Tekla comments

Aren't they tired praising everything of Japan just because they do something differently without really understand the culture or language. The author of the article seems like doesn't know the whole picture of education and work environment in Japan. Ganbaru culture is not about resilience but to make you work hard until they break your spirit. In Japan working doesn't mean doing what you're good at but doing what you're told to do. They hire people not according to their abilities but how hard have they worked in high school to enter the best possible universities. And the entrance exams are just multiple choice tests, their work is just to memorize information and someone else's opinions. My students in Kyoto university that supposed to have worked super hard to get thier have no idea what is going on in world, in their society, outside their textbooks and are absolutely disinterested. Japanese generations become more and more repressed, out of opinion and just OK doing what their elderly and bosses tell them to do until they're physically exhausted and their souls broken. This is the ganbaru culture. Everyone who have studied and worked in Japanese universities and high schools know it. just because it's different than US it doesn't mean it's good. Neither of these countries are known for good education. There are plenty of people in Japan doing research about these problems. If you write an article do it with responsibilty and not just based on some impressions of Americans new to culture and full of excitements. Ask the professionals working on Japanese society for years.

This article is more like how it should be if you believe stereotypes about Japan. But I've been living in Kyoto for years and this fantasy about Japan is not entirely true. I mean yes they wear masks and wash their hands but what they don't do is social distancing. They still go to karaoke, libraries , restaurants, trains are full and even though government advised to be careful about hanami the sakura spots were so crowded you couldn't be careful. It's the thing to every people and Japan is no exception: If the government isn't doing firm restrictions people don't take advisory. They just act as they wish. They prefer to go to office instead doing the job online just to show off ( or because paperwork is still way of working here) . The lines in the shops are so tight no mask can help you there. Let's be realistic, masks are no magic tools. And most importantly, Japanese people are too carefree in this situation believing their country is not in danger and underestimating of the virus is inviting the virus. I don't feel that safe here and I'm sure there are many people with mild symptoms or no symptoms going in crowded spaces without being checked. So don't always listen to the myths and lies of the government. There is a way between panicking and being too carefree. It's called being reasonable.