We all dislike Japan’s brutal work life balance, no joint custody, practice of torturing confessions out of people the police think are guilty, rigidity of a lot of bureaucratic processes etc.
But what are some things you dislike about Japan that may not be talked about, or isn’t well known, or may not be shared by the rest of the foreign community?
20 comments
Whiny foreigners.
Lack of spatial awareness.
No Greggs.
Luv me sausage rolls.
‘Ate Onigiri. (Not racist, just don’t like ’em)
Simple as.
The scary tendency of drivers to haphazardly veer into oncoming traffic when they encounter an “obstacle” such as a bicycle or scooter, instead of… using their brakes.
Not a problem only in Japan though, I’m sure…
This might be well known, but to ignore or pretend problems don’t exist when things get too uncomfortable.
Didn’t we just have one of these?
I really hate the way buildings look in larger Japanese cities. Blocky, grey and depressing. Really takes a toll on my mental health.
Single paned windows are also a pain. I hope my next flat will have double pane because the cold and sound just make themselves at home and I hate it.
It doesn’t bother me that much, but I think most of the hatred towards Japanese bacon is overblown when Japanese chorizo exists.
How about the positive things people like? We often get caught by the day to day and focus on negatives, when there’s a lot to appreciate.
Tables charges for nearly all restaurants that are not chains.
Edit: excluding ramen shops.
Maybe this is a common one, but I hate how I have to basically walk into the road in front of a moving car to cross the road in Japan (at a crosswalk / zebra crossing!). I’ve lived in several other counties and yeah, sure not everyone stops to let you cross at the crossing but most do not in Japan and it’s so infuriating. Where’s my right of way?
I also dislike that you can’t pay for the metro /JR with your card at the gates. Both Singapore and U.K. do it (countless others most likely too) and life is so much easier for it.
The fact that Japanese tell me I am “so Japanese” when they want to compliment me.
Them: You’re early. You are so Japanese. Fantastic!
Me: First of all, why is “being Japanese” a compliment? Second, plenty of people in other countries are on time.
Japanese food. Japanese food is so overrated to the max. Other than some of their メン dishes, most of their dishes are bland and just not tasty.
Redditors complaining about things that are mostly myths.
hankaku/zenkaku
seireki/wareki
hanko / inkan/ Mitome-in/Ginko-in/Jitsu-in
Kuchisake-onna.
People posting on Jlife asking about what I love and what I hate about Japan. Other than that, no complaints.
1. Shitty driving skills, lack of road manners, and lack of common sense behind the wheel. People bitch about “nihonjinron” but after watching Japanese people trying and failing to master just the most basic driving rules and abilities, I’m 100% on board with Japanese people being unique — uniquely shitty drivers.
2. Chinese tourists. Hey, you said “Japan,” not Japanese people. I don’t think a lot of people think about Japan has a place where you’ll find hordes of oblivious, loud, rude Chinese cunts, but here we are. Although COVID did put a hold on them I know they’ll be coming back en masse soon enough.
3. Litter. Yeah, Japan is impeccably clean most places, but one day you’ll be driving out in the countryside and find a pile of rusted washing machines and other debris just tossed in the forest. Trash all over some of the beaches, too. No, it’s not as bad as it is elsewhere, but it still chews my balls.
How the roads were designed to let bicycles ride on the leftmost car lane without making the lane wider, it’s extremely unsafe for the cyclists
How much some Japanese drivers can be absolute dickheads on the road.
I can’t count how many drivers I’ve seen dangerously cut others off, ignore red lights, stop signs, or lane lines, or have to speed up on the IC to get in front of everyone, then slow down causing everyone in line go even slower.