I would say one of the things is the convenience people very much keep to themselves
Japanese people are real hard workers being an artist
There's so many things happening here caring more about the group harmony than caring about maybe the single person in it
Sometimes people can't be as flexible throws a gigantic because some people are so fixed on certain traditions
Hierarchy in Japan is a big things that is actually the foreigners not allowed places
Hey guys, this is Cathy cat and today we're gonna talk about the things I love and hate about Japan
There are so many things I love about Japan, I mean that's why I'm here
So it's really hard to start with something
But since I'm already holding this drink here, I would say one of the things is the convenience in Japan. It's incredible
How much Japanese people have worked and how many intelligent people have made de life here a lot more convenient
This is also a thing that many Japanese people will say about their own culture
There is like vending machines in every corner in winter. You can get a hot coffee out of a vending machine
My family was absolutely excited to see that the convenience stores in Tokyo opened 24 hours and in other parts of the country as well
There's quite a lot of things
I just tailored towards making life more easier in Japan and more convenient in Japan and a couple of things that when I go back
to Germany
I kind of miss like in the middle of winter heat of toilet seats are a brilliant invention stuff like that
You kind of would miss sooner or later
I mean, of course you can live without it. But if you got used to it, it's really hard to sometimes let it go
Yes
One of the things I really love here in Japan is that people very much keep to themselves. There is a big
Live-and-let-live kind of mentality even if people don't like especially what you're doing or maybe don't agree with it
No one will rub it into your faces
so one of the things is this stranger would never just randomly come up to you and like
Tell you their opinion on what you're wearing your choice of fashion
This is the thing that really puzzled me in Europe in Japan people. Just they see you. They noticed you but they won't like
Really really steer or come up to you and say like, why do you dress like that? I think you shouldn't dress like that
They don't wash their opinions on other people and they just let you be and I really really appreciate that
Especially with my kind of fashion
Japanese people are real hard workers that kind of thought of gambit ISM about trying your
Very best is one thing. I really inspired me. Nothing in the end. It brought me here
For example one of my classmates when I did an exchange here
He was not only learning on - really late at night for his university entrance exams
He was also at the same time teaching himself to instruments while also having a school clock running
There's so many things he was doing in one week and I was really highly
motivated and impressed how hard some Japanese people
Will work to just get the most out of their lives make the most with their lives and just experience their lives
I found that really really inspiring
What many people say that they love about Japan and not also counts for me is that the opportunities here are great
So if you are a person who tries really hard
Who's inspired to do things you can actually have more opportunities to do that here?
For example in Japanese fashion and expression being an artist. There's so many things happening here. I've seen lots of downtown theaters
So just like on the lower floor under like another store or just people saying yes
I started my own brand or I'm exhibiting things
Lots of people are making loads of things happen here, and I don't think it's maybe easier than it might be in your country
But they're just more opportunities here and people are taking these
Opportunities trying to make a change and trying to push what they really want to do
So something people will have a full time job and still have a really cool hobby. I found that super inspiring
But to be honest the thing I love the most about Japan
Is on a much deeper level in a way and when I feel here in Japan is because Japanese
Culture is a wee culture another my culture meaning it's caring more about the group harmony
And I'm caring about maybe the single person in it
I find that so many things work here that wouldn't work in other countries and I really really love that idea
My example that usually give as five people meet and for example in Europe, it'd be the one who has the strongest character
Who shouts the loudest saying?
I want to go to the cinema and everyone just goes like I didn't really wanna go we went they'll be okay. Everyone just goes
But in Japan is a different way and upon five people will count together and everyone will say what do you want to do?
I mean once one person wants to go to the cinema really quiet and shy
person want to maybe go and do go to a cafe and stuff like that and people will try to find a group harmony and
Say hey, how about okay, we could go to the cinema
but how about afterwards we go to that cafe that she wants to go to or we go to the cafe and make some we
Go to the cinema because you've already watched it recently stuff like that people
Just look at what after the group harmony and sometimes people won't say very hurtful things to other people
In order to just keep up the group harmony
I think in Germany we were very direct and will sometimes say things that maybe we just
Shouldn't say or just maybe look after each other a little bit more
And I think that thought of just caring more about the group harmony than just about yourself
Is the thing that we can all learn something from of course?
everything has its plus and minus and some people will not look out for others, but
Generally the idea of looking out for each other is the thing
What makes Tokyo run so well here because people look out for the other person even in the crowded trains
We have a system that works and I think without this Tokyo wouldn't work the way we see it now
The customer service in Japan is absolutely amazing
But sometimes what I have realized and some of my friends have realized here, sometimes people can't be as flexible
So for example in America
it's okay to can I have this dish without this but instead of this with that and I change it around with that and people
We're like, oh it's fine as the kitchen
Well in many places in Japan
It doesn't work like that certain things come as a set and you can't change anything in it
Even though it's maybe them just taking an item or switching it for something
It doesn't work like that. Now if you use to that culture, it's a very it's been impractical. I mean, it's the
Psychology the sales rack dilemma
One of my friends saw an item in a store the next time she came in it was on sale
so she wanted to get that item and
Try it on first and they said no you can't because it's on the sales rack and she was like, yes
But I could have tried it on last week when it was on the sales rack. So can I just try it on it?
They were like no because now it's on the say lipstick and the argument
She just kept repeating is it's a sales item and that's why you can't try it on so she wasn't being able to flex about
That so she asked the manager and says why can I not try on items that are on the sales rack and her answer was?
Because it's on the sales rack. So some things are not as flexible as they might be just be prepared for that
It's sometimes a little bit inconvenient. But apart from that customer service here is pretty great
The nature here in Japan is a lot different to the nature in Europe
For example, which means there are typhoons there earthquakes. There's tsunamis that quite a lot of natural disasters
Also the insects here are huge compared to Europe. This is the whole thing
So I'm not used to even the crows a gigantic and I understand that certain things are different
But sometimes I'll just be absolutely scared apparently in Tokyo
You are always close to some kind of roach somewhere because a lot of roaches out because people put that garbage out
In front of their places just in a plastic garbage bag the crows open it the roaches eat it
This is the only thing I'm just like a little bit freaked out about that. I
Don't particularly like and I'm up. So do you freaked out and scared by the roaches because they're really big and
Really intelligent and yeah
Yes
Japan is a culture of
Traditions and I think thanks to those traditions
We still have some really valuable aspects of Japanese culture that haven't been removed by the new culture
But you know the new area which is great and I'm grateful for that
However, because some people are so fixed on certain traditions
We sometimes don't have things that I wish we had a little bit more of like equality issues
glass less of the glass ceiling and
Also just late LBT LGBT inclusion certain things like that
There's some things that are still a couple of years behind for example compared to you Europe in such a case
And it's a little bit of a shame, but I know
The times are changing some things are changing already right now
But sometimes I just I just wish we had a little bit more of these things to make a lot of people a lot happier
Hierarchy in Japan is a big thing
So there's the whole senpai kohai?
How you react to?
The person was over you the persons under you and I think due to that we have some very great things. For example
That the same pie looks out after the kohai so they might for example
If someone joins the company they pay them a meal they help them out. That is really great. But um
Everything in culture always has a plus and a minus side and I find sometimes what I see is that the hierarchy in certain?
situations especially business situations is
So far away that new people young people who come into your company of great ideas. They can't really voice them
they can't really bring them up because the higher
Generation the older generation doesn't quite understand it or the younger
Generation is not in the position yet to voice such ideas
and I think that is such a shame because I think with the
connection between younger and older people on people of different hierarchies
We could make so many more things happen in Japan
We could create so many cool things and I know their companies
We're not trying to break this up and trying to change that patent
So, like I said, they're really good things about hierarchy in Japan
but sometimes I feel some people suffer from
Being on the bad side of the hierarchy and not being able to do what they really want and voice your opinions and ideas
So I think Japan will hopefully change that a little bit
So it's a little bit easier for everyone
No matter if you just start out or if you've been in something for a long time to do that
I know that we need the feature of the higher-ups of the people have more experience than us totally and agree with that
But sometimes I think if it's just a hierarchy thing and you can't say certain things. It's a shame we can make it better
To be honest, the first 4 points is something a I can still live with you know, I know that times are changing
However, this special one is one that I'm really
Personally sad about that
I have cried about because it's upset me so much and that is actually the foreigners
Not allowed places and what I mean like there are if you look for apartments
You will get turned down at many apartments if you are a foreigner
And it's makes me so sad
I've seen perfect apartments where I really wanted to live and a real estate agent called them and they were like
Oh you are you free, and they were like, yes, we're looking for tenants
And then it turns out that they just don't accept me because I'm a foreigner
It doesn't matter how well your Japanese skill is it doesn't matter how long you've lived in Japan?
They'll just see foreigner and they straight turn you down. And that makes me really sad. I know there are reasons for that but
It's just one thing that I hope will change because
You know, you're foreigners are really trying to make a change in here trying to you know
Be good tenants and do all of that and it'd be nice if what Japanese people give them a chance to do that
I mean, it's the older generation who might still have negative views about having a tenant who is a foreigner
so I hope that will change but um
Yeah, does one of the things I love personally has upset me quite a lot and hope that will change
But I love living in Japan it's a great adventure
And before you come to Japan or if you intend to live in Japan
maybe make yourself aware of the things that are negative every any
Culture every culture has plus and minus points to it and you just need to find out if your priorities
Much with that culture and that country because you will sooner or later have to adapt to certain
Cultural standards that are in the country. So I hope you learned something
I hope you enjoy the sweetie, please
please leave a like it makes a big change for us as
youtubers and I'll say if you new don't forget to subscribe because we bring you stuff from Tokyo every
Week to give out in whichever country. All right. Hope you enjoyed this. This is me being real honest
So I hope you leave some nice comments down below about what you love and hate either about Japan or maybe your culture
What is great about your culture? What is not so great about your culture? Let us know. Let's be honest with each other. I
Because I hope I catch you soon for more staff on Japanese