To be frank this is not my first encounter with Japan. In all this will be my third time as a foreigner in the country of the rising sun. It is fascinating, how I seem to find a new Japan very time I am here. But I do very well recall my first impression of Japan: To be lost in translation! My first stay in Japan still marks my impression of the country the deepest.
It is always the simplest things that hit the hardest. The simple fact that in Japan they write and read Japanese is overwhelming. It is the first thing that hits you in the airport “よこそう”, welcome to Japan. (In big contrast to my first stay in Japan, I have now enquired a limited understanding for the Japanese language. And the difference is immense.) Simple everyday tasks become huge obstacles. Navigating through a world full of signs made up solely by little abstract pictures - it is quit complicated. Simply ordering the right meal is a sudden challenge. Dare say life is not easy at first.
There is kanji every where!
The second thing is a pure visual observation of the mass of sameness. To the untrained eye the Japanese seem to be one uniform mass. To me the fact that I now am the odd one out is very new. It kind of gives you the idea that Japan is truly a homogenous country – and as a foreigner you have to learn to live with the “gaijin” (foreigner) mark on your forehead. Japan is very fascinating in deed.
This is a picture from my first stay in Osaka, taken at noon
- the time for the businessmen to go hunt their food.
If you want to take a go on reading some Japanese, this is the link for the japanese version of Kansai Gaidais home page:
Language is always a big challenge in a foreign country. I was overwhelmed by all the kanji and kana when I first got here myself. But now I am disappointed by all the English... One's ideas and attitudes change with time and experience and I look forward to seeing how your ideas develop and evolve through your observations and experiences. What seems to be homogeneous on the surface turns out to be something quite different once you examine it from different perspectives.
ReplyDeleteHello! It seems as if I found a supporter, feeling the same overwhelming happiness when realising able enough to read some things on the streets, right?^^ It was vry fascinating to read your blog - ありがとう！ｍ＿＿ｍ
ReplyDeleteNadya