Top 5 things you hate about living in Japan

[lwells]

This thread has been highly amusing, even for an outsider (although having spent a few weeks in Japan over the years, I can appreciate some of the compliants).

A serious question: if you don't speak a word of Japanese (or anything but english; *sigh* I suck at learning languages) can you actually make a living in Japan? I love the time I spent in Japan... I sometimes wish I could go back on a more permanent basis, but I would rather try and be an 'ordinary' person (as much as one can as a foreigner) -- ie. have a job -- than just go as a tourist.

LW.

[DaiOni]

lwells: depends on the job, but certainly not a requirement for many jobs. You certainly can get by with next to nothing. However, the more you know the more fun it is.

I'm adding another

32. That same bastard who stole my bike! Because he returned it (still with a flat front tyre) and stole my wife's bike! WTF?

[Sciby]

Track him down and steal something of his, like a child. A healthy one can get quite a good return on the black market.

[Rezz]

32. That same bastard who stole my bike! Because he returned it (still with a flat front tyre) and stole my wife's bike! WTF?

Thats gotta be grounds to steal the Navi system out of his car???

[yukz2daizzo]

10) how they changed the rule about smoking, and rarely can find a beer vending machine around here. sucks.

[yukz2daizzo]

well i take the umbrellas too when its raining out, you know how they just leave it in the front door, hehehehe.

[InspectorGadget]

Ant and I have been discussing things recently and came up with this

* Most electrical appliances in Japan aren't earthed, so there is a distinct possibly that in the event of anything developing an electrical fault, you'll end up with a spectacular hairstyle.

* Kerosene heaters

* The fact that it seems perfectly acceptable just to throw things out your car window.

* Japanese people parking their cars. If you've ever watched them they just about always back into a car park (because that's apparently how they're taught in driving school) even though it takes a hell of a lot longer than just driving straight in.

AND HERE'S THE BIT I HATE

They reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop . . . . . . . . then still manage to hit the concrete blocks in every car park. Then they'll more often than not drive the car straight out again to straighten themselves up, because they've parked crooked.

[KTW]

The appliances are not "grounded"? WOW! :run:

[Rezz]

AND HERE'S THE BIT I HATE

They reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop, reverse then stop . . . . . . . . then still manage to hit the concrete blocks in every car park. Then they'll more often than not drive the car straight out again to straighten themselves up, because they've parked crooked.

Yeah... the wait is excrutiating! Once I almost lept out of my car yelling "Look, just get out and let me do it!!!!"

[Laurence]

OK well this is not exactly relevant but TWICE this weekend I got pwned by the Japanese hand signal for "come here". Funnily enough once when I was parking.

[lwells]

lwells: depends on the job, but certainly not a requirement for many jobs.  You certainly can get by with next to nothing.  However, the more you know the more fun it is.

Can you give me an idea of what jobs one can do with no Japanese (besides teaching?) Just the general jist would be cool

LW.

[Laurence]

Dude, maybe start a new thread...

[lwells]

Dude, maybe start a new thread...

Yes, true, sorry.

[Evo_Lee]

32. That same bastard who stole my bike!  Because he returned it (still with a flat front tyre) and stole my wife's bike!  WTF?

WTFBBQ that little shiet deserves a beating...

[drift007]

people who try getting on the train before people get off is up there for me..

[Ant]

The appliances are not "grounded"? WOW! :run:

Most appliances supplied to Japan that have a 2 pin plug come with a grounding cable that you are supposed to run to a grounding point - ie a copper water pipe or similar.

But since 90% of people have no electrical knowledge at all I'd expect that very few actually do this, and since many houses are apartments it is likely that whatever point selected to run the cable to isn't grounded anyway!

[Evo_Lee]

people who try getting on the train before people get off is up there for me..

surely this must be only a very small thing or people that actually do it here compared to other countries.

[drift007]

everyday when i try to get off ive got house wives, old men, young kids, japanese guys with weird haircuts and lots of silver jewellery pushing to get on while i stand there thinking WTF? if you look in theyre eyes you can see what theyre after and all it is is an empty seat. it happens everyday and thats why it pisses me off.

[Evo_Lee]

That is strange, usually Japan is known to have everything working clock work.

Where are abouts in Japan are you?

[KTW]

Maybe I could make a living by grounding their electrical devices ? Nevermind; they probably don't care anyway.