Japanese people tend to think that Japan is 'safe', and that most other places outside of Japan are 'dangerous'. Of course this is a generalization, but in my opinion it's generally true (even among those who have travelled or lived abroad).
I read two strories today that may change some people's opinions:
1)Knife-Resistant Clothing for Japanese Kids (LINK)
No further coment needed really...
2) 2 High School Girls Arrested In 'Random' Stabbing Of Man
(from the Nikkei English site)
TOYAMA (Kyodo)--Two high school girls, both 15, were arrested Friday on suspicion of stabbing and seriously injuring a man they did not know on a street in Fukumitsu, Toyama Prefecture, police said.
According to the police, one of the girls stabbed Hiroyuki Honda, a 21-year-old security guard, in the back with a kitchen knife at a town festival Thursday night. The police said they are treating it as a case of attempted murder.
The girl who allegedly stabbed Honda was quoted as telling investigators, ''I got irritated. It could have been anyone, and I thought it wasn't a problem even if the victim died.'' She was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the stabbing, according to the police.
Mmmm, she got irritated. Wouldn't like to be anywhere near her if she got angry, or livid, or enraged.
Posted by Gary at July 23, 2004 06:44 PMKnife resistant clothing...wow. Now how long do you give it before that comes out here in the uk?...;)
Posted by: Cory at July 24, 2004 03:41 AMKonbanha, sorry to "abuse" your blog to contact you. It´s just, I couldn´t find any e-mail address of you on your page. I just wanted to say..."you are soooo lucky" you already got married with your beloved person. I´m a german girl and my future husband is also japanese. I visited him often in Tokyo and we also wanna marry, but it´s too difficult as I have to graduate from university first (__ __) And your baby is soo "kawaii~~" I wonder when we will be able to be a "real" family *haha*
If you don´t mind I have some questions (I´m too curious person)
Was it hard to get married ..I mean because of different nationality (I think it is difficult you need lot of documents etc. right?)
Do you have now japanese nationality as you life in Japan now (I think after 5 years you can get japanese national.)
How did your family react that you wanna marry japanese girl?
Oh I hope the questions haven´t been to personal...gomenne chotto koukishin ga tsuyoi dayo (^^|>)
Sorejya
Julia yori
Julia,
Let me answer some of your questions since my wife is Japanese as well.
Lots of paper work - no big deal
A spouse visa gives you all the "rights" you would need except to vote so there is no real benefit in becoming Japanese. You will always be a GAIJIN in their eyes anyway. Not sure on the timeline but you either have to be extremely fluent in Japanese etc OR an excellent footballer or sumo wrestler to get Japaense citizenship.
My family did not care, her father did at first.
If you live in Japan be prepared to do things "just because that is what everyone does" and do not question it because there is no logic to it. And remember no one cares about "Well in Germany (in you case) we do it like this."
Good luck and have fun.
Paul
Posted by: Paul at July 25, 2004 03:18 AMAn advice: don't get married in Germany. You'll need all sorts of documents (officially translated = expensive) and an interpreter. Go to a less bureaucratic place, for example Denmark or, as I did, the UK (only passport and one other doc needed, can't remember exactly what it was; cost: just over £20) [of course from an official standpoint you could pull off anything with such lax checking, but that's their problem]. Could be a nice start of a honeymoon at the same time. In Japan then just register your marriage at city office. Remember that the laws of the country where you marry will apply to your marriage in the future, e.g. in case of divorce.
Posted by: Dirk at July 26, 2004 10:49 AM