20 October 2007 Those Whacky Japanese!
There is a whole industry in the newspaper world of articles about Japan. What happens is hack journalists who know nothing about the country come here, find the stupidest, weirdest thing about the country they can, then write about it as if a) they are actually knowledgeable, and b) the whacky individuals they have found are somehow representative. This article in the NYT is a prime example. When I read something like this in the NYT, I realize that much of the other reporting they do must also have little basis in reality.
I guess any untalented journalist can sell the NYT a story about how the Japanese are whacky or how the Chinese are a threat. I guess it’s a good gig. Maybe I should get in on it.
4 comments in “Those Whacky Japanese!”
October 20th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
I think that there are many fascinating and wonderful things about Japanese culture that should be enjoyed and wondered at. But I agree there is a difference between celebration and exploitation. I really enjoyed seeing all of the unusual and different things that I did when I stayed in Japan, but I definitely see other westerners who are content to make fun of everything and act like it’s stupid or silly. Sit back, take everything in and appreciate the culture for what it is. There are many wonderful things about it. I don’t think folks should deny difference… pretend that nothing is unusual to them if it is… but the key is to have an open mind rather than judge everything.
October 20th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
You know, I’ve always thought that there were just a few too many vending machines around, and now I know why!
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:21 pm
This explains a lot. I’ve wondered how some of the more complex machines (or conversely some of the more geriatric machines) could possibly work. Now I realise they have a person inside trying really hard to blend in!
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:28 pm
I’ve never been to Japan, but my initial reaction to the NYT article was the same as yours: this is someone’s wacky art project. But if you believed the headline, it sounds like everyone is donning cartoon-like disguises.
Also what kind of cynical, sensationalistic tabloid editor decides to put this crap on the front page? I really thought the NYT was a better newspaper than that. I guess guess the only halfway reasonable place left to get news is The Economist.