If you are new here, please understand that I am unabashedly pro-American. I’m adamant that we serve a great cause worldwide. That a world without United States would be terrible. Yet, I had an experience in Japan that rattled these convictions.
Our plane landed at Narita Airport in the late afternoon. It was me and two contractors, both former Navy. One a retired Master Chief and the other, a seasoned tech.
We caught the train from Narita to Yokosuka. It took us hopping onto a couple of lines. Which ones, I could not say. And we rode each train for a dozen stops or more.
As we got closer to base, we switched to a crowded commuter line. Two things I noticed immediately about Japan: the locals were deathly quiet and it was clean. Very much so.
Having spent a good chunk of time in New York, I knew the rush of warm air, the squeal of the subway, and the voices. Kids yelling. Businessmen on cellphones. Rappers and guitarists on dirty benches at the subway stops. Sitting and playing. Standing and rapping. You won’t find any of that in Japan.
Four stops from Yokosuka, the doors opened and three American Sailors stumbled in. Flip-flops and tank-tops. One immediately started cussing. I glared at him. He looked away. The train was quiet for a second, just as it was the two hours before they came on.
Then another kid piped up. Man, I hate Japanese women. Why do they gotta do me like that? I have been here for f***in’ three weeks. And I hate it. Japanese girls. . .
You telling me, the other one, the cusser, mumbled.
I stared around the train. The Japanese men held their gaze at the floor. Maybe shamed. The locals seemed so quiet, I couldn’t tell if I understood their embarrassment. Or maybe they just do not understand English?
I do not like this culture, the complainer continued. With a couple more cuss words.
I cut in. Guys, please.
The one closest gawked at me with a rummy face. We can’t help ourselves, he said, slurring his words.
Everyone can help themselves, I replied. The retired Master Chief looked over at him and then me. He rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Look at me, I am covered in tats. I am screwed, he continued.
You can cover them up. And tats mean nothing.
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They were quiet. Relatively so. Then they talked among themselves. About work. Deck Sailors. Catching jets during the day. And during night ops.
I knew their story: fifteen hour days in brown shirts. Purple shirts. White. Green. Yellow shirts. Blue. Red. Which flavor they were, I did not hear. One of them.
And the doors opened and the warm, humid night whisked them away.
We waved at a taxi and squeezed in. The driver was wearing white gloves. His taxi was older. As in ten years old. Lace doilies lined the headrests.
We rolled down the main drag. The edge of the Honch stared at us from beyond the taxi window. My Japan deployment was just beginning. . .
Done that same ride more than once, and had to do the same thing a couple of times… sigh
I’ve never been there…it’s so physically crowded…but Navy One, don’t you think and I’ve heard this articulated; the Japanese people are accustomed to their personal space being far smaller than it is in Western cultures and are resultantly far more circumspect when it comes to their inner personal space…it’s a state of mind..as are many things in the Eastern framework of reference…the Asian world is populated with individuals who understand physical proximity is something they can do nothing about, particularly in Japan, but their inner mind occupies a far more respectful distance…these Americans apparently had been in the country for only a short time and were acting like clowns…I knew one thing when I went overseas; I was a visitor and would only be there for a short time; respecting these cultures and practicing a certain amount of propriety was always in order…k
My personal opinion is that it has to do with competition – so many people, so little space, fewer big opportunities. In America our schools are very competitive – we compete in sports – not so much in education. In Japan, the competition is more toward scholastic abilities. Of course the Japanese are competitive in sports too. All competition takes discipline and training. These people are used to controlling themselves where ever they are – whatever they do. Maybe it makes for a more sober people. Maybe it is part of their honor/culture. Maybe in schools they teach discipline rather than holding rowdy pep rallies every Friday during school hours.
Old NFO: It is frustrating, but when I get my next division or department, not one of my Sailors will ever mouth off publicly.
Kris: Interesting, I did not consider the space issue. But you are right. Less space, more courtesy. While we have open spaces here in United States, we can be louder.
Lou: Competition, yes. I think our cultures can share a lot with each other.
Unfortunately that is the life of a young, immature sailor in a foreign country soaked in alcohol. I went to Tokyo from Yokosuka, but we were too scared to make an ass of ourselves…regardless of how much we drank. The CO and my DivOff had threatened us with castration if we screwed up in public. And America could learn quiet a bit from our Japanese neighbors.
True that. I spent more than one tour over there (Marines,) primarily Okinawa. I enjoyed their culture immensely, though I don’t know if I could live it forever. We had areas where we were allowed to act like ugly Americans, but our entire officer corps would have buried us if caught acting like that in other areas. Then I heard recently, that due to rapes, (RAPES!) of young Okinawan women, we have been asked to leave that island. How humiliating.
I think Coffeypot hit it, NavyOne – although I’d tend more toward the immaturity than blaming alcohol.
Funny, the Progeny has an absolute GIFT when it comes to languages; she went to Russia for 3 weeks while in high school, picked up profanity first {of course
}, but was fairly conversant by the time they left. When we were in Mexico, because we were there so long, she speaks Mexican Spanish like a Regia {native of Monterrey}, which is REALLY funny when she lets loose, because she’s Dresden complexioned, with green eyes & red hair – kinda SHOCKS the Mexicans, doncha know? 
My point here being that, even when she was a ‘callow youth’, she RESPECTED the host country and their customs – which is what you’ll have to imbue in your next division/department – hopefully, it won’t be a major struggle ………………………..
Semper Fi’
DM
As your fellow blogger ASGTMJ has commented more than once, there are few things scarier than your troops on liberty. Hope these young sailors took the hint – although a boot in the butt is usually more effective.
I sent the link to a friend, retired Marine, who’s living in the area – he may have some suggestions for future …………………………. admonishing …. ? ………………..
Semper Fi’
DM
CP: Good leadership you had there. . .
DM: Thanks. I think admonishing is the thing to do.
DevilDog: I think I will try the boot next time. Hopefully there is no next time.
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Great story about two different cultures although common courtesy should transcend all cultures.
However, living in New York, I certainly know that is not the case as in this town courtesy is a four letter word.
You get my vote this week.
Mike Haltman
The Political Commentator
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It’s all about selfishness. I’ll bet they never stopped to consider how their behavior looked to those around, and I’ll bet they never paid attention to how people around them were acting in general. It was all about them and none of it was their fault.
Too many people aren’t taught the basic rules of common decency, courtesy and consideration these days. It’s even worse when they wind up being de-facto representatives for all the rest of us. Maybe they’ll grow up if they get some sense knocked into them.
I’m not in the service and i have never been to japan but my brother was in the service in the 60′s (stationed in Germany) and has been to Japan (long after he left the service)
he was installing a piece of equipment and was there for two months with an engineer who was 28, the Japanese company had arranged a welcome party for them with lots of exotic foods which my brother ate and complemented their hosts on how good the food was, the engineer on the other hand complained under his breather how the food sucked and he couldn’t eat it. later on my brother took the engineer aside and explained to him that their hosts understood everything he said and that they were guests in their country and he should STFU and not insult them.
my brother contacted his boss back in the states and explained the situation and the engineer was called back ASAP, my brother stayed and installed the equipment with help from the Japanese technicians and answered every questions to their satisfaction.
Rather than send someone else out, the company in japan said that they didn’t need to send out another engineer and that my brother was well qualified and knowledgeable and a credit to his company, they also suggested that to make his time there more comfortable that perhaps his wife would like to join him during the installation and training time at their expense. my sister in law jumped at the chance. their hotel was upgraded by the Japanese to a 5star resort with a view of Mt Fuji.
my brother is just a tech but always makes sure he know the equipment he is working on top to bottom and when ever he has to travel to another country reads extensively on the customs and actually tries to learn some of the Language before traveling.
the engineer was never allowed to go over seas again
i would like to add my uncle who has since passed away didn’t like the Japanese at all. he was a 17 yr old Marine when he first came on contact with Japanese culture, on Iwo Jima
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