it's kind of the same thing in Sweden, we have something called "Jante-lagen". It basically tells you "don't think that you are somebody, don't think that you are of value" etc etc. (It's in the backbone of everyone above 40 years in Sweden to behave like this. Not all agree to it, but it is still in our society and is still somewhat taught out to children, but in a more subtle way) So I understand what you're talking about.
I really want to go to Japan but I don't talk about myself all of the time and I hate when people brag about me but I am rarely ever calm and I talk a lot and I laugh like a chipmunk!! Would I fit in or would I be the nail sticking up????????
You wanna be the nail that you accidentally dropped but were too lazy to chase after so you use another new nail hehe. But seriously there's a difference from being humble and being negative.
why wasn't i born in japan !! i relate pretty well to the don't stick out thing , im not one to be showy, maybe i am im not so sure,but thing is i get it and i get the being humble thing,but im not saying im the best at being humble, actually im pretty sure im not humble that all most of the time, but i get what you're saying :)
I am the worst commenter on youtube. Whenever I comment I get negative 9000 thumbs. When I was born, my father told me "You disgrace me and your family with your dispicable youtube comments."
i understand humbling onces self but don't try to be something you aren't. if you have the skills to pay the bills don't which you worked for don't waste them! :/
i was always taught "if you are the best at something, its best to not tell anyone. let your actions prove it." if you have to tell someone how great you are at something it probably isnt as true as you'd like it to be.
great vid, man. totally agree. i've been noticing how "unhumble" a lot of younger American kids are these days. my experience with Japan is so refreshing! being humble is not only courteous, but proper and polite too.
Most people on the internet are idiots and trolls who hate everything. That's common on the Japanese internet as well, though(2ch, yuck).
And (many) Americans can be way, way too loud and assertive. Well, they call it being assertive, I call it being annoying. And I'm probably a part of that annoying cultural tendency as well, sadly, to a degree. I was born here, after all. I'm all for being a little bit less loud and annoying.
@JapanDeservesLove Also, is it just me, or does Japanese culture seem like the very inverse of hip-hop culture in this and almost every regard.
In the hip-hop "street culture", it's praised to be as loud and boastful as possible and any self doubt in your speech is a sign of weakness. This is more true here than anywhere else in American culture. But in Japan, it's shameful behavior. Very interesting.
I bet we all look like insensitive jerks to Japanese people.
LOL. Thank you for making this point. In all seriousness I think it's important as well. :)
I hate when people message me with nothing to say too! I wonder why they bothered me in the first place...then they get mad at you when you don't reply. >_<
I would never lower myself down o0! Not in a hundred years. I wouldn't brag, but I wouldn't be humble. I would be the stereotypical foreigner in japanese eyes and behave that way.
It is not just Japanese who are humble. Most Asian people (not including middle east and Indians) are very humble and will play down their achievements or talent. Western people particularly Americans are complete opposite.
When I first chat with someone I always add to the message a "My japanese is still bad, so please forgive my errors*. I learned to be humble along with learning Japanese... I'm not a cocky person myself, but getting used to japanese made me get used to all the "if you could" "please" if it's not trouble for you" "I appreciate you kindness" thing with no effort... it's just natural.
Other than that... I enjoy when they praise me (they expect me to really be a disaster and I turn out just ok XD)
@Shouriko "made me get used to all the "if you could" "please" if it's not trouble for you" "I appreciate you kindness"
Nice :P Working in some sort of customer support job also teaches you that. So, maybe I could start to study Japanese with a little bit of a head start? Cool :P
"I know 153 Kanji" hahaha he is feels suepr talented because of that? for real!? -__- I think being humble helps you to give always your best! and being cocky just push you back =P I love japanese culture! I love when people is humble and kind! The best people is always humble about themselfs! :D
Interesting topic, but I think the job interview here in Japan is getting a little changed now. The college students are taught by their teacher that they should be confident while interview and tell the interviewer what you can do for that company. Humbleness is not enough anymore to get a job?
on the other hand i love the north and i like their accents.. I <3 everyone and when im in a good mood, then i will ignore what someone is saying and continue greeting every face that has not been greeted
i went to Florida and found ppl forom all states and the south was a lot better then ppl in nNew jersey 'cause every time i passed by one of them, I'd say "hey" and the ppl would look at aeach other and whisper "why is she talking to us?" I dont think they had northern hospitality
I think it's a cultural matter. When I went to study English at Canada, somebody was training us for a job interview and told us that in our culture (I'm latin-american) we tend to be humble about our abilities and that if you wanted to get a job in the anglo-saxon part of North America (Canada and the US) the best was acting all high and mighty, and to sell oneself like the best. I just think we're culturally different and we need to be more tolerant among each other.
Lmao. If one of your viewers is that dead-set about learning all about Japan, but isn't willingly to change their way when they go to Japan, then they aren't really that serious about it, or worse yet, just a damned weeaboo. If they aren't willing to act like a Japanese, then they are just a wannabe. When in Rome, be like the Romans. It's pretty simple rule to follow that applies everywhere, not just in Japan.
So IMO, if they think they're too good for humility, then fuck them.
Being humble and putting yourself down are two different things. You can still be humble and be honest at the same time, in fact if you put yourself down you end up living those lies.
Kore wa omoshiroi desu! (Lol i dont have a hiragana keyboard or whatever) Wow these are really useful im gonna have to watch these from the start. Useful and funny. :D
@MegaRandomcrap123 You don't need a japanese keyboard, just go to language settings in the control panel and set up your keyboard as a japanese keyboard, if you google it you will get a better explaination but all the letters are in the same place however symbols will change around.
@reagestme Cool just about 1,850 more untill you know the average amount of kanji used daily...........you arn't actually serious bragging on a video called "in Japan, be humble" are you? you gotta be trolling
This is the reason why American Idol has all those duds show up. They think they're wonderful because friends and family have talked them up a lot. So they show up to sing and find the judges don't like them. Then they go cry to their parents who still say they're wonderful. Oh, I'm taking Japanese and suck at it! Lol!
I see where you would have a hard time with Job interviews. Just look them in the eye be polite and talk yourself up without bragging. Even Americans don't like people who brag.
This is also probably one of the reasons that rap music is different in Japan. The humility aspect of Japanese culture is nice, however if America had adopted it, things like the civil rights movement probably wouldn't have even happened and America would be a lot different than it is today. Because of diversity in America everyone's differences are plainly obvious and hard to hide (i.e. race). So we have to make those differences look like a good thing so people don't interpret them badly.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
"I don't get online to often" ? BWHAHAHAHAHA get fucked cunt your the biggest basement dwelling nerd I've ever seen, and brush your hair fuckwit we can see dandruff in your video, go burn in hell
Our Western civilization is all about making a good presentation about oneself. Talking to Japanese is always relieving. :) You can relax and strop pretending that you're better/smarter/greater than you really are. :) The only thing I have problems with is to reply that I'm ugly and unattractive when Japanese men start to give me compliments. I say thank you in Japanese and that's all. :) It's easy to be humble about other things, but I cannot force myself to do that. :)
Stupid people are arrogant, therefore they think they are better/smarter than everyone else. Smart people realize this, and therefore try not to look stupid by being lesser/humbler than everyone else. Basically, Japanese people unconsciously realize a stereotypical American's stupidity, and asserts it own smartness, by not showing it
I think English people have this in common with the Japanese. British humour is notoriously difficult to "get" for international peeps because it uses a lot of sarcasm and self depreciation. I'm at a university with thousands of international students, and their English is so fluent, but there are sometimes these terribly awkward moments where I am just making a joke and they take it completely the wrong way and think I am having some kind of confidence crisis or have no self esteem!!!
..what? How is that even possible? I'm weird....yeah, an oddball at time but being yourself isn't bad. So...is it bad to be yourself in Japan then? ........ *CONFUZZLED* @A@ To me, sticking out is good. Being unique is pretty rad, I don't understand why people pick on the ones that are odd. Not sure if it means they're better than them. Those with better or unique genetic traits usually get picked on anyways....
Understanding this in full -- isn't it equivalent to use an idiot to put yourself on a pedestal for the sake of video hits? Its the same thing just applied differently camouflaged with uppity jargon like its a cultural thing, its not. Its more of a "Im-better-than-you-thing". How is it humble to send this kind of a message to a large audience because some dumb ass simply bothered you with pointless prattle? Thats what females do when hanging out with each other. Humility my ass.
@MrNinches It's also a part of Japanese culture to respect your teachers and elder's. IDK how old you are, and IDK how old Koichi is, but because because he's teaching... you should show him some respect.
@MrNinches A bit sexist, don't you think? I happen to be female and I do not make a habit of "putting myself on a pedestal" nor do I consider it a good use of my time to bash other people or make myself seem better by comparison. Please do not make generalizations about millions of people who are all unique and have different morals.
Konichiwah ... Seriously I think that's all I know, well besides the ocausional AHH!! GODZILLA!!!! Yo just a question how com America can't have a smaller diet like japan? My school has only a total of 150 out of 3000 kids who aren't completely overweight. Well maybe a lil more than that, but that's only because we take sports.
Marvellous. Has it always been that way with the humility in 'nihon no rekishi'? I think your videos are the best and I wish I had the ability to make anywhere near as funny and instructive videos as you do.
I agree. he was dumming it down but american's are sooooo freakin prideful and that will trip up anyone. It's great to have pride but it's even greater to be humble when you don't need to.
the difference for americans is where they lived when young or where their parents were raised... i was raised in a military family so i dont even talk much in most situations but i try to be as polite as possible untill i know the person.... i just really wish i lived in europe its so much better people are so much nicer you know?
I currently live in Japan....and that's so true!!! But to all the people that think that because the Japanese want to blend in that they don't want to visit, that's a terrible choice. Japan is an amazing country with amazing people, it's definitely a place to check out! Not only does it have great scenery but an amazing nightlife!!
Thank you so much for posting this video...well, all of them! I find that they are really informative! I especially like the topic of this one, because if I go to Japan, the last thing I wanna do is hurt someone's feelings. I'm bound to make grammatical mistakes, I don't even have English downpat...but maybe I can get the manners down so I'm less prone to offend people. ....I think I rambled a little bit, so I hope I didn't lose my point... 8'D sorry if I did!
@Vaporeon2 Nonsense!! Your English is fine!! And if you do make mistakes i'm sure they'll understand, no one can learn a whole new language and get every little bit right all the time. Even I screw up on English.....and I'm American!! Also, no one should expect someone else to learn a whole new language and get it right ALL THE TIME
wel lim also asian american. and my asian parents tell me that life is a competition. they want me to stand out and be the smartest in the class room. and i dont think i can go to japan, because the way u describ japan, it made me realized that actually. most eastern asians are all the same. boring follow the boring routine. just wanting to be part of scociety.
Ha ha ha. I think I'd fit in pretty well, I already do that anyway. Maybe not to the point of losing a job over it (Lol) but it just comes naturally I guess.
being humble is a very good trate and in any country it`s good to have but like you speacialy in japan with just saying that you think you are humble that make not humble if that makes sense lol
I know you like to exaggerate to be fun or whatever, but it would have helped so much more if your example between the two mothers in japanese was more like a real realistic conversation, rather than "my kid's retarded, haha". I suppose your goal is to actually teach people about Japan and japanese, and in that case, prioritize between being funny and actually helping people learn something new. You can be funny while still giving someone an opportunity to learn.
I'm amaaazed! Too much funny! Thank you for sharing that. I did not realize HOW (much) humble a Japanese MUST be. So funny! And well, some of us (...) are working on so called ... Self-esteem (many suffer of a ... Lack of it). I would say, (you) Japanese people must work on it, ... too. I mean: "not too much, not too little" Humbleness/Proudness. Kindest Regards! [I saw your Video about Japanese Girls: you portrayed them as ... quite silly ones. Please, correct that!] Kindest and humble Regards.
theres a Japanese guy in my class and he is great at pretty much everything, no joke. but all he says is ' Thank you, but i believe i can improve' And all of us have to scrape our jaws off the floor and say 'YOU CAN'T GET BETTER THAN 100 MATE!' but i gotta say he's ALOT more awesome than some who are like, 'awh yeah i know thanks' don't know why im saying this, guess i just felt like it. Later :)
To my ears, that's not humbling yourself, that's insulting yourself unnessecarily.
The first conversation was a little over-the-top, but when you're really good at something, why not say exactly how good you are at it? I'm not saying BRAG, but why outright lie?
Just to fit in?
I'm glad I'm American. (That's not an insult to the Japanese.)
ok, both americans and japanese are retarded, im not the best and not the worst, i wont make up achievements or brag unnecessarily, but i also wont lie in order to create a false aura of humility.
im a meritocractic person, in other words, the tone of a statement matters little next to the truthfulness of the statement, whether something is good or bad doesn't matter as much as whether it is factual, as a result both your countries are filled with MOTHERFUCKING LIES!
What a joke. It is sad to see that the japanese intentionally preach the false notion that they are a humble people. What bloody rubbish.
The japanese are hypocrites. They should practice what they preach. It's sad and funny how japanese in some strange way believe they have a moral high ground to stand on and look down their noses at others and lecture all the while not putting into practice their arrogant lectures.
It will be a miracle if the japanese could truly understand themselves.
@UnfamiliarStranger Well, if you want me to be American, I guess you can call me North American but my passport says 'Canadian'.
I see that you are one of those anime geek freaks. I have lived in japan for 23 years. How long have you lived in japan? Or do you get all your one-sided false-positive info from the js via the net? Read my previous post again and think about it and try not to react with emotion. There are js who FULLY agree with my comment.
It's hard not to react with emotion when the post itself was written with such emotion.
I'm not saying japanese people are perfect, I'm just saying that I doubt that everything you are saying about them is true. I don't think you should be generalizing like that, people will begin to get the wrong idea.
@UnfamiliarStranger Erm, that's funny. I'm assuming that you assume that I have no hands on knowledge of japan/japanese.
To cut to the chase mate, I've lived in japan for over twenty years. By my calculations that is longer than you have been alive.
One thing that is so pathetically funny about japanophiles who have never lived in japan is that they for some bizarre reason think they have the moral authority to lecture others.
So the reason for being humble, according to the nail sticking out thing, is that you don't want to get your ass kicked. That's good reasoning I guess, in theory... But there is a small problem with that reasoning, because in reality, you get your ass kicked anyway. Especially by your employer. So the reason why you are taught to be humble, is not to avoid getting your ass kicked, but to actually make you bend over, so it's easier to screw you. Japan, lol.
Oh yeah, the Japanese are really humble. Like you get photographed, because you're pretty much a freak of nature. So everyone is not only looking, no, staring at you, but even worse, pointing with a finger at you. Gaijin, go home, but first let me practice my English with you: "He.. Heeee.. Hel. Herro, my.. na.. name is.." Yes, someone you don't know is bothering you with this annoying BS. That's as humble as it gets.
There was a time I was fascinated with the Japanese. Everything was so different, so new and exciting. But as I actually started to learn things about the nature of the Japanese, I quickly became disgusted with it. Being humble for instance, honorable behaviour that involves no bragging. But the japanese way of being humble, is to deceive and to lie into your face. If they tell you you're awesome, it probably means you suck, but they won't tell you, so you can suck some more.
How about having a good amount of humility overall, but I mean should you lie when someone asks you about your accomplishments? Maybe just not go on and on about it yourself?
So, if I'm in the National Honor Society and I go to Japan and someone brings it up, would it be considered humble enough if I just say, "Oh, it's just like any other club. It's nothing important."
@poizonangel Same here. Yes, we should be kind, respectful and have good manners/attitude, but we sure as heck should not have to humble ourselves like what this guy told us. Why should anyone call theselves or their loved ones down over any stupid faults or mistakes.
NOOOO! What are you telling us?! Why should I humble myself before the people in Japan or any Japanese for that matter?! It's bad enough that I let people step on me overhere and I am trying to get out of that, not make it worse. I'm gone. Sayounara!
Banzai!! One of few who recognizes this instead of typical "Clowns" who thinks they are this and that when they come to my country but when in fact most of them are "rejects" from their native country. Yes "Humble" yourself to all Gaijins who are in Japan or planning to live here.
@hopeandjoeysmell if youre canadian, man youre like the crown jewel of the world. The canadians are seen as the polite version of America which means , you're in.
it's kind of the same thing in Sweden, we have something called "Jante-lagen". It basically tells you "don't think that you are somebody, don't think that you are of value" etc etc. (It's in the backbone of everyone above 40 years in Sweden to behave like this. Not all agree to it, but it is still in our society and is still somewhat taught out to children, but in a more subtle way) So I understand what you're talking about.
hkepoetry 4 days ago
lmao your funny
crissygale 3 weeks ago
that's good :)
barbiemargilina 3 weeks ago
I don't even know how to make a comment.
seg162 1 month ago 3
LOL @3:01
postpie 1 month ago
I really want to go to Japan but I don't talk about myself all of the time and I hate when people brag about me but I am rarely ever calm and I talk a lot and I laugh like a chipmunk!! Would I fit in or would I be the nail sticking up????????
Tanzylove53 1 month ago 2
You wanna be the nail that you accidentally dropped but were too lazy to chase after so you use another new nail hehe. But seriously there's a difference from being humble and being negative.
Goldspinner1992 1 month ago
why wasn't i born in japan !! i relate pretty well to the don't stick out thing , im not one to be showy, maybe i am im not so sure,but thing is i get it and i get the being humble thing,but im not saying im the best at being humble, actually im pretty sure im not humble that all most of the time, but i get what you're saying :)
shadow54843 1 month ago
Lol i learn a bit of japanese from this guy and he is pretty funny. "i have negative subscribers." LOL.
daemon2797 1 month ago
you are funny :)
sarahraun 1 month ago in playlist More videos from tofugu
I am the worst commenter on youtube. Whenever I comment I get negative 9000 thumbs. When I was born, my father told me "You disgrace me and your family with your dispicable youtube comments."
TheRealBoof 2 months ago 2
i understand humbling onces self but don't try to be something you aren't. if you have the skills to pay the bills don't which you worked for don't waste them! :/
master11superior 2 months ago
koichi,why are you bragging about how well you humble yourself! XD jk
master11superior 2 months ago
in reality that koichi was bragging about his son, forrest.
HASHlRAMA 2 months ago
i was always taught "if you are the best at something, its best to not tell anyone. let your actions prove it." if you have to tell someone how great you are at something it probably isnt as true as you'd like it to be.
Goat5611 2 months ago
great vid, man. totally agree. i've been noticing how "unhumble" a lot of younger American kids are these days. my experience with Japan is so refreshing! being humble is not only courteous, but proper and polite too.
Goat5611 2 months ago 2
so what do u say wen u actualy suck at something O.O
watcherofzideozeszz 2 months ago
other parent thought bubble - "so if ur kids top of the class and is retarded my kid must be comatose" lmao
jmd448 2 months ago 2
i wish i knew Japanese but i'm retarded ...jk??
Veldrassianwarfront 3 months ago
haha, i like his hat!! and plus, the only language i can speak is English;P
vanillavino 3 months ago
sooo what do you think about australia
samsonyay1 3 months ago
I love this dude he is sooo funny!! XD
Hanaharasan 3 months ago
This is my most fav video from you.. Long live Japan and japanese ^^
sara861126 3 months ago
Im just a piece if sh*t. will japan think less or highly of me if I said that?
ZaCTHERippeR1990 3 months ago
Most people on the internet are idiots and trolls who hate everything. That's common on the Japanese internet as well, though(2ch, yuck).
And (many) Americans can be way, way too loud and assertive. Well, they call it being assertive, I call it being annoying. And I'm probably a part of that annoying cultural tendency as well, sadly, to a degree. I was born here, after all. I'm all for being a little bit less loud and annoying.
JapanDeservesLove 3 months ago
@JapanDeservesLove Also, is it just me, or does Japanese culture seem like the very inverse of hip-hop culture in this and almost every regard.
In the hip-hop "street culture", it's praised to be as loud and boastful as possible and any self doubt in your speech is a sign of weakness. This is more true here than anywhere else in American culture. But in Japan, it's shameful behavior. Very interesting.
I bet we all look like insensitive jerks to Japanese people.
JapanDeservesLove 3 months ago
LOL. Thank you for making this point. In all seriousness I think it's important as well. :)
I hate when people message me with nothing to say too! I wonder why they bothered me in the first place...then they get mad at you when you don't reply. >_<
misc248 5 months ago
I would never lower myself down o0! Not in a hundred years. I wouldn't brag, but I wouldn't be humble. I would be the stereotypical foreigner in japanese eyes and behave that way.
kyromani 5 months ago
i totally suck at japanese!
GammerGirl389 5 months ago
no lies? but isn't saying you are worse or better than you really are at something. . . .telling a lie?
SUPERG1T 5 months ago
Be humble? No problem. I'm the king of humility. I make monks look like drug addicts.
Dumbmajor9696 5 months ago 50
@Dumbmajor9696 That is some awesome irony. xD
seg162 1 month ago
It is not just Japanese who are humble. Most Asian people (not including middle east and Indians) are very humble and will play down their achievements or talent. Western people particularly Americans are complete opposite.
yakmanok 5 months ago
@yakmanok Why not Middle Easterners or Indians?
Dzongka 3 months ago
When I first chat with someone I always add to the message a "My japanese is still bad, so please forgive my errors*. I learned to be humble along with learning Japanese... I'm not a cocky person myself, but getting used to japanese made me get used to all the "if you could" "please" if it's not trouble for you" "I appreciate you kindness" thing with no effort... it's just natural.
Other than that... I enjoy when they praise me (they expect me to really be a disaster and I turn out just ok XD)
Shouriko 5 months ago 2
@Shouriko "made me get used to all the "if you could" "please" if it's not trouble for you" "I appreciate you kindness"
Nice :P Working in some sort of customer support job also teaches you that. So, maybe I could start to study Japanese with a little bit of a head start? Cool :P
SilverHammond 5 months ago
thumbs for godzilla!!! X3
KiteNekko 6 months ago
arab people are also very humble i enjoy being humble myself :p
bahcbouch 6 months ago
Thank you, i am learning more than i do when i am by myself i cant learn anything alone. once again thank you.
SoulEaterFanX 6 months ago
have u heard of (girls generation- gee)
101quicksand 6 months ago
@101quicksand thats random :L i mean he is kinda Japanese not Korean
mewtashi 5 months ago
Comment removed
kimiko121 6 months ago
I'm so bad at Japanese that I don't know any of it.
victoriaisntsosecret 6 months ago
Haha I love how everone is saying negative things about themselves in the comments now...
HoneyCloverRawr 6 months ago
"I know 153 Kanji" hahaha he is feels suepr talented because of that? for real!? -__- I think being humble helps you to give always your best! and being cocky just push you back =P I love japanese culture! I love when people is humble and kind! The best people is always humble about themselfs! :D
pumpfever 6 months ago
I really suck at commenting.
HelloHotot 6 months ago 35
Interesting topic, but I think the job interview here in Japan is getting a little changed now. The college students are taught by their teacher that they should be confident while interview and tell the interviewer what you can do for that company. Humbleness is not enough anymore to get a job?
lilja4ever 6 months ago
I started using the free part of textfugu on 7/10. I suck at hiragana. I only memorize あ/"a" to と/"to".
I'm retarded ;_;
drunken1agent2bob 6 months ago
Ive only ever heard that quote in Tokyo drift
emokid12320 7 months ago
on the other hand i love the north and i like their accents.. I <3 everyone and when im in a good mood, then i will ignore what someone is saying and continue greeting every face that has not been greeted
cantgetfunnier 7 months ago
i went to Florida and found ppl forom all states and the south was a lot better then ppl in nNew jersey 'cause every time i passed by one of them, I'd say "hey" and the ppl would look at aeach other and whisper "why is she talking to us?" I dont think they had northern hospitality
cantgetfunnier 7 months ago
I'm a horrible commenter. I have negative thumbs up. :(
GenTristan 7 months ago
Its soo true, it is soo frustrating when people always boast and brag about their qualities. Always humble yourselves.
xlovexIslamx 7 months ago 4
There are still gangs in Japan.
Xolin11 7 months ago
im amazing at being humble (see how humble i am lol)
i think i spelled things wrong :-/
watcherofzideozeszz 7 months ago
I think it's a cultural matter. When I went to study English at Canada, somebody was training us for a job interview and told us that in our culture (I'm latin-american) we tend to be humble about our abilities and that if you wanted to get a job in the anglo-saxon part of North America (Canada and the US) the best was acting all high and mighty, and to sell oneself like the best. I just think we're culturally different and we need to be more tolerant among each other.
katururu 7 months ago
Lmao. If one of your viewers is that dead-set about learning all about Japan, but isn't willingly to change their way when they go to Japan, then they aren't really that serious about it, or worse yet, just a damned weeaboo. If they aren't willing to act like a Japanese, then they are just a wannabe. When in Rome, be like the Romans. It's pretty simple rule to follow that applies everywhere, not just in Japan.
So IMO, if they think they're too good for humility, then fuck them.
JapanForSale 7 months ago
You remind me of the guy in 127 Hours movie..
tiffyj85 8 months ago
RELAX JAPAN! EVERYBODY GOT THEIR WEAK POINTS... Don't need to blow your trumpet over them. D'uh!
amirfmanurung 8 months ago
OH MAI GOD GODZILLA ARMY SONG!
supah1337B 8 months ago
I was raised the same, and find it a bit vexing when people go around boasting about things... ^__^;;
PineAppleLipgloss 8 months ago
Dude, you are like my idol maan!
I actually really dudee suck, at speaking Japanese CX I know a few things maybe 3 xD I am a slow learner. =3
On the other hand I think your amazing and yea...
Please right back, I would love to talk to you. :D
MakeUpKitty11 8 months ago
Being humble and putting yourself down are two different things. You can still be humble and be honest at the same time, in fact if you put yourself down you end up living those lies.
momothelemur 8 months ago 2
Kore wa omoshiroi desu! (Lol i dont have a hiragana keyboard or whatever) Wow these are really useful im gonna have to watch these from the start. Useful and funny. :D
MegaRandomcrap123 8 months ago
@MegaRandomcrap123 You don't need a japanese keyboard, just go to language settings in the control panel and set up your keyboard as a japanese keyboard, if you google it you will get a better explaination but all the letters are in the same place however symbols will change around.
blain93 8 months ago
Japanese people kick ass! Koichi I'd marry you but I'm only 16 so that'd be creepy and illegal!! But on the bright side... I love you videos!!!
ElectroDanceQueen 8 months ago
I know 157 Kanji^^
reagestme 8 months ago
@reagestme Cool just about 1,850 more untill you know the average amount of kanji used daily...........you arn't actually serious bragging on a video called "in Japan, be humble" are you? you gotta be trolling
blain93 8 months ago
@blain93 quite impressiv! Yes, I'm not serious but still have my line. btw I know about 500 kanji and the best in the class^^
reagestme 8 months ago
This is the reason why American Idol has all those duds show up. They think they're wonderful because friends and family have talked them up a lot. So they show up to sing and find the judges don't like them. Then they go cry to their parents who still say they're wonderful. Oh, I'm taking Japanese and suck at it! Lol!
I see where you would have a hard time with Job interviews. Just look them in the eye be polite and talk yourself up without bragging. Even Americans don't like people who brag.
ChibiAlly 9 months ago 4
This is also probably one of the reasons that rap music is different in Japan. The humility aspect of Japanese culture is nice, however if America had adopted it, things like the civil rights movement probably wouldn't have even happened and America would be a lot different than it is today. Because of diversity in America everyone's differences are plainly obvious and hard to hide (i.e. race). So we have to make those differences look like a good thing so people don't interpret them badly.
jpopvideostranslated 9 months ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
"I don't get online to often" ? BWHAHAHAHAHA get fucked cunt your the biggest basement dwelling nerd I've ever seen, and brush your hair fuckwit we can see dandruff in your video, go burn in hell
delusivex 9 months ago
@delusivex Your the one trolling.
supah1337B 8 months ago
Our Western civilization is all about making a good presentation about oneself. Talking to Japanese is always relieving. :) You can relax and strop pretending that you're better/smarter/greater than you really are. :) The only thing I have problems with is to reply that I'm ugly and unattractive when Japanese men start to give me compliments. I say thank you in Japanese and that's all. :) It's easy to be humble about other things, but I cannot force myself to do that. :)
charobna17 9 months ago
Wow, psychological warfare pays off, doesn't it?
AmazinglyAgnostic 9 months ago
Stupid people are arrogant, therefore they think they are better/smarter than everyone else. Smart people realize this, and therefore try not to look stupid by being lesser/humbler than everyone else. Basically, Japanese people unconsciously realize a stereotypical American's stupidity, and asserts it own smartness, by not showing it
devinthatcher 9 months ago
I think English people have this in common with the Japanese. British humour is notoriously difficult to "get" for international peeps because it uses a lot of sarcasm and self depreciation. I'm at a university with thousands of international students, and their English is so fluent, but there are sometimes these terribly awkward moments where I am just making a joke and they take it completely the wrong way and think I am having some kind of confidence crisis or have no self esteem!!!
boredatwarwick 9 months ago 4
..what? How is that even possible? I'm weird....yeah, an oddball at time but being yourself isn't bad. So...is it bad to be yourself in Japan then? ........ *CONFUZZLED* @A@ To me, sticking out is good. Being unique is pretty rad, I don't understand why people pick on the ones that are odd. Not sure if it means they're better than them. Those with better or unique genetic traits usually get picked on anyways....
TheOriginalThought1 10 months ago
There's Humble, and then there's Self-defamation.
TheEnigmaDude 10 months ago 6
4:29 <-- yeah I saw that movie too o.-
Lydomina 11 months ago
There's a difference between not being humble and being a self-important prig thinking that you know everything.
Conversation at the beginning, dude thinks he knows everything.
Princesscolex 11 months ago
Understanding this in full -- isn't it equivalent to use an idiot to put yourself on a pedestal for the sake of video hits? Its the same thing just applied differently camouflaged with uppity jargon like its a cultural thing, its not. Its more of a "Im-better-than-you-thing". How is it humble to send this kind of a message to a large audience because some dumb ass simply bothered you with pointless prattle? Thats what females do when hanging out with each other. Humility my ass.
MrNinches 11 months ago
@MrNinches It's also a part of Japanese culture to respect your teachers and elder's. IDK how old you are, and IDK how old Koichi is, but because because he's teaching... you should show him some respect.
DemonicDerek78 10 months ago
@MrNinches A bit sexist, don't you think? I happen to be female and I do not make a habit of "putting myself on a pedestal" nor do I consider it a good use of my time to bash other people or make myself seem better by comparison. Please do not make generalizations about millions of people who are all unique and have different morals.
SubterraneanCitizen1 10 months ago
yeah it's like almost the complete opposite in the US
3cl653 11 months ago
wow I never thought about that
ShinsengumiGirl 11 months ago
I love how we americans just assume everyone speaking ENGLISH is american.
You need to realise it's not even our language. >_<
MoustacheMyMoustache 11 months ago
@MoustacheMyMoustache Yeah it's the English peoples' language.
SuperSupersaiyan99 11 months ago
I am so horrible at being humble! Very bad at it!
dowddash 11 months ago
@dowddash lolololol thats so great!!
3cl653 11 months ago
I'm Naturally Humble...So, Yeah...
GothicCookiesAndMilk 11 months ago
well said man
dragononigiri 11 months ago
im natrually humble, when people keep saying i draw so well im like no...no... im like conswela from family guy! XD
SoraCloud9 11 months ago
Konichiwah ... Seriously I think that's all I know, well besides the ocausional AHH!! GODZILLA!!!! Yo just a question how com America can't have a smaller diet like japan? My school has only a total of 150 out of 3000 kids who aren't completely overweight. Well maybe a lil more than that, but that's only because we take sports.
wulfbooy 11 months ago
Well I'm horrible at Japanese and that's something I sure don't have to be humble about...
*facedesk*
If only we were all talented...*scrunches nose* Cousins are hateable.
uJustGotSushiRolld 1 year ago
Marvellous. Has it always been that way with the humility in 'nihon no rekishi'? I think your videos are the best and I wish I had the ability to make anywhere near as funny and instructive videos as you do.
usenetposts 1 year ago
lol "that kid is retarted!"
yellowvizard 1 year ago 2
Holy crap! If this is true, and given the way I am in interviews, I'll bet if I go to Japan, I'll be the CEO of Sony in a week. XD
jordinyc 1 year ago
Lmao. No, that kids friggen' retarded. Haha
jumbodavejimbo 1 year ago 58
This is the only part about living in Japan that concerns me. Fitting in is hard! Especially, you know, if you're not Japanese.
Insomiak 1 year ago
LOOOOL you are really funny
"hows timmy doing? "timmy he's doing great striaght As"
lool that made my day
babybritalldayevery 1 year ago
WOW you went online ! your super cool !!!
killzone2621 1 year ago
Being humble and respectful is one of the things that attracts me to Japan. :3
panthercat38 1 year ago 107
@panthercat38
I agree. he was dumming it down but american's are sooooo freakin prideful and that will trip up anyone. It's great to have pride but it's even greater to be humble when you don't need to.
chris26plus 3 months ago 2
the difference for americans is where they lived when young or where their parents were raised... i was raised in a military family so i dont even talk much in most situations but i try to be as polite as possible untill i know the person.... i just really wish i lived in europe its so much better people are so much nicer you know?
deadlyassasin55 1 year ago
You know 153 kanji, eh?
Bupkis. Seven-year-olds do better than that.
weurRTG 1 year ago
I currently live in Japan....and that's so true!!! But to all the people that think that because the Japanese want to blend in that they don't want to visit, that's a terrible choice. Japan is an amazing country with amazing people, it's definitely a place to check out! Not only does it have great scenery but an amazing nightlife!!
dpineapple20 1 year ago
@dpineapple20
HNG.
Chubby blond girl with wavy hair and a red face would have a terrible time in Japan.
*cites FailBlog*
uJustGotSushiRolld 1 year ago
Thank you so much for posting this video...well, all of them! I find that they are really informative! I especially like the topic of this one, because if I go to Japan, the last thing I wanna do is hurt someone's feelings. I'm bound to make grammatical mistakes, I don't even have English downpat...but maybe I can get the manners down so I'm less prone to offend people. ....I think I rambled a little bit, so I hope I didn't lose my point... 8'D sorry if I did!
Vaporeon2 1 year ago
@Vaporeon2 Nonsense!! Your English is fine!! And if you do make mistakes i'm sure they'll understand, no one can learn a whole new language and get every little bit right all the time. Even I screw up on English.....and I'm American!! Also, no one should expect someone else to learn a whole new language and get it right ALL THE TIME
VocalYachi10 1 year ago
wel lim also asian american. and my asian parents tell me that life is a competition. they want me to stand out and be the smartest in the class room. and i dont think i can go to japan, because the way u describ japan, it made me realized that actually. most eastern asians are all the same. boring follow the boring routine. just wanting to be part of scociety.
sukuansnguan 1 year ago
The kid's friggin' retarded. Ah golden...
dbzhax 1 year ago 2
I've learned so much about japan through youtube and the people who live there..I'm proud of japan and the good folks who live there!
Midnightryder7 1 year ago
Ha ha ha. I think I'd fit in pretty well, I already do that anyway. Maybe not to the point of losing a job over it (Lol) but it just comes naturally I guess.
angelwings1086 1 year ago
sooo America in axis powers Hetalia = always wants to be the hero.. humble?
Godzilla is awesome and he/she DRIVES A CAR!!!! :D
ebonyfire240 1 year ago
Dude, I am an Indian going to Japan next yr.
Have subscribed to your channel, hoping to learn your culture and language.
Keep Posting!
ROCK ON!
enteradj 1 year ago
being humble is a very good trate and in any country it`s good to have but like you speacialy in japan with just saying that you think you are humble that make not humble if that makes sense lol
ReCrUiTSlAyEr 1 year ago
Okey..........lots of people wishing they could punch eachother.......lets calm down here. Hahaha i love the godzilla part btw XD Freakin hilarious
nekochibi135 1 year ago
Gojira daisuki ^^
charmed4everfan 1 year ago
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fenstratful 1 year ago
hahahaha you are SO FUNNY!!!!
MUST. SUSCRIBE.
missymoomooo 1 year ago
the music was epic XD
inuome92 1 year ago
How did you get Godzilla to do this video with you?
~~
Thank you for this information. I wish Americans were taught these traits.
Peace from Seattle.
pleased9 1 year ago
I love you so much.
CharuJapan 1 year ago
im very humble im not good at anything but manga drawing..... thats it even though im not good at that eitherV.V
TheBleanaru 1 year ago
I know you like to exaggerate to be fun or whatever, but it would have helped so much more if your example between the two mothers in japanese was more like a real realistic conversation, rather than "my kid's retarded, haha". I suppose your goal is to actually teach people about Japan and japanese, and in that case, prioritize between being funny and actually helping people learn something new. You can be funny while still giving someone an opportunity to learn.
Zoidypoo89 1 year ago
I suck i only subscribe to u because i have no life
LinkbloodWoW7 1 year ago
i totally agree and understand ...funny tho
tshaiyanique 1 year ago
I'm amaaazed! Too much funny! Thank you for sharing that. I did not realize HOW (much) humble a Japanese MUST be. So funny! And well, some of us (...) are working on so called ... Self-esteem (many suffer of a ... Lack of it). I would say, (you) Japanese people must work on it, ... too. I mean: "not too much, not too little" Humbleness/Proudness. Kindest Regards! [I saw your Video about Japanese Girls: you portrayed them as ... quite silly ones. Please, correct that!] Kindest and humble Regards.
Swisrya 1 year ago
theres a Japanese guy in my class and he is great at pretty much everything, no joke. but all he says is ' Thank you, but i believe i can improve' And all of us have to scrape our jaws off the floor and say 'YOU CAN'T GET BETTER THAN 100 MATE!' but i gotta say he's ALOT more awesome than some who are like, 'awh yeah i know thanks' don't know why im saying this, guess i just felt like it. Later :)
thefreakwiththesugar 1 year ago
It's definately a cultural thing.
To my ears, that's not humbling yourself, that's insulting yourself unnessecarily.
The first conversation was a little over-the-top, but when you're really good at something, why not say exactly how good you are at it? I'm not saying BRAG, but why outright lie?
Just to fit in?
I'm glad I'm American. (That's not an insult to the Japanese.)
keilxkey2255 1 year ago
ok, both americans and japanese are retarded, im not the best and not the worst, i wont make up achievements or brag unnecessarily, but i also wont lie in order to create a false aura of humility.
im a meritocractic person, in other words, the tone of a statement matters little next to the truthfulness of the statement, whether something is good or bad doesn't matter as much as whether it is factual, as a result both your countries are filled with MOTHERFUCKING LIES!
EVERYVERSER 1 year ago
"I HAVE NEGATIVE 60THOUSAND SUBSCRIBERS" LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU TOTALLY SHOULD BE A COMEDIAN
jjeessssiiccaaxx 1 year ago
:D " No,no Godzilla san, he's a retarded." Koichi, you are brilliant!
CheshireChrissi 1 year ago
at school im considered a really good artist and just about everytime someone always saids-
"mine looks better then yours or you can't draw better then me"
ME: i look at their work then say ok or just ok
or if theirs another artist someone says" do you think your art work looks better"
ME: no not really it could be a lil better i messed up a lil
just thought i'd share that. it's kinda hard to be humble if your an american
theJazziefox 1 year ago
You look a bit like Yu darvish!
Bartcrap 1 year ago
this guy is awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwsome
tubeyouth101 1 year ago
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UnfamiliarStranger 1 year ago
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UnfamiliarStranger 1 year ago
What a joke. It is sad to see that the japanese intentionally preach the false notion that they are a humble people. What bloody rubbish.
The japanese are hypocrites. They should practice what they preach. It's sad and funny how japanese in some strange way believe they have a moral high ground to stand on and look down their noses at others and lecture all the while not putting into practice their arrogant lectures.
It will be a miracle if the japanese could truly understand themselves.
OntarioJack 1 year ago
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UnfamiliarStranger 1 year ago
@UnfamiliarStranger Well, if you want me to be American, I guess you can call me North American but my passport says 'Canadian'.
I see that you are one of those anime geek freaks. I have lived in japan for 23 years. How long have you lived in japan? Or do you get all your one-sided false-positive info from the js via the net? Read my previous post again and think about it and try not to react with emotion. There are js who FULLY agree with my comment.
OntarioJack 1 year ago
@OntarioJack
It's hard not to react with emotion when the post itself was written with such emotion.
I'm not saying japanese people are perfect, I'm just saying that I doubt that everything you are saying about them is true. I don't think you should be generalizing like that, people will begin to get the wrong idea.
UnfamiliarStranger 1 year ago
@UnfamiliarStranger Erm, that's funny. I'm assuming that you assume that I have no hands on knowledge of japan/japanese.
To cut to the chase mate, I've lived in japan for over twenty years. By my calculations that is longer than you have been alive.
One thing that is so pathetically funny about japanophiles who have never lived in japan is that they for some bizarre reason think they have the moral authority to lecture others.
Feel free to make a fool of yourself.
OntarioJack 1 year ago
I am completely retarded Koichi, and I have a negative sperm count.
MrChachi123 1 year ago
haha so funny yet so true. imma share this on facebook
SushiMANster 1 year ago
so basically...... act emo
lionhart47 1 year ago
no no he's retarded no no he's stupid he's just lucky
zeel4452 1 year ago
So the reason for being humble, according to the nail sticking out thing, is that you don't want to get your ass kicked. That's good reasoning I guess, in theory... But there is a small problem with that reasoning, because in reality, you get your ass kicked anyway. Especially by your employer. So the reason why you are taught to be humble, is not to avoid getting your ass kicked, but to actually make you bend over, so it's easier to screw you. Japan, lol.
NafanyaZX 1 year ago
Oh yeah, the Japanese are really humble. Like you get photographed, because you're pretty much a freak of nature. So everyone is not only looking, no, staring at you, but even worse, pointing with a finger at you. Gaijin, go home, but first let me practice my English with you: "He.. Heeee.. Hel. Herro, my.. na.. name is.." Yes, someone you don't know is bothering you with this annoying BS. That's as humble as it gets.
NafanyaZX 1 year ago
There was a time I was fascinated with the Japanese. Everything was so different, so new and exciting. But as I actually started to learn things about the nature of the Japanese, I quickly became disgusted with it. Being humble for instance, honorable behaviour that involves no bragging. But the japanese way of being humble, is to deceive and to lie into your face. If they tell you you're awesome, it probably means you suck, but they won't tell you, so you can suck some more.
NafanyaZX 1 year ago
very interesting! thanks for sharing!
NeptunePrincess04 1 year ago
love the japanese part , (>_^)
philomena1980 1 year ago
そこまで"humble"じゃないよ。
boonnysmom 1 year ago
How about having a good amount of humility overall, but I mean should you lie when someone asks you about your accomplishments? Maybe just not go on and on about it yourself?
OddrianaOpheliac 1 year ago
So, if I'm in the National Honor Society and I go to Japan and someone brings it up, would it be considered humble enough if I just say, "Oh, it's just like any other club. It's nothing important."
Alkanile 1 year ago
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DerivedSu 1 year ago
Americans could use a good dose of humility. It'd fix a lot of our problems.
mrmn8honeybee 1 year ago 47
@mrmn8honeybee i agree
endauthority 1 year ago
@mrmn8honeybee AMEN
Princesscolex 11 months ago
@poizonangel Same here. Yes, we should be kind, respectful and have good manners/attitude, but we sure as heck should not have to humble ourselves like what this guy told us. Why should anyone call theselves or their loved ones down over any stupid faults or mistakes.
skanthavelu 1 year ago
NOOOO! What are you telling us?! Why should I humble myself before the people in Japan or any Japanese for that matter?! It's bad enough that I let people step on me overhere and I am trying to get out of that, not make it worse. I'm gone. Sayounara!
skanthavelu 1 year ago
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kingmojopin0 1 year ago
it's kinda like that in sweden.. at least for me D:
issis90 1 year ago
Banzai!! One of few who recognizes this instead of typical "Clowns" who thinks they are this and that when they come to my country but when in fact most of them are "rejects" from their native country. Yes "Humble" yourself to all Gaijins who are in Japan or planning to live here.
novajoke 1 year ago
JAPAN PROVERB: THE NAIL THAT STICKS OUT GETS HAMMERED DOWN (TILL IT LEVELS WITH THE OTHER)
USA: THE SQUEEKY WHEEL GETS THE OIL
COMPLETELY OPPOSITE
TITIFORBUNGHOLE 1 year ago
Your youtube conversation was really funny xD.
Gongiar 1 year ago
wat wat down talking yourself cant be healthy for self estem and self confendece
memetiffany89 1 year ago
what ya grand pa told you i agree
superduperblue1234 1 year ago
goog job my comrade
khaiho95 1 year ago
Watching this video was a complete waste of time. I'm probably the most humble person in the world, definitely more humble than you.
fosterslover 1 year ago
@fosterslover Definition of irony right here.
259 1 year ago
@fosterslover Pure ego. Heh.
Alkanile 1 year ago
he posted his video one day b4 my b-day!
matniky 1 year ago
:( I applied for a job in Japan but was interviewed by a foreigner so my humbleness got me into trouble.
myuuzimiki 1 year ago
what if your canadian :? lawl....
hopeandjoeysmell 1 year ago
@hopeandjoeysmell if youre canadian, man youre like the crown jewel of the world. The canadians are seen as the polite version of America which means , you're in.
blackshogun77 1 year ago