A chance to get to Japan, kilted of course...

[Drac]

Hi all,

Was playing when I came across this article on Yahoo -

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blog...134142507.html

I hope it goes through. CDNSushi, you'll be able to keep a clueless American from the States out of trouble?

Jim

[CDNSushi]

Wow! That's quite a campaign... But I'm torn between saying, "But of course I'll hlep keep a clueless American from the States out of trouble!" and just standing back and watching the fun. Yes, the schadenfreude in me is strong!

[Drac]

Wow! That's quite a campaign... But I'm torn between saying, "But of course I'll hlep keep a clueless American from the States out of trouble!" and just standing back and watching the fun. Yes, the schadenfreude in me is strong!

Ouch!!

Can't argue though I would also be torn

I've always understood that Japan may not be as welcoming as other tourist countries. Some of the things I really want to do I have heard that it can be rough for foreigners such as onsens and festivals.

But some of the other things I want to see such as the cherry blossoms and to eat myself sick (several times) on food. Also want to go shopping for cookware that isn't avaible here. I do eat bentos for lunch here most of the time since it is a fairly heathy meal.

My lunch today -



A couple pieces of inari, three slices of tamago, a piece of ebi nigiri, a kamaboko (crab stick) maki roll, miso soup (just add water) and edamame.

Jim

[CDNSushi]

I've always understood that Japan may not be as welcoming as other tourist countries. Some of the things I really want to do I have heard that it can be rough for foreigners such as onsens and festivals.

Jim, if that's a part of your regular diet, you'll get along just fine. Actually, onsens and festivals are a highlight for me, and despite some of Japan's dark underbelly that I described above, neither I nor any of my friends have ever had ANY grief going to an onsen... (Debito Arudo's onsen discrimination lawsuit was in Sapporo -- a loooong way from Yamanashi). Many years ago there were a couple of small problems here but common sense prevailed fairly quickly.

If you make it over here, I'd love to take you to an onsen. Nothin' like a bit o' full nudity between friends!

[kc8ufv]

Ouch!!

Can't argue though I would also be torn

I've always understood that Japan may not be as welcoming as other tourist countries. Some of the things I really want to do I have heard that it can be rough for foreigners such as onsens and festivals.

But some of the other things I want to see such as the cherry blossoms and to eat myself sick (several times) on food. Also want to go shopping for cookware that isn't avaible here. I do eat bentos for lunch here most of the time since it is a fairly heathy meal.

My lunch today -



A couple pieces of inari, three slices of tamago, a piece of ebi nigiri, a kamaboko (crab stick) maki roll, miso soup (just add water) and edamame.

Jim

That looks like a tasty lunch (well, except for the kamaboko, never been much of a fan of crab). Sure beats my Salami sandwich.

[Drac]

That looks like a tasty lunch (well, except for the kamaboko, never been much of a fan of crab). Sure beats my Salami sandwich.

Salami is good too. Another favorite lunch of mine is salami, bread, olives and cheese, marinated buffalo motzerlla if available.

I'm not obsessed with Japan, just a fan. I grew up on Japanese animation and later manga.

I love a lot of different cuisines from Oriental, Europian, the various Americas, can't get enough.

One of the reason for the bentos in not only becasue of a fondness but also health reasons. While a little high in carbs it is still fairly balanced for triglycerides. I choose the ingredients for things that can be frozen or stored, hence kamaboko. I also enjoy onigiri with furikake, various savory flavored sprinkle that remind me of fish food especially my favorite of shreaded shrimp, bonito flacks and nori. I have tried experimenting with fillings but sor far the umeboshi (pickled plum) and gourd strips (don't know what they are called) didn't work well for me. I'm trying a seaweed/seseme seed filling, genkina tsukudani goma kombu?

Sorry natto is not on the menu with or without mayo. Not trying to be mean but it reminds me of the "chum" the guys use for fish for catfish.

[seanachie]

Hi all,

Was playing when I came across this article on Yahoo -

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blog...134142507.html

I hope it goes through. CDNSushi, you'll be able to keep a clueless American from the States out of trouble?

Jim

10,000 free tickets sounds great but I think it would be better if they put some decent packages together at budget prices. I have been through Japan a few times, but not really seen Japan. I would love to go and see the country, Kilted of course, I am just not seeing many bargains in a country that has supposedly been hit hard but a drop off in tourists.

[Dale Seago]

Would- be visitors will have to detail in writing their travel plans in Japan, and explain what they hope to get out of the trip. Successful applicants would pay for their own accommodation and meals. They would also be required to write a review their travel experiences, and post it online.

Well, golly, I do all that twice a year already when I go over for further martial-arts training (springtime -- usually mid-April -- and always during the week of December 2 for Soke's birthday party). Be nice to get a free ticket for it. . .

And I've worn both the kilt and the belted plaid/feileadh mor over there, on different occasions.

[CDNSushi]

I am just not seeing many bargains in a country that has supposedly been hit hard but a drop off in tourists.

Nor will you, I'm afraid. I can attribute that to a few main reasons.

First, the exchange rate sucks! Bad. With the yen at an all-time high, and the dollar at an all-time low, the disparity is just too great. For us here in Japan, buying products abroad (yay me!) or making international investments is a wicked deal right now! Hello shopping spree! But to come to Japan, converting money to yen is expensive. Retailers know this too, and are reluctant to take a hit on their margins simply because of the rate -- many people here feel that the government should be intervening and weaken the yen, which brings me to point number two.

Japanese people are NOT good businesspeople. They're not. By and large, they really suck at it compared to other Asian countries. Somehow, after WWII, Japan got a reputation for being adept at business, and they were -- but ONLY when the business came to THEM. People were knocking on Japanese doors and all what Japan had to do was open them. Whereas now, with the weak yen, international customers are hitting other countries where their money gets them further (like China), leaving Japan scrambling to lure and re-attract business they've lost because of their inability to sell value, quality, and give consumers an advantage OTHER than having low prices.

But otherwise, there is very little concept here of supply and demand theory, and price elasticity is a mystery to them. There is also a LOT of old money... There are so many local shops, for instance, carrying merchandise that hasn't moved an INCH from the shelves in YEARS (because they don't need to) -- and yet, they stay open. A friend of mine tried to buy a motorbike from a local retailer, that was covered (almost literally) with an inch of dust, but when he asked for a discount, the owner let $2000 walk out the door (and have the bike collect another inch of dust) rather than give a $100 discount... And that is COMMON.

The hospitality industry in Japan is neither used to dealing with foreign tourists, nor is it prepared to do so anytime soon. A recent survey of the Japanese hotel industry revealed at least 27 percent of the country's hotels DID NOT WANT to have foreign clientele at all and 35 or 142 surveyed hotels outright disallowed foreigners from entering. A separate, (unrelated) study revealed that the majority of Japanese, when they get old, would rather be attended to by a ROBOT than a non-Japanese nurse or caregiver... As cool and interesting as Japan is, the xenophobia and racism also runs very deep.

Anyway, a whole thesis could be written on just this topic alone, but to sum it up, Japan is a fiercely independent nation, who would rather implode than accept outside aid for anything... And even with campaigns aimed at bringing in tourist dollars lost after the March 11 disasters, it must be done on THEIR terms -- which will mean full-price or nothing.

That shouldn't discourage anyone from coming here to visit. It's a lovely place. Everyone should see Kyoto at least once in their lives, and the coolness factor of Tokyo is tough to beat. But it will never be as cheap as a trip to many other Asian countries -- and I wouldn't expect many discounts or "special deals" as an incentive.

[seanachie]

Thanks for this insightful analysis from the ground. It does explain a few things. I had seen numbers in the papers on the drop off in numbers of tourists going to Japan so I was thinking there would be some corresponding discounts now I understand why not. It is interesting and I very much appreciated the insights you provided.

I want to careful to preface my comments by saying I am not trying to delve into political discussion or judgement of anyone, but your remarks on xenophobia are interesting as well. I believe it noteworthy that hotels which you would think would welcome foreign business would prefer native guests.
In my circumstance it would be difficult announcing a trip to Japan. My mother in law lived through the occupation in China and even all this many years later the wounds run very deep.

Thanks very much for the commentary!

Nor will you, I'm afraid. I can attribute that to a few main reasons.

First, the exchange rate sucks! Bad. With the yen at an all-time high, and the dollar at an all-time low, the disparity is just too great. For us here in Japan, buying products abroad (yay me!) or making international investments is a wicked deal right now! Hello shopping spree! But to come to Japan, converting money to yen is expensive. Retailers know this too, and are reluctant to take a hit on their margins simply because of the rate -- many people here feel that the government should be intervening and weaken the yen, which brings me to point number two.

Japanese people are NOT good businesspeople. They're not. By and large, they really suck at it compared to other Asian countries. Somehow, after WWII, Japan got a reputation for being adept at business, and they were -- but ONLY when the business came to THEM. People were knocking on Japanese doors and all what Japan had to do was open them. Whereas now, with the weak yen, international customers are hitting other countries where their money gets them further (like China), leaving Japan scrambling to lure and re-attract business they've lost because of their inability to sell value, quality, and give consumers an advantage OTHER than having low prices.

But otherwise, there is very little concept here of supply and demand theory, and price elasticity is a mystery to them. There is also a LOT of old money... There are so many local shops, for instance, carrying merchandise that hasn't moved an INCH from the shelves in YEARS (because they don't need to) -- and yet, they stay open. A friend of mine tried to buy a motorbike from a local retailer, that was covered (almost literally) with an inch of dust, but when he asked for a discount, the owner let $2000 walk out the door (and have the bike collect another inch of dust) rather than give a $100 discount... And that is COMMON.

The hospitality industry in Japan is neither used to dealing with foreign tourists, nor is it prepared to do so anytime soon. A recent survey of the Japanese hotel industry revealed at least 27 percent of the country's hotels DID NOT WANT to have foreign clientele at all and 35 or 142 surveyed hotels outright disallowed foreigners from entering. A separate, (unrelated) study revealed that the majority of Japanese, when they get old, would rather be attended to by a ROBOT than a non-Japanese nurse or caregiver... As cool and interesting as Japan is, the xenophobia and racism also runs very deep.

Anyway, a whole thesis could be written on just this topic alone, but to sum it up, Japan is a fiercely independent nation, who would rather implode than accept outside aid for anything... And even with campaigns aimed at bringing in tourist dollars lost after the March 11 disasters, it must be done on THEIR terms -- which will mean full-price or nothing.

That shouldn't discourage anyone from coming here to visit. It's a lovely place. Everyone should see Kyoto at least once in their lives, and the coolness factor of Tokyo is tough to beat. But it will never be as cheap as a trip to many other Asian countries -- and I wouldn't expect many discounts or "special deals" as an incentive.