Japan

I wish I could go to Japan.

Has anyone actually been to Japan before?

MoonCookieChan wrote:I wish I could go to Japan.

Has anyone actually been to Japan before?

Yes - I have! I've been twice and I want to go back more than anything
I've been to Hiroshima twice (love Hiroshima), Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka.

Best bits? Seeing Mount Fuji, visiting awesome Shinto temples, eating amazing sushi at Tsukiji fish market, discovering okonomiyaki (mmm), actually everything about it was amazing...

Ah, Mount Fuji and okonomiyaki, that sounds so amazing...
I've heard Hiroshima has a history of being atomic bombed. Is that true?
Or it could have been the other way around due to the war.

MoonCookieChan wrote:Ah, Mount Fuji and okonomiyaki, that sounds so amazing...
I've heard Hiroshima has a history of being atomic bombed. Is that true?
Or it could have been the other way around due to the war.

Yep, Hiroshima was bombed with an atom bomb at the end of the second world war. The bomb was detonated above the city and there is a small plinth that marks the stop just on a shopping street in Hiroshima itself.

There's also a Peace Museum, which is quite an emotional place to visit, Just outside there is the Genbaku Dome, which is one of the few things that was left standing after the blast. There is also a tree in the park where the leaves grow only on one side, the other side was killed in the blast. I think it might be the only tree that survived, it's still there, and I got a leaf from it when I went to remind me.

However the best bit about Hiroshima is that it is near Miyajima Island, which is just the most beautiful place:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3401.html

Miyamkima Island looks so beautiful and peaceful.
I've heard of the Peace Museum, it sounds like a rather sad but interesting museum, more emotional then other museums.

You did? I can't believe the tree is still alive when over half a million people died.

MoonCookieChan wrote:I can't believe the tree is still alive when over half a million people died.

No, it's quite staggering really. Some people survived very close to the blast, but not many. And seeing the stairs in the museum where there are quite literally 'shadows' of people imprinted onto them when they died is .. well it still makes me sad thinking about it!

I do encourage everyone to visit Japan though, it's an amazing, alien, wonderful place and the people are fantastic. And the supermarkets.. I know this sounds odd but going round a supermarket where you can barely tell what anything is and trying to shop is an interesting exercise. And so many things you can't even recognise!

I have never been to Japan but I've been to another Asian country and it is definitely great experience for anyone.

it is different but we can learn a lot from our differences.

Oh my goodness, shadows? o.o

I know what you mean about that, I've been to Thailand and seen lots of Japanese style foods in supermarkets. Some of the food is completely delicious.

Don't get your fascination with Japan. I mean, I like manga/anime, but yeah, I don't like Japan because of its rivalry with China.

Naiwen wrote:Don't get your fascination with Japan. I mean, I like manga/anime, but yeah, I don't like Japan because of its rivalry with China.

Well that's your personal opinion, I have no historical vested interest in Chinese/Japanese diplomatic relations, and I've never been to China. I'm sure I'd like China too.

I was interested in Japan before I had any idea what manga or anime was.

Naiwen wrote:Don't get your fascination with Japan. I mean, I like manga/anime, but yeah, I don't like Japan because of its rivalry with China.

I suppose so, but then some of the cultures in Japan are very interesting.
Such as the tea ceremony for one, and some parts of Japan are very beautiful.
I didn't know they were rivals with China, but then every country seems to be a rival with someone or other, like the UK and the US.

MoonCookieChan wrote:

Naiwen wrote:Don't get your fascination with Japan. I mean, I like manga/anime, but yeah, I don't like Japan because of its rivalry with China.

I suppose so, but then some of the cultures in Japan are very interesting.
Such as the tea ceremony for one, and some parts of Japan are very beautiful.
I didn't know they were rivals with China, but then every country seems to be a rival with someone or other, like the UK and the US.

Did you know all the so-called cultures there were borrowed from China? tea ceremony for example, originated from China and was initially a Chinese tradition.

Naiwen wrote:

MoonCookieChan wrote:

Naiwen wrote:Don't get your fascination with Japan. I mean, I like manga/anime, but yeah, I don't like Japan because of its rivalry with China.

I suppose so, but then some of the cultures in Japan are very interesting.
Such as the tea ceremony for one, and some parts of Japan are very beautiful.
I didn't know they were rivals with China, but then every country seems to be a rival with someone or other, like the UK and the US.

Did you know all the so-called cultures there were borrowed from China? tea ceremony for example, originated from China and was initially a Chinese tradition.

You are joking? I had no idea!

MoonCookieChan wrote:

Naiwen wrote:

MoonCookieChan wrote:

Naiwen wrote:Don't get your fascination with Japan. I mean, I like manga/anime, but yeah, I don't like Japan because of its rivalry with China.

I suppose so, but then some of the cultures in Japan are very interesting.
Such as the tea ceremony for one, and some parts of Japan are very beautiful.
I didn't know they were rivals with China, but then every country seems to be a rival with someone or other, like the UK and the US.

Did you know all the so-called cultures there were borrowed from China? tea ceremony for example, originated from China and was initially a Chinese tradition.

You are joking? I had no idea!

yep, indeed. And korea and japan and china, all their cultures steemed from China, even their calligraphy and stuff. And they claim it to be theirs, but no, it was Chinese before. XD

It sounds like Japan is copying China then.
Is there anything you know of China copying Japan? Or is is just Japan copying China?

MoonCookieChan wrote:It sounds like Japan is copying China then.
Is there anything you know of China copying Japan? Or is is just Japan copying China?

yeah sure, like their cute stuff, electronics and etc.

Like kawaii things? Well thank god Japan didn't steal that from China, that's one of the things I love the most.

MoonCookieChan wrote:Like kawaii things? Well thank god Japan didn't steal that from China, that's one of the things I love the most.

it just makes me cringe whenever someone says that word, please refrain from using it in front of me, thanks. because a bit disrepectful to the japanese people here.

It is? Sorry.

MoonCookieChan wrote:It is? Sorry.

yep, they don't like it when westerners use it because westerners don't get the sense of this word. XD I mean, the root of this word.

Oh, I thought it meant 'To love' or something, but I suppose people use it for meanings such as 'pretty' or 'cute'.

MoonCookieChan wrote:Oh, I thought it meant 'To love' or something, but I suppose people use it for meanings such as 'pretty' or 'cute'.

it means cute. XD

Isn't that what everyone means whenever they said it?
Well, I suppose that isn't true because there are fangirls who say 'Kyaaaa' and 'Kawaii!' to almost everything. e.e

I have, I spent my Junior year of highschool in Japan. ^^ It's amazing.
@The Japanese copying China, you do realize that the Japanese were originally Chinese and Korean "outcasts" that were seeking refuge from the Chinese empire due to heavy taxation, severe poverty and neglect, and discrimination, right? O.o

No, I didn't know that. History isn't my strong point.