"JAPAN IS 200 YEARS AHEAD OF THE U.S.
by: david_blimmo 10/31/03 02:30 pm
Msg: 44 of 100
5 recommendations

Technologically, Japan is 200 years ahead of the United States. Socially, they are 4,000 years ahead.

They enjoy a much higher overall quality of life, better and more pure food and superior medical care.

They are cleaner, better educated and enjoy one of the lowest crime rates on the planet.
Only 4% of Japanese believe in any kind of a "god," while the rest correctly view the believers as mentally ill.

They do not allow primitive superstition and delusional belief ssytems to infect their schools and public policy as the United States does.

Perhaps it all has something to do with the fact that the average Japanese tests 18-20 points higher in IQ. "


Anyone ever live in Japan?

Japan also has a very high suicide rate too.

"'Suicide is the single biggest health-care issue in Japan today,' said Yukio Saito, a Lutheran minister who runs Japan's largest suicide-prevention hot line. Japan's suicide rate, he said, is three times higher than America's; the World Health Organization ranks it the highest among industrialized countries."

"Of the 31,042 suicide victims last year, 71 percent were male. Experts say most of the recent increase is among salaried workers who are anxious about their economic prospects. Another large segment of suicide victims are elderly residents of rural prefectures, especially women, who fear that they have become a burden on their families. "

There is a strong emphasis on honor, discipline, success, achievement, and pride in Asian societies. It's the yardstick of self-worth in Japan. Too often too much pressure is applied on people to achieve greatness, and when they stumble and fall, their only thought is to save their family name some face. It's likely that these societal pressures are what fueled Japan's progress, but it has taken a toll on individualism. However, even if suicide is abnormally high, of all the felony crimes to be committed, it's probably the least detrimental to others (as opposed to having an abnormally high murder rate like us). And in spite of the high suicide rate, they are still low in crime overall. I wouldn't say all is perfect in Japan though. They lack a lot of personal comforts and amenities, a lot of freedoms (it's illegal even to modify the light bulbs on your car), and certain commodities are astronomically expensive (watermelon for instance).

"Only 4% of Japanese believe in any kind of a "god," while the rest correctly view the believers as mentally ill. "

Can anyone confirm that or give some light to it's backing? Interesting if it is a fact..........

I don't think only 4% of Japanese believe in God. This figure sounds rather low to me.

I truly believe that the Japanese are Masters when it comes to taking the best from other cultures and incorporating them into their own. Their language, for one, is derived solely from Chinese.

The Japanese martial arts, including Ninjitsu, are also derived from China and other Asian countries.

This is not to say that the Japanese are no good in cultivating their own tradition/culture. The process is simply made easier when you have other sources to obtain your ideas.

If you've got the best of everything, it's not hard to see why you would be years ahead of everyone else.

Jon

Originally posted by jpa2400
"JAPAN IS 200 YEARS AHEAD OF THE U.S.
by: david_blimmo 10/31/03 02:30 pm
Msg: 44 of 100
5 recommendations

Technologically, Japan is 200 years ahead of the United States. Socially, they are 4,000 years ahead.

They enjoy a much higher overall quality of life, better and more pure food and superior medical care.

They are cleaner, better educated and enjoy one of the lowest crime rates on the planet.
Only 4% of Japanese believe in any kind of a "god," while the rest correctly view the believers as mentally ill.

They do not allow primitive superstition and delusional belief ssytems to infect their schools and public policy as the United States does.

Perhaps it all has something to do with the fact that the average Japanese tests 18-20 points higher in IQ. "


Anyone ever live in Japan?

Though they like to deny it, the Japanese are actually Korean and Chinese decendents.

You're absolutely correct on this one lex400sc.

Jon

Originally posted by lex400sc
Though they like to deny it, the Japanese are actually Chinese decendents.