I actually don't think there would be much of a difference if he were Japanese. The cannabis laws are really strict here, especially as of the last ten years. Apparently it used to be rather easy to get the stuff, but now the police are cracking down on it. For us foreigners, there's no distinction between "hardcore" drugs like meth and heroine and the wimpy stuff like marijuana. I'm not a fan of drugs either, but where I lived, if you banned all drug-users from your life, you wouldn't have any friends. Of course, no one did anything harder than marijuana...sad to say, I'm hard-pressed to think of a friend who hasn't tried it. I never have, but still
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Yeah, from the sounds of it, he could have been the goddamned Emperor and people would still be all DDDDD: over it. It's never a good thing when even I'm there going "it's just weed" because I'm generally a prude in the matter. Destroying his career to make up face over the fact that the JSA has dealt with bad press after bad press is not helping. I think it's a shame to see him go, because he's really damn good.
Well, suspicion is the nice way of putting it. The original arrest was for finding one cigarette. However, back at his stables, they found, like, three more, and a bag of weed I think. It seemed small enough that, back home, it would just be a fine or small charge. Not career destroying arrests and stuff.
I know nothing about sumo, nor do I follow it, but I just wanted to agree that back home, it's like marijuana doesn't even really count as a drug! Whenever I'm at fireworks or a similar event, here, I always feel that the only thing missing is the occasional whiff of pot. :}
As for the "he doesn't understand because he's a foreigner," bit: it seems pretty clear to me that marijuana is illegal here. What is there to not understand about that?
Well, yeah, it's illegal here, but I knew that, and I was STUNNED at the backlash from this. Like, it's even worse than the US, who are crazy over that kind of stuff. I agree with the idea that there should be some way of informing people about the culture here, because there are lots of things people never find out about because Japanese people never think that other countries will be different. Every day, I feel like I'm breaking some kind of social code whenever I do something. Hell, some days, I just step outside and old women glare at me just for the way I dress. Which isn't that bad, in my eyes.
Plus, Japanese people are really good at thinking that nobody else will understand them, because they're SOOOO different. And in being like that, they never let foreigners understand because they don't seem to be willing to let us in.
Long reply is long!blodeueddAugust 21 2008, 14:32:43 UTC
there are lots of things people never find out about because Japanese people never think that other countries will be different.
True. On the other hand, since I am in their country, I feel it's my responsibility to get informed about these things, since they're not going to do it for me!
some days, I just step outside and old women glare at me just for the way I dress.
Maybe that happens to me too, I'm just generally oblivious to people looking at me. XD Still, as obvious foreigners, we get something of a free pass for some things, because the Japanese just figure we don't know any better. My ex-husband is of Chinese descent, so he was a "stealth gaijin", and he said he'd sometimes unknowingly commit a social faux pas and get dirty/shocked looks from people who probably assumed he was Japanese.
Plus, Japanese people are really good at thinking that nobody else will understand them, because they're SOOOO different. And in being like that, they never let foreigners understand because they don't seem to be willing to let us in.My
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Re: Long reply is long!umbrellaofdoomAugust 21 2008, 15:00:30 UTC
True. On the other hand, since I am in their country, I feel it's my responsibility to get informed about these things, since they're not going to do it for me!But even then, it's really fucking hard to find some things. I have a pile of paper and cardboard sitting at my door, waiting for the day when I'll learn when recycling day is. I've asked lots of people before when paper and carboard goes out, and nobody tells me the same answer. it's like they don't care. And I'm starting to not care either
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It's never a good thing when even I'm there going "it's just weed" because I'm generally a prude in the matter. Destroying his career to make up face over the fact that the JSA has dealt with bad press after bad press is not helping. I think it's a shame to see him go, because he's really damn good.
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As for the "he doesn't understand because he's a foreigner," bit: it seems pretty clear to me that marijuana is illegal here. What is there to not understand about that?
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Plus, Japanese people are really good at thinking that nobody else will understand them, because they're SOOOO different. And in being like that, they never let foreigners understand because they don't seem to be willing to let us in.
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True. On the other hand, since I am in their country, I feel it's my responsibility to get informed about these things, since they're not going to do it for me!
some days, I just step outside and old women glare at me just for the way I dress.
Maybe that happens to me too, I'm just generally oblivious to people looking at me. XD Still, as obvious foreigners, we get something of a free pass for some things, because the Japanese just figure we don't know any better. My ex-husband is of Chinese descent, so he was a "stealth gaijin", and he said he'd sometimes unknowingly commit a social faux pas and get dirty/shocked looks from people who probably assumed he was Japanese.
Plus, Japanese people are really good at thinking that nobody else will understand them, because they're SOOOO different. And in being like that, they never let foreigners understand because they don't seem to be willing to let us in.My ( ... )
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