Tokyocooney's Japan forum

Hi there, I'm Jack from Ohio. I'm currently a student at Ohio University and struggling with our failing economy. I had a couple questions for you as part of a research paper I'm currently working on.

1) I'm having a hard time figuring out how Japanese cultures and societies are unique. What I mean is what do they possess that our culture does not, how are their attitudes and demeanor different from us Americans.

2) I recently have just started watching your show and am completely enthralled. So my question is this.. I have the opportunity to study abroad in Tokyo. If I choose to pursue this endeavor, would it be possible for you to show me the city one night? I will arrive in early September I believe. I would of course buy the Guinness! (providing we could find it)

Peace,
-Jack

Let me first tell you this... I have never been to Japan, so I am not a creditable source, but I do know a little bit about Japan. Japanese talk indirectly a lot of the time. Like to tell you they want to go home they might say, "Oh! It is getting late!", instead of just saying, "I think I'm going to leave". They tend to be not assertive as Americans. A lot of the time they don't use yes or no. Instead of using no, a lot of the times they use 'chotto' which means "well.....". I've heard that a lot of them have to train themselves to be assertive when coming to America.

I hope that may be this helps! Sorry that I'm not Kevin Cooney!

Well as to question 1) Yes it is different. It is different in so many ways its almost impossible to begin to describe or know. But I will say most people living here go through different moods. At first, "Its so different" then "Ahhh... We're all the same" then a year later "Oh my God! They really are different."

Over the years your opinion on this changes. But essentially yes, their culture and as a result the people themselves are different as every country is in someway unique. (Except for canada).

Question 2) Sure. Just send a message to my yahoo address... tokyocooney@(you know what) sometime closer to then. If I am free on a given afternoon or night Im happy to do what I can, but it depends on my work/pre-existing social schedule. Ive shown many many many people around the city. It just depends on my schedule at the time you visit.