On the other hand...

[Nagged]

We moan and we groan. But out of curiosity, what is there to like about this country?

1. Yakitori (like it better than sushi)
2. Sento / Onsen (great to relax)
3. Chu-Hi (speaks for itself)
4. My salary (with the current exchange rate)
5. Certain wacko FG (not mentioning any names, Lord Master Pongi)
6. Cultural Misunderstanding (works in your favour if you are sneaky)
7. Taiko (just love them drums)
8. The buzz of driving to work in rush hour traffic and arriving with body and car intact (so far, so good)
9. Sleeping on trains (when not driving)
10. J-chicks (they are so cute with their fluffy little feathers)

I'm outta here before people start talking dirty...

[Robato]

1) Better and stronger relationship with FG than citizens of your own country (because we share the bond that we are all in the same boat)
2) People are more polite even when they are being dicks than people in your own country
3) Not having to drive hours to get somewhere that you wanna go (depends if you are from the states and which state you are from...but some places you have to drive like 2 hours to get to a mall, theater, billiard etc.)
4) food.....yakitori is better than sushi and shabu shabu rocks da house!!!

disclaimer...I never lived in Tokyo so things may be a lot different about the bond thing, I am in a town outside of nagoya and all FG help each other thick and thin

[Caustic Saint]

We moan and we groan. But out of curiosity, what is there to like about this country?

....
8. The buzz of driving to work in rush hour traffic and arriving with body and car intact (so far, so good)
....

If you want the true commuter buzz (more of a rush, actually), get a motorcycle. Traffic will never look the same again.

[Taro Toporific]

We moan and we groan. But out of curiosity, what is there to like about this country?...

Concrete Creative!

Seeaoiko.net

'Dogs and Demons', by Alex Kerr"It won't be easy, but it is possible," said the general manager of one of Japan's largest companies' space systems division in 1996. "It won't be cheap to produce small amounts of concrete on the moon, but if we make large amounts of concrete, it will be very cheap."

[Big Booger]

(1) toliet is usually separate from shower/tub
(2) Spray toliets
(3)heated toliet seats
(4)nabe, undo, gyudon, oden
(5)Postal service is very good here.. though there are some differences
(6)Health care is cheap, if you have insurance
(7)Dental care is also cheap and IMHO as good, depending on your dentist
(8)Streets are safer.
(9)Politeness (have to agree with your original post)
(10)People help here when you need it.

There are hundreds of things I like about Japan, it is just more fun to talk about what I don't I do like the cultural side of Japan.. both the modern and ancient. Though the modern can be irritating and annoying.. it is interesting at the same time. I give Japan hell on this thread, occassionally, but if I didn't enjoy being here, I certainly would GTFOOH (get the fuck out of here).

I think most of us like it here.. some are just disgruntled and want a place to bitch and moan.

[Taro Toporific]

...I think most of us like it here.. some are just disgruntled and want a place to bitch and moan.

Let's "bitch and moan" more!

I loooove to bitch and moan about this sump, but the fact is I just got my 5% base-up last Friday which means I now officially on a glide path for a perm. visa and the totally-vested ichi-oku golden ring July-ish 2004...baring Mount Fuji blowing.

[Crispy]

-trains and busses are always on time
-game shops/arcades every few feet (heaven if you are a gamer like me)
-685795 varieties of iced tea, available everywhere
-cities designed for foot traffic and bicycles
-fast as hell service at restaraunts

[hanasims]

[quote="&quot"] There are hundreds of things I like about Japan, it is just more fun to talk about what I don't


I can't believe it Big Booger actually says he likes Japan.

[Big Booger]

There are hundreds of things I like about Japan, it is just more fun to talk about what I don't


I can't believe it Big Booger actually says he likes Japan.

Yah despite all my rantings, I do like this hell hole LOL And with a salary like Taro, I'd be liking it even more.

[GomiGirl]

-cities designed for foot traffic and bicycles

eerrmm will have to call you on this one!! Bicycles whizzing down the footpaths are a menace.

But as a girl I have to agree with the spray toilet thing.. don't ask me to explain...

[Crispy]

I see your point, what I meant to say is that the cities are not designed for automobile traffic at the expense of all else, like most cities in the USA.

[Nagged]

We moan and we groan. But out of curiosity, what is there to like about this country?

....
8. The buzz of driving to work in rush hour traffic and arriving with body and car intact (so far, so good)
....

If you want the true commuter buzz (more of a rush, actually), get a motorcycle. Traffic will never look the same again.

Actually I did ride a scooter for a while, but changed to a car for more protection. Still get a bit nostalgic for my trusty old 2 wheeler though. Laughably low fuel costs, park anywhere, just lacked legs for long distance driving.

Glad to see everyone say how much they like the place. I always got the impression most posters have a love-hate relationship with Japan from reading previous theads. Certainly plenty of stuff to like here. Yin and Yang people.

Anyway, let's leave the politics out of this one for a change. (I shall not badmouth Japan, I shall not badmouth Japan, I shall not badmouth Japan... Hey, what am I doing in Kansas?)

[Big Booger]

I'll tell you another thing I like:
(1) FLAVORS, japanese snacks, drinks, candies, foods, etc... have every flavor you can think of. And they are constantly changing bringing and trying out new chip flavors, new types of drinks, new chocolates, new pocky.. you name it, new nikuman, new this and new that..

I like it a lot. Makes going to the suupaa an interesting and new experience nearly everytime I go.

[GomiGirl]

If I didn't love it, I wouldn't be living here.

[Nagged]

If I didn't love it, I wouldn't be living here.

Same here Gomi Girl, same here

I like the fact that I can wear Retro 60's clothes in public and not get laughed at.

Seen a few weird trends here but fashion in Japan has it's moments. (Now, if only salarimen would stop dressing like Lieutenant Columbo, Furuhata Ninzaburo looks much better )

[cstaylor]

-trains and busses are always on time

Unless someone thoughtlessly ends it all on a Monday morning...

[kamome]

- umbrellas and bicycles are a "public good"
- large room just for bathtub/shower
- rockin' nightlife with no pretension
- cheap broadband access!
- actually knowing a guy who goes outside wearing a helmet, flags, and big bowtie with a camera crew in tow
- buildings based on Death Star schematics
- can brag about my cool cell phone to my friends back home
- GETS frequent flier mileage quickly
- proximity to cheap vacation destinations in Asia
- food, drink, and all that

[Taro Toporific]

[Nagged]

Japan? Bah, it's just a job.

Certainly felt like that at work today.

Glad it's a long weekend