Bizarro comments

Posted in: Giving birth in Japan See in context

Funny one, timorborder!

Got your message, illsayit. To all pregnant women - JUST STAY HOME (or within walking distance of home. And if one of you would like to have at least some semblance of her normal life and go somewhere that requires a train once in a while, you're a BAD MOTHER.

I'm curious to know if you would say the same to the elderly or handicapped, that they should just stay off the trains because, after all, "what is the dire need or riding it?" and "rude riders have a purpose." If not, then why are pregnant women different?

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Posted in: Giving birth in Japan See in context

This however is in a medium-size conservative city. Maybe in the big cities, people are afraid of getting their butts gang-kicked.

Having lived in a small Japanese city in addition to Tokyo, I have found the opposite. I saw more "gangs" and overall rudeness from young people (including smoking on the trains) in the small city, and relatively very little here in Tokyo. Japanese friends have also said that there are more such problems with youths in the smaller cities and countryside. Maybe not enough constructive things for them to do; I don't know.

I'd better get back on topic, though. I was surprised to see the author write that eating raw fish is "widely accepted" for pregnant women here. My (Japanese) wife knew from the beginning that she should generally avoid it during her pregnancy. She didn't go completely cold turkey, but probably cut back more than 90% on raw fish (not that we ate it so often before anyway) and basically 100% on tuna.

On a separate note, when a pregnant woman wants to go out for a meal it can be a challenge to find a non-smoking place here. And if you settle for a place that is not non-smoking but at least has nobody there actually smoking, sometimes a group will come in and make no hesitation about lighting up next to an obviously pregnant woman. But that's their right, and I think some people simply aren't aware of the danger. So we just ate at home much more.

Cheers,

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Posted in: Giving birth in Japan See in context

Historically low C-section rates in Japan seems to me a plus compared with the US, where malpractice fears probably play a role in the high rates of surgical births. Our hospital here in Japan has a philosophy more on the natural side, and we have been happy with the care.

Just curious about this one...

How bout not riding trains. Never have in any of my births.

You do realize that in cities many people don't have cars and can't afford the luxury of riding in taxis for several months, right? What is the recommendation, exactly?

Cheers,

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Posted in: Gov't looks to immigrants as population shrinks See in context

What I see the problem that will arise is the xenophobia that will occur.

Hmm, as opposed to now? Generally I believe that more contact with outsiders decreases xenophobia, not the opposite.

There will be Japanese who will not accept the foreigners who work here, and inevitably they will face discrimination from the Japanese society at large from those who don't want to accept them, or believe that all us foreigners are criminals.

Again, this situation already exists to some extent. What I would agree with is that if the government encourages only an influx of low wage laborers (and not more educated professionals, etc.) it could have negative effects. We would have a stratified society where the foreigners are nearly all doing low wage work, and foreigners could be increasingly looked down upon. A foreign population that more mirrors the Japanese population is healthier for society overall, in my opinion.

Anyway, I don't think it's a question of immigration vs. no immigration. Immigration is necessary; the question is how to control it in the best way for both Japanese society and the immigrants.

Cheers,

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