3.11.2004
A suspicious mind
The English-language media love writing about racism in Japan. I know, I know. But If I believed all this stuff about 30% of this and that...well it doesn't matter because apparently I'm acceptable.
But if the article is really about how Japan lags in foreign tourism, why don't they address the obvious issue, the cost? Why would Asian tourists (I mean from other Asian countries), come to Japan when it's so much cheaper to go a million other places? Or if they're going to go somewhere expensive, they could go somewhere more exotic, like say, Lansing Michigan.
And what about Western tourists (or whatever the proper non-Orientalist term is...could someone fill me in on that?). It's really not as expensive as everybody thinks to live in Japan, because you learn the ropes. But it's pricey to be a tourist. I mean, I'd love just to have my family and friends visit, but let's be realistic. The airfare is twice that of a trip to Europe.
Besides, businesses may want more tourism, but in what country in the world will you find average people (not employed in the industry) who will say, "yes, please send more foreigners"?
As far as foreign investment. That's a toughie. The Business culture is very different than in the States and I assume Europe. More thoughts on this later...gots to do some reading on this topic anyway since I'll be spending more time at Honbu (head office).
Regardless, I think everybody needs to get the chip off their shoulder about Japan. Let's be forward thinking people. Too much of what people think of Japan is wrapped up in the past, whether romanticised or genocidal. Time to move on!
Of course, everybody has to play ball here. The government should take down the site for reporting suspicious foreigners.
But if the article is really about how Japan lags in foreign tourism, why don't they address the obvious issue, the cost? Why would Asian tourists (I mean from other Asian countries), come to Japan when it's so much cheaper to go a million other places? Or if they're going to go somewhere expensive, they could go somewhere more exotic, like say, Lansing Michigan.
And what about Western tourists (or whatever the proper non-Orientalist term is...could someone fill me in on that?). It's really not as expensive as everybody thinks to live in Japan, because you learn the ropes. But it's pricey to be a tourist. I mean, I'd love just to have my family and friends visit, but let's be realistic. The airfare is twice that of a trip to Europe.
Besides, businesses may want more tourism, but in what country in the world will you find average people (not employed in the industry) who will say, "yes, please send more foreigners"?
As far as foreign investment. That's a toughie. The Business culture is very different than in the States and I assume Europe. More thoughts on this later...gots to do some reading on this topic anyway since I'll be spending more time at Honbu (head office).
Regardless, I think everybody needs to get the chip off their shoulder about Japan. Let's be forward thinking people. Too much of what people think of Japan is wrapped up in the past, whether romanticised or genocidal. Time to move on!
Of course, everybody has to play ball here. The government should take down the site for reporting suspicious foreigners.
