Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Seeing Japan without the Rose-Colored Glasses...

I love Japan. There are so many wonderful things about its people, culture, and landscape that I just adore. However, even after just two months' of living here, I've noticed many things that I didn't expect out of Japan or Japanese people, and some of it's downright appalling to the uninitiated. Today I'm going to take a closer look at several things the typical foreigner wouldn't expect out of Japan, as well as some things that I've personally observed Japanese people doing that I thought I would never see in this country, of all places.

I've been clubbing a few times in Nanba, in what's commonly referred to as "Amerika-mura" or "America Village." It's a small district that caters to foreign tourists, particularly (yup, you guessed it) Americans. I always have a wonderful time while at the club, dancing and having fun with friends in the basement-level dance club called Pure.

When I come up to the surface, however, I'm greeted by the sight of flashy-looking Japanese men with wild hair and business suits. These men, known as "Hosts," are hired by host clubs to come and attract women to their club and be paid attention to by men. The attention can range from just talking, to flirting and sex, but that's less common. When I first saw these men, I was appalled. And the more you look at them, the worse you feel for them. These poor, 20-something guys are just going around, hoping to be noticed and get some commission for bringing a girl in. They don't have a real future, it seems to me. What's more, most of them are rather unattractive. That must make their job even harder.

  (imaged borrowed under CC from user JanneM)    

 
(image borrowed under CC from user Jim O'Connell/Magnesium)

Walking further down the street, you'll find trash. Everywhere. On the ground, and not in trashcans. This is very bizarre, because you can go for miles on a street in Japan without finding a piece of garbage, usually. As I continued to walk down the street, I was accosted by a man begging me for money. Then I saw another man with his friend, urinating on a closed shop's metal door. It was just so very different from everything else I'd seen in Japan. It seems that when the lights go down, Japan shows itself to not be the cutesy paradise some people believe it to be.



It's not all bad in that way, though. Some things are just an unfortunate result from bad economic times. I've seen a few homeless men in Osaka and Hirakata. They have blankets and bags to keep warm (I hope), and they have long beards. It's a downward spiral once you're homeless: your skills atrophy, your health worsens, and any hopes of recovery become further and further impossible to achieve. I haven't had a chance to speak with one. I'm not sure what I would say or ask them - I'd be more than a little nervous to ask them, too.


My eyes have certainly been opened . Each new time out at night reveals a more of the dark side of Japan. It's not all bad, mind you, but it's not an immaculate, pikachu-filled paradise either.

3 comments:

visual gonthros said...

Part of being an exchange student is experiencing the highs and lows - sometimes everything is great and sometimes everything... sucks. But this is a normal reaction in a cross-cultural experience. You do well to put this post into context rather than merely ranting. But I wonder if the problem is with the America-influence in Ame-mura rather than it being Japanese. Personally I rarely go to that area... I suspect (know, actually) there are similar areas with similar problems. So the next time you encounter such an area, perhaps you won't be so surprised. No country is perfect...

We'll be seeing a film in class about host bars in a couple weeks so you will be able to understand them a little better.

Aren't you missing one of your original photos this week?

Tyler said...

I was kinda afraid I was the only one seeing this stuff. I'm glad it's normal. I apologize about the ranting. I felt rather strongly about the subject when I wrote it, and my emotion polluted my writing somewhat. I've seen hosts and such begging in Nanba, as well.

I updated my post and added a photo to better balance my writing and (hopefully) improve my post. Thanks for your suggestions!

rishellz said...

With regards to the hosts being unattractive... unattractive to who? You from an American perspective?
I agree that the photos you chose depict ones who are unnattractive, but they may very well be attractive to the Japanese women.
If you'll look at all the popular boy bands that are on the music channels, to me they are all incredibly young looking and not at all what I'd call attractive, but they must be doing something right because they're so damn popular with the Japanese women.
Attractiveness is all in the eye of the beholder...

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