English responses, page 3

Most of Japanese(especially Japanese men)are shy and not good at communicating with unknown.

The other day , I went the seminor and took lunch with people came from other companies.(At that time , there were all gentlemen except me at a table. ) The man , seated next to me , seemed very friendly and he wanted to talk with people around him , but No one talked. All of them concentrated to eat . Then , He talked to the man in front of him , but there was no conversation between them because the man answered only "Yes"or"No".

Can you believe that?? I think if there were some women , atomosphere would be different . Generally speaking , Japanese women are more open than Japanese men .

Where does this difference come from??

I don't think that Japanese need "NAKOUDO" to make communication in Internet world. In Japanese site, we have many lively discussions. Yes, we know, we cannot use Internet effective. I think that the most serious problem is our poor English.

Japanese dose not realize fully that English is common language in the world. Many Japanese loves America, Britain, Canada and Australia or so. But on the other hand we are afraid that there are too much Westernize, Americanize in our country. English is symbol of Western. We are irritated with the increase of English power because of our narrow-patriotism. And we are too proud to know the truth, we are ignorant of the situation where many Asian people speaks better English than Japanese do. Now I'd like to say the above I write to be changing. Many Japanese are studying English irrespective of age or sex. I think that one of the biggest reason of that is Internet.

I am the typical Japanese that have been jealous of native English speaker for long time. I really really hated English when I was a student. A half year ago I traveled in America by myself. I felt very lonely because English was common language in tourists. Of course there were no American and many Europeans, Australians, South Americans, and Asians. Almost of them spoke English fluently but Japanese. It difficult for Japanese to became intimate with tourists came from the other countries. What was worse, we couldn't send easily E-mail to our friends or families though many hotels in America had PC that every tourists may use. I was envy that a British girl sent E-mail to her boy friend in Canada. Since then, it has been my goal, when I meet a foreign friend, we trade each E-mail and make communicate from each home town.

I'm a female and started use Internet this spring and also begun studying English by self-education, through exchange e-mail with foreign countries people. I don't have any confidence in my English but I wanted talk with who live in different country and growing at different society. I haven't a teacher of English, just my teacher of that is a dictionary. Internet is really great for can meet various people. I completely agree with you about Japanese people aren't use make full use of this good chance. And Japanese people not sociable person for strangers especially for non- Japanese people i think. So maybe by reason that your words, Japanese's peculiarity is shy. But I think if wanna talk with foreign people, if have interest in foreign countries then the person can try done the own's hope. Actually I'm very glad about I can use Internet now and got chance for met very nice friends. I'm enjoying talking with my friends and at times discussion with them at some topics. I like listen to another person's opinion,thinking. And those are raising my mind:)

Regarding what you pointed out in the paper this morning, I have to admit that the Japanese people in general are still far behind from being international minded! No matter how much their behavior is based upon good will, they may sometimes look strange and different to foreigners and even create serious misunderstanding.

It is true that the so-called group-oriented approach of Japanese people can be a strong point in achieving a task competing with others. But, at the same time, it can bring about groups of people without creativity.

There are many more points I would like to mention in this regard. At this moment, however, I would like to summarize my comments as follows: Eduction and training at school and home from childhood is very important. To develop people to be group oriented tends to develop people who are less independent and less creative, thus making them less adaptable to international environment.

Having been engaged in human resource development in businesses, domestic and overseas, in the last 30 years, I strongly feel that the Japanese should be more globalized in their way of thinking and looking at things.

To be frankly, I don't like your saying " Nihonjin wa " (the Japanese). Because I don't think I am that kind of Japanese that you think of. If it was "most of Japanese", it might be not wrong, but I think, these days there are more people who try to get known with foreign people. I think there are more people who try to speak English without shyness. I also am one of them.

Now, I have a Canadian friend whom I often send e-mails. I also have a friend from Indonesia. I love to write e-mails to them, and love to get theirs, too. I'm sure there are many Japanese people who are like me. So I don't want you to think every Japanese are shy and do not know how to communicate with foreign people. In my opinion, it's kind of old-fashioned, isn't it ?

It was January of this year when I first sent an e-mail, which was to my daughter in Missouri, USA. It was a very exciting experience. My daughter was there. She went to the high school in MO for about a year. Going to high school in USA was her strong wish. She left Japan in July, 1997, and we didn't use e-mail until Jan., 1998. So, we were surprised and excited how rapid and convient e-mail was. Since she came back Japan I have felt a little depressed because I don't need send e-mails. E-mailing with my daughter was good for brushing up my English. On the otherhand, she came to be busy to e-mail to her new friends in USA or other countries. It is great that we can talk with anyone in anywhere without interval.

I came to feel America nearer than ever. It was mostly because I could contact with my daughter anytime through the Net.

I think many young people of Japan have already no hesitation in speaking with the people from other countries, though the people in elder generations still have much of it, including myself.

I am very interested in your article because I agree with your opinion. Actually, I used to be in Philadelphia to study English from '96 to '97. I had a great time there. I was able to make lots of friends in the world! And I believe that my English has improved. I met "Internet" at that time. Then, I started to use Internet almost everyday. I had to do my homework through the Internet sometimes. It was so fun! I sent emails for my friends everyday. I had to write in English, so it was good for me to improve writing skill. Now, E-mail is very important for me to keep in touch with foreign friends.

The Japanese people are shy. I think so,too. I became a sociable girl more than before. I learned a lot of things in the US. And I was able to express myself. It was kind of difficult to express myself in Japan because of some reasons. For example, we have be patient, be nice, and so on. I think there are many opportunities in the US. I feel good whenever I am in the US even though I have a hard time. I cannot explain well my opinion though. Anyway, I became positive.

At first, Japanese is cautious about stranger. Because Japan is development country recently,All people is bisy.don't have interchange of personnel time.All mother say chaild "be careful another person"

Next many Jpanese not Christian.

Next Japanese observe the proprieties.If he is older to me, I use respect language,It is difficult.

I read your essey and agree with your opinion. Especialy many of us have large complex of English. I suppose the reason of this fact made of shyness. I mean we Japanese afraid using and speaking English. You have seen many scenes that Japanese don't want to conntact foreigners' eyes.

But I don't think that we Japanese always need a matchmaker especially in the countryside. I get the second house in farm Niigata prefecture. There are only 14 family in the farm and have 3000 persons in the town. So they are all friendly and frank each other. Ex Japanese culctures based on the community, you know. So I hope most of us Japanese are friendly, kindly and frankly.

In big city, metropolitan, especially Kyoto, they are not friendly because of large population and many problems. I am 36 years old and growing up in Tokyo. Mothers include my mother said to me that don't speak YOSO-NO-HITO means strange person. That's why we need macthmakers.

The weak point of the Japanese you piointed out in the article is true. I feel the same way about it. Japanese people are very timid and shy , and don't talk with strangers easily. They are very friendly only to thier family, relatives, and close friends. When you go to a party, you will notice that most of Japanese people talk together among themselves without talking to strangers or foreigners. They don't know what the party means in the first place. They are not used to getting to know eash other and become reluctant to do so. I think Japanese children should have much time for discussion or speeches in school. It is more important than linguistic education. When I went abroad, I was often talked to by many people there. It is a part of my happy memories. I want to do the same to people from overseas I hope that you will play "NAKOODO" role in the international cultural exchange in the future.

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