False compliments, false modesty, and family

There does not appear to be a significant difference to me in terms of how Japanese and non-Japanese approach compliments in terms of giving and receiving them. In both cases everyone has undoubtedly been put on the spot and forced to give a false compliment (a classic case of the "Does my ass look big in this?"), but I've found that in many cultures people will offer spontaneous and genuine compliments. The notion of offering a false compliment without being prompted or put on the spot is very unusual to me.

However, a far greater emphasis appears to be placed on modesty in Japan in contrast to the West. Whilst not being able to think of any concrete examples at the moment, it seems frequent that, for example, in Japan a practitioner of a particular craft will speak ambivalently of their ability in spite of having been involved with it for a significant length of time. People in the West are more willing to accept compliments and be thankful for them, and in particular circumstances such as job interviews, modesty appears to be often discouraged to the extent that people will exaggerate their abilities in order to succeed.

In regards to family, I would not particularly insulted if a family member made a joke at my expense or insulted me as long as it was done in a light-hearted manner. There is the notion that Australians frequently speak in a self-deprecating manner which extends to family and close friends, and I believe that being able to make light of one's foibles is an important trait.

First assignment

Hello! I'm Ash from Melbourne, Australia. I arrived in Kumamoto on April 2 and I'm planning to stay here for a year, which will be the third and final year of study for my Asian Studies degree at La Trobe University. This will also be the second time I've lived in Japan; a couple of years ago I lived in Tokushima for 18 months whilst I worked for the infamous Nova eikaiwa, although due to the poor way the company treated both its teachers and customers (especially leading up to its collapse in 2007) I'm often reluctant to mention that I worked there. ;) Aside from language study my interests in Japan also extend into Sino-Japanese relations (something I've admittedly not been keeping up to date with recently, although ethnically I'm half-Chinese and spent a few months studying in Shanghai) and music. I'm interested in both the more extreme forms of underground music here (such as metal and noise) and traditional music (I play in a Japanese taiko group back in Melbourne, an activity I'm hoping to continue here in Kumamoto).

One of the more pleasant surprises I've had concerning Japanese society and culture is that the majority of stereotypes presented to us in the West - such of that of the excessively reserved, timid and ambiguous person - were well and truly picked apart within a short time of coming here. Whilst there may be slivers of truth to certain stereotypes, it should have been obvious that no entire society of a developed nation embracing globalisation in the manner in which Japan is doing can be tarred with the one brush.

On the flip side, especially after having lived here for a certain length of time and having read articles and books by writers such as Alex Kerr and Arudou Debito, it was quite a surprise to discover how poorly Japan has approached matters such as the environment, immigration, minority groups, etc. It was all the more astonishing in light of the perceptions in the West that there is an absolute reverence for nature in Japan, and the nation's fascination and adoption (albeit occasionally fleeting) of foreign cultures and lifestyles.

Unfortunately I don't consider myself to be a terribly observant person, but over the coming year I'm hoping to become more understanding of this unusual and wonderful country.

日本語で書かなくて、すみません！日本語があまり上手じゃないので、この自己紹介の説明することは難しすぎるかもしれません。こんど、ね。;)