - Yes it is.
But a private school takes up even double or more the money.
Students who need to go into a private school in order to study what they want
must have an even harder time, wanting to enter a university.
Well there are the university fees but you also need your own living expenses...
and if you have to pay rent on top of that, that's pretty tough.
That's true. I am lucky to still get looked after by my parents.
And liking a fashion like this, coasts extra money too...
So yeah, a lot of things are not easy...
So entering university is quite tough in Japan?
Going to university without parent's support sounds difficult in Japan.
Yeah. There are a few cases of students who try and study with their own money...
One friend's life is divided into sleeping, working and studying.
She has absolutely no time for herself.
How much are you paying in fees? - I am going to a private school so.....
My fees are a lot higher than that.
Can I ask how much? Just give me a general number if that's ok with you.
At least double of what she pays.
So about ¥1,000,000 ... (about $10,000)
That's quite tough. - It is.
I am lending scholarship money from the country right now in order to make it.
But in my future, I need to return all of that money again.
I will graduate and then spend several decades paying it back...
Please do your best! - I will try!
Do you think your fees are too high?
Yes I wish it was easier to study in Japan.
Are there friends who could not enter university because of the fees?
Yes in High School some friends had that problem.
There are many young Japanese who want to study but can't afford it.
Because it's too expensive? - Yes.
Those were our questions. Thank you.
The girls we asked were unhappy about their perception of their fashion
and the way they express themselves
But also school fees. Fees in Japan are incredibly high.
If you have the chance to come to Japan as an exchange,
you probably only pay the rate of your exchange school,
which means for one year you come to Japan and don't have to pay the high fees...
however... oh? .... a door just closed.
If you come to Japan and study with the same standards as a Japanese student...
it is very very expensive. In Germany we still have the luck that most university fees
are very low or for free.
I know in the UK it's very expensive and in Japan unfortunately also very expensive.
Especially the private schools.
That's the one thing that is a problem and also the reason why I did not go university
in Japan but in the UK at the time cause the fee was still lower.
How about you? How are the university fees in your country?
I am really curious. Please let me know. Write a comment now so I can
find out. Also if you guys are interested, look at each others comments...
don't forget to comment on each others comments...
I love it when people build a community.
We are the Ask Japanese community, whooop whoop!
I wish you a lovely day! Don't forget, please subscribe if you are new
and leave a like on the way out. See you soon, bye!