If you've been reading about the strange and sometimes shocking things about Japan that I've posted at TFans, then THIS thread is everyone's chance to share with us all what things from, about or linked to Japan.

I'll start and kick off with...


...Japanese nights out!

Compared to the Uk, where I'm from, you simply can't beat Japan for a great night out. 24 hour bars, clubs, restaurants, cheap hotels, and alcohol make it a great place for lovers, drinkers, and anyone who wants to let off steam!

Here is a vid about it:

1/ Night out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ObboAchljE

2/ Karaoke:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weuEZFfNVVI

BTW- Im addicted to karaoke booths. Cheap and private if you want or you can use them for private parties and you can even sleep in some!

3/ Host Bars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6LhDTdcsPU

Ok, they represent the more racist "no foreigners allowed: japanese only" side to a night out but not ALL hostess/host bars are like that. some such as the one featured above let some uk lads pose as hosts for the night!

I also love Japanese Karaoke Boxes.

There are vending machines and convenience stores EVERYWHERE and they are always open!

Oh yeah, you're also completely smothered by animé and manga!! Console games are also cheap and there are a LOT more games produced and released for the Japanese market compared to what we get in Anglophone market. The Anglophone market is literally the tip of the iceberg compared to what they get in Japan (mmm... Super Robot Taisen fresh...). And you can buy manga and console games for really CHEAP prices second hand (and when I say second hand I mean that they've often only every been used ONCE before being sold - so they're in Near Mint condition for half the RRP.

Japanese public transport also rocks - unlike Sydney public transport, which is just Hell™.

Really? Videogames are rather expensive over here, so are DVDs and CDs! And remember this little factoid..GTA:San Andreas has ONLY JUST COME OUT in Japan..and it was edited. Many Europen and USA games never get a release in Japan. Even big named games.

Second hand videogames are not cheap..some even go for MORE than their original price. If they are sold too cheap, then some peeps think they are broken.

Mind you, Ive found some amazingly cheap TFs in parts of Japan. I got a really good condition Takara Twincast with steeljaw for about 15 dollars in box plus a damaged box but good condition starsabre for the same price.

Japanese trains are good though. Not late/canceled/overpriced trains with people spoiling for a fight at night like good ol' Blighty!

But if youve been to Japan and found those cheap second hand games, Id love to know where you went! Spill the beans!

where in japan did you find the cheap vintage tf's?

Isesaki, gunma-ken, in a shop the size of a warehouse translated as "Treasure box" "Takara Hako" or something like that. black kanji on a white sign or vice-versa.

Loads of second hand tfs and other robots, bb guns, cds, replica guns, dvds, naughty vids, costumes, rare japanese mail away stuff..you name it..theyve got it.

Isesaki, gunma-ken

is this the city in japan where the warehouse is located (the store being named takara hako?)

isesaki shi, aka, isesaki city, located in gunma prefecture. Easy access from toyko, which is about 2 hours away via the Tobu Isesaki line. the shop, "Treasure Box" is on the same road as the "Movix Cinema" and just down the road from Toys R Us (with the toys r us on your right, turn left so the toys r us is behond you). The shop between a huge game centre (with a big rainbow on it) and a tire shop. You will need to enter the carpark and walk to the back of it to get to the shop. I think its even open 24 hours or at least until 11pm.

taniguchi piloting the hks altezza and orido in the rs-r supra. u might want to turn your volume down a notch thats one of the things i wanna see when i go to japan is the Tokyo Auto Salon, car meets at 'Daikoku Futo'... cars screaming down the wangan expressways, real togue drifting... o yah n the night life

There isnt that much drift racing in Japan. However, in Isesaki, where I used to live, in Gunma, the BRAZILIAN and PERUVIAN with a few Japanese drift race around Mt Akagi, the main mountain in Gunma. Mt Akagi, incidentallly, is one of the main mountains featured in the game/anime/cmanga, "Intial D".

So get out to the mountains if you wanna see real race meets. The cities are impossible to race in. Traffic lights every 100 years or so and cops everywhere.

That wasn't my experience.

When I was living there your average PS game was approx 3000JPY which after a while I could find second hand at video rental stores for about 1500JPY.

Another great thing about Japan: Japanese store clerks count money FAST (and accurately)!

This is true. some tills even only give the cashier the CORRECT change to give. The worker doesnt have to think at all!

Extremely low level of public anti-social behaviour.

A few nights ago my wife and I were cycling. Because it was at night, and because I'm sick and tired of being nearly run over by motorists all the time, we ride wearing those fluoro-glow vests that cops and road workers usually wear. As well as having LED lights mounted on our bikes, it helps to make us extremely visible to drivers when riding. (note: In Australia it is compulsory for persons over the age of 12 to ride their bicycles on roads or specially marked footpaths - bicycles are legally considered to be road vehicles and cannot be ridden on standard footpaths - pedestrians get narky if ya do)

So we're riding on a specially marked footpath and stopped at a crossing light. A car full of girls pull over and heckled us -- making the comment of "I like your vest, where can I get one?" -- that was just really silly. But then another car with two blokes in it also pull over and the passenger demands that we produce our licence (which is stupid, because you don't need a licence to ride a freakin' bicycle) and then pulls out his wallet and flashes his bankcard in an infantile attempt at imitating an undercover police officer.

I don't understand why someone would want to pull over just to hassle two strangers for being perfectly sensible about road safety. I could understand maybe having a giggle or making some snide remark to your friend as you drive by, like, "hey check those two out! Lol!!" -- but as if you'd actually go to the effort of pulling over to berate two perfect strangers about it!

The attempt at humour was absolutely infantile, and the behaviour can be described as nothing more than chest-beating -- bullying people who aren't in a position to defend themselves. And from adults (young adults, but still adults nonetheless - if you're old enough to drive independently, you're not a kid).

I HATE that kind of behaviour that we get here - and I know this might sound racist, but I typically cop it from Lebanese-Australians -- both girls and both blokes in two separate cars were of Lebanese appearance (and spoke with a Lebanese-Australian accent). But that's not to say that we don't get a lot of Me Grimlock no bozo, me king! behaviour from other Aussies too...

But the great thing about Japan is that such brazen and open acts of public anti-socialism -- without the influence of alcohol -- is something that is far less common in Japan. That's not to say it doesn't happen at all, but compared to Australia it's far, far less common in occurence. I encountered public anti-social behaviour directed toward me in Japan just a handful of times (and in most of those cases, alcohol was involved). Here, it happens every freakin' week.. (-_-)

Australians don't have the sense of "shame" or "face" that the Japanese do, and are thus more willing to publically behave like c0cks.

That's true. Ive had some nasty drunken salarymen give me racist terms etc, but on the whole Japanese keep their bile for the internet, and at home.

I like that too. I get to go out and not have drunken people give me hassle, and AGGRESSIVE hassle. I was sick of that in the UK, even from women. My goodness, the ATTITUDE on some girls at bars in that country!

I get hurled racial slurs from white folk who aren't even drunk!

The other day I was on my bike and a car with these three white chicks pulled up and yelled out, "Hey it's Bruce Lee!"

...cos ya know... Bruce Lee would be a fat-arse with glasses. Flax-wenches. (-_-0)

There are some really talented artists there - particularly if you're interested in learning how to draw in the manga/anime style - exchange students, I strongly recommend joining a "manga-ken" or "manga circle" -- it's great fun as you can pick up some fantastic drawing tips from extremely talented artists.

Below: In the middle is a picture of a Transformer I drew before I went to live in Japan. On the left and right are drawings of Transformers after having lived in Japan. I'm not saying I'm a fantastic artist or anything, just pointing out the difference my pre and post Japan TF fanart is like.

I would have thought that getting into a circle of Otaku would be pretty difficult? They are not the most sociable of peeps.

Depends on their level of otakuness... most fanboys/girls aren't that bad - at least the ones who are willing to join and participate in clubs and club activities.

Like most other university clubs/circles they have outings and events and daily lunch time social gatherings... and just generally a good way to make contacts. I hung out with some of those guys off campus more than I did on campus.

I would mention another good thing about Japan is their architecture, especially with their older buildings; ie shrines, castles etc. Would love to have a house made like that myself.. Hopefully, I might be going to Japan in a few years with my middle bro (will take me a few years to save for the trip, but it'll be worth it).

One kinda embarrassing thing I like about Japan - Japanese professional wrestling!! They've started to broadcast it over here on Eurosport (been going since about Xmas 06), but it is only New Japan Pro Wrestling. If they showed other JP feds, such as Michinoku Pro and DragonGate, that would be great!!

Sorry to burst your bubble about the buildings, but:

1/ Most modern buildings in Japan are some of the ugliest in the world. They look like playmobil houses..all plastic and stuff.

2/ Many buildings are meant to be earthquake proof, but due to major corruption in Japans government and building/contsruction companies, a very famous and powerful architecht in Japan was arrested for LYING about his buildings being earthquake proof when they are not. Many hotels and rented accomodation companies now know about which buildings are dangerous but many have refused to tell the general public which are which. They are also terrible at keeping in the warmth, having been deigned with GAPS between the walls.

3/ Traditional Japanese buildings are lovely though, if thats what you mean?

It's interesting to compare the various types of traditional architecture too. If you look at a lot of the traditional architecture around the Western parts of Honshuu such as around Nara and Kyoto, you'll notice a distinctly more Chinese influence in their architecture. It's because Nara was where imported Chinese culture boomed during the Heian period and spread throughout Japan. Compare this with architecture in the east, say around Tokyo, and you will notice a more distinctly Japanese style in their architecture.

Examples:
Tokyo Temple <-- Japanese architecture
Todaiji <--Chinese-based Japanese architecture
A temple in the Forbidden City <--Chinese architecture

Yeah, sorry - I did mean their more traditional buildings, as i mentioned shrines, castles, and so on.. my bad!!

btw, one reason why a lot of modern Japanese buildings are so f'ugly is because they were rapidly rebuilt after WWII. Cosmetic beauty kinda wasn't a priority after recovering from extensive fire-bombing and a nuclear holocaust.

Well, they seem to do a very good job re-building the Tokyo Towerafter all their giant monster problems....

"You're late for work!"
"Sorry. My train got attacked my Mothra."
"What?? AGAIN?!?"

all the great airsofting guns are made in japan. i'd like to see an USA VS JAPAN in airsofting cqb LOL.

They even have a Tokyo Marui Park, specifically for CQB skirmishing!!

Two words:

SAILOR MOON.

Best thing, EASILY - there's no aboriginals.

I haven't met a single aboriginal who could have refrained from pissing or even Blotting in one of the beautiful public hot springs in Japan.

Mate, what "aboriginals" are you referring to? The indigenous people of japan, which means "aboringinal" (ie" "original people") are known as "Ainu" and they get plenty of stick by some Japanese.

Onsens do have problems, with the odd Russian sailor or drunken Japanese businessman getting in trouble for making a mess in one form or another in onsens.

Also, young couples have started to more and more do the "hokey pokey" in private onsens, making all kinds of, ahem, messes.

In Nagano and nearby, Japanese Snow Monkeys jump into and regulary use natural onsens to stay alive during winter.

Fair enuff.. my experience with Japan must be limited compared to yours. I was turning this into more of a 'bad things about Australia!' thread.

But i can rephrase it simply as i've never been scared to go out at night in Japan, whereas normally i'm cautious day and night in Australia. It's much safer there, that much i can tell without living there for a long time.

Another great think..cute 21 year old Japanese girls with angelic smiles, innocent faces and long black hair..a real rarity in "lets making our hair orange and permed and slap a ton of face makeup on" young japanese women.

I hope to meet her again!

Great musicians and live concerts! Some highly talents artists such as:

QUEEN NAMIE AMURO!
Dreams Come True
Every Little Thing
TRF!
Miki Imai
ZARD (recently passed away)
Mr. Children
Yoko Kanno
Boa
Wada Kanako
YUI
Yuna Ito
Joe Hisaishi





You need to post pics, dude!

so this isnt your type of girl
http://www.dannychoo.com/blog_entry/eng/99...panese+Fashion/

personally its a bit much for me as well and its strange that here going black seems to be in (at least in the groups I'm in)

Absolutely loath those girls mate. They are the Japanese equiv. of local townies/white trash back home. They chain smoke, want soooo desperately to look "western" and pine after western icons like brad pitt and beckham, and yet refuse to learn english, doll themselves up on daddy's/BF's/some gullible 58 year old sugar daddy's money and generally offend my senses. The thing is, they would NEVER date a foreigner even if he could put up with theit luis vuitton, whiney, tobacco stinking, bad teethed, materialistic, vain demenour

Seriously, they wear ridiculous oversized gold shoes with the rear straps off so whenever they shuffle pidgeon toed all you can hear is "clack clack clack scraaaappppe" every now and then and when you turn around there they are, all in fake tans, high pitched screeches and 5 shopping bags hanging from their arms like a sling on a broken arm.

No, no, no. Ive seen too many of these wretches over here and to tell you the truth, Ive rarely seen them with guys either.

Another great thing about Japan GRAVURE GIRLS!

LOL. Ive always thought that even naturally large breasts are weird on J-Girls...perhaps they dont have good bras for bigger busts? Thats what western girls complain about anyway.

Moving on...

I submit: Lawson's fried chicken (the white meat version - NOT the terrible Japanese dark meat variety)!!!

I submit the lovely bentou boxes not the crappy to go ones!

I was thinking of moving to Japan after I've got my degree, which will hopefully be oriental studies: Japanese, meaning I'll be fluent in the language. Hopefully when I've got my last clutch of A - levels at A grades, then I'll be in with a chance of getting into Oxford or Cambridge, as they are among the only universities that offer modules on Japan's feudal history (back when they were cool, before all that really evil stuff they did in WWII - but that's not for this thread).

There's a lot of negative stuff in this section of the forum - any chance of some more reasons why Japan's a good place to live?

Japan's a great place to live! If you are Japanese!

I wish I was young and idealistic again, but I'm 30 and have lived here for 2 years. I wanna go home now!

I submit for consideration the food, especially the after hour snack bars and the yummy yakatori and gyozas. There is some excellent chiefs in Japan and if food isn't your thing then check out the soap parlors, ganguro or even kogal hot spots.

OH and did I submit SAKE?? DAMN I LOVE THAT STUFF!!

And Soundblaster010 Japan can be a great place to live IF you are a White male, 5'8 or taller and/or if you are financially well off. If however you are struggling middle class or poor it is a difficult place to move up socioeconomically speaking.

Eeeeeeeeewwwww!

All the Japanese food I can eat, plus sake? Sold.

Let's see: height - 5'10"
gender - male
ethnicity - caucasian
not rich - yet...

3 out of 4's not bad.

Also: hair - strawberry blonde, about 3ft long, worn loose and wavy or as ponytail
music - Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Guns N Roses, Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy, etc.
hobbies - model-making, drawing and painting, sculpting, reading, playing electric guitar, collecting tat from Japan
clothing - (at this moment) black jeans, Metallica T-shirt, boots, denim jacket, G-shock, leather wallet

Would I fit in?

You will NEVER FIT IN!!! The country is 99 percent ethnic Japanese. White people that like living here like living here because they DON'T fit in, and often get special or preferential treatment...but scratch the surface and you will see it's not all that wonderful after awhile...the honeymoon only lasts so long....

It doesn't matter how many toys you collect, how much anime you watch, or how good your Japanese is... you will always be a "HENNA GAIJIN" (strange foreigner) to the vast majority of the population!

Here she is (a little older with shorter hair, I grant you).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCWwyVX9IQM

You guys are forgetting how messed up and bizzare the japanese are..

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QFVoLz88hiU

.. and yeah I found that totally on accident.

Okay, but this is the 'Great things about Japan' thread!

But ROFL!!!

I immediately thought of Wing....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxieTbKtqLc

One of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. If this kind of wierdness is pervasive in Japan, then I'm now 100% sold on living there

Dude how old are you? Don't knock something until you've tried it OR at least been to Japan and know what I am even talking about.

Aren't those kogals the girls Primal Convoy was talking about?