Worst Prefecture In Japan

[keirnna]

I've always heard that Okinawa is the worst prefecture, but it sure sounds better than some of the places people are mentioning.

[IkemenTommy]

Whacha talking about Willis?
Yeah, I admit that the food tastes like shit and awamori is not really my taste but you can't go wrong with the whitest beaches and the bluest ocean! I am waiting for my company to get relocated to Okinawa some day.

[keirnna]

Don't get me wrong I love Okinawa, but they tell everyone that okinawa is the poorest prefecture with the highest unemployment and lowest GDP per diem. I also love the food, and have no problem with awamori. What food tasted like shit when you where here?

[spyder]

I believe Okinawa does have the highest unemployment rate, but it stems back to ** years ago (however long it was), when it was owned by the US as their military base was going big there....

[amdg]

Okinawa is a bit of a mixed bag because it consists of so many different land masses. Sure, some parts of the main island are rundown and depressing, but once you get out of there you can find some beautiful spots. It's a nice place to visit, but as for living there, especially as a foreigner, I'd have second thoughts. I don't think it's in contention for "the worst prefecture in Japan" though.

[keirnna]

I would have to disagree that the military is the reason for unemployment. I think the US DOD is the biggest employer on the entire island.

[amdg]

Yeah whatever.

[keirnna]

Clearly you must not have spent much time here. There are very few people who don't want the bases here. The american's in the military do cause trouble here, but they do much more good. Look at puerto rico, they protested the navy being there, so the Navy just up and left. Now the economy where the navy used to dock and train is destroyed. The military really boosts the economy here. The majority of Okinawans realize that.

[amdg]

Yeah, well I'll leave this discussion to people who care about showing how the american military forces benefit us all.
I don't give a fuck. Bye.

[Mike Oxlong]

Clearly you must not have spent much time here. There are very few people who don't want the bases here. The american's in the military do cause trouble here, but they do much more good...The military really boosts the economy here. The majority of Okinawans realize that.

And just how long have you been here? Most Uchinanchu want the Americans gone, they just don't have a contingency plan for when that finally happens. The central government just sucks what money there is to be made here back to the mainland, and leaves the locals in the lurch. With a viable plan, 110% of the locals would like to shout "Yankee go home!". But, being pragmatic, they know the folks in gov't have been/will keep f'ing this place over til the end of time.

[keirnna]

Well I've lived here for two and a half years. In that time I have talked with almost every Okinawan I've met about what they think of the bases. I've yet to have someone tell me that they want 100% of the US military out of Japan. Tons of money stays in Okinawa from the military and the troops that spend money here.

Housing agencies here charge america-jin Y30,000 more a month than they do nehon-jins. They put a ton of money in their pockets from the thousands of US personnel living off base. Okinawans for the most part are indifferent to the US being here. Okinawa's economy depends on the US being here, without us their only major industry is tourism from mainland Japan which hasn't been as hot as hopped for the last few years. 2005 was up a little. The thing is there is nothing that Okinawa produces that the world wants.

[Greji]

And just how long have you been here? Most Uchinanchu want the Americans gone, they just don't have a contingency plan for when that finally happens. The central government just sucks what money there is to be made here back to the mainland, and leaves the locals in the lurch. With a viable plan, 110% of the locals would like to shout "Yankee go home!". But, being pragmatic, they know the folks in gov't have been/will keep f'ing this place over til the end of time.

They still draw a lot of cash from the central government for the bases, but that is for a different thread!

[Buraku]

Nah... I have to concur with some people here about Shizuoka. It's an industrial sh1thole with lots of rusty factories. It's a bit like New Jersey: you can see Manhattan from there but the only thing a sane person will ever do there is drive through it on his way to Philadelphia or DC. So the only good thing about Sleezuoka I can think of is the Tomei expressway.

I was going for Gifu as well but then I realised that Takayama is in Gifu. So I have to say it's not so bad once you travel a little more up north... just take the JR Takayama line in spring and be awed by the beautiful gorge the (diesel powered) train runs through with the tea plantations and nicely kept houses in the occasional valley. And then Takayama in itself is a pretty fantastic place to go for the weekend.
Yes, when you're only used to the part of Gifu that borders on Aichi, I'm not surprised you'd vote it for worst prefecture. The only good things I can think of about that place are Kawasaki Aerospace and Gifu AB

About Aichi: well, as my girl is from here I'm pretty biased but I guess Nagoya is not so bad. And when you go outside of the city there are some pretty good festivals to be had (although insanely crowded) and Atsumi peninsula with its great beaches and nature allows for some good mountainbiking, BBQ-ing and outdoor binge-drinking.

Saitama prefecture loves Hirohito ! Japan may add patriotism to education requirements
Polls show support for move
But the mood in Japan is strongly in favor of strengthening pride in country. Recent polls show two-thirds of the public support the revisions, demanding schools foster civic morality and teach students to show more respect.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0606040338jun04,1,1785528.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
During recent parliamentary debates, critics of the proposal revealed that some schools are already grading students on their level of patriotism. Fifty elementary and middle schools in Saitama prefecture just north of Tokyo have been marking students on their love for Japan, a practice the teachers union contends is spreading to other parts of the nation.

[Mike Oxlong]

Recent polls show two-thirds of the public support the revisions, demanding schools foster civic morality and teach students to show more respect.

Sounds like a job for PARENTS!

[Ke11iente]

Fifty elementary and middle schools in Saitama prefecture just north of Tokyo have been marking students on their love for Japan, a practice the teachers union contends is spreading to other parts of the nation.

Frightening. Just how do you grade on patriotism? By how many 'barbarians' each fifth-grader 'expels'?


Eat the flag. Eat it.

I go to Saitama in April, and this whole thread is starting to scare me. Since the Beatles museum is there, I assumed it would be a pretty cool place.

[Doctor Stop]

Saitama is the New Jersey of Japan.

[IkemenTommy]

Similar to our own survey on the worst prefecture, this survey (in Japanees) asked 3000 people which prefecture they think has the least importance or relevance with. The winner: Shimane


I could not guess where Shimane is if someone asked me to locate it on a map.

[james]

The winner: Shimane

hmpf..

I could not guess where Shimane is if someone asked me to locate it on a map.

here ya go

the location indicated is where i am, in the rural part of the prefecture it's a nice place.

[IkemenTommy]

hmpf..

I didn't choose Shimane. That is what the survey stated.

But then again, I didn't know we had one of our own FGs living there.


[quote]
here ya go

the location indicated is where i am, in the rural part of the prefecture ]
Damn, it's so bum fucked remote that there is no Google Street View!

[Typhoon]

Aside from the nice scenery, Kagoshima is pretty brutal. The locals aren't very nice and the area is just badly underdeveloped. More like Taiwan than Japan.

Spent a week in Kagoshima. Found the locals to be quite friendly and the city pleasant to visit.

[Typhoon]

[Typhoon]

Hi, I'm chiwawa. Do you remember me? It's been a long time hasn't it? I'm still studying in America so gradually English is coming to me.

I would have to say that Osaka is the worst prefecture in Japan. It is not trendy like Tokyo.

Parts of Osaka are somewhat cramped but otherwise I enjoy Osaka.

[Ketou]

Osaka is a sewer...

[BO-SENSEI]

I noticed a few posts from 4 years ago saying shit about the prefecture I am currently living in, Gifu, now I got to admit, it doesn't have famous cities, ocean access, or is well known for its fashion trends. But it does have decent mountains for skiing in the winter, numerous famous destination, such as Shiragawa-go, Takayama, Sekigahara, and the Gero Onsens. Its a very nice prefecture and there is nothing wrong with it. Although all the girls moved to Nagoya, bring the mustard, its a sausage fest.

[Behan]

Saitama is the New Jersey of Japan.

I think this 'honor' could go to Chiba, too.

[Yokohammer]

I'll probably take some flak for this, but personally I think Tokyo is a shit hole. I have absolutely no interest in living there now (although I did live there for around 17 years). I've been in Yokohama for around 24 years, and I like it much better, but even Yokohama is getting to be a bit of of a circus. Time to get the fuck out.

Right now my favorite city in the entire country is Sendai. Perfect size, lots of entertainment, tree lined streets, rivers, close to the ocean, close to the mountains, relatively cool in the summer, great food, great access to everything ...

So there. Tokyo is a cesspool.

[samuraiwig]

I agree that Osaka stinks. It's just as gray, concrete and unplanned as the rest of urban Japan, but with added industrial sprawl, dirt, and a weird ability to make the world dark even at midday.

Sendai's a nice place, and Nagoya improves the longer you spend there.

[kusai Jijii]

my bad. sorry

[kusai Jijii]

I agree that Osaka stinks. It's just as gray, concrete and unplanned as the rest of urban Japan, but with added industrial sprawl, dirt, and a weird ability to make the world dark even at midday.

Sendai's a nice place, and Nagoya improves the longer you spend there.

Fuck you are an idiot. What you know about Japan could be written on the back of a postage stamp. "Osaka stinks?" "Nagoya grows on you?" Are you retarded, or going for the title of 'Troll of the Century'?

[kusai Jijii]

Hi, I'm chiwawa. Do you remember me? It's been a long time hasn't it? I'm still studying in America so gradually English is coming to me.

I would have to say that Osaka is the worst prefecture in Japan. It is not trendy like Tokyo.

Chiwawa, umm.... Aww fuck it. Your post speaks for itself...