ash1611

I hate it when people (ironically, Japanese-speaking/learning Japanese Singaporeans) criticize Singaporeans not understanding Japanese culture.

1)First, they think they understand everything about Japan - that’s why they criticize. In my opinion, things like culture, we can never learn all aspects of it. That’s because we don’t live in their society and we don’t understand many things. We read about it, but are we sure? Even if we have friends in Japan, culture practices differ and what we think we know may not be true. I don’t think a true-blue Singaporean knows everything about Singapore! So, don’t go around saying that Singaporeans don’t understand this, don’t understand that, because the truth is, they are not exposed/educated in anything Japanese to fully understand it. I’ll never say I understand Japanese; I say I study Japanese. I’m always studying and there seems to be no end to it - not that it’s a bad thing. So next time if your Singaporean friends misunderstand something and you happen to understand it otherwise, explain it to them to your best understanding, and don’t make them look like the dumbest creatures on earth. You are just being mean!!

2)Have you ever heard/seen a Japanese who has been living in Singapore criticize another Japanese not knowing Singapore culture??!! How narrow-minded can we can?? Study so much, for what? To show that we are more superior to others?
Let’s talk about the Japanese movie which got an Academy award – Okuribito (Departures). It talks about funeral procedures and how this guy who was a Tokyo cellist ends up cleaning bodies of dead. I guess people shun this job because of its nature, so basically the movie is about him and his struggle to take up this job, how he learnt to love this job and how people around him accepted it in the end. We don’t understand the culture, let not the “hidden jokes” or any puns. We may laugh at the moments that seem funny to us, but that does not mean that we are not respectful of the movie. Come on, it’s a movie! Everyone has different things that make them laugh, so don’t criticize because we laugh at different things. We just understand it differently. Imagine someone is watching a local production and a foreigner who is watching laughs at a part where it’s not funny to us - does it give us the right to criticize? Maybe he just thought Patricia Mok’s (local comedian) expression was funny? It is true that some people may not be able to truly understand the meaning behind Okuribito (I won’t say I do, because I don’t really understand why he suddenly unbutton this wife’s jeans in the kitchen, it just made the atmosphere really awkward for me and my sister..haha), but I am sure people who bother to watch a foreign film, knowing that it may be a quiet literature boring one, at least has a bit of interest in the film or the culture! So respect that person based on this little fact!

3)And please, please, please, don’t brag! Please lah, we say we study Japanese, why the most basic idea of humility that the sushi people are renowned for, is not injected into us!! Study Japanese for what?! If your idea is to brag then forget about it ok? Be proud of your achievements but never arrogant about it! Some people may really want to study Japanese, but they do not have the means to do so. It really, really pisses me off. My mum's friends always brag about their children's straight As. Alamak! Singapore is a degree-churning country, what is so great about results? (Though I do envy them at certain points of time) Does it make me lesser a human than them? I know it’s normal that people wants others to know of their hard work, their achievement, but no need to broadcast. Know our limits. Thank you!

4)And since they are such Japanese know-it-all, spread the love! Why keep all to themselves? Let more people understand the culture. I don’t want to mention names, but there used to be a Japanese program which restricts certain people from participating. Like HUH? Maybe some misunderstandings happened between A and B, but I think it would be better if things are kept neutral. We all love Japan, why restrict us? Remember, be humble! It really, reflects and makes them look small, smaller than hobbit, smaller than Liliputians, smaller than an edamame bean, even smaller than a little grain of gohan (rice), maybe about same size of the dot on top of the letter ‘i’ in this particular font and size..i think people will prefer the dot to them!! and eventually everyone ignores them. congratulations :)

5)People, don't laugh at otaku (to describe someone who has no life, stay at home all day or hang out in Akihabara, indulging in their anime love), and all the seemingly strange things about Japan's culture. Otaku in fact know a lot more than us in our little own worlds, and they are people with truly pure passion and love in whatever they do or who they idolise. You and I can also be an otaku – that just simply means we love something so much to the point of indulging in it day and night.
The world is full of weird ideas and strange things, but we shouldn't ridicule them just because we don't understand. However, if you don't mind foreigners laughing at Merlion and Esplanade or the Merlion being strike by lightning (ironically, more Singaporeans do), then I have nothing to say.

Be a world citizen!! Embrace all differences!

*Above issues does not target anyone in particular. Well it targets the whole Singapore, and the idea of learning (anything and everything, not just Japanese) basically. HAHA.