« Flashy Truck Match : Pakistan vs Japan | Main | Curved Bamboo »
How Do Things Change in Here?
I think I'm not only person who is wondering why Japanese people always make everything so crazy. But, in this few years, I have reached at a conclusion. I guess It's just like a "copy noise".
To test, copy some documents with a copy machine. Repeat to put the copied paper on the machine and copy it again and again. You will see the characters on the copied documents are blurred more and more, and some stains which originally are dust or something grow bigger and bigger. Japanese people tend to pay attention to these stains rather than the contents on their copies. As I have repeatedly mentioned, they are not wanting to make their original things because they know copying is more easy way. But, since they also know that their behaviour has less originality, they desire to append their own cheap (but unique, they think) idea to their copies. These ideas are always one of following or combination of them: showy, unusually small, recklessly expensive (by using gold or diamonds), (pretend to be) cute, related to temporary fad or related to sex. The other people, who don't know the origins, are attracted by those additional idea. (These people cannot even find out why these original things are worth to imitate.) They expand those copy noises when they make another copy. In this way, the original spirit has been lost and incomprehensible things are continuing to be made here.
"Whoa! How groovy is his hair? Who's this?"
"I don't know. Anyway, I wonder what we should do to become groovy like this."
"It's easy, imitate his hairstyle."
"No! Imitations are always worse than origins! Make this groovy portion two times bigger so that we can become two times groovier than him."
"How's this? I think it's nothing but groovy."
"You can say that again. It's totally groovy."
"But we need more bigger groovy portion."
"My neck is tired cause this is a bit heavy. Do I look groovy?"
"Not bad. But you still have needless things to be groovy. You should shave your foolish eyebrows off."
"Don't I look like a sushi?"
"You have nothing to worry about. You look great."
"However, you seem to forget about our groovy portion. Back to the basic and make the portion more huge."
"Isn't this even more than grooviest?"
"Yeah, nothing can be groovable more than this!"
"This grooviness is, I think, so groovy. But we have to give people more bigger shock. How's changing your hair color?"
"Like this?"
"You are the emperor of groovy kingdom."
"If you want to be more groovy, you have to die."
"Oh yeah... What does it mean?"
"Uh, I don't know."
"Look at my new extremely grooveful hair. I can change this groovy direction freely."
"Comparing with you, all the rest of people are almost grooveless living dead."
"It's fun! Let me play with it."
"No way. Don't touch it!"
"I got so old. But look, my hair is still big!"
"Indeed. By the way, Do you remember why we have kept this stupid hair for this long time?"
"It's just I'm wondering!"
February 25, 2005 in Culture | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83452a8e769e200d83457ecae69e2
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference How Do Things Change in Here?:
» Japan from strange views
Elvis-Tolle
Der Japaner ist den westlichen Kulturerrungenschaften durchaus sehr durchaus sehr zugetan. Er kopiert sie, besonders bei Modetrends, gerne. Allerdings stellt der "Extraordinary Ordinary Guy In Japan" fest, dass es sich dabei oft um Kopien,... [Read More]
Tracked on Feb 27, 2005 11:39:48 PM
» http://www.zefrank.com/zesblog/archives/2005/03/extraordinary_o.html from ze's blog
Extraordinary Ordinary Guy In Japan: How Do Things Change in Here? - from Core77... [Read More]
Tracked on Mar 1, 2005 8:01:10 PM
» Tokyo Rockabilly Club from Scratchin the Surface...
The Sunday Harajuku Cos Play extravaganza is well known throughout Tokyo and featured in every carbon copy guidebook, like Lonely Plonet. However, one of the little known events that also occurs every Sunday not 200 meters away is the... [Read More]
Tracked on Mar 27, 2005 4:00:00 AM
» TRC - Tokyo Rockabilly Club from Scratchin the Surface...
The Sunday Harajuku Cos Play extravaganza is well known throughout Tokyo and featured in every carbon copy guidebook, like Lonely Plonet. However, one of the little known events that also occurs every Sunday not 200 meters away is the... [Read More]
Tracked on Mar 27, 2005 4:00:50 AM
» Japan as an imperfect copy machine from clankennedy
From this: To this: This guy's a hoot! [Read More]
Tracked on Apr 26, 2005 7:10:08 AM
Comments
oh my! So hilarious...Where did you get all these stupid pictures? Loved them.
Very good points. I guess this is the world's first real obervation on Japanese since the 13th century.
Posted by: reptile_k | Feb 25, 2005 7:57:39 PM
You are one of the funniest people ever. I love you.
Posted by: Megan | Feb 26, 2005 8:38:03 AM
You are very smart. This is a brilliant comparison.
I wonder where all those pictures came from.
Posted by: akijikan | Feb 26, 2005 5:07:06 PM
The copy machine is a great analogy. The Japanese have a difficult time differentiating "content" and "form" so all content of a trend/event/person (Elvis) becomes a series of objectively-analyzable forms. In olden days, the Japanese would put on fake noses to perform Shakespeare, because they thought the form of a Western nose was crucial towards the content of the play.
Posted by: Marxy | Feb 26, 2005 11:23:37 PM
Hmm.. I don't agree.. The fact that you look so deeply into something (another culture) and try to apply what according to you should make sense is obviously a sign you don't want/care to understand why things could be done so "crazy" from you "obviously logical reasoning". People ANYWHERE (look at the pictures you posted! 2/7 aren't even Japanese for sure! how do you know all the other pictures are from japan as well?) go to extremes. why? possably because doing things logically can be boring. parties are not logical but I'm sure even YOU have been to one. While I know I'm giving examples of things other than hairstyles. I hope you can get the point that you know, sometimes it just DOESN"T MATTER what other people find fun/original/interesting and if you don't like it, don't look! and even better yet, don't take time out of your life to google for pictures and type up some rant just to whine. don't you have something logical to do?
btw I understand this doesn't all have to do with logic but I believe this was a good way to get the message across. and the reason I'm posting this is because if I go to a blog about someone living in another country I hope they would enjoy there time and take in the sights/etc and not waste time ranting about how dumb things that are different from what they are used to are to them.
Posted by: iamsosilly | Feb 28, 2005 12:56:34 PM
I still think you are placing a tired "copy" label on all things Japanese - It's ok but Im a little tired of hearing iy from everyone.
Let's not simplify things when answering a question of why that Japanese stuff is "cooler" ( i think you said wierder or crazier )
What about questions like;
Are the Japanese more sensitive to detail than others?
example - why do American's settle for one color-tone of mobile phones while the Japanese will spend hours choosing the right color for their seasonal wardrobe?
Where does the environmental factors play it's part? By that I mean a Socialist government, a family structure where the child can leech off their parents until they are 40, and an ultra urban layout that boomed rapidly into a futuristic megalopolis.
Just a few more things to consider. Let me know what you think - I meant this to be a dialogue.
Posted by: mike | Feb 28, 2005 6:06:11 PM
I found it to be an interesting piece. I have recently arrived in Seoul, South Korea and soon will have the opportunity to consider silimar random thoughts as I am not someone who considers observation a 'dumb rant'.
Regards
Posted by: Selig | Mar 1, 2005 2:00:08 AM
I've just realised that you're not Japanese. Pretty funny considering the blog (and all your other entries) now seems racist. You claim to be born in the country side of Japan during the 60's, but provide no additional details about yourself. You provide no insight to the Japanese family structure since you have no Japanese family members. You occasionally type perfectly correct English, then make odd grammatical errors in situations where you had previously not. I'm willing to bet you don't work in computer field either. Most likely, you're a foreign (Canadian or American) English teacher living in Japan and thought it would be funny to create a blog about your adventures in Japan. BTW- Whose picture is that? (oh yeah, if it is you why do you only have a single picture of yourself...)
Posted by: ExtraAnnonymousMan | Mar 1, 2005 2:49:09 AM
to reptile_k
I wonder who is the last person observed Japan in 13th century. Julio Iglesias?
to Megan
I'm sure you know I love you, too.
to akijikan
You can find many of them on here. These are sample pictures of wigs for party.
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/festival-plaza/481769/483281/
But the last middle-aged man is an actual person. He is famous for an owner of a showy import shop.
to Marxy
Was it true that they played Shakespeare's tragedy with fake noses? I'd like to know whether the audience cried or laughed!
Posted by: xogij | Mar 1, 2005 7:45:21 AM
to iamsosilly
My poor skill of expression seems to have made you misunderstand my post. I'm a native Japanese living in Japan. So I think I have at least a right to self-criticize and to make a joke about the culture of this country because it is not an ANOTHER culture for me and I'm suffering from those CRAZINESS until I became almost INSANE! AAAAUGH!! WRITING WITH CAPITAL LETTERS is SO COOL because it looks like YELLING SOMETHING!!! I WILL make some TEA and CAKES for YOOOUUU!!!! PLEASE BE CAREFUL NOT TO BURN YOUR TONGUUUUUE!!!! LET US GO SHOPPING AFTER THE TEEEEA BRAAAAAAAAAKE!!!!!!!!!!
...Sorry, I feel better now. I swear I do not speak ill of the other country despite of it seeming like so much fun.
to mike
Yes, there are many sensitive people in Japan. But, the people who have objective viewpoints are rare. If you define the word "sensitive" as "careful about details", many Japanese are apply in it. But many of us cannot find out a truly important thing from a bunch of trivial things.
The mobile phones which you picked up are suitable example.
All thinkable functions required for mobile phones have been provided in this ten years. Choosing colors is already common. As soon as a phone company started the service of ringtone, it enthused people and all other companies followed suit. One company started to use actual songs in CD quality instead of ringtones. Another (or the same) company started to use sounds of someone speaking (like "this phone is ringing!"). Some phones can make its caller hear music. "Arrival movie" is an animation which is played only during the phone is ringing. Since many people complained of being annoyed by ringtones, an "environmental ringtones" (like sounds of cough, snoring, clearing someone's throat, etc) were also released. These companies have spent many times and money for each few seconds until their phones are hooked up, and those all makeshift functions are almost welcomed by Japanese people.
Do you think this is a "development"? If you call this as "improvement" instead of "copy", it may be so to you.
But I think it's just a "straying". Both developers and customers are straying from their actual needs. Differences between the ringtones seem not to have been born from necessity. (What is necessity? How about a mobile phone standard and model which can be used for 10 or 20 years?) Anything would do for the developers if it was slightly different from previous models and can benefit easily. Customers believe themselves to be enjoying to choose them, but it's just only because these products are offered. (They have already lost even their reason for purchasing mobile phones except making a phone call to someone to say "Hey listen, I bought a new phone!")
This is an instance of the things I stated as "copy noise", the needles things which have enlarged by the people who is looking only in front of their nose.
On the other hand, you can say this way. "The Japanese people really know how to enjoy". And this enjoyment takes so much money.
Posted by: xogij | Mar 1, 2005 7:51:47 AM
to Selig
Sadly, there are only dumb rants on here actually, but I will mention only about my poetry and favorite color from my next post. I hope your Korean trip (or new life in Korea) is fine!
to ExtraAnnonymousMan
Isn't it racist to think of the Japanese being not able to write in correct English?
Anyway, doesn't being shy work for proof of being Japanese?
Ok. I have to remake my "real" profile page. I'm an English teacher from Canada and...what else?
Posted by: xogij | Mar 1, 2005 7:53:20 AM
I was merely trying to state that it seems like you are intentionally inserting grammatical mistakes into your blog to make yourself seem more Japanese. It was not my intent to say anything offensive or stereotypical about the Japanese (as you do).
It seems like that Seinfeld episode of that comedian who converted to Judism so he could make off colored comments about Jews. Since making fun of one's self (or group) is generally accepted but not making fun of a separate group of people, especially when related to race.
Maybe you don't feel like its worth your time to "prove" you are who you say you are, so I won't bother asking.
...ahhhhh..... what the hell. Post of picture of your primary, secondary, and high school year book photo. Plus a picture of you with a McDonald's cheeseburger on your head with two french fries in your mouth. Plus a picture of you with your scooter and/or car, apartment/flat/house, father/mother, your driver's license, girlfriend/boyfriend, your office. I know you can't do any of these things, so go ahead and say I'm an idiot and you don't do things for idiots.
Posted by: ExtraAnnonymousMan | Mar 1, 2005 9:32:40 PM
Could you connect the idea of the copy noise or even the pompadours to the funky costumes worn by urban Japanese youth? I've seen articles and photos of the outfits, but I don't know how common they are or if they are part of a larger social trend among the youth.
Posted by: Louie | Mar 2, 2005 7:18:47 AM
xogij, after reading some of the comments here, all I can say is, ignore the cranks and keep doing what you are doing, it's great.
Posted by: Tom | Mar 2, 2005 12:33:39 PM
Xogij (and Tom) to be honest, I don't care if you're a native Japanese or if you're a foreigner, doing here what most of them seem to be doing - giving language classes. I assume that if you would be working on a real job you would have less time to spend on this sick shit!
Let me ask one question: If everything in Japan is just so ridiculous and stupid, WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO BACK HOME?
Please do us the favor and shut down this page full of thoughtful effusions of one single stupid f.... . A thing even more worse than an idiot writing such undifferentiated, undeliberated texts? Other people reading and absorbing without reflecting it!
One hint for free: Instead of experiencing this country through your blind glasses, try to be a little bit more open minded and try to listen and see what Japan has to show and tell - instead of spending hours on your blog, take a walk outside and enjoy life (or find a real job)...
Posted by: Oliver | Mar 2, 2005 5:04:13 PM
This is a great blog and copy noise is right on. So true. But the main thing to remember about the Japanese is that most men on those islands do not mature emotionally or psychosexually past the age of 13. Never have, never will. The women do fine, but the men, they stuck at 13 forever. It has been documented over and over, by Swedish observers and others. This is the REAL reason Japan is a copy noise society. The men never mature. To really understand Japan, go no further than the age of 13. Until women begin to have more power and say in Japan, that country of islands will never progress or get rid of its semi-police state bureaucracy or good old boy network of Todai and Keio and Waseda grads. 13. That is the key to understand Japan's eternal weirdness. Copy noise is so correct. And I say all the above as someone who has spent a long time in Japan loves Japan and wishes it well. But the truth must be said. Am I not right, sir?
Posted by: david hume | Mar 2, 2005 6:58:30 PM
I've been reading and enjoying your blog for about a year now. I've never visited Japan though I would love to. Maybe even more after seeing some of the beautiful photos you've posted - Kyoto, Geku, Ama-No-Iwato, etc. And I love reading your take on various aspects of Japanese culture. Your commentary is often funny, but it usually seems to be rendered in a tolerant, often affectionate, tone - I never took them as bitter, mean-spirited rants. I live in the States and there's plenty of quirkiness in the culture over here to mock. Plenty to criticize, too. If I laugh about something in my culture, I hope people don't think I'm seeing things through "blind glasses" and tell me to go home. In short, please keep posting as you have. I really enjoy it.
Posted by: Jen | Mar 3, 2005 7:04:17 AM
xogij,
It's really pointless to guess wheather or not you're Japanese. It wouldn't bother me at all if in fact you're a little green man from the Mars.
I can understand why some people are guessing that you're not Japanese --- 'cuz it's not very common to see someone who can analyze his/her own culture from an sahrp, objective perspective like you. Most people are just BLINDed by the culture in which we grew up.
What matters is that I enjoy reading your posts and the depth of them.
So keep blogging your way!
BTW, the last real oberserver on Japanese culture was a 13th-centruy Canadian philosopher, whoes name is ---- forget it, you wouldn't have heard of him.
david,
stuck at 13? hmmm....intereting.
having thought about this a bit I find this kinda make sense. Because I'm the kind of guy that can understand Japanses culture very well, and guess what? I'm 30 and haven't grown up. Never will.
Posted by: reptile_k | Mar 3, 2005 8:36:35 PM
I see copy noise in America too, so I don't think it's a Japanese thing more than it's a human thing.
If you have a business that makes money selling things, it's going to depend on planned obsolescence and the fickle consumer to make a profit. This all has less to do with culture and more to do with marketing.
From my experience, copy culture comes from a combination of rebelion and fear. People want to be different, because different is cool, but if they're too different people would adjust and accept it, so the result is a constant morphing of the norm instead of a violent change. It's not really a bad thing either, but it is annoying for someone like me who doesn't care about the newest ringtone and just wants a phone that works.
Posted by: Bookie | Mar 3, 2005 8:42:35 PM
Bookie,
My own observation is that Japanese really have the propensity to improve, or bring things to the extreme if you will.
If they're doing anything, they spend lots of efforts to do it better. An example is "Kaizen", the philosophy of continuing improving.
Americans, on the other hand, prefer to have things done quick instead of perfect. If something is new, they like it as long as it works -- even it's ugly.
Posted by: reptile_k | Mar 3, 2005 8:57:43 PM
13th-century Canadian philosopher?? I don't think so! Let's see, Columbus sailed in the late 15th century...
Posted by: Ann | Mar 3, 2005 9:04:56 PM
http://sevencastles.blogchina.com
A Shanghai blog featuring news and views of great interest
Posted by: Zhang Liping | Mar 5, 2005 2:42:41 AM
This is by far THE funnies thing I've seen today. :)
I used to live in Yokosuka Japan and became quite familiar with the rockabilly hair worn by the young men. I was perplexed by it, took numerous photos and well, just couldn't believe it!
Hope to hear from you!
J
Posted by: J | Mar 11, 2005 10:24:49 PM
this is *hilarious*!!! :D
thanks :)
Posted by: nina | Apr 6, 2005 7:40:27 AM
Goddamn those Japanese are nuts though, aren't they? I mean, used panties in a vending machine fer chrissakes! Ok but I'll stop, your page does a great job of summing it up.
Posted by: Rooster Cogburn | Apr 14, 2005 3:50:21 AM
