Japan

You're liking the wrong stuff

All the wrong reasons: your pitiful understanding of Japanese culture. Yeah, you dig anime and think kimonos are beautiful and long to experience Tokyo.

Whatever. I don’t give more or less shits about Japanese “culture” than I do about yours or mine. (Damn, I’m Canadian. “Culture,” duhh…)

Japanese people know how to get along (several yearly outdoor festivals with booze and no violence). They have a national healthcare system that works (been here 28 years, ain’t dead yet, and I’m fucking OLD! In fact, I think living in Japan has probably added 10 years to my life). And Japan has very strict gun laws.

I’ve never been mugged, panhandled, or felt physically threatened in any way since living here. I’m obliged to say (as a man) that Japan is still pretty sexist, and women probably don’t get the “safe” vibe like I do. Japan has its share of creeps. I have a 23-year old daughter here, and I worry about her sometimes (like any father). But still, it’s a damn safe place to live. Nobody smashing your windshield for the visible coins in your car, nobody beating you up for your wallet, nobody stealing shit from your yard/porch…

It’s pretty chill here.

And that’s what I like about Japan.