Lurker > Glob

Its not outright bigoted. But you can feel that you won't be "one of them". Just like every other culture, such as Arab culture, Pakistani/Indian culture and even Korean. Its not exclusive to Japan.

And that's something I don't really care for. I don't see myself as part of a group identity. I'm my own individual and I've always been, even in London.

No, it's you thinking "oh anyone can do it why don't they just do it are they stupid" just because you did it, which is dumb as fuck and it's getting worse every time you defecate all over your keyboard and post ITT.

I mean, I believe it. Most foreigners who come here are socially fucked and can't make friends unless they're other foreigners, or a leftover man/woman and their family that they married.

I have too many stories of foreigners getting slowly pushed away or excluded from friend circles, and the foreigner don't know why. Probably end up on Reddit asking for advice from other socially awkward losers.
We're polite, but we're not nice. That's a good way to put it, actually.

It's like they treat us like we're Japanese, and not like we're people. Because it's like you said, a lot of things are similar between us all over the world. It's just that, 99% of the time, foreigners can only interact with the culturally-mandated kindness. And very few will get to see how we actually are, which is, again, just being human and no different from anywhere else in the world. Because they're not worth showing ourselves to.

There was a very popular TeD Talk about six years ago, that got used even by some articles from NHK and even appeared on Chiko's program. I think it was by Noku Okada from Astroscale, but I might be very wrong.
Regardless who it was, he touched on the culture effectively beginning to die and as you said becoming almost entirely superficial. Also why Japanese and especially youth are far more interested in foreign countries and what they put out rather than our own, especially nowadays. I will always remember the quote, roughly translated:

In the 1980's, Japan was in the 2,000's. In the 1990's, Japan was in the 2000's. The 2000's came and we stayed the same. It's the 2010's, Japan is still in the 2,000's. It's the 2020's, Japan will likely still be in the 2,000's."

We're not changing, but the world is. So we're stuck in the past, which attracts us to foreign stuff more. The quote gets dug up now because it's true even in 2024. The worst part is that our cities like Tokyo look like every other average city on the planet, just with some neon signs like Nashville, so there's not even any real cultural identity visually.
But for some reason, foreigners claim there is. Again, socially awkward.

Also, Singapore is a godtier mention. Most Japanese know Singapore or want to visit. It's known for four things:

1.) The best airport in the world (This is not up for debate. At all.)
2.) Among the best, most unique cities in the world for their policies on blending nature and manmade structures. Absolutely stunning.
3.) The Merlion.
4.) A multicultural dream for food, business, you name it.

It depends where you live; in some cities here, it is a bad idea to walk around with more than $50 whereas in some places, it is perfectly okay to walk around town with more than $5000. Having a credit card is great and all but sometimes, some places just don't accept it and it could be a restaurant and they can accuse you of dine and dash. If you use your debit card, it isn't secure enough as that there is a small chance all the money in your bank account and vanish into thin air. That's why cash is important in life wherever you are.

It says before retiring. Retiring is not the same thing as quitting.

It doesn't say anything about quitting in the OP.

I am not interested in going to Hanoi or Hong Kong.
The traffic in Hanoi is a mess. It is like reckless zone.
Hong Kong have both Article 23 and National Security Law.
Besides, the prices to travel to Japan is cheaper than to Hong Kong or Hanoi.

I am pooping rn and the water that come out of the bidet spray is fucking hot

Try a table of 4 but just show up with 2.

As a side note though that place must be really popular and doing well to have to book 6+ months out.

Yes, this is very useful information for the people working at my local Target. I'll go let them know that if they're having trouble affording rent, they should apply for international jobs in Vietnam or wherever.

What the actual fuck do you think this topic is about

Holy shit how does it get worse with every post

No real trick or secret unfortunately (if you find one, tell me). Set a bunch of google flight trackers and you'll be able to get yourself down to at least a small fortune rather than a large fortune. But you're absolutely right, the flight alone cost me more than nine nights at a decently nice but basic hotel (think like a mid-tier Mariott). Granted, I did splurge for Premium Select on Delta, but that was only an additional $400. Flight was still around $1,200 for basic seats. And with how weak the yen is right now (or even in normal conversions), everything is insanely cheap too. 6000 yen (around $40) covered the subway for the entire trip.

If you can get the flight, everything else will feel like pennies.

What authoritarian shit hole of a country do you live in where you're not innocent until proven guilty?

This is the entire premise of the judicial system.

What's ridiculous about wanting proof before believing something? Do you think cops don't lie?

And like I said earlier, I'll believe it once they present proof beyond the cops word.

Not sure why I'm having to repeat myself here.

Neither makes sense. Anyone who's eligible to vote should be eligible to run for office.

Let the voters decide what is appropriate in a democracy.

Personally, I don't see the need for any age restrictions once a person reaches majority. If you think a candidate is too callow or too senile, vote for a different one.

If somebody thinks they are telling the truth then it isn't a lie if it's proven to be false. It would be a mistake. A lie is knowingly telling a falsehood.

I believe he did. You can't trust cops

tokyo aint got shit on winthorpe massachusetts

Is there any trick to not paying a fortune for a flight? From my very brief research, that alone seems like it'll be more than half the cost of the entire trip. Also, how prevalent were English speakers at restaurants and such? Can you really get by on Google Translate for everything?

No love for Anne Rice?

Frankenstein

D'oh! I forgot that bandit and cartel would've also vanished!

Like I said, I'll have to repost this topic later with tighter restrictions.

I've seen the movie. I was kinda bummed when I found out the series has a completely different cast. I still haven't watched it, but maybe at some point. I wish they kept the movie cast

Cops are fucking liars with ticket qoutas though

I have no marketable skills, no education, no ambition. So I make 16.75 an hour working 35 to 38 hrs a week. It sucks, but applying myself to try to learn something would suck more