tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post2359342087588777399..comments2023-05-18T03:08:41.920-07:00Comments on 1000 Things About Japan: Will Miss #516 - less emphasis on moneyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-85251296850148489182013-05-27T18:57:58.675-07:002013-05-27T18:57:58.675-07:00Good point about the long working hours being most...Good point about the long working hours being mostly about loyalty to one's work place. But I am still not sure if the final motivation for the Japanese to land a job at a well-known company in Tokyo isn't actually money, after all. <br />Do you mean that, while in the US, being wealthy is admired almost in disregard as to the means how that wealth is acquired, which leads to the Stephanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01935357006764293291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-16674778020552086452013-05-26T18:57:26.191-07:002013-05-26T18:57:26.191-07:00You are right about the long working hours and the...You are right about the long working hours and the fathers never being home. However, that doesn't translate into more money. It's connected to identity and company culture, but the person who puts in copious hours is often the person at the bottom of the pay scale, not the top. My experience has shown that the more money you make, the less likely you are to work like a dog. <br /><br />IOrchid64https://www.blogger.com/profile/07132543155589881288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-15760190994400683562013-05-26T17:52:40.008-07:002013-05-26T17:52:40.008-07:00I agree that the admiration of the rich and famous...I agree that the admiration of the rich and famous only based on their wealth in the US is probably unique and of course, has run completely out of bounds. It might have to do with the lack of a "social net", i.e. if you're broke in the US, your health (and life) immediately is in danger.<br /><br />I am not sure though if Japan is much better. At least during the last couple of Stephanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01935357006764293291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-82388908176298147742013-05-26T09:19:35.006-07:002013-05-26T09:19:35.006-07:00There absolutely is more emphasis on designer good...There absolutely is more emphasis on designer goods in Japan. However, I was not talking about status-related goods, but about the role of money in a more generalized fashion as something which one sacrifices family or other priorities for. The Japanese are into brand names, but the money spent on them is not the primary reason why. It's because they associate it with status. It's the Orchid64https://www.blogger.com/profile/07132543155589881288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-43166805835393369482013-05-26T05:47:16.659-07:002013-05-26T05:47:16.659-07:00I'm not sure what it's like in the US but ...I'm not sure what it's like in the US but compared to Australia, I found there was much more emphasis in Japan on designer goods. I don't know many people who care about having designer label handbags or other shit here and those that do are considered wankers.Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699328937978331608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-51591321423827245062013-05-25T12:54:42.154-07:002013-05-25T12:54:42.154-07:00My post is more about overall emphasis on lifestyl...My post is more about overall emphasis on lifestyle rather than specific situations like gift-giving. As you say, there certainly are a lot of hands out and obligations to give cash, but in at least some of those situations, you'd be expected to give a gift in the U.S. (e.g., weddings). Orchid64https://www.blogger.com/profile/07132543155589881288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-65437285716486195622013-05-25T06:09:51.688-07:002013-05-25T06:09:51.688-07:00Interesting this, because as a Brit who's only...Interesting this, because as a Brit who's only ever been to America once on holiday, Japan seems to be all about the money.<br /><br />Weddings, births, deaths, leaving gifts. All involve little more thought on the part of the giver than sticking the requisite amount in the correct envelope. On my generous days this is actually fairly refreshing and mature, but if I'm in a less forgiving kamohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10785763841038321633noreply@blogger.com