Comments by "" (@earlysda) on "Oriental Pearl" channel.

  1. Potato. When you actually do get pretty good, most of them will stop praising you on your attempts at Japanese.
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  2.  @martafiord  marta, John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
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  3. Definitely not a country for extroverts.
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  4.  @kathleencove  kathleen, most of your comments here are based, but the one exception is that sometimes Japanese actually do take offense at someone trying to speak their language. But yes, in general, the reason they will talk back to you in Japanese is 1. They want to help you 2. They haven't had a chance to practice their English in a long time 3. They are bored and want something interesting. 4. They are scared, and not thinking clearly about how to react. 5. They don't want to feel inferior (especially men). . I've had many instances in Japan where the store clerk heard me clearly and started to answer, then turned around to see my face, froze, and switched to English. That was frustraring for many years, but then I learned that it's kind of fun, and I smile and help them get thru with it. . I've also had a few experiences where a kid with a parent would understand me well and reply, while the parent was just frozen or trying to stammer in English - cute!
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  5. Tony, "Jozu desu ne" is tatemae. That means they know your Japanese isn't great, but they want to encourage you. When they stop saying that to you, then you can know you are really advancing.
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  6. Sadly, she chose to disfigure her body given her by God.
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  7. Why would anyone want to ask out someone who looks like a gang member?
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  8.  @kathleencove  kathleen, takosdon writes many truthful things regarding Japan, but goes overboard when he says things like: "Nowadays, foreign tourists aren't welcome in any city in Japan, ". . That is just outright false. . The facts are, foreign tourists are not welcomed by some people in parts of Tokyo and Kyoto, and perhaps a few other touristy spots, but the majority of Japanese cities would love to have more foreign tourists come. If what he said was true, why are many cities across Japan actively promoting their cities to travel agencies to try and get more foreign tourists?
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  9. I love cicadas too, but wish they'd start their chorus a little later in the mornings. :)
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  10.  @sankujamatia525  Sanku, there is no "large" foreign population in Hokkaido. Even fewer of them are Japanese citizens.
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  11.  @kathleencove  kathleen, well, I couldn't get my point across, but I appreciate your opinions. Thank you!
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  12.  @takosdon7754  tako, Your laughably mistaken comment is the most amusing thing I've read today. Thank you. . Now after you live in Japan about 3 decades, come back and let's have a mature discussion.
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  13.  @takosdon7754  tako, it is very difficult having a conversation with you as you keep changing the subject. . Your obviously blatant falsehood earlier was the assertion that all cities in Japan don't welcome foreign tourists. That is incredibly false, as anyone living in Japan should know very well. . Now you say: "None of the tourist attractions in Japan today welcome foreign tourists." . Look, you are welcome to write nonsensical, ridiculous, false statements that even any child who goes to USJ or Disney in Japan can tell are false. . But your falsehoods will be exposed.
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  14.  @kathleencove  kathleen, your common sense is very good. . The Japanese are generally very poor at initiating or accepting change. That is a very big problem dragging the country down. Yes, they may overcome this problem as they have many in the past, and I'm praying so and doing my part to help them. :)
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  15. Japanimal. You haven't lived long enough in Japan to fit in. So you still stick out.
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  16. Nobody accepts anybody "unconditionally".
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  17. Different melanin tones will forever create a barrier among nearly all Japanese. Yeah, I 've made peace with it too, but it's not so much fun.
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  18. Japan is a very strict, vertically controlled society.
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  19. kathyrn, and sadly, your turning back and saying something in Japanese just showed them that they were correct in their assessment of you.
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  20. Why break a heart over something that millions of people experience? That's life in an Evolutionary society that tells you your ancestors were pond scum.
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  21. Quite a number of people in Japan will be embarrassed or want to practice their English, or just plain rude, and pretend that they cannot understand your Japanese.
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  22. You still look unusual to Japanese. Live in Japan a long while, and just fit in, and no one will even notice you.
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  23.  @matuiyo2000  matu, your judgment is wrong.
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  24.  @takosdon7754  tako, your take on Japan is not true.
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  25.  @kathleencove  I've had many Japanese men mostly, who, as soon as they know my Japanese is better than their English, abruptly end the conversation and turn away. But women very rarely (maybe once?) do that. That's one reason I love kids, because they don't have all these hangups that come with growing up in this society. . Let me ask you a question: When I first came to Japan, when kids said something referring to this stranger, it was "gaijin". Then, around 20 years ago it was "eigonohito", then more recently "ojisan". Not sure if it is just an ageing thing for me, or if society is slowing changing. Any thots?
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  26.  @kathleencove  kathleen, Sorry I didn't make it clear. I'm talking about just suddenly running into somebody who you've never seen me before. Like the kids are walking with a parent or maybe a friend, and suddenly come around a corner face-to-face with me. . The words used by kids to address me in those situations have changed over the years, and I don't know why, except that the society is changing too, I guess.
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  27.  @kathleencove  kathleen, I'm still not sure if I'm getting my point across. When kids in Japan were surprised to see this face around 35 years ago, they would say: "gaijin", then, around 20 years later, most of them changed to "eigo-no-hito", then recently, "ojisan". . What my question is, is Japanese society changing, so that kids don't just automatically see a foreign face and think "gaijin" or "eigo" anymore?
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  28.  @takosdon7754  takos, so have you lived in Japan around 3 decades now?
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  29.  @takosdon7754  Now you're talking. You could have saved much time by stating that upfront. . edited to add: You wrote this earlier: "Nowadays, foreign tourists aren't welcome in any city in Japan, ". That is false, so please edit it to make it truthful.
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  30.  @takosdon7754  tako, well, you've made it clear you either cannot, or wish not, to have a mature converstaion in English on the subject at hand.
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  31. His Japanese isn't perfect at all. But good.
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  32.  @New-Moderate  New, No way you can tell he wasn't raised in America.
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  33.  @Moonless-ih9em  Moonless, you "pointless small talk" comment is incorrect.
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  34. Don't see anything in this video that points directly to the reaction being because she can speak Japanese. Maybe they are looking at her because of her blond hair, or long legs, or whatever. Japanese people sometimes even look at other Japanese people!
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  35. That was great. I had forgotten how big everything is in America. And even Detroit looked clean and green!
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  36.  @rindellegioucrosszeria9017  That's right, Rindelle. Sometimes kids can be very mean.
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  37.  @rai4119  Several people have. How about you?
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  38. I guess 3 years ago you were a bit paranoid about people speaking about you.
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  39. 7:55 Guarana is not healthy. It's got caffeine in it. But really, 2 hours from Tokyo is still Tokyo???
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  40. This video is not true, except in very extreme situations, like the foreigner is huge or smelly, same as if they were Japanese.
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  41. Japan is not accepting of foreigners, tho.
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  42. "village" and "Ikebukuro" don't go together.
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  43. When she proudly shows off her disfigured body, no wonder Japanese turn from her.
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