The author, in his introduction, denigrating and dismissing academic writings on Japan:
Being a ‘gaijin,’ as all non-Japanese people in the country are referred to, can be an extremely rewarding short-term experience, especially if the visitor happens to be male. Adored by the local women, admired however grudgingly by the men, and working at a job—usually teaching English—that is entirely undemanding, a person can feel almost like royalty during his stay. Indeed, if one plans to be in Japan for no longer than a year or two, there is almost no better land to visit.
Why, one may ask, am I emphasizing and advocating a short tenure in the country? It is because, like all places, life is not always fun and games in Japan. ‘Gaijin’ means literally ‘outside person,’ the intimation being that foreigners do not really belong, and that the Japanese do not expect—or want—them to reside in their country for a long time, and will treat the long-term resident much differently
than the casual visitor.
Accurate as this sentiment may be, however, one will never read about this in the numerous works that have been penned on the country. Instead, one is subjected to glowing references to Japan’s supposed long and storied history, its delicate culture, and all the wondrous delights it has to offer. It is almost enough to make one wonder why any foreigner, having set foot in the country, would ever
decide to leave.
On that note, the astute reader may already have noticed that I have not included a bibliography or works cited section at the end of this book. This was a conscious choice and not a careless oversight. In my experience, those scholars who are purportedly experts on Japan are anything but. Most of the nearly countless works penned by these so-called authorities are at best worthless, presenting views of Japan that simply do not coincide with reality. Having spent their tenure in Japan occupying luxuriant offices in institutions of ‘higher learning,’ with their every request immediately fulfilled by the administration at said universities, the majority of these scholars have been pampered to such an extent that they believe Japan is almost a paradise on earth. Snug and secure in their ivory towers, they do not know the real Japan; they write only on what they have been allowed to see.
For these reasons, those wishing to learn about the true workings of Japan would be better off avoiding these works at all costs, as I have. Likewise, those who wish to read about how Japan is almost perfect should probably put this book down right now. Unlike the ‘experts,’ I was out there, living with the real people of the country. My work is based entirely on insights gained from the two years I spent in Japan working at an English conversation school. What I discovered is detailed in the pages that follow, and it is my solemn promise to deliver ‘the goods’
on the land of the rising sun, warts and all.
The author offers a historical explanation for why the Japanese struggle with learning English:
Although most Japanese have had at least six years of formal study of English—three years in both Junior and Senior high school—their levels of practical English fluency remain almost frustratingly low. This can be attributed to the differences in culture between Japan and countries such as the United States.
Although the Japanese claim to be a peace loving people, their history suggests otherwise. Unlike the United States, which contrary to popular belief has had a relatively peaceful history, almost from its very origin, Japan was a country perpetually at war, either with its neighbors in the Orient, or even internally. Concerning the latter, in old times it would not be considered unusual for the people in one village to declare—almost on a whim—those in the next mortal enemies, and proceed to slaughter as many as they could.
For this reason, in order for the common people to ensure their survival from day to day, the ability for practicality became vital. As such, subjects such as mathematics came to be stressed. Calculating the distance an arrow could fly against a strong wind, or figuring how much force was needed to successfully deliver a fatal dagger strike through thick armor, as well as the proper angle necessary to inflict the most damage possible, were what people were preoccupied on learning. This dedication to pragmatics came at the expense of the humanities, such as the arts and foreign languages. Matters requiring more creativity or imagination were set aside as mere frivolities.
Presently, although Japan likes to believe it has become a modern nation, at its heart the collective psyche of the country remains in its bygone era, which becomes evident when viewing the struggles its people have with expressing themselves in English. Couple this with the natural, if misguided, distrust the Japanese hold toward the nation which compelled it to modernize—the United States— and it is no wonder the English language has been so difficult for any Japanese to master.
The author expresses his views on Japanese women, and their supposed inclination toward foreign men:
Women in Japan are considered almost second-class citizens. Unlike countries in the West, which promote equality between the sexes, Japanese women are trained from the moment they are born to be subservient to men. It has been this way since time unchanged in the country, and although present-day Japan may seemingly appear to have the trappings of a modern civilization, attitudes toward women remain trapped in the ancient past. While the men are out playing golf(badly, if the author may be so bold), the women are relegated to caddie duties; when the men are spending time singing karaoke in their favorite bars (also badly), the women (if they are even allowed to accompany the men) are applauding politely and pouring their drinks.
Long regarded as little more than a servant, the modern Japanese woman has at last tired of this demeaning situation. However, realizing that the men in their country are not likely to relinquish their advantageous position in society easily, women have turned elsewhere to find relief: the foreign man. To the Japanese woman, the Western man represents all that has been denied to her. He is big, strong, handsome, generous and willing to talk to the woman as if she were a human being. In other words, he represents the knight in shining armor who has come to rescue her from the drudgery that is seemingly her fate in Japan. As such, the foreign man—ANY foreign man, even those not considered particularly impressive by Western standards—is not likely to be rebuffed when he finds himself in pursuit of a Japanese woman who catches his fancy.
A final note on the topic: one must remember that although the Japanese woman sees in the Western man a means to escape her miserable position in society, she cannot fully escape her upbringing. The woman’s subservient role in Japan was, after all, forged over long centuries; it is not something easily discarded. Thus, despite her protestations to the contrary, the Japanese woman expects—even
hopes—to be placed at a level lower than the man she considers her partner. Equality is not something in which she has much interest, and she believes all decisions requiring thought while dating should be made by the man.
The Japanese as a group people, desperate not to stand out in a crowd:
In that they make up a society in which the group is considered of absolute value, there is little that is more distasteful to the Japanese than a person who differs in any shape or manner from everybody else. This prevailing mindset manifests itself on all aspects of society. At work, you will never hear of a man offering an opinion contrary to that of the majority. Nor will that man’s business attire differ from the standard dark blue or gray suits favored by his fellow workers. At school, a student possessing knowledge on the topic being taught in class is loath to speak aloud on the subject for fear that he will in some way stand out from the rest. This mantra—that you must be exactly the same as those around you—is ingrained upon Japanese children from the very instant they leave the womb.
When—on very rare occasions—an incident outside of the established norm does occur to a Japanese person, he is initially at a complete loss as to how to handle the situation. For several moments, he will stand there helplessly, having absolutely no idea as to how he should respond to what has just transpired. Finally, because he does not know how to react, he will choose the only option he feels available to him, which is simply not to react. He will move on, distancing himself from the situation, pretending it never happened. This is true even in
extreme cases. A victim of a mugging, for instance, will not attempt to defend himself, even if his assailant is unarmed. To do so would be to acknowledge that something beyond the realm of the ordinary was occurring. Rather than fight, the man will more likely allow the beating to continue, or simply attempt to walk away as if the thug were not bashing his head in
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