what kind of images do you have about Japan, Japanese people, the culture and the language?
It's OK even if it's just rumors, so please don't hesitate to answer. I'm not offenced.

Question

what kind of images do you have about Japan, Japanese people, the culture and the language?
It's OK even if it's just rumors, so please don't hesitate to answer. I'm not offenced.

WizzLight · Answer

Well, I see Japan as an advanced country, but also as a country that knows how to remain true to its roots. I think that the Japanese defend their way of being and their history really well compared to European countries that tend to be "eaten" by globalism and over-acceptance of differences.

I have never seen Japan as "a perfect country where everyone reads manga" as some might unfortunately see it, but rather as a distant country and so different from mine that it is fascinating. I really like watching videos about it and watching the answers of Japanese users on this application, in order to learn more about Japan. I really like the architecture of the sanctuaries, rice fields in the countryside etc. I don't like Tokyo, that's too urban for me.

I like to see that many Japanese people do not judge others, as long as it does not negatively affect their personal lives. I like the rules of good manners in society (not talking or calling on the train, not eating while walking, not kissing your partner in front of everybody etc. for example).
This is much more in line with the way people in my tiny region live and I would like the whole Belgian population to learn from it. 
I must admit, there are some Japanese rules that I do not understand and that I still find too strict. However, these rules, I would of course respect them, if I came to Japan. After all, we are always taught here "that we must live in the same way as the locals, with respect, because we always spread an representation of our own country when we are abroad". I don't understand people who see any country as a playground. What I don't like about Japanese society is that it seems too demanding (maybe I'm wrong). People in big cities seem to be very stressed and exhausted from their work. Some people seem to work like machines and have almost no time for family life.

As for the Japanese language, I really like it. I like the sound very much and I find it very practical. Things are said with very few words because the context helps a lot. Moreover, for someone who speaks Dutch (Belgian variant) and French, it is quite easy to imitate. The writing system is also very elegant. 
I don't have much time to learn it this year, so I'm forgetting it, but I plan to enroll in more advanced courses for adults next year.

Sorry for that long answer. I hope this will be useful for your presentation. Good luck with that.

SelphieFairy · Answer

The answers here might be biased, since people who are learning Japanese probably know about or are more interested in the culture than others. If I had to approximate the average American, I think Japan is seen as very confusing. Japan is both progressive and conservative. It’s both very modern but also very traditional. It’s probably from the influence of the Meiji era.

There a lot of cultural ideas and concepts Americans don’t really get.

Nevertheless, Americans love Japanese pop culture. They love anime, Japanese video games, ramen, sushi, Japanese fashion, Sanrio, etc.

Personally, I see Japan as a very “high context” (this is an actual sociological term) and polite culture where a lot of what people think and feel are indirectly stated or just implied. It’s pretty much different from American culture, which values specificity and directness. I’m a very blunt and direct person, even by American standards, so it makes me nervous how I’d be seen by Japanese people.

When I see something that makes me think, “that’s so Japanese” it’s usually because it’s elegantly designed. I feel like Japanese people really take pride in making things functional, efficient, and clean. Japanese products, designs, and way of doing things tends to always reflect this. Japanese art also tends to really appreciate whimsy and fun, which I really like. I feel like Americans are too fixated on wanting things to be gritty and realistic.

Another thing I think of when I think of Japan is it’s history and difficult relationships with other Asian countries, like a Korea, China and the Philippines.

what kind of images do you have about Japan, Japanese people, the culture and the language?It's OK even if it's just rumors, so please don't hesitate to answer. I'm not offenced. See a translation

what kind of images do you have about Japan, Japanese people, the culture and the language?
It's OK even if it's just rumors, so please don't hesitate to answer. I'm not offenced.