Regarding Jim Rion's March 20 letter, "Recourse besides racial exclusion": Rion needs to embrace the Japanese exclusionary tendency with humor because changing attitudes will take longer than his life span. I have fond memories of going to an exclusive Japanese restaurant in Sydney, only to be told it was fully booked when my eyes told me otherwise. In response, I took out my Sony digital camera to snap pieces of evidence. I just wanted to give the staff a fright, as I respect everyone's right to be stupid or not.
A similar exclusive bar around the corner catering to Asia elites had obscene cover charges to keep out the apparently uncultured gaijin Australians. (Frankly, though, given the implicit values of these people, I was pleased that they were considerate enough to hide themselves.)
Rion has to understand that Japan is a highly collectivized society. It isn't going to change overnight, and one suspects that the majority don't want it to. They have a subjective concept of truth. Comparatively, many Westerners hold an objective truth. Yet we are all humans with the same nature. Let them believe that every gaijin is an American, that all Americans are overweight, etc. But act with integrity.
You may argue for rights, but in essence you are asserting that you should have the right of access to their property. You may talk of cultures visibly holding everyone who is not a member with fear and distrust, yet your views embrace the same premise -- that rights, values and identities are collective.
A great many Japanese are sympathetic or firmly supportive of Western values. I choose to drink with them; they will give you access. Principles matter when applied consistently.
ANDREW SHELDON CROOKS, Saitama, Japan
Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/ric.htm
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Japan Foreclosed Property 2010 - Buy this 3rd edition report!
Are you aware that you can buy a house & lot in Japan for as little as $10,000. Surprising but true! Japan has a plethora of cheap properties subject to auction by the courts. Some are in rural areas subject to depopulation, but there are plenty of properties in the cities too. I bought a dormitory 1hr from Tokyo for just $US30,000.
Below are listed some of the current opportunities to buy VERY CHEAP foreclosed properties in Japan. I bought foreclosed properties in Japan and now I reveal all in this 120-page report. eg. The information you need to know, strategies to apply, where to get help, and the tools to use.
'Buying NZ Property – Download the free sample readings!
The NZ property market is shaping up as one of the most attractive property investment markets for the next few years. High yielding property and the collapse of the NZD make NZ the perfect counter-cyclical investment if you buy right! In addition, there is no capital gains tax, transfer taxes, VAT/GST or wealth taxes in NZ, so rest assured that NZ property is tax-effective! Learn more now!
'Buying Philippines Property – Download a free sample chapter!
The Philippines property market is positioned to generate the strongest property price increases over the next 10 year thanks to ongoing economic and administrative reforms by the Arroyo government. The ASEAN countries have yet to exhibit the price gains of Western markets, which is just another sign that this super cycle is far from over. The current credit crunch will provide a great opportunity to profit from property foreclosures.
