Does This Stuff ACTUALLY Happen In Japan?

I hear things like this from time to time and wonder, is Japan really like that?  I mean I know a lot of things about Japan (which will be experienced when I get there) but stories like this come up from time to time and I'm curious if you can actually see this occur. My inquiring gaijin mind wants to know...

Comments

[haemi]

Wow. Now that's good service!

[CTDeLude]

I'd say. 2007 seems SO far away right at this point.

[tom]

Answer: YES.

Rule-governed Jp behavior. There's a code of conduct, even for Yakuza. They all seem to have codes of conduct. It's quite interesting.

When one violates the code, however. A friend of mine (not the most reputable guy) was in Japan with a few friends. They had been out drinking one night, came back to the hotel, and got on the elevator. Sharing the elevator was a man and woman. My friend (more like acquaintance) smiled at the Jp girl, who blushed. The fellow with her, the story goes, blushed, too. But more out of anger.

Then the acquaintance violated the code: he touched the Jp girl's bottom. (He's actually a lecherous scumbag that give gaijin a bad name.) The Japanese fellow, who I believe was her husband, pivtoted and punched the groper so hard in the mouth that the blow knocked out four front teeth. The elevator opened up, the couple stepped out, and the door shut, w/Amerikaners stunned.

Moral of the story: the code cuts both ways.

[CTDeLude]

And as a previous post should show...I have no damn problem with that. The guy sure did get what he deserved.

Although...now I've been reading up social actions and such and it's almost like trying to learn how to act in society all over again. Talk about a lot to learn in terms of decorum.

[tom]

As a gaijin, you won't be expected to conform the way a Japanese would. You'll be cut tons of slack.

Just be careful to not grope the locals. It'll take willpower and determination, but you can persevere :)

[Toni]

Let me put it this way Chris- you know how in the US, you can order food at a restaurant and make certain changes? Like you can ask for dressing on the side of your salad, or get orange juice instead of coffee? Not in Japan. They panic when you ask for something out of the ordinary. One time I was at KFC or someplace like that, and I wanted to get a meal combo. I asked if I could have mashed potatoes instead of fries and the person just looked so confused. She had to have a conference with the manager, and eventually they told me they couldn't change it. They looked really apologetic though.

[Lee]

As Tom says, it cuts both ways. So yes and no.

Some people you'll meet will go to extraordinary lengths to help you or make you feel welcome.

Yet at the same time others will treat you as though you are devoid of feelings. Like when you walk in a shop and the people working there all giggle to themsleves and do everything they can to avoid serving you.

These extremes can get a bit disheartening at times, and quite often I just want to be treated like everyone else. Not the good OR bad gaijin.