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NEWS: Japan Travel Survey


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MorwenLaicoriel



Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 1617
Location: Colorado
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 4:10 pm Reply with quote
I'm a tad confused. Is this only for people who have been to Japan, or for everyone?
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Tempest
I Run this place.
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Joined: 29 Dec 2001
Posts: 10463
Location: Do not message me for support.
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 4:11 pm Reply with quote
MorwenLaicoriel wrote:
I'm a tad confused. Is this only for people who have been to Japan, or for everyone?


Anyone.
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hanachan01



Joined: 11 Dec 2005
Posts: 504
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 4:17 pm Reply with quote
They want me to list every anime I've ever purchased? I'm not sure if I can remember it all......
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PantsGoblin
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Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Posts: 2969
Location: L.A.
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 4:28 pm Reply with quote
hanachan01 wrote:
They want me to list every anime I've ever purchased? I'm not sure if I can remember it all......


I just said "over 200, too many to list". I'm honestly not going to sit there and list all of them, WAY too many. Also, that survey took longer than 10 minutes for me (the questions for people who have been to Japan took up like 1/3 of them though, so that may have made it longer for me).
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sabriyahm



Joined: 24 May 2005
Posts: 292
Location: Georgia
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 4:54 pm Reply with quote
Pachinko parlor -What is this?

The questions about impressions of Japan where only for people who had been there right?

How much is 100,000 yen. That's about 8grand right?


Last edited by sabriyahm on Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:02 pm; edited 1 time in total
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MorwenLaicoriel



Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Posts: 1617
Location: Colorado
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:01 pm Reply with quote
sabriyahm wrote:
Pachinko parlor -What is this?

The questions about impressions of Japan where only for people who had been there right?


A Pachinko parlor is basically a casino. They have gaming machines in there that are sort of like pinball. I don't totally understand how Pachinko is played, but I know that the way it functions is sort of like our slot machines.
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daxomni



Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 2650
Location: Somewhere else.
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:04 pm Reply with quote
Did I miss a link or something? A massive questionnaire like this should be presented in an easy-to-use form instead of by plain-text email.

Quote:
5. What kind of hobbies do you enjoy beside anime or manga?
a. Ski/Snowboard outing
b. Sea Swimming
c. Visiting the beach
d. Spa
e. Recreation/theme-park
f. Video game arcade
g. Karaoke
h. Pachinko parlor
i. Club (dancing)
j. Theater (plays)
k. Movies
l. Museum
m. Others (specify )


Most of these aren't really hobbies in my view. Skiing, snowboarding and sea swimming? I thought those were sports. Is "spa" really a hobby? I love to get a proper massage and I've even had facials and manicures where this is considered normal for men, but I never knew it was considered a hobby. Pachinko? Does anyone play pachinko outside of Japan? I know there are little toy versions for kids, but that's not who you tend to see playing pachinko in Japan. Oh well, I'll just leave it at that.

Quote:
6.A What impression do you have about Japan?

1. Japanese people are (a. kind or good-mannered b. unkind)


These options appear overly limited. Japanese people aren't exactly unkind, but they are very reserved around foreigners (with some exceptions). Coming to Japan from a place like Texas or Thailand can make the Japanese appear aloof and standoffish, but not necessarily unkind. And, as many people here probably have already heard, the Japanese can be extremely helpful when asked.

Quote:
2. Cities are (a. beautiful b. not beautiful)


If Tokyo is any indication, Japanese cities are flat-out hideous.

Quote:
3. Culture and history are (a. impressive b. not impressive)


Some aspects are very impressive while others are deeply disturbing.

Quote:
4. Food (a. is very good b. did not agree with me/ is bad)


Japanese food runs the gamut from excellent to terrible, just like any other cuisine.

Quote:
5. Public service is (a. good b. bad)


Which service are we talking about here?

Quote:
7. Undeveloped areas/provinces are (a. beautiful b. not beautiful)


Do they really intend to imply that some part of Japan has not been developed in one way or another? You can't have decade after decade of back-door public works projects without putting something just about everywhere.

Quote:
8. I see Japanese industries/industrial productions (a. positively b. negatively)


I'm rather fond of the anime industry but I view the whaling industry extremely negatively. I could go back and forth like this over most of the industrial spectrum.

Quote:
9. Japanese transport facilities are (a. convenient/highly-advanced b. not convenient)


As with a handful of other forward-thinking countries (such as Germany and France) the Japanese have managed to create an extremely efficient and punctual network of passenger rail services which would be the envy of the rest of the world if only the rest world would bother to pay attention. Here in America we still can't seem to get it through our thick skulls that we're not stuck IN a traffic jam, we ARE the traffic jam.

Japan's international air services are far from the best however.

Quote:
10. Japanese are (a. lively b. not lively)


Are we talking sober or intoxicated here?

Quote:
11. The public peace is (a. maintained b. not maintained)


I'm not sure who in their right mind would think that Japan is a dangerous place but that sure gave me a good laugh.

Quote:
12. Shopping in Japan is (a. enjoyable b. not enjoyable)


It's absolutely fantastic, until you see the price tag.

Quote:
14. I see Japanese movies and music (a. positively b. negatively)


I could probably count the number of non-anime Japanese movies I've seen on my two hands. Hopefully people from countries which don't despise subtitles can offer more of an opinion. Most Japanese music is just plain terrible in my view, but I've only been exposed to a small little slice of it.

Quote:
15. Japanese prices of commodities are (a. acceptable b. high)


Beyond comprehension would be the only answer I could give to this question.

Quote:
VI Places which appear in / are in related to anime
(Specify sites: )
(a. I'm very satisfied. b. I'm satisfied, but less than expected. c. I'm disappointed.)


Most of the obvious real-world places which appear in anime are nothing to get excited about in real life. In fact this is something that I've wondered about for a long time. Why would an ugly tower structure, a re-created temple complex or bland government building be so incredibly common in anime? I still can't figure it out.

sabriyahm wrote:
Pachinko parlor -What is this?

The questions about impressions of Japan where only for people who had been there right?

How much is 100,000 yen. That's about 8grand right?


No offense intended, but are you really being serious?!
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Cicatriz



Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 66
Location: Reno, Nevada
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:15 pm Reply with quote
sabriyahm wrote:
Pachinko parlor -What is this?

The questions about impressions of Japan where only for people who had been there right?

How much is 100,000 yen. That's about 8grand right?


When I estimate yen, I just take off the last two zeros. Not completely accurate, but good enough for me. 100,000 yen is about $1,000.
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Nermal



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 223
Location: I was made to hit in America
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:18 pm Reply with quote
hanachan01 wrote:
They want me to list every anime I've ever purchased? I'm not sure if I can remember it all......


I saw three spaces so I just put the favorites I had mentioned in the previous question. If I had to list everything, that would take too long.....10 minutes...HA!
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fighterholic



Joined: 28 Sep 2005
Posts: 9193
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:02 pm Reply with quote
tempest wrote:
Anyone.

Even people who have lived in Japan?
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AstroNerdBoy



Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 413
Location: Denver, CO
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:37 pm Reply with quote
fighterholic wrote:
tempest wrote:
Anyone.

Even people who have lived in Japan?


That would fall under "anyone." Razz And as someone who lived in Japan 2-years, I'm taking the survey...after I stop laughing at the very Japanese nature of the questions. *lol* And many of the choices are one of extremes as seem in question 6.
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Tenchi



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 4555
Location: Ottawa... now I'm an ex-Anglo Montrealer.
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:38 pm Reply with quote
The one quibble I had with this survey is that it seemed to be implying that, if you want to travel there with a tourgroup, anime-related or non-anime-related, you wouldn't be interested in going off anywhere by yourself for part of the trip. My ideal first trip to Japan would be to travel with a tourgroup for a few days, just to get over my massive intimidation, even trepidation, about visiting a country so different from any I've ever visited, but, once I've got my emotional bearings straight, I'd love to travel by myself outside of Tokyo, specifically to Hokkaido and Okayama (though, since they're nearly at opposite ends of Japan, I probably wouldn't get to see both on the first trip).



If only they had had these kinds of tours at the end of the last decade, when I actually had the money to go to Japan if I wanted to, but didn't go because I didn't want to go there alone. Though, even if I had the money now, one thing that has changed is that my interest in visiting Asia has broadened from being "just Japan" to now being that I still would love to visit Japan sometime, but there are several other places in Asia that could be just as big a draw for me (for example, I want to go and photograph elephants around Chiang Mai in Thailand just as much as I want to visit Japan).
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Vukir



Joined: 23 Mar 2004
Posts: 66
Location: California
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:56 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
II Anime/manga merchandise shops in otaku spots like Akihabara and Ikebukuro
(Specify specific shops ________)
(a. I'm very satisfied b. I'm satisfied, but less than expected c. I'm disappointed)


I spent ALL DAY in Akihabara and couldn't read a single sign four years ago... I couldn't remember a single store name from my trips aside from Hardoff, McDonalds, and the Pokemon Center.

Quote:
1. Japanese people are (a. kind or good-mannered b. unkind)


Xenophobic an option?
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Mech



Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7
Location: O'side, Ca
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:24 pm Reply with quote
I agree with daxomni. It took me a moment to figure out it's a plain-text email questionnaire. Nonetheless, I answered it.

It seemed to me that the survey was restrictive in answering what your opinion is of Japan. "Specific but overall it is a relatively good impression" was the best way I could summarize my opinion about Japan.

The idea of doing tour groups beside Tokyo would be awesome since I'm also curious Okinawa and Hokkaido.
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grooven



Joined: 16 Aug 2006
Posts: 1428
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:48 pm Reply with quote
I really like Japan alot, the stores are awesome, I can't complain about the prices (minus DVDs) since they are crazy ass prices over here and the shipping amounts are insane.

The only annoying thing would have to be the stare of ...Gaijin by a few people and when they thought I was from the USA I got some comments. But everyone was so nice other wise. People over here in North america make me want to vomit.

I wouldn't want tour groups. I wanted to kill the people from school when I went the first time and imagine strangers...just my friends are fine.
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