Only Cool Kids Allowed

I suppose I should have said this about a year ago, but its better late than never.

One of the first things I was told upon arriving in Japan was to behave myself because I am an ambassador to America and white people in general. That being said, I have a few words for you anime, manga, and cosplay lovers-----Stay Home.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate you making me look cool, but its just not worth the damage you're dealing to the gaijin image. And I'm pretty sure you don't need to be in Japan to sit in your room and download anime.

I'm not trying to be rude, I'm just trying to save you a wasted trip. I saw these kids all the time in Japan. They referred to the local hirakata train station as 'downtown' and wore gundam and evangelion t-shirts and never really experienced Japanese culture. Real Japanese culture is not in Akihabara or Denden town (there are some certain places there that can be entertaining because of there 'creepy sad' atmosphere, but its not REAL Japanese culture). Real Japanese culture is out in the big cities' streets, malls, bars, and love hotels. You'll learn more about Japanese society there than inside any yaoi book.

America has brought in a lot of the weird Japanese culture and its giving people the wrong impression about what life is really like there. NEWSFLASH - people who are really in to DDR are just as lame in Japan as they are in America.

So if you're going to Japan, first delete anime from your 'interests' section of your facebook page. Next, grab a chu-hai and hit the streets and talk to some real people. Find out what Japanese people are doing with their lives and what they want to be (and if they know where the water hotel is); not what their favorite ファイファン character is or how many strokes their kanji is. Get out there and grab Japan by the kintamas! Don't be like these kids

Priorities

As I was applying for a Job today (based in Tokyo, but I'll take what I can get) I realized how much my priorities have changed from just a few short years ago. So let this be a warning for all of you - If you have any major plans that you REALLY want to see met, than don't go to Japan until you've met them. This place will change your life --->>>

In the past couple years my priorities have changed from finish college, find a decent paying job, build up some money, eventually buy a house, an settle down with a family TO get back to Japan by any means. All that other sissy stuff doesn't mean anything anymore. I will take living in Japan in an apartment the size of a refrigerator and making salary-man money over just about anything else. (as long as I'm not working at one of those ultra-conservative Japanese companies...nuts to that)

I'd be just fine with my Chu-hais and my bros. and maybe the lady friend...and some ambasa, a wii and onigiri senbei and umeshu - THATS ALL I WANT!

I'll try to find some way to explain how your mind will be blown by Japan - but while I think of the words, just watch this 8 year old rock your face off. He's Japanese by the way, go figure!