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I know this isn't strictly video game news, but given how much Japanese culture is discussed and celebrated here (and how much Japanese culture has affected the course of the video game industry), I thought this sort of commentary might be relevant. If I'm wrong, feel free to move it to the correct forum (Lifestyle? Your Man in Japan?)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11182591/site/newsweek

In brief: it's an interesting (though shallow) look at how traditional Japanese culture is being diluted by Western culture.

Meh - it's nothing really new. A phenomena brought on by cultural imperialism and globalization are leading towards a homogenization of cultures around the world.

Shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, really. But still, there will always be aspects of culture that will remain unique no matter what other countries are doing. And one should take the kind of cultural shift that occurs in the city and superimpose it on the rural areas, since those two walks of life are often extremely different.

And I think you're right in this belonging more in Life-Style/OT forum.

God forbid Japan break away from their (quite disgusting) traditions.

Originally Posted by capitalist_mao God forbid Japan break away from their (quite disgusting) traditions.

And what traditions, pray tell, are you referring to?

That was an interesting read, thanks.

You'd think CheapyD would disable topic creation for regular members, seeing how we're not supposed to do it. Unless I'm missing something...

But yeah, interesting article.

Originally Posted by AFStealth You'd think CheapyD would disable topic creation for regular members, seeing how we're not supposed to do it. Unless I'm missing something...

Maybe you're missing the first post, where he says he didn't know where to post it and suggested it be moved here? Because it was moved here since we can't create threads in this forum.

I'd like to hear Cheapy's two cents on the article since he's living there.

wait a sec, nwaugh is not my man in Japan, he isnt even my man.

Originally Posted by Ecofreak And what traditions, pray tell, are you referring to?

To name a few
Views on Women - As being subordinate. Glass Ceilings galore. They're expected to only work until they marry and have a child.

Views on other races, such as the Burakumin which are a group that are descriminated against to the extreme. There are actual lists of people and their children, so that families of "normal" Japanese people don't intermarry with them. Chinese and Koreans are both similarily descriminated against. Read about the Rape of Nanking to also get a better view of traditional Japanese racism. Gaijin is also quite a bit more disparaging than people give it credit for.

Views on social hierarchy. In a traditional Japanese setting, if you didn't bow far enough to an elder, you'd get your head chopped off. THere's still this adherence to the notion that elders rule over all (regardless of how bonkers they might be). That's why Nintendo and Sony are both run by old men that may or may not be senile.

THere are plenty of other screwy things that go on with Japanese culture. I'm not so sure why people are so enamored with it. That being said, I don't care if it's "westernization" or whatever difference there is in a culture, but sticking to tradition is stupid in most cases. The world changes and there's no reason to stick to inferior, or bad ways simply for the sake of tradition.

Originally Posted by capitalist_mao To name a few Views on Women - As being subordinate. Glass Ceilings galore. They're expected to only work until they marry and have a child. Views on other races, such as the Burakumin which are a group that are descriminated against to the extreme. There are actual lists of people and their children, so that families of "normal" Japanese people don't intermarry with them. Chinese and Koreans are both similarily descriminated against. Read about the Rape of Nanking to also get a better view of traditional Japanese racism. Gaijin is also quite a bit more disparaging than people give it credit for. Views on social hierarchy. In a traditional Japanese setting, if you didn't bow far enough to an elder, you'd get your head chopped off. THere's still this adherence to the notion that elders rule over all (regardless of how bonkers they might be). That's why Nintendo and Sony are both run by old men that may or may not be senile. THere are plenty of other screwy things that go on with Japanese culture. I'm not so sure why people are so enamored with it. That being said, I don't care if it's "westernization" or whatever difference there is in a culture, but sticking to tradition is stupid in most cases. The world changes and there's no reason to stick to inferior, or bad ways simply for the sake of tradition.

caste systems, strict gestures, cultures clinging to their purity and respect for elders are things that are commonly east asian, not just japanese. a u.s. view might consider it discriminating, sexist, harsh or arbitrary, but that's because we aren't backed by 1000s of years of culture, so we don't understand (nor are we expected to.) on marriage, the idea was that the woman's job was to take care of the house and the man worked as much as he could to keep the family well off, kinda like a companionate family here, but more ridgid. from what I understand, their jobs were separated for maximum family stability. that's changing though-- more women are moving out, getting jobs, marrying later etc.

but it's not as awful as you say it is...there are better things to target- like tentacle rape and panty vending machines.

I just wanted to remind you that you're on my ignore list, just in case you responded to me.

Originally Posted by Ikohn4ever wait a sec, nwaugh is not my man in Japan, he isnt even my man.

Originally Posted by capitalist_mao I just wanted to remind you that you're on my ignore list, just in case you responded to me.

thanks. you actually received an intelligent response, but since you can't see it, or this one, I'd like to remind everyone how petty the whole "ignore list" thing is.

Originally Posted by Apossum thanks. you actually received an intelligent response, but since you can't see it, or this one, I'd like to remind everyone how petty the whole "ignore list" thing is.

Now he can read it anyways.

Originally Posted by Ikohn4ever wait a sec, nwaugh is not my man in Japan, he isnt even my man.

Don't lie.

I fully support the United States' cultural imperialim. You don't take over a country with bombs and troops, you do it with McDonald's and Britney Spears!

Originally Posted by Mookyjooky Now he can read it anyways.

You've been added to my ignore list.

Originally Posted by evanft I fully support the United States' cultural imperialim. You don't take over a country with bombs and troops, you do it with McDonald's and Britney Spears!

Or in Commander Perry's case, with large ships and the ultimatum of letting Western culture into your country or dying. That worked well.

Originally Posted by megabadd Or in Commander Perry's case, with large ships and the ultimatum of letting Western culture into your country or dying. That worked well.

He was a Commodore. Way different from a Commander.

Indeed, excuse my mistype.