Monday, November 1, 2010

Jared Braiterman: "you really like living here? Point of view of an outsider on Tokyo

(Article published in Newsweek Japan 28 October 2010 in Japanese)

"You really do enjoy living in Tokyo?" is a question that I often wonder ici.Malgré living in Tokyo for two years now, I cannot distinguish whether this issue expressed national modesty, a feeling of inferiority or ignorance of the experience of daily life in the United States.

Both film and television of the United States images circulate around the world, including the Japan.Perhaps these images give Japan a familiarity with a place that many do not have visité.En revenge, most citizens of United States rarely idealized view representations of foreign countries in the mass media, except perhaps for the images of war. United States, a sense of superiority requires only the more superficial knowledge of other places.

I often hear a common lament of top executives page Japan, University professors and officials. With the rise of China and the India, the Government of the United States and its mobile and educated individuals are more interested in the so-called Japon.La "China change" sparks Japanese anguish that includes and beyond economic and diplomatic concerns.

This is flattering and perplexed that the Japanese consider the presence of North American and European to be a barometer of the economy and its place in a world changing. are we really so important to Japan identity national or is this another example of Japanese politeness that the United States people have so much difficulty recognizing?

The United States Government and the people are rarely with the reputation of their country abroad. Immigration concerns revolve around concerns illegal and non-skilled newcomers.There is little public debate on whether the world best and the brightest desire to acquire education and launch their careers in the United States.

Since the Lehman shock, the contracting economy has affected all Nations. Yet, Japan seems to be specific, long malaise that is simultaneously economic, political and cultural.The so-called "lost decade" is in its third decade, in the midst of political instability. More recently, the discovery of the 230,000 age-old missing raised cultural rather new levels of consternation and indignation.Les statistics that until recently reported high quality of life of the Japan seem now to the ineffectiveness of the Government and treason filial product longevity.

With the common question of whether I like "really" living here, Japanese also want to know if I am here because of work YH ' I learned over time that it is easier to answer "Yes", despite the answer is false. These two issues make me wonder why the Japanese value not the unique qualities of urban life and culture. Why is - it difficult for Japanese to imagine Tokyo is attractive for foreigners?Japanese believe that money is what they have to offer to the world or themselves?

During the bubble in the 1980s, the largest number of Americans and Europeans have come to the Japan.If they have become bankers, architects or publishers of the book, long term most expatriate I met initially in the Japan came from cultural interests, whether literature, Buddhism or gardens.Now I meet other newcomers abroad with many different interests, including not only but also animates mahjong, the Japanese language, even of boy bands and graphical design.

The Japan place in the world is certainly changing.Decline in the population and persistent deflation create an uncertain future that would have been unthinkable in the era of super-growth now long past.The world cannot be rushing to copy Japon.Encore Japan business management techniques still has much to offer to the world in terms of ideas and culture.

Japan post-Bubble has demonstrated remarkable resilience and creativity in the challenges faced by both developed and developing countries.How to live with limited natural resources? how to create dense cities which are safe and enjoyable? adopt the new without erasing the past?

In my work, I meet lots of visionary Japanese strive to resolve organizers art mondiales.Les and difficult national issues and agricultural innovators are wonderful experiences aimed at revitalizing depopulated technology developers Japon.Les campaign create new platforms for the community, the trade and médias.Entreprises and youth bring nature into the city's social and environmental health.

The economy could no longer be the envy of the world, or the place where foreigners dream for enrichment rapide.Pourtant its culture and people continue to attract foreigners wishing to explore new ways to work, live and as many of us in the 21st siècle.Bon foreign as living ici.Je wonder if the Japanese asking such questions politely strange do not see the positive qualities of Tokyo.


Jared Braiterman Dr.. wrote a blog on Green Tokyo area and research was published in Japan, China, Europe, Latin America and the United States.

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Follow Jared Braiterman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JBraiterman

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