Strange Japanese beliefs & urban myths

[lexico]

You've found the forum's hottest thread on you first post. Are you into stocks or lottery by any chance ?

when Japanese people ask Europeans if they have four seasons in Europe, they just wanted to break the ice.

Your example can be compared to the British comment on weather, or the French, Italian, Spanish, German or American reference to "it." It can be a million different things, but the first thing that comes to mind in the langauges (if anyone cared to think about what "it" meant) is weather/climate. Comment ca va, Buon giorno, Buenos diez, Guten tag, How is it going, Nice day ! The expressiong "I'm having a bad day" can also be argued as a metaphor springing from the original reference to the day's weather. I couldn't agree with you more on the "ice breaker." It would be unfortunate to take it as a pride-wielding, snobbish ice-pick. Who in their right minds would be that dumb or senile ?

It is true we taught at school that our country is a beautiful country which has four distinguish seasons. But it doesn't mean that we've been taught "No other counties have four seasons like we have in Japan."

This is also true in Korea. Don't all countries do that to a degree ? How about China, Taiwan, Mongolia, Turkey, Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, or Greece ?

Some Japanese people(like myself) pretend to be naive when they speak to foreigners because they are not confident to carry on a complicated conversation in English.

I think many refined cultures have in essence the same way of assuming ignorance. One wishes not to be pretending to know just because one has read a few lines in a book. How much can you trust a book ? The personal contact is highly valued in such sophisticated cultures, so it doesn't count if you knew anything beforehand. It becomes special knowledge only because the person you met told you "in person." It is also more scientific to ask a person from the country, rather than believing whatever's in the book. That's what I think ... although some from a less sophisticated culture may choose to disagree ... *feigning ignorance*

Nevertheless, there seems to be a small number of obstinate, prejudiced, supremacist, condescending individuals in any society, not only in Japan. Does anyone have an objective, numerical breakdown on "bigots statistics found worldwide by country/nationality/ethnic group/language group ?" I would be highly interested in examining such a list of reliable statistics.

That aside: Welcome to the forum, again, Yama-san !
Knowing that Australia is in the southern hemisphere, but not wanting to pretend to know anything about it without ever having set foot in your country of residence, if I may be so bold as to ask you:

"Are you having fair weather in your country ?"
"Are your four seasons exactly the same as what you've had in Japan ?"
"When does your spring, summer, autumn, and fall begin and end ?"
"Have you experienced snow in Australia ?"
"Have you noticed what might be related to global warming recently ?"
"How is it going with you ?"

[YAMA]

Thank you for your reply, Lexico-san.

Befere I came to this forum, I have never imagined that asking "Do you have four seasons in your country?" is so offensive to some Western people.
I myself usually ask this question to foreigners. Most of the time, it is for ice breaker, but sometimes I really have no idea about their climate when I speak to people from countries such as Sudan or Lebanon.

I think the Japanese people feel the same sort of offense when asked
"Do you eat raw fish?" with a superior smile from Western people.

Fortunately, I have never asked this question in Australia, but when I traveled to Germany, I was asked this question and I was a little bit upset.

Anyway,I agree that we have to know more about other countries.

Lexico-san

"Are you having fair weather in your country ?"

Yes, we are.I love the sub-tropical climate in Brisbane.But sometimes it is too warm to me.

"Are your four seasons exactly the same as what you've had in Japan ?"

I arrived in here just 1month ago, so I can't say.But summer is similar to that of Tokyo's.

"When does your spring, summer, autumn, and fall begin and end ?"

Spring,Sep-Nov Summer,Dec-Feb,Autumn, Mar-may,Winter,Jun-Aug
It supposed to be Autumn now, but it's still hot.30℃！

Have you experienced snow in Australia ?"

Not yet.Maybe it will never snows in BNE.

"Have you noticed what might be related to global warming recently ?"

Before I came here I was in Melbourne,one day the maximum temperature dropped down to 13degrees in the middle of summer. I think something is going wrong in global weather system.

"How is it going with you ?"

I'm enjyoying my stay in Australia.Wonderful country!

[Maciamo]

I myself usually ask this question to foreigners. Most of the time, it is for ice breaker, but sometimes I really have no idea about their climate when I speak to people from countries such as Sudan or Lebanon.

First you say you ask this to Westerners, the you talk about Sudan and Lebanon. Anyway, it seems obvious to anybody who has seen a world map that Sudan is hot almost all year round (being partly in the Sahara desert) and Lebanon is forcedly mediteranean, as it is on the Mediteranean Sea.

I think the Japanese people feel the same sort of offense when asked
"Do you eat raw fish?" with a superior smile from Western people.

?? Where you asked if you eat raw fish by Westerners ? Do you mean, after you asked them if they can eat it and they said yes ?

[Index]

First you say you ask this to Westerners, the you talk about Sudan and Lebanon. Anyway, it seems obvious to anybody who has seen a world map that Sudan is hot almost all year round (being partly in the Sahara desert) and Lebanon is forcedly mediteranean, as it is on the Mediteranean Sea.



?? Where you asked if you eat raw fish by Westerners ? Do you mean, after you asked them if they can eat it and they said yes ?

I think he wrote that he ased this of 'foreigners', not 'Westerners'. In regards to geography, I think Maciamo that you are pre-supposing too much about what others may or may not find obvious when looking at maps.

Asking non-Japanese about raw fish is justifiable I think, since eating raw fish is relatively rare outside Japan, especially Europe, Australia or the US.

[cicatriz esp]

Asking non-Japanese about raw fish is justifiable I think, since eating raw fish is relatively rare outside Japan, especially Europe, Australia or the US.

Ceviche, prepared in central and South America for hundreds of years.

[bossel]

Asking non-Japanese about raw fish is justifiable I think, since eating raw fish is relatively rare outside Japan, especially Europe, Australia or the US.

Actually pretty common at least in parts of Europe: in Germany & the Netherlands many people like to eat Matjes, Rollmops or Bismarck-herring, which is salted or marinated raw herring.

Caviar is pretty common, too. OK, that's only roe, not really fish yet, but quite fishy.

[Index]

Actually pretty common at least in parts of Europe: in Germany & the Netherlands many people like to eat Matjes, Rollmops or Bismarck-herring, which is salted or marinated raw herring.

Caviar is pretty common, too. OK, that's only roe, not really fish yet, but quite fishy.

Get up on the wrong side of bed today?

Relatively was the key word in that post. Two or three types of fish isn't really comparable to the varieties available in Japan.

As an aside, rollmops and herring is common in Poland but it's not really considered raw in the same way as sashimi or sushi.

[bossel]

Get up on the wrong side of bed today?

Relatively was the key word in that post. Two or three types of fish isn't really comparable to the varieties available in Japan.

As an aside, rollmops and herring is common in Poland but it's not really considered raw in the same way as sashimi or sushi.

Just on the way to bed now.

I understood your previous post slightly different: "relatively rare outside Japan, especially Europe" as "especially rare in Europe."
While I think, it's pretty common. Yeah, not as many different types, but if you go for that, vegetables/fruits are also "relatively rare" in Europe (compared to what my girlfriend tells me about China).
You are right that Europeans very often may not recognise that they are eating raw fish, although they do. I sometimes heard people talk about Japan & how unusual it is to eat raw fish. When told that their Matjes is essentially raw, too, they often seemed a bit surprised.

I understand the Chinese also had the practice. But nowadays they don't eat raw fish. I don't know exactly when they stopped. Could be related to change in weather, pollution, or cultural change ?

Don't know about Sushi-like stuff (can't ask my girlfriend, she's already asleep), but they also eat raw fish, though dried (like they do in Korea, too).

They look down upon us Europeans for eating raw meat, though (oh, what a barbarian I am).