Hey guys it's me Cathy Cat.
For everyone who doesn't know said German, there are subtitles down below!!!
(in German) Today we will speak about... (in Japanese) ... wait a second...
(Japanese) Nevermind.
(in Japanese) let's do it one more time.... like thiiiiiis.
Hey guys it's Cathy Cat. If you don't speak German
there are subtitles down below cause this time I'm gonna talk in German.
This time, the director of Ask Japanese asked ME about the differences
between Germans and Japanese.
I found out 5 differences that I will share with you today.
I even heard people tell me this in the UK: Germans are VERY direct.
We Germans are indeed very direct and we say straight-out what we are thinking.
That doesn't go down as well in Japan.
Japanese people tend to be more indirect.
People prefer to say things in a roundabout way instead of
straight out at the person itself.
Japanese people are very careful about not hurting the other person.
Even if you think you are in the right and that's the truth.
You wouldn't say it here like that.
We do not want to hurt the other person, and try to establish a harmony of the situation.
We Germans tend to be very curious. Sometimes a little too curious.
Sometimes we can even embarrass the other person in a conversation
with our many many questions.
I painfully realized that when my family was here in Japan. There are questions...
where I would say, you shouldn't ask that directly to the other person.
It's a little impolite and a topic that Japanese people don't like talking about.
Japanese people tend to avoid criticism
towards their own country.
That's a point you want to be careful about when you come to Japan.
However, one thing that surprised me!
Many Japanese people will directly ask a woman her age!
Where I think, that's a question that isn't polite to ask in Germany.
Well, there are differences everywhere.
Germans are not just interested in others, we also love to discuss things.
Could be a political discussion, or about other points of view.
We love the friction and exchange of ideas.
In Japan it's not like that.
In Japan people tend to not get into discussions because
because it might across as fighting.
In Japan people try to avoid arguments.
Here we are back on the topic of group harmony.
Voicing your opinions is alright, but starting a full on debate
or a full on discussion with Japanese people is a little difficult.
If course it depends on who you meet.
I miss it a little in general, to be able to discuss with Japanese people.
Japanese and Germans are of course recycling.
Recycling is popular in both countries, and Japanese people pay attention
to recycling things properly.
However I think Germans do it on a whole new level.
In Japan, you will definitely, in almost any store get a free plastic bag
I have sometimes gotten a bag for a tiny chewing gum!
One thing to look out for, is to have your eco bag ready and BE QUICK
The staff in stores is so super quick
before you realized it, everything is wrapped up.
Ideally tell people in advance that you have a bag or you will end up with
about 10-15 plastic bags that you don't want.
So yes Japan recycles but on some aspects it doesn't pay as much attention to
the environment as, maybe Germany.
Japanese and German people are rather practical.
We love things that are practical right?
But that also means we Germans have very... practical clothes.
That Jack Wolfskin jacket survives all wind and weather and everything!
I also see more people in trousers in Germany, because everything is just that more practical.
Japan is practical too, but on a different scale.
On the terms of inventive spirit, I am absolutely fascinated by the things I find here.
From the heated toilet seats, the included bidets and most of all
... the bathtubs that can re-heat themselves.
You select the desired temperature
the water will be heated to that exact temperature
and then this temperature will be kept for about one hour.
Even though German winters are colder than the average Japanese winter
I am always surprised that we DON'T have those things in Germany.
So yes we Germans are practical but the Japanese are beating us at practicality!
These are the 5 differences between Germans and Japanese I could think of
from the top of my head. But there are many more.
If you can think of one straight away, please write it in our comments.
Maybe I can pick it up for a future shoot for you.
To be honest, it was really weird for me to switch to German
I haven't been speaking German in a while. It was a bit of a challenge.
But I hope it went down well with you.
I am excited to see how you will like this video.
Let me know, I am looking forward to your comments.
And yes well, don't forget to like ...
Of course the director of Ask Japanese has no clue what I have been talking about
This will be fun, once he finds out about that later.
I wish you a good day and I hope I will see you here
again next time on Ask Japanese. If you are subscribed....
I think it means "aboniert" in German... so if you're subscribed you'll be with us next time
And if not, it would be nice if you could subscribe so you're here in the future.
I hope you liked this and I will see you again soon on Ask Japanese.
Bye.