My Friend in America

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My Friend in America

by Jun Kuzuya
(Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan)

I've never been to America, but I have a friend there. His name is Michel. Michel was an overseas student, and he stayed in Japan for three months. He studied Japanese at Keio University and his father is my father's friend.

When his family came to Japan, my family had a chance to go out for dinner with them. And then, I met him. His appearance was quiet.

But, through talking with him, I felt he was friendly, funny, and he was a very nice guy! So, I was surprised. Now he is in America, so I sometimes write email to him.

Through this experience, I came to think that American people are more friendlier than that of Japanese.

By the way, I want to ask Mr. Wolff. What is the first impression about Japanese people when you came to Japan for the first time?

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My Friend in America

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Apr 24, 2010
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My first impression about Japanese people
by: Gary Wolff

Great story, Jun ! So happy to hear about your friend, Michel. I hope to meet him someday.

When I first came to Japan, it was a BIG culture shock for me, and the 2 things I still remember vividly are:
1) how well-dressed everyone was, and
2) how crowded the trains & subways were.

The business attire of all Japanese business people I think, even today, is very professional & high-class. I think Americans tend to be a lot more easy-going and laid-back with their work clothes, e.g. Casual Fridays, when you can wear casual clothes like jeans and sports shirts.

And being from Texas, where everything is BIG and with lots of wide open spaces, we rarely have situations where we have to get up SO close to (even touching) complete strangers, so riding on the crowded Tokyo subways & trains was a big shocker !

Thanks again for sharing your interesting story...

Gary

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