Let's Talk: 5 Not-So-Wonderful Things About Living in Japan.

Hey there!
In the interest of balance and being real with you guys, I wanted to make the counterpart to my last talking video and talk about some of the things I've found not ideal while living here, and how I have dealt with (or got used to, haha) them.
I really hope this doesn't come across as too negative or whiny, it's not meant that way, I promise. These are really pretty much the only gripes I have with my daily life here!
I hope this is useful, and thanks so much for watching!
Talk soon.
Eevee.

[@morisoba2550]

I'm native Japanese. I have to say you are an extremely smart person because you kind of summarized with first 4 which I've always felt discomfort about living in Japan. Especially, the third one " public versus true feeling " is so to say a psychological defect of Japanese human relation. If Japanese can mend it Japan will be much better place. Normally hon-ne to Tatemae (本音と建て前) is used positively in business to make customers feel comfortable. But it has crucial negative side effect. As Japanese tend to hide their true feeling (and thinking), they sometimes unexpectedly face difficult situations in politics or diplomacy. There are many problems in the world we have to discuss in public with sincere approach which should be based on their true feeling and thinking. If people only deal with the problem with public (facade) attitude, things can go quite twisted. Of course, I know any country can have similar problem though.

[@AstroVee]

Hey, thank you for this very thoughtful comment. I completely agree with you - there are pros and cons to the honne & tatemae way of doing things. It is both good and bad. I have noticed that Japanese people tend to have difficulty expressing (and sometimes even identifying) their true feelings, which I think is a big problem with this part of Japanese culture.

[@1234kingconan]

People outside of Japan think its heaven and can't believe anything otherwise

[@AstroVee]

That is actually one of the reasons I was really nervous/hesitant to upload this video. I know a lot of people want to live in Japan and they can't imagine it as anything other than a perfect wonderland. It's hard to have a discussion with people who see things as being that black and white.

[@AstroVee]

It is really interesting that you think that I dislike or am miserable in Japan. I love living here, and every other video I have ever made is nothing but good things/sharing Japanese culture and experiences that I adore. I think it's unrealistic to present an entirely positive view of anything, which is why I wanted to present some of the things that I don't enjoy here. There are a million videos about loving Japan, and very few saying anything negative, and I think it's super important to present a realistic/balanced view of things which is why I made this, despite knowing that there would be a lot of backlash. Everything has pros and cons, and to say that someone dislikes something because they don't think it's perfect is quite disingenuous in my opinion. But that's your feeling, and that's okay. As I say in every opinion video, these are my feelings and thoughts, and my experience doesn't reflect everyone's. (:

[@AstroVee]

I was nervous and hesitant to make this, because I knew people would assume I hate living in Japan/Japanese culture because I don't love everything about the country. In my experience a lot of people have a very rose-tinted view of Japan, and some people get incredibly defensive of any criticism at all of it. That's the black and white aspect - if you don't think everything about this country is perfect, then you obviously hate it. It's hard to find a balance between sharing what I love about Japan, and making sure I'm not adding to this view that it is a perfect wonderland. That was the aim of this video. Hope that makes sense!

[@AstroVee]

It's no problem, I can see how it could look that way. Thank you for keeping an open mind. I am the same - I tend to look on the bright side of everything. But I know quite a few of the people who watch my videos would like to/are planning to move here someday, and I don't want to give them an unrealistically perfect view of Japan. I think it's important to try and have realistic expectations of any place you're planning to go. :)

[@qee540]

This is tolerable, in fact; i can understand why. I don't see much problem here.

[@EPimporters]

Good video, But regarding the fax life in Japan. You are looking at it from the wrong direction. I run a business in Japan and the fax machine is a great tool and will never fade out especially in Japan. I few things about the benefits..... runs on phone line, meaning if the internet goes down the fax is still usable. * creates an instant legal document to even provide proof of a given situation such as receiving discounts from a company but to prove you are a business yourself as a potential dealer and not a consumer, we can place any needed business stamps to prove it. With computer communications about anything can be forged. Sending a fax is a safety net for say. Also when receiving a fax, you get a hard copy instantly which is good in many cases.

[@devoltar]

Any fax can be very easily forged, especially since you can send a fax from any computer, though even before that it was simple enough to make a physical forgery and obscure that fact thanks to the imperfections of a fax. You also can't prove the authenticity of a faxed document any more than a scanned document - the only reason it is considered legal is because of outdated laws and guidelines (and a lack of standardized secure e-mail methods to replace it). This is the reason the industry in the west is moving to digital signatures (keyed electronic signatures, not just a picture or drawing) for high profile documents. Adherence to fax these days is outright dangerous for security and identity. It's also now incorrect that fax will survive an internet outage in most countries these days, as the old analog phone exchanges have been largely removed or will be soon as they are no longer maintainable, and large businesses have largely moved to VoIP solutions for internal phones. - The fax machines sit on analog gateways that fail when the VoIP solution does, if not more often due to technical issues.

[@EPimporters]

In Japan it will not die out and secured cause we don't use signatures by hand. People here don't just get faxes. The market is still full of fax/scanner/printer combos. I was referring to the Japan market not what other countries are doing.

[@devoltar]

Seals are not more secure than a signature for faxed documents, they are just as easy to forge from an imaging perspective. The shift in phone exchanges and VoIP technology is also happening in Japan, it's just slower than other places. I am talking many markets including Japan, these are well known issues even among security professionals in Japan, and faxes are still in wide use in legal and insurance industries in the US. In both places it's a battle against culture and preference vs the reality of modern technology.

[@zam023]

Sorry, but my country and other countries around South East Asia are still using fax. It really puzzles me when westerners says they don't use fax at all. As for a document for faxing. You can do that, then how are you going to forge the fix line? Are you going to tap into that company's line just to fake a fax? One more advantage of the Fax technology, NO SPAM! I get tons of that in my email's inbox

[@katiekawaii]

The reasoning behind ATMs having business hours is (according to at least one bank in Japan) if there was a problem with a machine in the middle of the night, there wouldn't be any employees around to help you. Which always seemed like pretty silly logic to me. They're essentially saying, "in order to avoid potentially inconveniencing someone if an ATM doesn't work, we are inconveniencing everyone by making all ATMs not work intentionally." Haha.

[@bleu_ace1200]

This is my summary of your advice. 1 - The weather can get insane: Okay, that is incredibly useful because outside of Japan, not everyone sees the huge changes in weather on that end. Though, if you come from a place that is used to humidity, you may do alright. Otherwise, just be wise and prepare. 2 - Cash-based society: I heard of this on multiple occasions. It really does sound inconvenient as well, considering here in the USA the ATMs are also 24-hour. I guess it boils down to how well you can also manage your money from retrieving it out of the atm. 3 - Old tech: Yep, heard of this one too. Patience will definitely be a virtue when it comes to old tech in Japan. I haven't seen a fax machine since the 90s-early 2000s, but I would be willing to at least learn how to use one. 4 - Be self aware, as well as learning to read what people are saying or their meanings. Good advice as well. 5 - This one is basically something anyone should keep in mind when travelling outside of their own country. Basically, don't be an asshole and make a bad impression that could ruin locals views on your people or culture.

[@AstroVee]

Pretty succinct and accurate summary, I'd say! (:

[@chasingdragons1933]

Bleu_Ace I'm in real estate in NYC and fax is still very common

[@davidsnyder7341]

chasing dragons hardline fax or digital? E-fax is what most people use nowadays.

[@hereshashy2605]

Why does everyone need to show there art online no insults ahead but this isn’t a art show everyday I mean cool that you can draw but there’s like five people with drop dead similar pictures like that

[@springsresident7476]

Regarding the use of fax machines, I think the reason is due to the importance they attach to handwriting. For example, I think resumes/CV in Japan are normally handwritten. Handwriting are better transmitted by fax, short of taking a picture of the document. Regarding honne/tatemae, a japanese person expects the other party to be sensitive to his/her feelings without having to be explicit. This is conflict avoidance and keeps society functioning smoothly. Reminds me of the joke in western societies where an imperceptive husband asks a moody wife what he did to cause the moodiness and the wife simply replies "You should know!". Similarly in japanese society you are supposed to be keenly aware of the other person's thinking and feelings.

[@ziggyutah]

I respectfully disagree. I think the reason is because the Japanese are obsessed with tangible records. Records records and more records. Something physical and you can hold it in your hand and caress it. An electronic record can easily be deleted and lost. No Japanese wants to be responsible for losing anything.

[@zam023]

Did you think only Japan is using fax? The whole South East Asia region are still using fax and we are not obsessed with keeping physical records. My guess would be, it is an Asian thing(?).

[@rhyndawatson4173]

Yes, that's one Asian trait that drives me nuts, when talking to or asking a question they don't want to answer, they will stare blankly at you and not say a word

[@kimatyakido2491]

Rhynda Watson well, they know you would just waste their time most probably

[@Tiger74147]

How DO they justify the faxing thing? Like, how is it in ANY way more convenient than an email? MAYBE if you have to print out the contents for some reason but still...

[@balthvader4311]

Tiger74147 nobody has to justify fax thing to anyone. It s logical and for official documents better than e mail

[@Whitetara18]

"Tokyo: Annual Weather Averages. August is the hottest month in Tokyo with an average temperature of 26°C (79°F) and the coldest is January at 5°C (41°F) with the most daily sunshine hours at 6 in December. The wettest month is June with an average of 181mm of rain.May 17, 2015 Not 45 degree Celsius. And hard to say 5 degrees C is bitterly cold.

[@211teitake]

Most convenient stores accept credit cards and they usually have ATM (open 24 hrs) affiliated with multiple major banks.

[@esail57]

But it's real difficult for foreigners to obtain a credit card in Japan, they must bring them from their country of origin.

[@211teitake]

Sure. And most people have a credit card from back home they can use if their stay is temporary. There are also easier cards to get like Rakuten, Aeon, Yahoo Japan, and Amazon cards if you are in Japan for a long-haul.

[@DerpEye]

What's the big deal about paying cash? It's a perfectly normal thing in about 90% of the world. In some countries it may be rude to pretend paying small amounts with CC, because the bank keeps a good percentage of that money for every transaction. Faxes are used almost everywhere in the world, here in EU too.

[@AstroVee]

+DerpEye Wow, that is not my experience of the world at all! I have lived in England and New Zealand, and have family I visit in America fairly regularly too, as well as travelling to other places a fair bit too. I actually didn't mean credit cards as the alternative - I have never owned a credit card. In NZ I use a debit and an EFTPOS card. I've also not used a fax machine in any of these places, including for work and study in NZ! I am surprised to hear your experience. I don't think it's terrible that we use cash only here, but I do find it frustrating that ATMs are closed so often. You really need to plan ahead a lot, and if something unexpected comes up it can be a problem. Again, these are just things I think it is important to be aware of, and things that surprised me personally. Other people will have different experiences. (: Thanks for your thoughts!

[@DerpEye]

+Eevee Morgan By 'the world' i mean non english speaking countries obviously. Btw, in europe as you go down south, the payments are made less by card and more by cash, the more you go south, the more cash there is. And yeah, people usually recieve the salary by bank transfer, but retrieve cash from ATMs. It's handy, not every single small business accepts cards, especially for small amounts. Also in events of power shortage or busy/broken telephone/dsl line, the cards are basically useless. The faxes are less and less common, but for ex. in Italy every office has one, and it actually can be handy in some way, when sending text documents: you put your document in the scanner/printer/fax/whatever, and on the other side you recieve the document as a digital copy as an e-mail. You just skip the 'scan-convert-send email' proccess.

[@AstroVee]

That's very interesting, thank you. I know that outside NZ (even in English-speaking countries) small businesses don't always accept cards, which is fine. I was just surprised that in Japan pretty much nowhere outside the biggest chain supermarkets accepts even an EFTPOS card! Again, my hope was that this video would be helpful for people, and these were things that were a surprise to me, so I'm sure they will be to some other people too. It's just my perspective, and I'm sure there are loads more perspectives from other people who live here that are completely different! (:

[@_akuma06]

I don't know for Spain. But I am French and I pay mostly by Credit Card, every shop do accept cards (even the fruits&vegetable store in my remote natal village) and the ATMs are open 24 hours =D. I am studying in Germany and it's pretty much the same but they use something called "EC" card which is like a wallet card and some shops do not accept Credit Card beside that EC card. Finally I lived close to Italy and every time I went to shop or eat there, I didn't get any trouble with my credit card, except if you go to the open market (of course). +Eevee Morgan I've read somewhere about SUICA which is something that Japanese use to pay with their phones or with prepaid card. Is it used/accepted widely or are they really just a cash based country?

[@eglathren]

+DerpEye I don't really know where you're from, but I live in South Europe (Portugal) and using debit card is just as common as using cash, including for small amounts. Of course there are some places where, say, you can only use debit card for an amount over 5€, for instance, but using debit cards is getting more and more common, over cash.

[@EveryPS2Game]

Older video but working in hospitality and we always used fax machines (America). It's generally easier for paper documents that you need physical copies of. Instead of emailing and printing it out, you can just get a fax of it and store it away. One less step than going into your email.

[@AstroVee]

Really? That's so interesting! I have never had to use one in NZ, and almost never even see them. Thanks for the info! It must be more common than I think.

[@EveryPS2Game]

Woah, a response! It was mainly for what's called "credit card authorizations" which is when you pay for someone's stay on your own behalf. Larger corporations and businesses would fax us (and vice versa) more so than any individual. Just started binging on your videos. Putting some serious thought into applying for the 2018 JET year.

[@AstroVee]

Ah, gotcha. I guess that makes sense - just not something I've seen in NZ before. All the best for your application, if you choose to apply! :)

[@naziasyed02]

In India some places it gets around 50 degrees😓 we here are happy if it gets around 33-34 degrees.

[@laris.official]

35 is the warmest we get here in Serbia and it lasts 1 month. In winter it gets -10 or colder 40 degrees happens really rarely and it's on all news that we shouldn't go outside in the afternoon and if we do then they remind us to bring water with us. Also wearing hats is a must, otherwise we get a sunstroke.

[@zealandiajpn6275]

Hi i'm a japanese guy who is living in christchurch in NZ. A reason for japan still being a cash society, and still common to use a Fax machine is the mind set among people in general. Probably you have noticed yet but japan is seniority society. we do respect and care a lot for elder ppl which i am proud of being japanese, however for a downside it take sometime to adopt new concept or system for public. Even though japan is well known as a technological country, people over 45ish? didn't have education over PC and banking system: i seriously think ppl over 50 in japan may not tell the difference between credit card and debit card. thus, if they may not feel comfortable dealing with eftpos or other. A society may not give up on using notes. i think. As a chef( i am working at fine dinning), yes, japanese people do not like cinnamon and star anice much. in japanese cuisine or home cooking, we do not use them at all, so ppl are not familier with those spices

[@AstroVee]

+shigeru abe Thank you so much for this comment, that is so interesting and explains a lot! It makes sense that these things are kept for older generations, and I really like that older people are so well respected and looked after here. Thanks again for explaining, I can understand better now. Also, Christchurch is my home city! I hope you're enjoying your time there. (:

[@zealandiajpn6275]

+Eevee Morgan oh, ok you are from christchurch. but lived in england for quite long time isn't it correct? coz of your accent. This is my fourth year in nz, and next month my residency gonna be the pernanent one. Compare with auckland or wellington, christchurch is more laid back ,n good place to rise up a kid i think.... well i am still single but... By the way i originally from oita prefecture in kyushu. i know now isn't good time to visit coz of earthquick but when things get more settle down, you should visit there one day.

[@AstroVee]

I am so sorry, I hope everyone you know in Oita is okay. I would love to go there one day when everything settles down. So many people have told me I should visit Kyushu, and I really want to go. I'm glad you like Christchurch. I want to move back someday, as I agree with you - it's pretty relaxed, and I would like to buy a house/build a career there. Plus my family is there too. How did you guess England? People usually say my accent is American/Canadian/South African haha. I actually grew up in Leeds in England, and my dad is English.

[@zealandiajpn6275]

i used to live in u.s for 4 yrs. i went to a high school for a year as an exchange student, and community college in washington state, thus i am familier with north american accents. south african accent is defferent from north american or kiwi/ aussi one. Depend on who I am talking with but sometimes i do have hard time understanding them..... same for some aussi, irish or scouse as well but different way..... You know i mean right.. haha the career as a chef, i've always keep my mind, to pick a job which refer to be a good reference to anywhere in the world. so i may see and feel a lots of new countries which i am not familier with. But, Yes from my experience i can say NZ is definitely good place to build a family for anyone. kiwis are more open minded and most of ppl do not have prejudice idea for any race compare with rest of western nations. that's why i love this country and did applied for residency. At this moment, i am working at the next building of consular office of japan in christchurch. if you dealt with them i think you know where i am working at..... ^^

[@zealandiajpn6275]

i texted to my family yesterday and oita prefecture seems still ok. kumamoto prefecture got more severe damages. yes i hope one day you can go and visit kyushu.

[@mihosinzan]

In addition to what you mentioned here,the bureaucracy in Japan is a common topic.I have been required to fill in documents frequently.What do you think about paperworks in Japan?Is it same as New Zealand?

[@AstroVee]

+mihosinzan That is very true! There is so much paperwork for everything here compared to New Zealand. When I first arrived I definitely noticed that, but now that I'm used to it, I don't really think about it so much. That is a great point though, thank you. (:

[@jackfrost6902]

Would love to live there but the humidity would be a little too unbearable I think. But I guess I could get used to it, maybe. Not sure anybody ever really gets used to it. I grew up in Texas,U.S.A where it’s very humid and remember how hard it is to breath when it’s really humid. And also have lived in the desert, Nevada, U.S.A where it’s a dry heat. Although not quite as bad as the other it’s still pretty bad at 130 degrees in some places.

[@fernandonovosad4533]

holy crap.... those eyes :O so beautiful

[@renzoneoful]

Fernando Novosad not the teeth tho

[@DJGodaryD86]

For business purposes here in europe companies still use fax machines because it's more legit than emails. Any idiot can write an email and make fake ones is easy, faxes are connected to phone numbers so it's more legit. Also where I live the weather changed a lot it became similar as there in Japan and can get on my nerves sometimes. It can be cold and rainy and two hours later 30C sometimes even more. Weather doesn't know what to want to be and at those moments I change clothing every two hours it's most annoying if I go somewhere. The older I become the more I hate the summer because of the heat and I think that the weather would be my only problem in Japan so far.

[@juxtn]

I had a friend who schooled a semester in New Zealand and said the pizza man back in the late 90's was ready to take an e-pos (sp)? machine because NZ was working to be cashless to limit theft and counterfeiting to ultra low levels as part of their economic plan to be super monetarily efficient. Those were some excellent points about how few vendors take cards and the fax machines. Obviously the funny contrast is how they love their technological gadgets they are very well known for like their electronic toilet seats, tv's in the bathroom and video intercoms for the front door that even large homes in rich nations mostly do not have because they are seen as gimicky and very campy. Great video!

[@AstroVee]

Hey, thanks for the feedback! Yep, in NZ almost everything is done by EFTPOS or debit card, which is another reason that the cash only thing is especially jarring for New Zealanders. I don't mind it now that I am used to it, but for people who are just traveling short term I think it's an important thing to know about!

[@JordanNZ30]

+Eevee Morgan Did you know New Zealand was the first country to have Eftpos! And it's the fastest in the world. :-)

[@takuan650]

I think You have been quite gentle with Your criticisms. I have been living here for a year now and have certainly a different set of experiences but apart from a lot of positives I have come across a number of surprisingly rough ones as well. Blatant fraud in a department store, fraudulent packaging of food items, shocking driving skills and traffic infrastructure pretty much everywhere and one case of racism, just to name a few surprising ones. I still like it here because the positives outweigh the negatives by quite a margin although finding genuine friends here is no easy task.

[@gimmedavidb]

You forgot the ridiculously high costs of national health care insurance and residence tax. These two costs seriously prevent foreigners from saving much money every month. Japan is easily the most expensive country to live in in Asia.

[@toshinakano1551]

As a Japanese, 1.Humid-Yes it's terrible.. Cool at the store and hot and humid outside.. Make you sick if you do not know how to control this climate. But summer is best time for diet. You will lose your appetite. Cash Society,- May be because safe country? I don't know about ATM, I am using internet banking. You can withdraw money at convenience store 24hrs. 3. Tatemae and Honne, I don't know but this is unique to Japanese culture. More like we have been taught always caring others before yourself, it everyone caring each other it will back to you kind a things. Indeed this different from western's..

[@AstroVee]

Hey, thanks for this comment! Yeah, I always lose weight in Japanese summer. I never want to eat because it's too hot. I agree that Japan is a safe country to carry cash in, and that's actually one of the things I love about living here. I always feel safe in Japan. Honne and tatemae do exist in other cultures, in my opinion, but I think it's more intense in Japanese culture, and you're definitely right about Japanese people being taught to think of others before themselves. Thanks again for your thoughts, I really appreciate it.

[@АнастасияПривидение]

I knew Japan got warm in the summer but 45 degrees???? I'm comfortable at around 10 degrees 😂

[@balthvader4311]

Анастасия Привидение living in osaka. Never 45 degrees. Neither okinawa

[@lilmissmonsterrr]

What makes it inconvenient is what makes it work. For example, the cash based society and unwillingness to always choose the easy way (technologically speaking). Maybe other countries would be better of not jumping on every technological advance just because it makes things "easier". Easy and convenient isn't always better. Sometimes technology makes things worse in the long run and from a wider perspective. Just because it makes daily life "better" for the individual that doesn't mean it doesn't decay society and the world as a whole.

[@lilmissmonsterrr]

Btw, I'm not directing this at the lady in the video specifically, just sharing a thought.

[@DudeJericho]

If you live in Kansai you might know about this already, but if you like cinnamon I would recommend looking out for yatsuhashi (八ツ橋), it's a famous Kyoto wagashi that tastes awesome :)

[@AstroVee]

Thanks so much for the recommendation! These are actually some of my favourite snacks ever, and the best weeks are the weeks when I can find them in my local supermarket! :p

[@cityboygonewild7931]

When you say cold, like what temps are we talking? Same question regarding how hot does it get during the hot season.

[@AstroVee]

Hiya, I talked about how hot it gets, but it is mostly the humidity that is killer - it gets to around 80% here in Nara. As I said everything is different depending on whereabouts in Japan you are too. Nara is infamously humid and hot. In winter we get snow a few times per year. I'd say normal mornings are around -3 or -4 here? You can look all this up easily for your specific area though. :) Hope that helps!

[@cityboygonewild7931]

Wow. that does sound pretty extreme. Thanks much.

[@TokyoNerd]

If you go to the convenient stores you can use ATMs any time of the day, and depending on your bank you'll have no fees.

[@AstroVee]

+TokyoNerd Hi, and thanks! (: I'm with UFJ, so most have fees, and from my experience around 50% of conbini in my area do not have ATMs. But yes, this is definitely an option if necessary!

[@angelaf5040]

Very helpful and informative! Thank you! In the US you don't need to carry cash with you anywhere either. ATM's are all 24hrs that I've ever seen. Also faxes are also kind of out-dated. Enjoy sharing your videos with my daughter as we both hope to visit someday!

[@AstroVee]

Hey, no problem! Thank you so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I hope you and your daughter enjoy your visit!

[@sky89line]

while many people cancelled using paper money, Japan is using it. ATM is something I need it 24/7 doesn't make any sense at all to have them with opening houre

[@jensenpeacock8395]

Number 4 is precisely the reason I decided against studying abroad in Japan. They'll probably look at my american self and be like, ""I expected you to be fatter."

[@jony1495]

so what? better than I thought you were slimmer :D

[@zam023]

See thats how Americans think, you proved it with this comment. Japanese don't care about your body shape unless you are an idol or something.

[@balthvader4311]

Jensen Peacock really? You gave up studying in japan just for this? Nice then

[@thepickeypenguin7098]

You should have replied back "at least I'm not orange"

[@MengLeeLim]

Using fax machines is probably good to prevent fraud because the stencils inside fax machines can be used in court of law.

[@Aurinkohirvi]

Licorice, salmiakki, rye bread, cinnamon buns, good chocolate or coffee (things emigrated Finns miss). There are things people miss terribly when they go to foreign countries. It's not strange to miss something you ate in your home country, it's quite common. A global issue.

[@tuhaka5212]

Thank you for making this video :) It gave me a lot of useful information and made me to look more forward in to moving to study in japan. I think despite all the great things that people say about japan, i realized its still very important to know the ''not so pleasant'' side of living in there. :) but in the end everyone has their own subjective view of everything so it all comes down to the experience and how you approach it.

[@AstroVee]

+Tumblur I absolutely agree that it's important to know the not great things about a country, or at least be prepared for their existence, before you move there. There are so many wonderful things about living here, but I think it's important not to ONLY talk about the good things. And thank you so much! Glad I could help. (:

[@olliegriffin5539]

I was trying to place your accent. Something about it just resonated. It became a task I had to figure out until my flatmate came in and asked a question in your voice. Then my heart dropped and my seeming confidence in my intellect shattered. Oh a kiwi.....i'm one too wahhhhhhhhh

[@AstroVee]

Haha, actually most Kiwis find my accent hard to place! I grew up in England and my dad is English, so I have a bit of an all over the place accent sometimes. (:

[@bambiAndSteve]

Great video! For cinammon, the best bet that you should be able to easily find in local supermarkets is ニッキ飴 or nikki ame. ニッキ is Japanese cinnamon. There are several different brands and they all taste quite different (sweeter, dried, powdery -er?) so if you can find more than one brand, try them all! I have also seen a ニッキ drink online but never found it in real life.

[@stevenvictx]

typhoons must be different in Asia, than in the gulf coast, if a hurricane hits the train station, it will close because it will be destroyed, along with the train.

[@japangenie4206]

Nice vid thanks for sharing. But when you said 45 degrees my gum fell out of my mouth. 45 degrees + Japan humidity = death. So just for the record, literally; Official record: Shimanto, Kochi 41.0 °C, August 12, 2013. Unofficial record: Adachi, Tokyo, 42.7 °C, July 20, 2004.

[@lillamy2896]

Im just as curius about New Zeeland as Japan.I live in Sweden and never hear anything about those contryes.It would be lovley if you could include something about your homecontry somtime.

[@tototaniwha]

Have you always lived in NZ? A couple of things in your accent made me think you were from elsewhere :D! I'm from NZ too and interested in doing what you're doing it was really interesting thanks!

[@AstroVee]

Myon Tan Haha, you're correct! I'm from England originally and my accent is just a weird mish-mash at this point. :p

[@tototaniwha]

oooh now I definitely see it! That's pretty neat

[@naomimazzi4995]

You can get cash out in any convenience stores for 24h. And most place accept cards if you are living in the city. With the fax, receivers don’t need to open tons of emails if it’s urgent. Hope you will find cinnamon flavour 🤣 I love NZ 💖

[@abitofellen]

I loved this video! I'm from NZ too and just recently came to Kyoto on an exchange, and I couldn't agree more with these points~ I especially related on the cash society and backwards technology parts; it's something completely different to NZ and I was shocked xD.

[@AstroVee]

+ABitOfEllen Hey! Thanks for the comment, and welcome to Kansai! I'm glad you agree with what I thought - I know a lot of people have different experiences, and I think NZ is pretty different to many other Western countries too, so our perspective is different from someone from America or England for example. Enjoy your time in Kyoto!

[@devoltar]

I visited japan a couple years ago, and I loved it, but I found it mind-boggling that it was near-impossible to do many things online that I could do in the US or Europe - Buy train tickets, reserve rooms at local hotels/inns, etc. Once you are used to our hyper-connected environment these days in the west, where you can search for a local restaurant and reserve a table right from the map... Japan definitely feels a bit backwards in this regard. The fact that web services that do exist often look like old geocities pages doesn't help with that impression. :) So many things about the culture make up for it but it is unexpected in a country lauded for being ahead of the game for so many years. Great video, I'm considering how sometime in the future I could do a 5 month-ish stay in Japan, and this insight is always helpful.

[@chihoglaser857]

Actually, I loved typhoons in Japan. I was very excited when they came. I felt like that the dragons were dancing outside the building.

[@Serxne_]

Many people treat their fax machines as a mailbox. If there's something in it, it needs to be reviewed rather hastily. A full fax machine is an unhappy fax machine.

[@josephdavidmyall5171]

Nice video. It’s never been 45 degrees here, though. The record is just over 41 degrees.

[@RMoocher]

You're from NZ, huh? Couldn't hear it with your unusual accent. Where have been living most your life?

[@AstroVee]

I spent half my life in England, half in NZ, and four years in Japan so far - so kinda mixture, much like my accent haha.

[@RMoocher]

@@AstroVee Yeah, can certainly hear a mix up! Couldn't quite figure out your country of origin when listening to you speak. Us Aussies know Kiwi accents well, but I could't detect it. So how's Japan been treating you so far? Hopefully not too isolating for you, as an English speaking foreigner? I've been watching videos on the down sides of the Japanese social system. It's a pretty difficult way of life for the Japanese people to exist in over there, from what I've heard! But apparently not so much for foreigners. Still, there's many more flaws you could address with the country if you made a second video like this one. I'd like to visit Japan, but not live there, personally.

[@etsukohanajima9526]

The reason why you have such experiences is you live in INAKA (country side). If you live in Tokyo, your opinion will be change, I am sure.

[@aleeah6948]

wait until u live in montreal in canada you'll see japan weather is easy! in summer it's + 40 and winter -40 lolllll and even more!

[@rebelmaderighteous]

I never thought it was that bad out there. I know it's bad on the plains and rockies.

[@JP_world_traveller]

One of my Kiwi female mates in Tokyo had been annoyed with her 2 colleagues from America as they were more likely to talk as if they knew everything even they did not lol so my mate was annoyed . Personally as I stayed in the UK, many people seemed to assume that I didn't speak English lol I was not annoyed . Other Kiwi woman whose she used to live in Osaka for ages said that we should not assume we know everything about other country as we have lived in the country for ages. People in the Kansai region especially people in Osaka are more frank than those from other region . of course it depends on person ye talk with :) we still use Tatemae and Honne as well as ye know

[@AstroVee]

+wildfire777 Yeah, I get annoyed with people who talk like they know everything too! I understand her feelings. I'm really glad I live in Kansai because I do feel like people here can be a little more open and honest, and I like the "Osaka" sense of humour too! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)

[@kylepace1680]

Aside from the typhoon's, the weather sounds a lot like it is here in Georgia

[@catcubus]

What were the words you used for #4 again?

[@AstroVee]

licorice and aniseed? number 5, but not sure which words you mean for 4, sorry!

[@catcubus]

The words you spoke in Japanese. :) Was the ones before that one!

[@davidsnyder7341]

Wait so... can I use Apple Pay in Japan ?

[@Jtttcagn]

Honne/Tatemae exists in any cultures, including the West. You should be thankful to the Japanese though, as they are not as sarcastic as the West.

[@AstroVee]

+bakaanikimachisu Hiya! I actually said in the video that I think honne/tatemae culture exists everywhere, but is more pronounced in Japan. I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing, as I said in the video, I just think it's something that can be a culture shock to non-Japanese people. Thanks for your thoughts!

[@finalbreath15]

i assume maybe the fax machine could be explained by the internet being harder to access? thats what I've heard anyway, do not take my word for it lol

[@Jay-kc9oi]

When i was staying in Japan, i had cinnamon toast almost every other day. Yummy!

[@qee540]

Great sharing :)

[@Kenkyu75]

I agree with her.

[@cooldesertknight]

-"Consumer rights" in Japan are terrible compared to that of Western countries (Seriously!). One thing I really missed during the times I spent in Japan. -Very confined flats/apartments,low-ceilings (Second thing I missed; spacious apartments, high ceilings etc). -Humid summers (Humidity it is a killer over there :P ). -Small food portions. Although I don't eat a lot, but I found I almost need twice the food portion the Japanese need in order for me to feel full ! -Food again: they seem to put sugar in almost all their food recipes! Nevertheless,I really enjoyed all my visits and stays in Japan. Graceful polite people, very safe, gorgeous country-side and very beautiful beaches, a very rich culture,...actually a very VERY rich culture,... and really cute girls,too :) I just wish if there were many Japanese fluent in English (and wish if there're English instructions on their appliances, small street signs, etc). Language barrier is really big there (and for the Japanese being very shy doesn't help!)So it's really a good idea if you learn some Japanese words and phrases. Anyway, I love Japan and Japanese people. I encourage anyone who's capable to visit that amazing country (and stay there as long as possible :D ). You'll never regret it. Great video, Eevee Morgan. Salaam to you and to all.

[@AstroVee]

These are all really good! I'm glad I'm not alone with the humidity thing - I feel like a lot of people told me I spent way too long talking about it, but I'm a cold weather girl and I just suck at functioning in humidity. Totally agree about the sugar thing too. Especially in bread. It was so hard to find bread without sugar in it, which was very strange. I ended up just not eating bread because sandwiches with sugary bread is just...odd. I too really loved my time in Japan and the culture and people, but it's important to talk about the negative thing too. I never want to give people an unrealistic idea of things if I can help it. Thanks so much for your input, I really appreciate it. :)

[@DarkKnghtZ]

No comments about how terribly 3rd world country their government is? For example, if you want a record from the city hall, you have to go to the city hall which oversees where you were living at the time the record was created....so lets say you need a record from 6 years ago after you moved 100 KM away. You have to make a trip, since their governments computers are not linked.

[@AstroVee]

Yep, this is all absolutely true. I tried to steer clear of heavier political things - for example, I also think the views on gender roles/relationships and sex education in Japan are pretty archaic and problematic. I didn't want to go too deep into things because I know everyone has different opinions, and I'm not the best at articulating myself about more sensitive topics. I wanted to make sure I wasn't being ignorant or offensive, and I also wanted to try to keep this video about things that are at least semi-dealable with, so I tried to stick to talking about practical things. Japan has much bigger systematic problems than I mentioned here, as does every country that I know of. I hope that all makes sense! Thank you so much for your feedback. (:

[@DarkKnghtZ]

Hold on a second.... there is sex ed here? hmmm.. ill take your word for it. ;-)

[@angeleeku]

I had NO idea about the cash thing...! Thank you so much for saying this, I feel like no-one else addresses this and I would feel so lost if I went to Japan and only had my cards...!!

[@AstroVee]

+Angelique Marie So glad I could be helpful to you! Thank you for letting me know!

[@Tnakamura11]

45°C in Japan? We have not experienced that extreme heat.

[@AstroVee]

+Tnakamura11 Yeah! I don't know about all of Japan, but in Nara it van get that hot in summer! ):

[@Tnakamura11]

+Eevee Morgan The highest temperature in Japan is 41 in Kochi, which was recorded in 2013. Nara has not experienced even 40 according to Japan Meteorological Agency homepage.

[@AstroVee]

+Tnakamura11 Wow, that's really interesting! My staffrooms' temperature/humidity gauge must be wrong then, since that is what I always use, and last summer we had 3 days of 41, 2 of 43, and 1 of 45! Thanks for letting me know! :)

[@Eltercero]

+Eevee Morgan There are weather agencies, data, facts, etc., that can confirm these things. Your staff room gauge is probably not the one to go by.

[@Aurinkohirvi]

I thought fax machines were in the 90's. Yeah, and the USA used this peepers when someone wanted to call them, and then they went to public phone! In Finland we had had cellular phones couple of decades before they became common in the USA. And today, in the American talk shows there is always this static noise in the phone calls, and we haven't had that for decades, so I wonder what's with the horribly low quality. And why people can't use bank account to account transfers, they use these horribly old fashionable mailing cheques by snail mail, and credit cards in on-line shopping? What's with that? In Finland private people and many online sellers use account to account transfer: it's free, you don't need licences or credit card for it and the payment is there in the very same day. And how about people paying with cheques in shops! Or receiving their salary as a cheque? That's what we haven't seen for at least 50 years! It's not just Japan, sometimes the old methods that seem incredibly clumsy just stay in use, although much better solutions are used elsewhere.

[@Aurinkohirvi]

And by the way, using cash is smart. Good for Japan! When your data network crashes, or when your bank goes under, how do you use your electric money? What about if your access to your account is denied? How do you give money to kids selling lemonade by the street? Banks also take profit from electronic money transfers from business owners, why feed the banks? Want big brother following and analyzing your every money transfer? Good for using cash, Japan! Stay with it!

[@francesdale8434]

You are lucky that you are not in Canada, our winter weather could be upto -35 - -40

[@TecNickelSwag]

Thank Ü

[@smallbluemachine]

Loving the cocker spaniel hair. -Hides your Western looking eyes very well. 4 points for integration.

[@AstroVee]

smallbluemachine Thanks so much! I feel like you can def still see my eyes very well though, judging by the number of people who comment on them.

[@valeriebloodworth4513]

I find your comments about things being cash based very interesting. I thought many things were paid via apps on smart phones.

[@AstroVee]

+Valerie Bloodworth I see a lot of Buzzfeed type videos showing things like that, but it's definitely not my experience of living here! Perhaps it's more common in Tokyo? But in my daily life I never see anything like that - I saw it much more in NZ and California. Thanks for your thoughts!

[@valeriebloodworth4513]

Agree! We only see the images that media want to portray. The best we can do is educate each other. Cheers!

[@АнастасияПривидение]

This was really helpful, I know to take a suitcase full of cinnamon flavouring with me when I visit Japan 😂 seriously, I really enjoyed this video though

[@AstroVee]

Haha, funny you should mention that - I'm visiting NZ for Christmas, and I'm definitely bringing back a whole bunch of cinnamon things!

[@followorange4413]

You did a wonderful job presenting this video. 😀

[@AstroVee]

+Follow Orange Thanks so much for that! I always worry about how I come across in talking videos, so that means a lot to me. (:

[@followorange4413]

+Eevee Morgan I feel the same when I film sometimes. Also, I am not very good with pronouncing things in Japanese. I think I say it right then edit a video only to realize I used a southern accent. Haha.

[@AstroVee]

+Follow Orange Oh my gosh, isn't that just the worst? I think my accent when I speak Japanese is okay, but when I try to use Japanese words in English sentences it's just... not okay haha. I'm sure people understand though - switching between languages is tough!

[@theJcM98]

I love Japan, for example the traditional culture and architecture, the cuisine, the exotic feeling (in the view of an European), the melody of the Japanese language and the writing system or the interesting links between shintoism and buddhism. BUT what's on the other side of this coin? What's about the BIG problems of the japanese society? Like: -Xenophobic tendencies while immigration (they must fight the demographic transition) -the equality isn't given (gender-mainstreaming) -the conservative role model (alá the U.S. 50ies or less woman in the higher management) -isolation in the "dog-eat-dog society" or the society type itself -energy policy -massive terraforming ->negative environmental impacts (flora & fauna) What did you think about these problems? Did you feel them in the country?

[@AstroVee]

I definitely notice these things here. Xenophobia is likely to be a huge issue in Japan for many decades to come, since Japan is so homogenous and isolated, it's unlikely to change. I think there are good and bad aspects to that personally. Gender inequality is a big deal here. It can be really hard to watch, because while sexism is a big issue everywhere, Japan is the first place I have lived where it's so blatant. I notice it every day, and have had a few conversations about it with people. A lot of the Japanese people I've talked to say it's getting better, and I hope that's true. I haven't noticed the isolation so much. There is a lot of pressure on people to succeed in a very conventional way (go to school, get an office job, get married, have a family - this seems to be the only basic life model that a lot of people are expected to conform to), and I think that can cause a lot of problems within families and make people feel alone. I do think on the other hand that there's a great sense of community while living here. People tend to help eachother out readily and that can help temper the isolated feeling. Ugh, the energy policy and the huge environment is such a problem here. Again, this is something I've tried to talk to people about here and got very little in terms of opinions or feelings. It seems like many people just don't care as long as they're not seeing life-threatening effects yet. Though everyone says that summers are getting hotter every year, so it's noticeable... I definitely notice all these things living here. I don't know what to think, or how much I should think about things like xenophobia, as I am not Japanese and don't know everything about it. But I hope the negative sides of these things will slowly change. Thanks for your comment. (:

[@badlandsghost]

Eevee Morgan I think a lot of the xenophobia stems from the forceful westernization of Japan brought about by China, Britain, and the US. the Japanese never wanted to open their doors nor did they want the western life as it resulted in heavy losses of their culture so now their is a fear of immigrants taking away the culture

[@esail57]

This is total Bullshit! Very little Xenophobia did I experience while living there for 9 years. On occasion you can experience prejudice attitudes from some. Were dealing with 21st century culture here, not 19th century.

[@fromthaisland]

As for ATMs the Post Office is 24hrs

[@AstroVee]

Absolutely not true for most places! My two local post offices are only open 9am - 4pm on weekdays. :) I imagine this is true for some of the bigger branches in big cities, but the post offices I know even in big metropolitan areas like Osaka and Kyoto aren't even open on weekends, let alone 24 hours!

[@ChuckNorris36999]

I guess Japanese haven't heard of I speak for myself the actions of others don't speak for me!

[@oscara31]

THE SUMMER IS COMING

[@AstroVee]

Ahahah, exactly my feelings in spring.

[@ririj1234]

"Japan doesn't like to move on from old technology"..... LMAO they just don't like to move on. Period. Old ways are best to them in EVERYTHING 😂😂😂😩

[@AstroVee]

RiRi J Absolutely true lmao. Great in some ways, not so great in others!

[@alansu65ahus]

Your room looks very Japanese traditional more than my room. ( I'm Japanese )

[@ajrwilde14]

where are you from? NZ?

[@AstroVee]

Yep, England and then NZ.

[@ajrwilde14]

I knew it

[@onigiri1205]

meh, it cant be as cold as Canada

[@balthvader4311]

Cinnamon? Everywhere in japan? Anasin also.

[@hendrixphish420]

do you enjoy bbc dvp?

[@hendrixphish420]

it's a fair question. she looks like she does.

[@Invective]

are there any mosques local to you, is halal food available?

[@AstroVee]

Hi there! I'm not religious, so I am not sure about the mosques in my area, I'm sorry. I do know that they exist in Japan, but I'm not sure how common they are. In Osaka I have seen quite a few Halal food places, but I've not seen very many at all outside big cities. Sorry I can't be of more help here, it's outside my area of experience. :(

[@morisoba2550]

Yes. There are some Mosques, and Halal restaurants and food stores in Tokyo. But you need to know them beforehand by Internet or travel guide to get to, because they are not common in Japan and impossible to find them by yourself.

[@xXrandom]

halal is animal cruelty

[@mohdelmogiera]

+XfsadsBOT047 how is halal animal cruelty?

[@Invective]

+XfsadsBOT047 no it's not... You should read a book before you make a comment RT

[@onigiri1205]

i think cash is good because you dont get yourself in debts

[@abcdef2069]

huminity is good for your skin, natural moisturizer

[@rebelmaderighteous]

Fax machines were in their prime in 2006?!..........

[@Bobshouse]

You keep looking to the right which is a sign of untruth.

[@blondeno1girl]

As though other countries don't have four seasons, and get really hot or really cold, or have extreme weather? You actually spent more than five minutes talking about weather. If this is all you are getting from your cultural experience, then dude...you need to get outside your comfort zone just a LITTLE bit more. These days, most ATMs are open all the time, and if they aren't, you can go to a 7-11, Lawson, or any other convenience store which are open 24 hours. I guess if you are in the country, it would be pretty inconvenient since the nearest conbini might be quite a walk away, but in the cities this is not a problem at all. I haven't seen any fax machines in offices in Tokyo. I work for a large Japanese conglomerate, and we use email exclusively. Though Japan definitely is behind in terms of IT engineering, I don't think the fax is widely-used as your personal experience might have led you to think. Going by what you are saying here, I'm thinking you live in inkaka. Wakayama? Gumma? Saitama? LOL. A little jab at Saitama as inaka always gets people laughing. ;) Honne and tatemae - why do gaijin in Japan seem determined to live up to the stereotype that foreigners can't possibly understand Japan, and the culture is unfathomable? They love to think this, you know. It makes them feel special. I love it when I can blast that stereotype out of the water with a well-placed cultural reference, or my *amazing* insights into the Japanese character, which really aren't all that amazing. To impress Japanese all you have to do is know how to use chopsticks, or understand what teeth-sucking while saying "muzukashii" really means. Representing your country? I don't represent any country, unless "gaikoku" is a country, because how can anyone know from looking at you where you are from? Also, if someone believes every single New Zealander is an asshole just because they met ONE New Zealander who was one, then that person needs to stop being so fucking racist right now. Too bad about cinnamon and anise. Personally, I miss Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and ice cream that is in more flavors than green tea, vanilla, and strawberry. Haagen-daz has done well, with many interesting new flavors recently, but within the ordinary ice cream section, you can't find anything. :( And oh, I DO mean to be negative about Japan, because why not? Every place you live has some great things and some shitty things, and why we shouldn't point out the shitty ones? Oh, because you aren't supposed to be negative about another country's culture? You aren't supposed to JUDGE. Well, IMO, getting shitty because you can't find Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or acting like you are above honne and tatemae and refusing to go along with harmless local cultural mores IS shitty. But commenting on or complaining about them is fine, because without open cultural criticism, we loose our ability to call out things that are truly harmful, such as the way women are treated in Japan, or the proliferation of schoolgirl porn. I retain my right to comment and complain. I bet you are now thinking I am one of those "grumpy gaijin" oldtimers who have been in Japan for several decades..... and you'd be right. :)

[@AstroVee]

+blondeno1girl Hi there! Thanks for your feedback! Actually, as I said at the beginning of the video, the vast majority of my experiences here have been overwhelmingly positive. I had a hard time coming up with five generally negative things to talk about. I also wanted to choose the most universal things I could, to make them helpful for as many people as possible, rather than things that were very specific to me. And I wanted to avoid huge political/cultural issues for the sake of avoiding arguments. These were the five things I settled on that I thought I'd want to have known before moving here. (: I am sure other countries get really hot and cold - personally I have only lived in countries that get one side of the extreme, which I find much easier to deal with. I do not live in a city! But I am glad that you shared your experience and that it's convenient for you, that's awesome! I live just outside Osaka, so while I'm often in the city, my work and daily life experience is pretty inaka. I certainly don't think I'm above honne and tatemae, or that it's unfathomable to non-Japanese people. As I said, I think variations on it exist in every culture. To me it was a surprise how different Japan's version was, and I wanted to mention it in my own words because most people just told me it's a Japanese-only phenomenon, which I don't believe. I represent my country because almost everyone in my hometown knows where I'm from, where I work and live, etc. Again, I live in a relatively small place, and again I'm glad your experience is so different. Thanks for sharing! As for my cultural experience, I am enjoying every second of it! Hence having so few negative things to mention. :p Thanks again, have a great day!

[@Deej_jeffs]

wow I love accent girl

[@t.least.he.is.honest]

you remind me of the cute iirish girl that did the elton john copy

[@yakmanok]

you are a beautiful girl.

[@david7v530]

Fax machines were more 1980s and 90s, even by the 00s they were long gone in the West

[@badgerinabluedress4866]

Do you have a postal address we can send cards to? =)

[@AstroVee]

+Rosemerryn Tremayne I'm afraid my only postal address is my home address, and I don't feel comfortable giving it out. But thank you so much, that's a really kind thought.

[@badgerinabluedress4866]

+Eevee Morgan Oh well, when you're not feeling very well, in lieu of cards, just remember that we're thinking of you. =)

[@AstroVee]

+Rosemerryn Tremayne That is so sweet of you! Thanks very much, I will definitely keep it in mind. (:

[@sifeholunnwheels2170]

Good summary, I've watched some pretty cringe-worthy versions of similar videos from other people where they complain about particular mind-blowing and incredible observations, such as "that in my own country I drive everywhere I go, and I was really surprised that in Japan they don't do that"... Ah yeah, well anyway, as for representing your own culture I think you'd be doing a much better job than that.

[@AstroVee]

Hey, thank you for the feedback! I was actually really hesitant about making this video because I didn't want to a) come across as really negative, or b) come across as whining about things that are just part of life. I tried very hard to avoid both those things (although I know complaining about weather so much is a bit of a stretch!), so thank you very much for taking the time to write this. (:

[@codyzeik1937]

Haha your hair is awesome

[@gtrzdaddy]

Use free mobile fax app to send fax.

[@YAMANOOUKOKU]

Is she Korean?

[@777_WakeUp]

liked :)

[@kelc-1373]

So many trolls on here. Many of you are probably bitter because someone in the past has called you a weeabo for either wanting to go to Japan or liking Japanese culture. Don’t bring other people down because they actually ended up going to Japan.

[@INSPIREDCHAMPION]

Me and gf.going. I like kissing her in public..is that ok. Plus we are vegatarians. I heard all they eat is fish and meat.

[@dragunovbushcraft152]

You have lovely eyes!

[@AstroVee]

Thank you!

[@davidlessard841]

NO CINNAMON? D:

[@AstroVee]

Literally my reaction when I couldn't find cinnamon stuff haha.

[@davidlessard841]

Haha!

[@Human_01]

Japan > Western countries xD ROFL

[@lil_weasel219]

You look cute :3

[@nathanmitchell9431]

Goddamn you're beautiful OMG 😍 😍