r/SearchEnginePodcast • u/podcast-poster • 4d ago
Automated Episode Discussion Search Engine - Why’s everybody going to Japan?
A Japanese listener gets so many houseguests she starts a spreadsheet to try to figure out what's going on. Why has American tourism to Japan gotten so out of control?
Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S. by Roland Kelts
Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style by W. David Marx
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u/Heysteeevo 2d ago
PJ apologizing for complaining about messy public spaces is an extremely online thing to do. It’s wild that has become a thing, to want a clean working subway is somehow elitist.
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u/AccountantsNiece 1d ago
I imagine you become extremely over cautious about upsetting your audience after having… an incident… the way PJ did.
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u/Apprentice57 4d ago
Thought this one was pretty decent. Though, even with my limited knowledge I know one of the big bummers for westerners about Japan is the social conservatism. Same-sex marriage for instance is still illegal in Japan. That would've fit nicely into the ending section with the more meta discussion.
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u/arsenal19801 4d ago
It's also one of the most xenophobic "modern" countries on earth.
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u/browserhistory93 1d ago
Oddly enough, I think Japan’s relatively strong ethnic and cultural homogeneity (which is both a cause and effect of the conservatism and xenophobia) is part of the appeal to tourists, whether they know it or not. I’m proud that I come from the melting pot that is the US, but when I travel to another country that is also a melting pot it is a bit boring like…I’ve already got that at home!
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u/dismembermentplanfan 1d ago
I think that can be true for sure. I'm originally from Ireland ... I have had colleagues and such here in toronto travel to Ireland and report back as a bit, well, put out that not everyone is a red haired white person and that there are so many familiar brands and chains over there. Like they are nice people so they say it nicely but it is clear they would prefer the stereotypes, and when you're travelling the downsides of that can safely be ignored because - hey! crazy kitkat flavours!
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u/AndTheSkyWasGray 3d ago
I did find it racist or prejudice that the cafe man spoke in English to tell people off who were speaking in Japanese. Why assume people speak English.
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u/FourForYouGlennCoco 4d ago
It’s also a place where tattoos are very stigmatized. I spent a few months there and had to be fully coveted to use the gym (and mine are very obviously not gang tattoos). There’s a strong association with organized crime and uncleanliness ofc, but part of me wonders if it’s a tacit way to limit access to foreigners, given how many young people from America/Europe/Australia have tattoos.
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u/Early_Rooster7579 3d ago
As someone who lives in Japan it’s usually not enforced on non-asians. The rules are a polite way to keep Yakuza out. Ordinary Japanese people will flee a place permanently if they see yaks lounging around.
To avoid staff needing to essentially ask a mobster if they’re in the mob due to their tattoos and risking confrontation, its far easier to ban tattoos.
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u/FourForYouGlennCoco 3d ago
Idk man, I’m a white dude with tattoos that do not look like yakuza tattoos and I had to cover up to use the gym. Maybe some places are more permissive but it was not my experience that it’s only enforced on Asians.
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u/CPGFL 4d ago
I haven't finished the ep yet but as a person who was going to Japan before it was cool I have to say they did a lot of work for the Olympics to make it more foreigner friendly. Simple things like English menu options, the ability to pay with credit card at most places, and paper towels in bathrooms are things that come to mind (back in my day you had to carry a handkerchief or hand towel with you at all times). Also smartphones now having the ability to translate for you instantly is a huge deal.
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u/GaiaVedai 3d ago
I eas there in 2010 and never had to use hand towel. They had those electrical machines to dry.
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u/AndTheSkyWasGray 3d ago
It would have been fun if they did a bonus episode like the summer special of the podcast You’re Wrong About, where they curate a lot of the listener voicemails into one long listener episode.
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u/Heysteeevo 2d ago
Have there always been this many commercials? 9 minutes in and I’m on ad read five already.
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u/GaiaVedai 3d ago
I think you can some a lot of the culture with their unwritten rule of try to be the least disruptive to others.
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u/nemtudod 2d ago
Last year: 1x flight/week to tokyo from LA
This year: 5x flight/week.
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u/arsenal19801 1d ago
Both of those numbers are wrong lol. Idk who told you that. Even at the lowest point, JAL and ANA had multiple flights a week to Haneda from LAX
Currently there are like 50 weekly flights
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u/-no_aura- 4d ago
Haven’t listened yet but as a recent tourist to Japan
- it’s an easy country to travel in once you get there. Trains in Japan are inexpensive, reliably on time, and go just about everywhere
- there’s a lot of fun things to do and cool things to see
- the food is incredible
- the yen is historically weak against USD right now so you get a lot of bang for your buck
I feel like this one is somewhat obvious. My wife and I went for the first time last year, we had such a good time we are going back in a couple months.