Sometimes, as you all know, I bring you some very important subject matter that has nothing to do with Judaism. This irks some of my fellow posters who have been known to chide me for doing this. But I’m willing to take my lumps. Please note that this is not work-safe because your co-workers might die laughing. Also note that if tznius is on your mind, the ladies you are about to see are wearing outfits that reveal some skin.
There are a few more of these, um, excercise and English language practice clips here.
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Hey Sharvul
as long as you’re quoting time, I lived in japan for 6 years, Taiwan for 2 years, and I still live here.
OH COME ON
Although I will probably never leave asia, and I have made the greatest friends of my life here, politeness in Japan is usually purely on the surface, it’s all about saving “face”, and if you lived in Japan, you’d know I’m right.
Videos like this, although funny, only serve to deepen what I believe to be japan’s biggest problem…ethnocentricity. Often, (not always) Japanese people are UNBELIEVABLY rascist. openly and admittedly.
Geez, I just thought it was pretty funny. Why argue funny? OK we’re all Jews, right? Yep, that’s it. Cheers, ‘VJ’
those Japs are fucked in the head
The guy wearing the neuveux-style hankie is simply copying a style used to symbolize a robber/villain in Japanese comics (a bit dated image tho, I believe). Have no idea how it got started, but many famous comic-book burglars wear it. I find it hilarious that they forced a western guy to wear it, simply to give the ladies watching a sense of recognition. Wait until they see the real thing! (They’ll probably say something like [while jumping up and down] “Where’s – your – han – kie?”
From her reaction, you’d think she’d just seen me do my patented beached white carp impression at the local AMP.
“New York (and I lived there for many years) does not need your condensation…”
Uh, I don’t think he was threatening to water them lol.
man o man some of you are worse than a republican – when all else fails and you have nothing inportant to say or talk about pander to your base…or make fun of NJ and people from Japan. Who cares eitherway, the video is pretty funny, why didnt she make the arm movements when she was telling the cop???
Who cares about polite and sweeping generalizations of culture, the real question is, “Do the Japanese tip?” The answer is an emphatic NO. OY! Wrong site to complain about cheapskates….
All discussions about the true Japanese and New Jersey character aside, I seriously want to know what the knife wielding guy is wearing on his head (is it underwear?) and why. Is this some new “homey” trend (god help us)or just some weird japanese concept of western bad guy styling?
Seriously, if you’re not Asian, then you will never have real understanding of any Asians. Japanese are not polite. Take it from someone who can read their minds. We just preserve harmony on the surface and we have been doing it for centuries. You can live with us your hwole entire life and never know what we have been saying behind your back. Don’t be naive.
Sharvul,
Consistancy is the mark of a linear and restricted mind. Thus, the sweeping charactorization of the Japanese is true because they are a homogeneous society…one where the cultural ethos is ingrained. Not “sweepingly” charactorizing folks from NJ is also correct, as NJ is not a homogeneous society, thus one cannot make sweeping generalizations about NJ.
See… you gotta think … otherwise you come to sophistic conclusions….I hope that helped.
These 5 minute segments are made to fill in the airtime between shows on public television, and sometimes early in the morning on network TV as well. Physical fitness and studying English are common “hobbies” for many Japanese people, and this little ditty combines the 2 nicely. And yes, the Japanese live with the knowledge that theirs is the safest country on the planet, and most are convinced that if they were to venture abroad unaccompanied by a white glove-clad, flag waving JTB guide with a megaphone, then they will be stabbed, beaten, mugged, and left for dead. JTB likes this because it guarantees them robust business in the group package tour department. People I met in Japan repeatedly expressed amazement that I had never been physically assaulted in my life. Many of my Junior High and High School students expressed fear of my home country. “My daddy says that America is dangerous. I will never go there.”
Sara, it’s not that interesting until we see whether anything happens. The Israelis, with complete justification, keep pointing out that he is not the Prime Minister of the Palestinians and the person and party in power will not recognize Israel and are sworn to its destruction. If they’re meeting, it might be to help figure out a way to get rid of Hamas, but they would have already discussed that quietly so this is just a public relations move on both sides.
Guys: what’s with the arguing? Can’t we just laugh and move on?
Marvin,
To me you write: the Japanese…they are civil and formal but behind that face lies the real Japan ethos…
To Steves you write: I live in N.J. and take exception to your sweeping charactorization of us Jersyites
So I guess it’s OK to “sweeply characterize” the Japanese, but not the Jerseyites…
Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas Meet Face to Face, Agree to Future Gathering
this is an interesting development
Steves
1. I live in N.J. and take exception to your sweeping charactorization of us Jersyites. For my part I cannot wait until you leave our state…and it is cool to be around trees
2. 9-11 gave NY “some enlightenment and perspective”…even more reason you ought to leave as soon as possible. New York (and I lived there for many years) does not need your condensation…
by all means …take a hike … take it now
For Americans, it really depends on what part of the country you are talking about. Polite is very much in minority status in New Jersey for example. NY has gotten alot better since the 9-11. It has given them some enlightenment and perspective. Jersey is the worst tho, stuck in some twilight zone time warp. I advise all to avoid moving there, no matter how cool you think it is to be around trees and only 20 minutes from the city.
The biggest mistake I ever made, was moving to Jersey. Soon, I will leave for good, to make Aliyah, A’H.
Yes..I am an American… and quite proud of that as well.. Does that make a difference?.. I was born in Germany (at the Landsburg Displaced Persons Camp)…
Marvin,
I lived in Japan for 4.5 years. But I guess you’re right and that’s not much interacion. You obviously know the Japanese more intimately than I do. Apologies for my hasty observations.
[I’m venturing a wild guess here: are you American by any chance?]
Sharvul… Yikes..polite??? I don’t think you have had much interaction with the Japanese…they are civil and formal but behind that face lies the real Japan ethos…
See WW II ..
Ok. That covers tourism in the states. Do they have anything for trips to Iraq ?
As strange as it might sound, the background for these videos is the safety of life in Japan. Growing up in a country with one of the lowest crime rates in the world and given the basic social politeness of the average Japanese, many of them are ill adapted to deal with what we are used to daily in our “enlightened” Western cities: from rudeness through sullen service to pickpocketing. Hence the booming industry for instructional videos, pamphlets, books, etc. for the Japanese who dare venture abroad.