tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post9211237752558952536..comments2024-03-21T00:18:25.414-07:00Comments on I See Japan...from L.A.: Some cool and not-so-cool things from my recent trip to Japanowenandbenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474307542498791351noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-57798122150953261182009-03-24T07:17:00.000-07:002009-03-24T07:17:00.000-07:00I think most Americans should spend some time driv...I think most Americans should spend some time driving the Japanese roads. Maybe then they will be better drivers.owenandbenjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09474307542498791351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-58227822281508524662009-03-23T20:11:00.000-07:002009-03-23T20:11:00.000-07:00Japanese roads are so narrow that it's inevitable ...Japanese roads are so narrow that it's inevitable people are gonna get there wheels stuck down those ditches.<BR/><BR/>When I first arrived I remember being asked to help try to lift a car out a ditch...We only managed to move it slightly scraping the bottom of the car along the ground and probably damaging it even more!<BR/><BR/>Driving in Japan has made be a better driver...I think. So far I've managed to stay out the ditches!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-16079945550138896012009-03-11T15:39:00.000-07:002009-03-11T15:39:00.000-07:00I think so mama.I think so mama.owenandbenjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09474307542498791351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-57755975213543149892009-03-11T14:31:00.000-07:002009-03-11T14:31:00.000-07:00you need to bring a helmet nex time :)you need to bring a helmet nex time :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-70743486303895127772009-03-10T07:09:00.000-07:002009-03-10T07:09:00.000-07:00I always enjoy visiting Japan. This trip was reall...I always enjoy visiting Japan. This trip was really just visiting family so no pictures.owenandbenjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09474307542498791351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-83008572298264735262009-03-10T02:17:00.000-07:002009-03-10T02:17:00.000-07:00hmm. overall, you seemed to have a great time. Zan...hmm. overall, you seemed to have a great time. Zannen! An eyeball with you would have been great.atto aryohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16762087147430357408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-51615408415330714722009-03-07T17:08:00.000-08:002009-03-07T17:08:00.000-08:00I have not been there yet. So they are bad drivers...I have not been there yet. So they are bad drivers, eh?owenandbenjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09474307542498791351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-3215038833242487282009-03-06T20:26:00.000-08:002009-03-06T20:26:00.000-08:00Have you ever been to Osaka? The drivers there are...Have you ever been to Osaka? The drivers there are more American-like.Thomas Hammerlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05448828623411526253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-89685394090890327592009-03-06T07:12:00.000-08:002009-03-06T07:12:00.000-08:00It is exactly the same with my wife's family as we...It is exactly the same with my wife's family as well from the very first day I met them.owenandbenjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09474307542498791351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-66288350603527146162009-03-06T06:09:00.000-08:002009-03-06T06:09:00.000-08:00I agree with your statement about how depressing a...I agree with your statement about how depressing and rude people are here vs. Japan. There may be hustle and crowds in Japan but they are never rude and always polite. I think shopping is a good example. Americans are downright rude and mean. <BR/><BR/>What I miss most is the love and kindness given by the Japanese to those who they take into their lives. It is unconditional and sincere. Even when I meet members of my wife's family I've never met before, there is no awkwardness, they accept me with no questions.Tony Marianihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10224604335183260581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-63470231050887429102009-03-05T08:37:00.000-08:002009-03-05T08:37:00.000-08:00Tony, I agree people are people wherever they are....Tony, I agree people are people wherever they are. But I still feel that when I return to America, I am depressed by how rude or selfish or careless people are here. I see everyone in Japan (at least in Tochigi) driving relatively safely but then I come home and people are swerving in and out of lanes, going 60 mph down a 35 mph street, going through read lights, giving people the middle finger, etc. It is one of the reasons I miss Japan.owenandbenjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09474307542498791351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-85184464285631856622009-03-05T08:30:00.000-08:002009-03-05T08:30:00.000-08:00The irrigation ditches are all over Japan. I've ye...The irrigation ditches are all over Japan. I've yet to see a car drive into one but nice to know it happens. Not sure if the Japanese are that much different out than Americans. I did see a fender bender my last time over. What a surprise that was to observe. <BR/><BR/>I find Japanese drivers extremely polite and accommodating, as opposed to American drivers. I have found a good mix of polite and not so polite Japanese. I figure people are people wherever you are.Tony Marianihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10224604335183260581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-62454067412291631652009-03-05T07:41:00.000-08:002009-03-05T07:41:00.000-08:00Jason, you're right. Japanese are very polite in s...Jason, you're right. Japanese are very polite in some ways but others they are not such as not giving up their train seat for an elderly person or pregnant women.<BR/><BR/>Sixmats, I have been to Japan 6 times for a total of several months and I still always forget to lower my head sometimes.owenandbenjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09474307542498791351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-9111535107494876152009-03-05T01:44:00.000-08:002009-03-05T01:44:00.000-08:00Yeah, you always have to watch your head. That's r...Yeah, you always have to watch your head. That's really annoying.Thomas Hammerlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05448828623411526253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26681372.post-11514039260600339332009-03-04T21:21:00.000-08:002009-03-04T21:21:00.000-08:00Yeah, those road side ditches, especially in the c...Yeah, those road side ditches, especially in the countryside, are real hazards. <BR/><BR/>It took me about a week to get used to driving in the U.S. again after 6 years of occasional driving in Japan. <BR/><BR/>I quickly realized how much friendly Americans are too each other out in public, and how totally cold and rude Japanese are to in each other.<BR/><BR/>Walk into a convenience store in Japan however, and you'll be greeted warmly, but not so in the U.S. <BR/><BR/>For me though it's more important for someone to hold the door open for me instead of letting it slam in my face, so glad to be back stateside.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01978143907905986212noreply@blogger.com