TigerMandingo said:
Maybe I am getting old but I really love Japan for the civility and tranquility of it.
Having traveled a fair bit around the world and seeing just about every part of the U.S. (was a glorified truck driver last 8 years) I can say with some certainty that Japan provides a very nice 1st world experience.
I do not claim to be one of those Japan experts, but I have explored from Wakkanai to Fukuoka, the Inaka of Shikoku and a number of other places.
I see much of America as one long decaying strip mall inhabited by tattooed obese people. We have a few nice spots but the reality is pretty grim in much of the country. One box store after another, failing infrastructure and a dumbed-down populace seemingly priming itself for a civil war...not even gonna mention the women.
Japan, while it has its share of decay outside of the big cities they seem to be managing it well. I have also never been anywhere in the country that I did not like, felt unsafe or considered it undesirable as a place to live.
I have mostly only met very friendly and helpful people who are curious, welcoming and fun to hang out with, especially if you drink with them and can bang out some blues or Beatles on the guitar.
Have seen the economic migrants in some combinis and hotels, overall not a huge threat in my mind, and I think the conformity of the Japanese society will grind out any kind of fuckery from them in most cases.
That said, I do think Japan is well aware that letting in the 3rd world en masse is a bad idea and they will not have it. The population was never historically as high as it is today, and they will be just fine going back to around 70 million people, especially as a country that has to import so much of its energy and food.
So for me, Japan offers much for someone who enjoys a very civilized experience...and the girls... :thumbup:
