Secrets of life in Japan

Dmitry Shamov was born and raised in Moscow. There graduated from Pedagogical University. He is a teacher of mathematics and computer science. More precisely, it was.

Even as a schoolboy, Dmitry became interested in Japan, and as a student he worked at three jobs - saving up to study at a Japanese language school.

Today Dmitry lives in Tokyo. He has a wife, a Japanese and a good job. he is a successful videobloger - more than 130 thousand subscribers on YouTube.

Layfhaker interviewed Dmitry. We talked about life in Japan, about the Japanese and videobloginge. It turned out many of the stereotypes (Japanese - workaholics, Japanese insensitive and so on) are far from reality.

Other planet

- Dima, why Japan? With what passion begin?

- As a child I, like many others, watched "Sailor Moon" and "Pokemon." Just like that. About moving to Japan I did not even think.

But in the school I read a book by Teru Miyamoto "patterned brocade." It perfectly illustrates the Japanese spirit, the atmosphere of Japan. Then there was a timid desire to visit this country.

Then napokupal Kawabata's book, Abe, Yukio Mishima and others. I have read and completely fell in love with Japan. I decided that necessarily go there.

I think it is fiction enabled me to get a proper idea of ​​Japan. After all, unlike the compilers of guidebooks, the authors do not need to dissemble, exposing the country in glowing terms. They just write about what Japan really is. So my idea about Japan almost completely coincided with the fact that I saw coming.

- Do you remember your first day in Japan?

- Yes, if proved to be on another planet. :)

I went to study at a language school. At the same time Japanese did not. GENERALLY.

An hour before landing the plane I was given a form to fill out and it was necessary to present a passport control. He was entirely in Japanese. It looked like an alien tablet.

At the airport, I gave the paper to some uncle-Japanese, he put down for me the desired checkboxes. I was fingerprinted and released to the world.

I was not met - decided to save money on this service school. So I went outside and could not understand where to go, what to do, where to go. Benefit from the airport runs only two trains: cheaper and more expensive. Not the first time, but I bought a ticket to the one that is cheaper.

I drove to the station, where he was to make a connection, and then for the first time "speak" with the Japanese. We had to figure out where to go further: to the left or right. We tried to communicate in English, but in the end he just pointed out what train me to sit down. In general, I got to school difficult: without language, with heavy bags after 10-hour flight. It was completely unclear where to go and what to do. So my advice to those who are planning to go to language school: pay for the transfer.

- How to meet at a language school?

- Good. We lived in a dorm with five Chinese, showed school. Then I went for a walk. I went outside and realized I was in Japan!

I realized that life has changed. Nothing will be as before. Despite the fact that I still did not understand anything (I could not even buy a meal during the first outing), I took it as a step towards something bigger.

Someone might say that to go to a foreign country without knowing the language, and even a mysterious like Japan - it's crazy. But for me it was a chance to completely change a life.

- When did you start to enjoy life in Japan?

- Right on the next day. I got a bit to navigate, and most importantly - to learn the alphabet.

Hiragana and Katakana

- Did you get the first level of the Japanese language in just 1.5 years. How did you manage that?

Nihongo noroku siken - an examination to determine the level of knowledge of the Japanese language for non-native speakers. N1 - the highest level, assuming fluency in spoken and written Japanese speech.

- I came without any knowledge. But I will not say that the Japanese were given to me difficult. For example, the two main syllabaries - hiragana and katakana - given week. I learned it in three hours - whether from a great motivator, whether out of despair. It was necessary somehow to get used to "another planet". :)

- English did not help?

- The Japanese know its bad. They teach it in school for 12 years. But he does not need them.

Firstly, 98% of the population of Japan - the Japanese. Chance to talk to a foreigner is not enough. If the Japanese 20 years talked to a foreigner in English, it's luck.

Second, the Japanese language is used everywhere. It turns out the game or gadget - there is sure to have the Japanese. Movie release - it duplicates the Japanese.

Therefore, the Japanese are not fluent in English and shy about it. If you visit a Japanese to English, and he shies away from you, then it's not because he nelyubezen or hostile to foreigners. Most likely, he was just afraid to show his bad English.

- What advice would you give to people studying or planning to study Japanese?

- On my channel has a separate heading "Lessons living Japanese».

One of my top tips: need stability. You can not do today, 10 hours, and tomorrow and the day after is not engaged. Nothing will. It is necessary to deal with every day. At least an hour, and preferably three.

When I went to a language school, in my class were among the Chinese, and they had a head start - they knew the characters. (Chinese and Japanese characters are the same half.) Therefore, the teacher told me: "You have to deal with for three hours a day, and as you Europeans, three times as much."

- At nine o'clock ?!

- The first time I taught for 14 hours a day. Then he found a part time, and time was less than a language. But I still taught part time while driving, when he returned to her. Even between the performance of his duties by the restaurant management: writing little notes with words and pasted them in a place where no one has seen, and he passed by, peering and repeated.

But, as I said, I had a huge motivation. Agree, it would be foolish to pay a huge amount of money earned by the sweat and blood, to come to a language school and spend time wasted.

Therefore, the second important point in the development of Japanese language - interest. If it is not, it is unlikely you learn.

- This advice more on psychology. And purely practical that helps?

- Personally, I helped to paper cards. Do not be lazy to do them, and if possible to take everywhere with you. Also write everything by hand. Even if you can print on your computer, enable mechanical memory - write.

For example, you learned five characters. But even if you think you are good to remember how they are written, then write them a hundred times more. It should vestsya head. The next morning, stand up and repeat these five characters. If you make a mistake in at least one, then five more again a hundred times.

It is difficult, but effective.

I recommend you to go by training systems, where the Japanese words written in Russian letters. This is stupid and will only confuse you. For example, how to say, sushi or sushi. Cyrillic not express the pronunciation.

You can also use some of the programs. Of the best dictionaries, in my opinion, "JISHOP". There is a desktop (and on Windows, and on Mac) and mobile version (Android and iOS). The latter, however, is paid, but only costs about $ 10.

To train a good program characters "Kanji Ninja» (漢字 忍者) .It is made for Japanese students, so there are the levels: for primary, middle and high school.

- Is it possible to learn Japanese for movies or anime?

- Can. But keep in mind that the language is very different from the real colloquial Japanese anime. It uses all sorts of turns, such as for coolness. In life, so no one says (if only in jest).

When watching movies, the Japanese subtitles.

But, to truly learn to hear the Japanese language, I recommend to download an audiobook. In Japanese, there is almost no intonations and accents. Therefore, newcomers Japanese it merges into one - it is not clear where one thought ended and another began. But when you spend hours someone will speak in the ear in Japanese, gradually comes understanding.

Education

- In Japan, paid, and quite expensive education. Does it guarantee the quality?

- In Japan, difficult to break out in people. Everyone understands this, and the parents initially invest in the child that he must study hard. For the most part the Japanese is quite smart and versatile.

But by itself the education system ...

I saw Japanese textbooks in mathematics for high school. Pupils say that there giperslozhnye job, which melts the brain. But many of these issues in Russia are still in high school.

- And students do tend to commit suicide?

- In Japanese with lower grades pushes society: the need to study hard to get into a good high school, but because it is already in the prestigious senior. From education often depends on it, as there will be a further life of the Japanese.

In the understanding of Japanese society, if before the end of high school did not learn as much, the good life to be seen. Although it is not quite true, but students still afraid.

It's not even in the complexity of the studied material, and psychological pressure. All around opponents, which need to work around. Crushed and parents and teachers.

In addition, in Japanese schools is not uncommon bullying classmates. Some of it is true bring to the suicide. But it is incorrect to assume that the rate of suicide is very high. Yes, he is rather big, but still lower than in South Korea, Kazakhstan, and sometimes in Russia.

- Most Japanese have higher education. It is so important for your career?

- Previously, the prestigious university diploma, for example Tokyo, guarantee a successful career. In this case, it did not matter whether it is really a good specialist or it is empty like a cork. Now this is not. Who is more important than knowledge. Man without higher education can find a better place than a university graduate, if he knows his business.

But most Japanese do graduate from high school. It is considered important.

- Is it true that good attendance - half the success in learning Japanese university?

- Yes. There is a Japanese word 出席 率, which can be translated as "the percentage of visits." It can not be lowered below 80%, and foreigners in general it is not necessary to cross the mark of 90%. During a visit to a wholly give small cash incentives.

You just need to come to the university and take the intermediate tests. That's enough to learn. In some universities (not really rating) generally needs one visit.

The Japanese educational institutions is difficult to do, but they are easy to learn.

- whether in Japan Quoted Russian university diplomas?

- At work, not so much. Only if something unusual. But the diploma listed for admission to graduate school.

Work up Karos

- In Japan, difficult to find a job?

- Yes. And not only foreigners, but also by the Japanese. Pass a hundred interviews - this is normal.

Foreigners, of course, is more difficult because of the language. If you are a unique specialist, unique in the world, it will take and without language, even the hired. But get a regular position in a conventional company is very difficult. We have to fight for a place under the sun.

For example, after I graduated from language more business school I changed several podrabotok and passed numerous interviews before settled sysadmin.

- And the Japanese really so obsessed with work, sometimes they even happen or they do Karos yaroyisatsu?

Karos - sudden death due to overwork and stress at work.
Yaroyisatsu - suicide on the grounds of stress at work.

- Depends on the person and what kind of work. Labor relations in Japan vary greatly.

Previously, people graduate from university, she was arranged in the company and worked there until old age. If he is fired, it is usually the other job is not found. Now you can at least every year to change the company.

In general, the Japanese did a lot of work. Rather, spend a lot of time at work.

- What does it mean?

- Quantity does not mean quality.

The Japanese often do not work, and create the appearance of work. They come to the office early and leave later, stretch work and efficiency at the same time a little.

This, by the way, foreigners differ favorably. They simply perform their tasks: one is over - go to the next, all ended - go home.

But it is important to understand that in Japan the employee - it is always part of the team. There's no individual farmers - your job depends on the work of comrades. If you do its part, but your colleague does not yet have, you have to sit and wait for him. Therefore, in Parkinson's Law, the Japanese are trying to occupy all the time that they are given to work.

- A shared responsibility in Japan survived?

- The Japanese have no concept of "I". Is the concept of "we." All work for the team. If nakosyachil one means kosyachit whole team. Go home, if you're finished, and your fellow-track not - it is disrespectful to the team.

To be part of the team and does not stick out. Upstarts do not like. If the boss said to do so-and-so, you need to sit down and do it. initiative is welcomed in Russia: "And let's do not, and that's it?". In Japan, your opinion is not interesting. Gave the job - just do it.

Also, working in a team, people are responsible not only for ourselves, but also for its other members. Therefore, everyone is trying not only to do their own job well, but also look after his friends.

- Do you think it is an effective system?

- Somewhat. In office work, in my opinion, it gets distorted form. If a person works in a software company and is engaged in, for example, the design, it should not depend on the programmers, or anyone else.

But if you take physical labor and there is important for workers to keep pace with each other. For example, if you look, how the Japanese are building roads - it's fantastic! We can repair a small area for six months. In Japan, the road destroyed by an earthquake, reduced for two to three days. There's a lot of people involved, from pavers to the regulator, ensuring traffic safety at the emergency site. They operate smoothly and with great speed.

- And outside of work colleagues to communicate?

- Rarely. Free time decided to spend with family. But there is such a thing as the Japanese corporate. It is held each week, usually on Fridays. Turnout is required. It was there that support the overall corporate spirit: "We are a team, we are together, and we are done!".

Sometimes such conduct corporate parties in nature. And go on the barbecue is not just two or three employees, who are friends with each other, namely, the whole company.

- A foreigner can expect to retire in Japan? Or need to obtain citizenship?

- In Japan, a quarter of the elderly and very few young. Therefore, the pension tax paid, even those who do not work. This also applies to foreigners aged 20 to 60 years, regardless of whether they have citizenship. If a foreigner is neatly made pension contributions, in old age, he can expect to benefit from the state.

Advantages and disadvantages

- In any country, there are pluses and minuses. What is more in Japan?

- In my opinion, the pros. Recently, I even made a video on the channel, which enjoy Russian in Japan.

Benefits a lot from the quality of life and purity to the culture. Anyone who truly loves Japan, will be satisfied with his life.

But also disadvantages, of course. For example, very cold apartment. In the room where I am now, I have a stove and heats the air conditioner and still cold. In Japanese homes thin wall, single-layer window.

Wherein housing prices It varies widely in cities and regions. Also affects the type of building apartments in high-rises and low three-storey buildings are different. The average for Tokyo to take a one-room apartment costs 70,000 yen (40 000 rubles). The apartment is larger, of course, more expensive.

To buy an apartment or house in Tokyo, you need 23 million rubles and more. It depends, again, on the type of apartments, houses, land and other things. Prices vary widely. It is also necessary to understand that buying the land in Japan, it is impossible to build anything you want. All clearly regulated.

In addition, the Japanese will remain foreign to you. Until now, I come across words that are not found before. It's baffling. The only consolation is that the Japanese are often faced with such words. Also, I still can not write at the same speed as that of the Japanese. In general, I do not lag behind, but with some clerk's office does not match me.

More annoys me Japanese television.

- Oh, the Japanese advertising! They really are... strange?

- There is some. :) But I'm used to, does not notice.

By the way, the famous online strange Japanese advertising on television is sufficiently small. Commercials built one cliché goes person (or group of people), singing, dancing, close-up - he says the name of the company. Everything. It looks silly, but the Japanese are buying. Although, perhaps, someone will like.

Japanese television is boring. There's no break show meal. Personally, I am not interested transmission, where people are looking for a half-hour meal, half an hour choosing her and another half an hour to eat, talking about nonsense. Educational programs or films are practically no.

But at the same time in Japan, there is no concept of "zomboyaschik". For them, watching TV (even that!) - this is normal.

- A Japanese prices do not bother you?

- Life is not cheap in Japan. Plus, all products in Japan must pay an additional tax of 8%.

Medicine is also paid. But if you have insurance, it turns out cheaply. But private clinics are saving on queue. It is not necessary, as we do, sit for hours surrounded by grannies who come to the clinic in the club. Therefore, to pay, for example, 1000 yen (about 500 rubles) for the reception and get high-quality and comfortable care for me acceptable.

In addition, it is necessary to relate it all to the Japanese salaries.

Uchi - soto - oso

- In Japan, excellent service. And in the life of Japanese people as welcoming and friendly?

- In Japan, there are echoes of the class character: the Japanese themselves are divided into groups depending on who they are and what they do, and others share.

For example, there are concepts such as "teach", "soto" and "oso".

Uchi - it's what's inside. Family own company, closest friends. For them, they do everything. The cake will be broken, but it will do.

Soto - is someone else's company, some friends, neighbors, passer-by, talk to you on the street. With them, the Japanese are very friendly, smiling, helpful, if necessary - take the hand, spend their time and lead you where you need to (for example, if you get lost).

Oso - is generally unfamiliar to people that have never spoken and is unlikely to be. For example, people around the subway - is oso. Totally foreign. But if oso came and spoke with you, the relationship is moving into a stage of soto.

K oso the Japanese country in terms of our mentality attitude. A person can lie on the road, and all will go by - it oso, if anything it was lying a little, maybe he likes so why interfere in its affairs. I had a case where a man was lying in the street: it was bad. I walked over and began to stop passers-by, so they called an ambulance (then I still could not do). Only the third stop, the others raced faster.

But this does not mean that the people who pass bad. This is one of the paradoxes of the Japanese outlook.

Another is that they live in the consolidated society, but very apart.

- What is it like?

- Japanese cold. In the sense that they have not accepted to show their feelings, show emotions. And this coldness is not only in the relationship with the Sotho, but also, for example, between friends. And it is seen normally. Just as normally meet friends every few weeks or not to answer a few days to messages. No one is offended, he does not say: "Ah, there you are so-and-so, scored on our friendship!". It is believed that a person has a personal space and he is entitled to decide when and whom to admit.

Do not disturb others - it is very important.

I think many people know that in the Japanese transport can not talk on a cell phone. Not only because of some sort of waves, but just because your conversation can prevent another person. Also, in many museums in Japan, banned pictures. Not because of the valuable items that can not be shown to anyone, but because some visitors set a tripod in front of the painting and obstruct the passage or did selfie and prevented another look. It is important for the nuances of Japanese. It is necessary to live well for yourself and do not disturb others.

But in moments of tragedy boundaries of class society erased. You can see how the Japanese were united during the earthquake and tsunami four years ago. All helped each other, all saved each other. No theft and looting. Total strangers to let yourself sleep those left homeless. Distributed free soldering, and no one had not occurred to take more than one, lying to him. Affected individual cities (Tokyo, for example, is almost not affected), but it was a tragedy throughout Japan.

High tech

- We think that Japan is so advanced technology that continually solid robots. This is true?

- Japan is technically perfectly developed, but no robots nowhere. The whole town is technically a little different from any other city. This is one of the many misconceptions about Japan.

- The Japanese have a digital addiction?

- Yes. You go on the subway, and there is 90% of the people sitting with his head poking in the phones. They can not talk, so without interruption is overwritten. In Japan, very popular application Line.

But transport is understandable. Strange looks when man and woman come to a meeting, sit down in front and play on their phones or rewritten (sometimes even with each other). But this is also considered normal.

Also, children in playgrounds do not swing on a swing, do not play outdoor games. They sit on a bench, five or seven, and play Nintendo DS. That is, they come out to play in the console. Only three years old children running around, having fun, while older children have other interests.

安定 - Antey

- In Japan, you're married. Tell us about the peculiarities of relations with the Japanese.

- It all depends on the person. I was lucky. We Miki understand each other, we have similar interests. She even greater Russian in character than the Japanese.

But in general, the girls in Japan to talk about feelings. They rarely make compliments. Therefore, if you say Japanese woman, she you pretty, she was very surprised and overjoyed.

Also, in Japan there is no such thing as a "ladies forward» (lady first). Post the girl's hand, hold the door - no one does. It is also surprising Japanese women.

We have a candy buketny between the pair met almost every day, lovers constantly write and call each other. In Japan, normally, when a couple meets once a month or once every two weeks. The girl in this time can go out with her friends, and the guy with friends. In this case, during the separation girl and the guy is not particularly talking. And it's not lack of time - just such a relationship.

But again, it all depends on the nature of man. If you really like each other, then just say that do not accept such communication. I am sure she will change behavior.

- Japanese women are good housewives?

- In the majority - yes. Do arise, make breakfast, if you want - iron clothes. You do not even have to ask. If paired normal relationship, the girl takes care of his men. I think this is not a feature of Japanese women - as in any country.

- Japanese marry for love?

- Not always.

this is very important thing for Japanese women as "Antaeus." This stability. If the guy does not have the savings (the average savings in Japan - it is about 5 million yen, that is, more than 2 million rubles), or it is not clear what the (all there "free artists" in Japan considered almost idlers), and it works where there is no career (in Japan is respected any work, but still have a porter is not particularly a lot of prospects), it is unlikely that she will for him. As much as they may love each other. If there are no Antaeus, the Japanese can not imagine a young man's parents, this man can not bind the future and to give birth to his children.

Therefore, many Japanese women meet with those who love and get married for the one who has Antaeus. I have friends who are not with a great love, but simply because they are good to each other and they Antaeus.

I think that's why some families in Japan, go to the left - this is normal.

- And what men are looking for stability?

- Men looking for three things: that the girl was economic, cute (externally) and true. But, again, everything is highly dependent on the person. For some, even thrift is not important. The Japanese sometimes perceive a woman as a beautiful accessory, which you can show off to friends. This approach has historical roots.

hikikomori

- Why did you become engaged videoblogingom?

- Initially, I opened the group "In contact with"Where upload photos from Japan, mostly for his friends. I wanted to share with them, as I sat, and thought that I would support it, will give strength to move on.

Then I began to have small rollers. For example, I went to the Museum of the Future in Tokyo. VK in Japan is slow, so I decided to fill in a video on YouTube. So there was a channel. I recorded several videos of my life in Japan, and Japanese. And then somehow forgotten it.

But after about a month, I went on YouTube and found that there were subscribers, many people watched my video, leave a comment. It inspired me. Videobloging gradually become a favorite thing. Channel helps to remember Russian and allows you to chat with a pretty interesting people.

Besides, I warms the soul that my video can be useful for those who want to go to Japan. On the Internet, unfortunately, the article about Japan contain any false or outdated information, or it is extremely small.

- Who is your audience and what interesting things can be found by the host channel?

- I was watching mostly Russian-speaking people. Mainly men - 75%. Judging by the comments, I have enough intelligent, appropriate subscribers.

As a rule, these are people who like Japan, many animeshnikov (like it or not, but the fascination with this country often starts with an anime). So most people initially came to learn something about Japan, but remain because the channel has other subjects.

For example, there is a heading "Bookshelf"Where I talk about books, I do reviews and advice on what to read. There is also a video where I was sitting with a cup of tea in his kitchen, telling different stories of life. In addition, I write stories and sometimes I make videos in their motives, with beautiful music and visuals. In short, I try to channel different from Japanese television. :) To make it interesting and informative.

In 2015 it is planned to devote more time to the development channel. It appears as a heading on the Japanese cuisine.

- What do you think, why people like vlogs (video blogs - Approx. Ed.)?

- Depends on what. If the type of mine, it's probably a bit of an effort to go to another country, to try on, what lives there. If a person looks Channel, where other people shows how he goes shopping, goes to work, eat, sleep, and so on, then perhaps we can talk about hikikomori effect.

- What it is?

- Hikikomory - a term coined by Japanese psychologist Tamaki Saito. It means the people who deliberately go out of society, striving for complete privacy, that is literally shut in their rooms for months and do not go there. Such behavior is considered a personality disorder similar to autism. hikikomori causes may be trauma, mistakes in education and others.

Hikikomori escape real communication, it leads to panic them, but at the same time as the fish in the water, feel the Internet. They may even work there (although, as a rule, a hikikomori - the children of wealthy parents and sit on their neck). But hikikomori - this is a serious psychological problem for people like virtual communication may be the only pleasure in life.

The problem is that Russia and other countries has become fashionable "to be" hikikomori. Teens are closed in the rooms, only on the Internet to communicate and call themselves a hikikomori. At the same time parents kick them, of course, go to school, socialize with peers there. In other words, any psychological problems they do not, they just like to put on a mask and a hikikomori fence themselves off from the people.

I think this trend, as well as generally a strong influence of the Internet on social relations and lead to the popularity of vlogs. A man sits at home. What to do at home? The Internet! And that on the Internet? See how other people have somewhere to go and something to do. This creates the illusion that your life is filled with something, it has some events.

- Angry psevdohikikomori you write nasty comments?

- It happens. I read all the comments, and sometimes a bad one spoils the impression of a hundred good. Mind you realize that this is a drop in the sea and the people most likely wrote this out of jealousy or because his boss at work gave a scolding, but still disappointing.

Always notice and take into account the constructive criticism - it helps to make video better. But inadequate people who offend, bath.

- manages to make a videobloginge?

- a penny. Need more subscribers, plus YouTube picks up 51% from advertising. So while the channel is on the commitment.

- Dima, tell us about the creative plans.

- Will develop channel. I also write two books: one - the art, the other - a popular and entertaining life in Japan. It is not just a guide. I want people to know and understand Japan and the Japanese. I plan to publish it in Russia.

- Let your ideas are realized. Thanks for the conversation!

- And thank you! :)