HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: robohen@ocf.berkeley.edu (Henry Robertson)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: THIS ONE PROVES IT!
Date: 15 Oct 92 02:33:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: agate.1bil94INN8mn
Organization: U. C. Berkeley Open Computing Facility
NNTP-Posting-Host: headcrash.berkeley.edu

WHY DID I SAY I'M THE ONE WHO BEAT UP YOUR GRANDFATHER?  BECAUSE AS YOU SAY,
IT'S STUPID THAT KOREANS DIG UP THE PAST AND TAKE IT OUT ON THE CURRENT
GENERATION.  JAPAN WAS ABLE TO INVADE ASIAN COUNTRIES BECAUSE SOCIAL DIVISIONS
WITHIN OTHER ASIAN COUNTRIES PREVENTED MORE EFFECTIVE DEFENSE.  CHINESE
NOBILITY IN THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES BEFORE MAO WERE LITTLE MORE THAN
DRUG-CRAZED PLUTOCRATS, SACRIFICING THEIR PEOPLE FOR PERSONAL BENEFIT.  AS
FOR KOREANS, THERE WERE-PROGRESSIVE MINDED SCHOLARS WHO WANTED TO IMPORT
WESTERN TECHNOLOGY, BUT SINCE THE RULING CLASS WAS ISOLATIONIST AND BELIEVED
IN INNATE SUPERIORITY TO OTHER CULTURES, THE SCHOLARS WERE EXILED AND
SPENT THE REST OF THEIR LIVES IN OBLIVION IN THE STATES.  YES, JAPAN HAS
THINGS TO BE SHAMED ABOUT, BUT OTHER ASIANS SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT IT HAD
AS MUCH TO DO WITH THEIR OWN RULING CLASS THAT BETRAYED THEM.  WHY COMMUNISM
CAME TO POWER, DOING GENOCIDE OF EX-RULING CLASS.  THE ONLY PROBLEM IN SO
DOING WAS THAT IT ALSO TOOK AWAY MUCH WISDOM INHERENT TO THE RULING CLASS
AND DESTROYED CULTURAL RELICS.  WHY IN MY OPINION SO MUCH PETTY POLITICKING
FRUSTRATES CHINA.  BUT HUMANS CAN OF COURSE CHANGE, AND GROW.  SOON ENOUGH,
CHINA MAY BECOME AN ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER AND HAVE EVERYONE CLUTCHING FOR THEIR
LIVELIHOODS.  THE POINT IS THAT LOVE AND HATE ALL PLAYES INTO ECONOMICS,
POLITICS, SO BETTER LOVE IS SMOOTHER WORLD ORDER.
From: harkcom@spinach.pa.yokogawa.co.jp (Alton Harkcom)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Politics
Date: 8 Oct 92 09:56:15 GMT
	f.gov><2222@usna.NAVY.MIL>
	<SMITTIE.92Oct6133235@tui.csulb.edu><BvqpAz.K95@world.std.com>
	<SMITTIE.92Oct7111428@beach.csulb.edu>
Organization: Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
In-reply-to: smittie@beach.csulb.edu's message of 7 Oct 92 18:14:32 GMT

In article <SMITTIE.92Oct7111428@beach.csulb.edu> smittie@beach.csulb.edu
   (Smittie) writes:

 =}Clinton has said repeatly that he is for "Fair and Free Trade."
 =}Trade is either fair or free but not both.

   These two are not neccesarily mutually exclusive.  And a simple
question to return the ball to your side of the court: can a system of
trade be fair without being free?  (IMHO, no.)
From: ra01+@andrew.cmu.edu (Rikiya Asano)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Sung Hyun Kim
Date: 15 Oct 92 06:23:46 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.0erLvmC00WBK021ol5
	<1992Oct15.025526.8078@news.acns.nwu.edu>
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Mr. Kim,

           I continue to grow closer to your personality. Let be  one of
the first to say that I am sorry. I bet if I met your Grandparents, I
would love them as my own. If I had any power to take back time and
re-develop the "Corrupt
State" of Humanity, I would. I want you to know that I were the Captain
of the Ship" of Nippon, I immediately  respond to the "victims" of my
forefathers.


                            But, I want you to understand that in many
ways in the beginning, We, the Japanese, were naively a "victim" too.
Maybe, we(the 
people) were itimidated in many ways. But, this does not relinquish the
fact that we should take up the responsibilty "of not FORGETTING" and
"PAYING BACK"
what we have taken. It is true that it is impossible for one to take
back death(but nothing is impossible for (God the lord Christ Jesus). In
this I know
that if all else would fail He would not fail me. Keep it up. I'm sorry. And, I
promise to restore back what my forefathers did if I have to do it by myself.

                                 

                                 Please? Forgive us?
From: rreed@terapin.com (Rick Reed)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Neighbourly Etiquette
Date: 11 Oct 92 02:58:58 PST
Organization: BBS

In article <1992Oct8.005132.12549@mks.com>, stephe@mks.com (Stephen Walli)
writes:
>These small gifts do not seem to come in relation to any specific 
>incidents. We are not accustomed to this practise and are a little 
>uncomfortable with it, because we are unsure how to respond. 
>Any helpful information is appreciated. Please respond by e-mail.
>Thank you.
>
>regards,
>Stephen Walli
>stephe@mks.com
>-- 
>---------------- So there is a God. What's your point? ----------------------
>Stephen R. Walli      Mortice Kern Systems Inc.      phone: +1 (519) 884-2251 
>stephe@mks.com        35 King Street N., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2J 2W9

There is no reason for you to feel uncomfortable by these gifts.  It is just a
very polite gesture in the Japanese culture.  Basically EVERYONE in Japan does
this.  When I was a kid playing at my friend's house, whether they be white or
Asian, she always told my to bring some cake or something, just anything to
them.  Since I was brought up both Western and Eastern, I sometimes thought I
didn't need to give these gifts.  The gifts simply mean "Thank you for having
my children play with your children and this is a little something from my
heart."  Japanese people are very polite by nature so don't feel uncomfortable.
 I suggest maybe next time that you give her family a little gift to accept her
gesture.  Nothing fancy.  
Especially for X-mas and birthdays, they might be generous.  Maybe you should
purchase a book on Japanese culture and language to amuse each other and break
that language and culture barrier. You should maybe teach her some Canadian
cultures.  I think that would be fun and interesting.

-Michelle Toratani, Oakland,CA  (using R.Reed's account)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: hiraga@Csli.Stanford.EDU (Yuzuru Hiraga)
Subject: Re: Actually!
Organization: Stanford University CSLI
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 23:40:46 GMT

In article <Mep50fG00WBNI1fYhN@andrew.cmu.edu> Rikiya Asano <ra01+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>Actually,
>
>             Since I've come to America I've learned some pretty deep concepts
>of the America Culture.
  [bulk of bad experiences and impressions on US deleted...]

I stand aghast.  And am totally at a loss what to say.

All I can tell is that you've suffered from very bad experiences
in the US, and I sincerely sympathize for that.
And I, as a Japanese currently in the US, have been fortunate
not to have encountered such situations.

Cheers!

-YH
From: si0l+@andrew.cmu.edu (Soshi Iba)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Sakamoto Ryo^ma reference
Date: 13 Oct 92 16:59:37 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.geqr3tK00VpEEH80YP
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

mrc@Tomobiki-Cho.CAC.Washington.EDU (Mark Crispin) writes,

> For people who didn't see my response on sci.lang.japan, I recommend
> MariusJansen's `Sakamoto Ryo^ma and the Meiji Restoration'.

I never read this novel, but concerning Sakamoto Ryoma, we should not
forget Shiba Ryotaro's "Ryoma ga yuku".  I guess a lots and lots of
people were fascinated by this novel.

soshi
From: ra01+@andrew.cmu.edu (Rikiya Asano)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: No, I'm not Half Japanese and Half Korean
Date: 12 Oct 92 15:44:03 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.UeqUr3G00Uh7A6Iq4k
	<1992Oct12.035016.3012@u.washington.edu>
	<geqFJ0q00Uh_I3Pr9S@andrew.cmu.edu>
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Mr. Choi,

            It was late last night. No, I'm not half Japanese and Half Korean.

........................Just like to last post.
From: ra01+@andrew.cmu.edu (Rikiya Asano)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: HAJIME!
Date: 12 Oct 92 17:48:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.AeqWfgG00WBLI7ZYZT
	<1992Oct12.092648.950@newsroom.utas.edu.au>
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

S'up,

             I suggest that you do what your doing. Your are living in a very
Strange Land. Maybe, if you study a little history about Austrailia and
how it was conceived and a nation; this will be alot of help to you. On
the point of the Asians not responding. Don't worry. They are either
niave, stupid, in great
fear about what you are doing, or they themselves have a deep psychological
allusion that they are the same as the Cacausian. They are in a fantasy,
you are not. Do what you feel is right. But, be fair and don't avoid the
punishment if you are not fair. Treat all the same. If the Caucasian
wants more give him less.
If the black want more give him nothing.(because, he know better than to
take average of the naive).
From: robohen@ocf.berkeley.edu (Henry Robertson)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Curry (Was: Scary in Japan)
Date: 12 Oct 1992 07:06:20 GMT
Organization: U.C. Berkeley Open Computing Facility
NNTP-Posting-Host: bigbang.berkeley.edu

Andy Krantz, if you're a true Japan fanatic then you can eat that dish of 
theirs called Hayashi rice.  It's like curry with all the lumpiness taken
out of it, plus lots of ketchup added to the stew.  EGUI!  Else, shiokara
(shredded & pulped raw squid, aka GESO), or nattou (rotten soybeans, though
this I find actually kind of good with the right complimentary foods).
However, Japanese foods as far as I know rank relatively low in shock value
compared to dishes from some other Asian countries.
From: mitch@lsil.com (Mitch Sako)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: gifts to bring to Japan?
Date: 12 Oct 92 18:48:30 GMT
Reply-To: mitch@lsil.com
Organization: LSI Computing Systems

In article 28683@schbbs.mot.com, RNM192@paccvm.corp.mot.com (Irene Pan) writes:
>All, I will be visiting Japan and would like to know what sort of
>gifts would be appreciated. I have already seen Herb Lison's post about
>Maple Sugar etc., but would like to hear any other suggestions you may
>have. I am looking for some things that would be suitable for a young
>boy, 12-13 years of age. I was considering bringing some cassette
>tapes (popular NA/European groups) for him- Is this a good idea? Is
>Western music inexpensivley available in Japan? I don't want to bring
>something he can buy there cheaply...
>I Western music of CD will be much better because everyone can get CD
>player easier and cheaper in Japan.  T-shirt or sweater shirt from _
>Canada will be good though.

I agree about CDs instead of cassettes, however I would suggest the T-shirt
route that you mention.  Western music is widely available and nothing special
in Japan these days.  There are even discount shops where it can be had for
a "reasonable" price these days.

If you really want to make a kid happy, take beef jerky.  It's like gold over
there.  Everyone (unless they have bad teeth) loves beef jerky.  Plain smokey
generic beef jerky is best.  Avoid the sweet "teriyaki" type at all costs.

---
====================================================================
Mitch Sako	LSI Logic Corporation	OFFICE	408-433-4187
local:		mitch@dcs4
internet:	msako@lsil.com		FAX	408-433-8796
uucp:		lsil!msako
RIME:		->REDBARON, conference=POLITICS
Disclaimer:	Opinions expressed are mine and only mine
From: ross-c@scs.leeds.ac.uk (R Clement)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Would someone like to respond to this gal?
Date: 8 Oct 92 18:01:04 GMT
Organization: The University of Leeds, School of Computer Studies
Originator: ross-c@csparc12

In article <ld70h8INNbm1@jethro.Corp.Sun.COM> fugitt@tempus.Corp.Sun.COM writes:
>>From: joanne@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Joanne Petersen)
>>Subject: Re: "ABC" and Generation 3 (was Re: Looking for roots)
>>
>>I've never been to Japan, although there is a city there which shares my
>>surname. 
>
>I'm sure it would help generate some interest if people knew her
>surname. I've never run across a city named Petersen, so I assume

The name in question is (drum roll) "Hiratsuka" which was in her .sig.
Hiratsuka is one of the towns down (railway line "down") from Tokyo, about
40 minutes (?) by normal train from Yokohama.

Cheers,

Ross-c

PS: I have to write
    a few more lines
    or my newsreader will reject this article due to quoted/new material
    ratios.
From: ra01+@andrew.cmu.edu (Rikiya Asano)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: HAJIMA that is suppose to..
Date: 12 Oct 92 17:51:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.4eqWiAy00WBLQ7ZZBo
	<1992Oct12.092648.950@newsroom.utas.edu.au>
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

HAJIMA,


               That is suppose to read  "nothing.(because he knows
better; not to take advantage of the newcomer).
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 11:08:43 -0400 
From: Rikiya Asano <ra01+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: MR.KENTARO
	<NZaJsB1w165w@student.business.uwo.ca>

MR. KENTARO,

                (THESE UPPERCASE LETTERS ARE MUCH BETTER, I CAN SEE
THEM). I HAD TO POST THIS LOUDLY(ALTHOUGHT, NOT AS CLEARLY AS I HAD
THOUGHT).  YOU SEE, I HAD GROWN TRIED OF MEETING CHINESE AND KOREANS(I
HAD NEVER MET A NORTH KO-RYUAN but I HOPE TO WITH VERY GREAT MOTIVATION
AND PLEASURE)WHO INSISTED THAT IT WAS INSULTING FOR THE JAPANESE
GROVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO PLAY GAMES WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR
LOVED ONES OVER A EUROPEAN-STYLED SUPERIORITY TRIP. SO, I TOOK THE
LIBERTY TO DO SOME INVESTIGATION. AND, WHAT I FOUND SHOCKED ME REAL BAD.
SO, NOW I HAVE NO PROBLEM IN ADMITTING THE TRUTH. SO, WAIT UNTIL I GET
HOME. I PLAN TO SPEND A GREAT PART OF MY LIFE FOR MORE POSITIVE
COEXISTANCE WITH ZHONG GUO, KO-RYU AND NIPPON. ALSO, I THINK IT WAS MOST
REALISTIC OF ME TO BE IN RESPECT OF THE POWER OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE.
THERE ARE BILLIONS UPON BILLION AND NIHON IS AN ISLAND WITH ISLAND
PEOPLE ON IT. YOU, ON THE OTHERHAND THINK THAT YOU HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL
PERSPECTIVE. RIGHT? 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: htanabe@ponder.csci.unt.edu (Hisaharu Tanabe)
Subject: Ryoma Sakamoto
Keywords: japanese japan book history
Organization: University of North Texas
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 15:00:57 GMT

I'm looking for a book about Ryoma Sakamoto written in English. Anybody
who has any idea, please E-Mail me.

Thanks in advance.

Hisaharu

Organization: Junior, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 12:04:53 -0400 
From: Hiroshi Haga <hh0u+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: USUALLY! WHEN I'M WRITING.....

I have a question for you, Mr. Asano.  

	Is your caps lock in your keyboard broken??




Hiroshi Haga 
$@K'2l(J $@Bg;V(J(hh0u+@andrew.cmu.edu)

"You're not Gaijin, there is no nation called Gaijin in this world. 
          I'm a human, and so are you." - from Tokyo Babylon vol. 2 by CLAMP.
From: ross-c@scs.leeds.ac.uk (R Clement)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Foreign Ogres (was Mr. Baseball
Date: 7 Oct 92 17:08:57 GMT
Organization: The University of Leeds, School of Computer Studies
Originator: ross-c@csparc12

In article <7326@bigbird.hri.com.hri.com> blamb@hri.com (Bill Lambert) writes:
>
>My Japanese wife and I meet such stereotypes on
>a daily basis, and are often surprised at the source and the form 
>that these classifications, or lack of knowledge, can take. 
>
>	"Do you eat raw fish at home every day?"
>	"I didn't know Japanese people could dance."
>	"Does your wife walk on your back?"
>	"Does your wife walk 10 feet behind you?"
>	"Do Japanese people eat meat?"

What about the hoary old chestnut "The Japanese people don't have a sense of
humour"? I've heard that one from even educated people.

For those who want *proof* of the contrary, may I suggest listening to:

Super Eccentric Theatre: The Art of Nipponomics.

Cheers,

Ross-c
From: yeonwook@hardy.u.washington.edu (Mark Choi)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: this `Koryo' stuff
Date: 15 Oct 92 02:13:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Oct15.021328.3205
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle


The vast majority of people who use the word "koryo" are not influenced
in any way by North Korean propaganda. Perhaps some. You should also note
that the word "koryo" is not only a historical name for Korea, it was a 
name of the dynasty that overtook Silla. The government in Pyongyang
might be influenced to recognize their nation as Pyongyang because
the capital of Koryo, Kaesong, is in North Korea. Founded by warrior
clans, Koryo turned out to be the last Korean dynasty with it's 
headquarters in the northern portion of the peninsula (Yi came after,
and of course based itself in Seoul). The North Korean government also
feels close to the historical Koguryo kingdom. North Korea government =
Koguryo III ? 
-- 
    .  .      +---------------------------------+
  --|--|      | Mark Yeon Wook Choi             |
   /.\ |      | yeonwook@hardy.u.washington.edu |
  --|--|      +---------------------------------+
From: blamb@hri.com (Bill Lambert)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Where are the Japanese
Date: 8 Oct 92 21:42:12 GMT
Organization: Horizon Research, Inc.

In article <uD0BsB1w165w@student.business.uwo.ca>,
k3amichi@student.business.uwo.ca (Kentaro Nakamichi) writes:

=> Now that we are on this topic of cultural differences, let's get some 
=> discussion going.  I'm taking a course in International Management 
=> Behavior and we have an interesting framework to identify relevant 
=> differences in various cultures.  Various national cultures are explained 
=> on 4 dimensions: Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, 
=> Individualism-Collectivism, and Masculinity-Femininity.

=> Any comments, feedback?  Do you think it's a decent framework to analyze 
=> cultures or is it all academic with little practical relevance?

As to practical relevance, the implication would be that in order
to minimize the conflict points, perhaps "masculine" nations should
become more so "feminine", and vice versa. While it may be demonstrable
that certain nations with similar characteristics are cooperative in
some arenas, using that sort of comparison to move nations one way or
another is practically a no-can-do proposition. And by no means is
that short list of 4 characteristizations surley all inclusive. So,
a sort of global practicality would not exist.

But it does get you thinking about differences in culture, doesn't it?
And that, I suppose, is the real point. The definitions or classifications
are put onto already existing phenomena in order to allow you to see them.
As such it is a tool for vision rather than a tool for change.

While writing this I did think of one practical use. Understanding those
differences in an International Business Course may be useful for the
student to later use them for developing negotiation tactics. For example,
if you're a person from an individualistic culture trying to negotiate
with those from a collectivist culture, your natural tendency might be
to identify the "leader" of the group and address your negotiation
tactics towards that single individual. This approach might be either
insulting or irrelevant and ineffective. Knowing the other people have
collectivist tendencies, you might change your tactics accordingly to
address group concerns and in fact, broaden the negotiations as a group
effort between all members. Sound familiar? The same would hold true
for "M/F" traits and so on. For example, if your "feminine" culture
is strong for environmental or health concerns, raising these things
as a key element in a business deal with a decidedly "masculine"
cultural adversery might be seen as initial weakness, or avoidance
of the profit motive. To achieve that negotiation effectively, you may
have to address those "human" concerns in the context of profit and
loss in order to gain you adversary's proper attention. Sound familiar?

Hope you get an "A".

- Bill Lambert
From: acosta@smaug.Eng.Sun.COM (Joe Acosta)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: 50 YEARS AGO TODAY: October 11-14 - Guadalcanal
Date: 13 Oct 1992 22:27:53 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: smaug

In article <7354@bigbird.hri.com.hri.com> blamb@hri.com (Bill Lambert) writes:
>
>> In article <MS-C.718923095.1103527590.mrc@Ikkoku-Kan.Panda.COM>,
>> Mark Crispin <mrc@Ikkoku-Kan.Panda.COM> writes:
>> > As anxious eyes in Washington and To^kyo^ watched, war power poured into
>> > Guadalcanal...
>
>In article <1992Oct13.145117.19630@awdprime.austin.ibm.com>,
>tylee@austin.ibm.com (Ty Lee) writes:
>> What does this news item have anything to do with the issues to be talked
>> in this newsgroup? Does this author intend to cite his little history
>> book on the net? This is not a place for teaching. Nip-phile is he indeed
>> by examining the machine name "Ikkoku-Kan".
>                                                
>Mark Crispin and I rarely (if ever) agree on anything. However, many 
>people do find his "50 Years Ago" series interesting and sometimes
>informative. Mostly, he is objective in recounting those events.
>History is a part of culture as much as culture is a part of history.
>If you are not sure why such postings are in this newsgroup....
>please stay tuned....
>- Bill Lambert

I have to agree with Bill on this one.  Mark has been running this series for
sometime and it has been interesting and sometimes creates some interesting
dialogs on the subject matter.  I believe he (Mark) has no ulterior motive what
so every other that to create further dialog on the subject material. 

The net is a place for dialog and exchange of ideas therefore what better place
to come to a common understanding of our differences and similarities.


				Thanks
						Joe Acosta
From: dirceu@taurus.cse.kyutech.ac.jp (Dirceu G. Cavendish Jr.)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Japanese Language Proficiency Test
Date: 8 Oct 92 09:37:05 GMT
Organization: Kyushu Institute of Tech., Iizuka, JAPAN.

In article <1alnbfINN8j5@agate.berkeley.edu> tyf@ocf.berkeley.edu (Tin Yau Fung) writes:

 >
 >- Yes.  You need to pass Level 1 to study in Japanese universities as a foreign
 >  student.  The level 1 test is divided into 3 parts:
 >

I'd like to say that this is generally true, but there are exceptions.
I myself am a foreign student in a japanese university and it wasn't
required to me to take any proficiency test. Actually I couldn't speak
a word of japanese when I came (maybe arigatou??:-)). I got a Monbusho
scholarship, and it is not a necessary condition to speak japanese
(you undergo a language exam in either english or japanese. Guess
which one i chose :-) :-)). However for those who don't speak japanese
it is compulsory to spend six months studying the language after arriving.

Cheers

D. Cavendish
Kyushu Institute of Technology
E-mail: dirceu@taurus.cse.kyutech.ac.jp