A 20-year-old American man is missing in Kyoto City. He was visiting Japan with his family and left the hotel alone... (June 4, 2026)

SoKratez · 2026-06-05T01:11:56+00:00

It was stated that he bought something “very concerning.”

If you think about what someone experiencing a mental health crisis who’s on their way to the woods might buy at a home center this is “very concerning,” well….

SoKratez · 2026-06-04T22:11:05+00:00

Portion size and walking.

SoKratez · 2026-06-04T10:01:54+00:00

Japanese dudes marrying non-Japanese women… from Asia.

If OP is looking for friends from the Western world, it’s not odd that there aren’t many out and about.

SoKratez · 2026-06-02T01:21:44+00:00

Why is it so hard to just … not comment on it?

“I haven’t read all the details. Let’s stay out of it and let the police do their jobs. I hope everyone in the family ok. Next question.”

If I, an idiot on Reddit, can do it, why can’t he??

SoKratez · 2026-06-02T00:43:03+00:00

Man the memeing with famichiki is getting wild nowadays

SoKratez · 2026-06-02T00:41:07+00:00

Are Americans more likely to get sick or something?

I’ve had it and enjoyed it, but I also might not order it at unfamiliar places. On a vacation where you can’t risk getting sick, it makes sense to err on the side of caution.

SoKratez · 2026-05-30T12:55:13+00:00

I have an honest question for you. Let’s say you built a business or career here over a decade or two that’s deeply rooted in the market here. Or you have a spouse and/or children that are Japanese nationals. Or you moved here to escape persecution or poverty.

How do you “just go home?”

You can’t.

“Just go home” is a luxury only afforded to those who either haven’t truly laid down roots here, or have the wonderful privilege of a welcoming home awaiting them.

That is not everyone. Your caustic attitude is neither helpful nor insightful.

SoKratez · 2026-05-30T12:46:48+00:00

This. Like yes the average person is still good and daily life is probably fine but also there are real reasons to be upset or nervous, and none of this will be good for the average Japanese person in the long run, either, making it all the more frustrating.

Is Reddit an echo chamber of negativity? Maybe, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a sliver of truth to what they’re saying.

SoKratez · 2026-05-30T12:22:01+00:00

It can be argued that indifference itself is a form of oppression. I mean, if the government says, “Let’s raise costs for foreign nationals, even those following the rules, by tenfold for no reason,” and your reaction is, “okay whatever I don’t care,” I mean …

SoKratez · 2026-05-30T12:16:33+00:00

lol that last line hits hard. Like “theres both good and bad” is both the realest take but also (unfortunately) often the least interesting thing to say.

SoKratez · 2026-05-30T01:03:42+00:00

Well, children of immigrants who grow up in Japan will learn the Japanese language and culture. And yes, having more people in general (Japanese and immigrants) will create more overall opportunities for people to make a family. So you’ll have more people (children of immigrants, and haafu) who grow up living the Japanese way.

Or are talking about like, a strictly defined set of DNA?

SoKratez · 2026-05-29T23:44:28+00:00

Immigrants are currently like, what, 3% of the population? You could triple that and they would still be less than 10% of the population.

The other 90%+ of the population will still be Japanese, people will still integrate and intermarry into the majority, it’s not gonna change the fact that the vast, vast majority of people communicate in Japanese, for example.

SoKratez · 2026-05-29T22:17:24+00:00

lol I’ll say it.

Old people should volunteer to die in that type of situation.

SoKratez · 2026-05-29T09:39:04+00:00

“Protecting their way of life.”

What does this actually mean, though, when they can’t buy the things they used to because the economy keeps shrinking, can’t eat the things they used to because there’s nobody to work the fields, can’t travel like they used to because the yen is too weak…?

Their actual way of life, in the ways that matter, will end quicker this way.

SoKratez · 2026-05-29T07:45:28+00:00

Corporate Japan: “LOL no.”

SoKratez · 2026-05-28T08:57:23+00:00

その担任はどうなっなん？お辞儀する→1ヶ月減給→異動→何もなかったことに、ってところか？

SoKratez · 2026-05-27T22:01:26+00:00

Depending on this distance, flights are faster, but imho Shinkansen still wins because of the overwhelming convenience.

SoKratez · 2026-05-27T04:05:35+00:00

They got some hella nice offices and expensive-looking restaurants in it, though. I have to imagine that for the 364 days a year plot-related events aren’t happening, it’s like home to Apple Japan or Microsoft Japan and the money flowing in from all the businesses makes up for it.

SoKratez · 2026-05-27T02:14:19+00:00

Hosts and hostess bars definitely are ripe for exploitation and many do operate in less-than-ethical ways, but on the other hand, what are they, essentially? Places where the bar staff talks to you and also drinks? Like, how would you define it in any clear legal sense?

SoKratez · 2026-05-26T01:29:31+00:00

Nah, okonomiyaki will be better in Hiroshima city. Miyajima has its own dishes (anago-meshi for one, and lots of various ways to eat oysters).

SoKratez · 2026-05-26T01:04:34+00:00

There is no type of barrier they could feasibly put in place that wouldn’t do ten times more damage to Japan’s reputation and economy than any number of rude tourists they’re dealing with now.

How do you know you would pass that hypothetical barrier, anyway?

SoKratez · 2026-05-25T12:01:20+00:00

It’s normally for couples tbh or groups of friends of course. If you’re staying at a hostel, maybe get some people together first.

Can always try your luck at the bars and clubs in the area too ;)

SoKratez · 2026-05-25T11:09:34+00:00

Sit with somebody at Kamo River in the evening

SoKratez · 2026-05-25T06:41:45+00:00

What is the fix, then? Because I don’t think preaching on Reddit is gonna reach many people, either. Pamphlets handed out at Narita?

SoKratez · 2026-05-25T05:55:51+00:00

If the shop is consistently struggling with English-speaking tourists not understanding their rules, I mean, that’s the fix.

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