Each of the great cultures of the East is unique and amazing in its own way. But most often, when speaking about Eastern culture, we mean China or Japan. However, these two countries also have huge differences, and what is practiced in one may be completely unacceptable in another, despite the fact that both of them are carriers of Eastern culture.

Home and Away

China: It is not customary to take off shoes in the house

As a rule, the Chinese enter the house wearing their shoes without taking them off. However, in some places there are exceptions, so it is better to clarify this point once again.

Japan: Shoes must be taken off when entering a house

In Japan, it is customary to take off your shoes not only when entering a house, but also when entering hospitals, restaurants, and even an office. In this case, you need to turn the removed shoes with your toes towards the exit, and if you forget to do this, the Japanese will definitely do it for you.

Ceremonies

China: don't bow

Only very deep respect for a person or some kind of ceremony can force a Chinese to bow. In all other cases, bowing is not required at all.

Japan: bow

The situation is completely opposite in Japan. Here, bowing is considered an integral part of life. They do this so often that, without noticing it, they bow even when talking on the phone. The depth and duration of the bow speaks volumes. So, during a greeting, the depth of the bow reaches approximately 15°, if you need to show your respect - 30°, but the bow of the highest respect should be at least 45°.

Religion

China: Confucianism / Taoism / Buddhism

From time immemorial, there was no one dominant religion in China, and unconditional adherence was never required from the inhabitants, so one person could profess several religions at once.

Japan: Shintoism

In Japan, the official national religion is Shintoism, according to which all inanimate objects and living creatures around us are endowed with deity and spirits.

Martial arts

China: Wushu and Kungfu

Wushu is a set of exercises that combines different types of martial arts. And the word “kungfu” in China was used to describe any type of activity that requires work on oneself and improvement, be it martial arts, singing or cooking.

Japan: sumo, judo, aikido, karate, jiu-jitsu

The historical basis of all Japanese martial arts is bu-jutsu, the art of killing. Its main goal is to quickly and effectively neutralize the enemy by any means.

Food

China: Peking duck, dim sum, fried rice, century egg and turtle soup

We are all accustomed to the fact that there are only five tastes: sweet, sour, spicy, bitter and salty. But any Chinese will also tell you three more: aromatic (any dish that is properly prepared has a special aroma), unleavened (similar to the taste of rice and bread) and golden (similar to the taste of kumquat).

Japan: sushi, rolls and sashimi

A special place in Japanese cuisine is given to raw fish dishes, the most popular of which are sushi and rolls. In addition, quite often there may be 15 or even 20 different small dishes on the table of a Japanese aristocrat, so that one can fully appreciate the skill of the cook without overeating.

Life

China: sitting on chairs

Contrary to popular belief that “eastern people” prefer to sit on low surfaces, the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom sit on ordinary chairs. This was led to by the traditional desire of nobles to sit as high as possible, because it was believed that the taller a person, the more serious his status.

Japan: sitting on laps

Japanese Seiza, “sitting on your knees,” is a whole science that needs to be learned. In this situation, the people of Japan perform many traditional Japanese rituals: the tea ceremony, meditation, calligraphy and even some martial arts.

Cloth

China: Qipao and Hanfu

Hanfu is a traditional Chinese dress from the Han Dynasty, which includes a whole set of clothes - from underwear to a robe and a belt. When the Manchus took over the reins of power in the 17th century, these clothes changed to the Changshan for men and the Qipao for women.

Japan: kimono

Although in modern Japan a kimono is no longer an everyday outfit, a couple or three of them always hang in the closet of every resident of the Land of the Rising Sun. But the fact is that here it is customary to wear a kimono for holidays and celebrations, be it a wedding, graduation or any other occasion.

Medicine

China: acupuncture (acupuncture)

According to acupuncture, in humans, each organ has its own zone on the body, a meridian, each of which has a total of about 700 active points. By inserting needles into these points, specialists are able to influence the disease and eliminate pain.

Japan: Shiatsu (hand pressure)

Shiatsu is considered one of the types of manual therapy that appeared in the 40s of the 20th century. Its author is considered to be Japanese physician Tokujiro Namikoshi, who once noticed that his mother alleviated attacks of rheumatoid arthritis by pressing on sore spots and massaging them. He devoted himself to studying this issue and created a special healing technique.

Symbols

China: dragon

The Chinese dragon is a collective symbol. It includes the head of a camel, the antlers of a deer, the eyes of a demon, the neck of a snake, the scales of a carp, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger and the ears of a cow. It symbolizes wisdom. There are a total of 9 types of dragons in Chinese folklore. These are celestial, spiritual, underground, treasure dragon, winged, water-dwelling, horned, yellow, who came from the Luo River to teach other creatures to write, and royal.

Japan: sakura

The Japanese associate sakura with beauty and fragility. Every time, seeing how short the beautiful sakura blooms, they philosophize that everything beautiful does not last forever.

Warriors

China: Terracotta Army

Qin Shi Huang was the most cruel and at the same time extremely religious emperor of China. While still alive, he began to prepare for the afterlife and ordered the production of 6,000 human-sized clay warriors who would guard his peace after death. It is noteworthy that the statues do not have a single identical face, and they guard an empty tomb, because the ruler’s sarcophagus still cannot be found.

Japan: samurai and ninja

Literally translated, the word “samurai” means “to serve, support.” Samurai were the bodyguards of their master, serving him. After each battle, according to one of the rituals, they walked across the field and cut off the heads of the corpses in order to please the master with the number of enemies killed.

A ninja in medieval Japan was a scout, saboteur and hired killer. They did not obey the feudal system and always hid in the shadows. This profession was passed down by inheritance: from father to son or daughter. Female ninjas were called kunoichi.

© East News, AP Photo/Koji Sasahara

Which country do you prefer: China, South Korea or Japan?

Public opinion poll yields unexpected results

China and South Korea constantly accuse Japan of "right-wing deviation." What image do people in other countries of the world actually have about these countries? The results of a survey of more than a hundred people from 25 countries are truly surprising...

The image of the country is very important

Recently, the governments of China and South Korea have taken an overtly “anti-Japanese” stance.

These countries' tough diplomatic strategy against Japan is gaining momentum. They are trying to impose on the world the image of a militaristic Japan by bringing up the issue of changing the name of the Sea of ​​​​Japan and erecting monuments to the women of comfort stations ( Japanese euphemism for military brothels created for Japanese soldiers during World War II - approx. ed.).

On the other hand, China's accusations against Japan are quite well thought out. At the end of March, Chinese President Xi Jinping, during his visit to Germany, said: “During World War II, the Japanese army committed a massacre of more than 300 thousand Chinese in Nanjing.” Thus, he managed to achieve a convergence of the images of Japanese militarists and Nazis during his criticism of Japan.

In response to the anti-Japanese campaign of China and South Korea, Japan also blames these countries. How do residents of other countries of the world see this from the outside, which country do they support?

Our magazine conducted a survey of the opinions of people from 25 countries, which did not include the three countries mentioned, by asking 103 respondents questions about the image of these countries. In order to ensure the objectivity of the survey, ethnic Chinese, Japanese and Koreans, people with ties to these three countries (for example, through Japanese spouses) were excluded from the number of respondents. Ordinary people representing different countries of the world shared their ideas about Japan, China and South Korea.

The survey results are surprising.

Respondents had to answer the question “Which of the three countries: Japan, China, South Korea – do you have the best idea about?” More than 90% of people chose Japan. When asked about the worst image, the vast majority pointed to China.

Such results directly indicate that most people of the world, with the exception of the Chinese and Koreans, have a good understanding of the country called Japan and the Japanese people.

“The Japanese are very hardworking, they are extremely polite. Japan combines amazing traditional techniques for making rice paper, ceramics and the latest computer technology. This is probably hard to find anywhere else in the world” (Toby, 35 years old, designer, USA).

Quite a lot of people imagine Japan in this way, that is, as a country that “combines traditional culture and modern technology.”

“I have never personally interacted with Japanese people, but I have confidence in Japanese brands. Toyota, Honda, Yamaha, Komatsu... I wish Japanese companies would invest more in Africa” (Julias, 37, engineer, Kenya).

The image of Japan is inextricably linked with Japanese brands such as Toyota. On the other hand, the idea of ​​Japan can also be influenced by Japanese culture: anime, manga, films.

“I really love the films of Takeshi Kitano and Nagisa Oshima. Manga by Takehiko Inoe and Rumiko Takahashi and anime by Hayao Miyazaki are also popular in France. The French impressionists were influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e prints, Japan and France have many similar cultural moments” (Jacques, 53 years old, teacher, France).

“In this country, the painstaking nature of origami and the brutality of martial arts such as karate coexist. I like visual kei groups X Japan and L’Arc-en-Ciel” (Stephanie, 27 years old, information technology, Italy).

“My favorite actor is Takuya Kimura. I’m also a fan of Hello Kitty products” (Chanti, 23 years old, student, Indonesia).

Hate has reasons

Associate Professor at Kanazawa Gakuin University Tooru Sakai in his book “Everyone except China and South Korea are friends with Japan” writes in more detail and reveals the topic of the spread of Japanese culture in the world.

“In a study conducted annually by the British broadcaster BBC, entitled “Countries that have a positive and negative impact on the world,” Japan competes for the highest positions in the ranking of ratings year after year (first place in 2012, fourth place in 2013). According to other indicators, such as the “global peace index”, “democracy index”, “nation branding index”, Japan is also always in the first echelon. Even when it comes to general travel, the level of trust in a Japanese passport is very high. Many Japanese first learn about how wonderful their homeland is by traveling abroad.”

In the questionnaires one could also find praise for Japan.

“Japan is a country that has successfully modernized while maintaining its original culture, and all Iranians respect this country as an excellent example to follow. Japanese culture has a place for both tradition and rigidity, so even in professions such as yakuza and geisha, which are not revered in other countries, you can find aesthetics” (Abbas, 48 ​​years old, restaurant manager, Iran).

“The Japanese are a very cultured people, I was extremely surprised that even during the strongest earthquake there was no violence on the streets. It seems to me that the Japanese are much more ethical than the Europeans” (Rashid, 58 years old, civil servant, Lebanon).

“Japanese non-governmental organizations provide humanitarian aid selflessly, which is very different from the Chinese, who immediately ask for something in return” (Umar, 44 years old, doctor, Nigeria).

Why do almost 90% of respondents around the world dislike the Chinese so much, whose image is rather negative?

“There is no way I will go to a country that causes such harm to the environment. They have little understanding of human rights; China cannot be called a democratic country. They may have gained self-confidence after becoming economic leaders, but the foreign policy of this country is too suppressive” (Thomas, 54 years old, engineer, USA).

Residents of all Western countries agreed that China is an "undemocratic, uncivilized country" due to its one-party political system, environmental pollution, persecution of minorities and media censorship.

Weak image, no interest

On the other hand, countries neighboring China, which are experiencing various difficulties in relations with the Chinese, have a negative attitude towards this country.

“The Chinese are investing in Vladivostok farms. None of the Russians like them, but since they pay, you have to work for them” (Sergei, 50 years old, journalist, Russia).

In Africa, which is also familiar with Chinese investments, one can find harsh criticism of China.

“China has its eye on Senegalese forests and is buying everything. They bring their labor from China, so they deprive Senegalese of work, we do not receive any economic benefits. Despite the rich history and culture of this country, the economic policies there are very primitive and business ethics are low” (Abdoulay, 48 years old, construction worker, Senegal).

“The quality of Chinese goods is terrible. I’m embarrassed to use them, so I try to avoid them whenever possible” (Kofi, 36 years old, banker, Ghana).

China is developing its economy at a tremendous pace and increasing its weight in international politics, but this leads to discontent.

As for South Korea, known for its industrial products such as Samsung products and Hyundai cars, the country's presence in the world is surprisingly weak.

“I often come across Samsung and other brands, but I hardly think about what country they came from, and I don’t want to know” (Anna, 29 years old, student, Spain).

“There are also a lot of Hyundai cars in Egypt. But Toyota is better in quality, and I like these cars better” (Muhammad, 41 years old, policeman, Egypt).

“The country with the worst image is South Korea. Because she simply has no image. I don’t know anything about Korea except kimchi” (Maria, 38 years old, housewife, Brazil).

Daisuke Sato, a representative of a consulting company that helps Japanese businesses enter the European market, says: “Products such as televisions and cars are often directly related to the image of the country. Despite the fact that Korean goods are all around us, South Korea is often presented as “number two after Japan”, and Korean goods as a “substitute” for high-quality but expensive Japanese goods that are difficult to obtain. To put it simply, South Korea does not stand out in any way.”

Recently, mainly in Asian countries, South Korean films, TV series, music and other components of the culture of this country have begun to gain weight.

“K-POP singers are very sexy and their faces are emotional. I think there are a lot of beautiful girls in South Korea” (Somchai, 23 years old, student, Thailand).

However, Associate Professor Sakai believes that “Korean culture and K-POP have not been able to conquer the whole world like Japan did.”

“Sometimes people say that the Japanese entertainment industry is being replaced by the Korean one, but this is a wrong opinion. Korean culture is aimed at the mass market with primitive needs. On the other hand, Japanese culture cannot be accepted without understanding the high cultural context. The two cultures have different target audiences. But with the economic development of Asian countries, the layers interested in the refined culture of Japan are expanding.”

As stated above, 90% of people have positive views of Japan, negative views of China, and have no interest in South Korea.

But of course, Japan is also criticized.

“Recently, I have stopped seeing Japanese brands such as Sony and Toshiba on the streets. It seems like they've been supplanted by Samsung and are going through a tough time right now." (Kevin, 50, consultant, Singapore).

“There are several Japanese people working in my office. They always stay after work, but do not perform large volumes, labor efficiency is very low. They are always huddled together, it is unclear what they are really thinking about. But despite all this, as soon as they drink, they open up beyond what is necessary...” (Kent, 39 years old, lawyer, UK).

Even with such minor disadvantages, we practically did not find people whose general idea of ​​Japan would be unequivocally negative.

What do people from around the world think about the relations between Japan, China and South Korea, which are characterized by mutual criticism?

“I don’t know the details, but I don’t think Japan has moved as far to the right as China claims” (Ingmar, 25, teacher, Sweden).

“It may be natural to go to the Yasukuni Shrine to honor all those who died in the war, but it is necessary to respect the feelings of the affected countries” (Atan, 44, shop assistant, Vietnam).

“The war happened seventy years ago. It seems to me that China and South Korea should behave more constructively for the sake of the younger generation. And the approach of China, which by hook or by crook is trying to expand its territorial waters, will someday meet with resistance” (David, 39 years old, engineer, Australia).

Forget about quarrels...

How do residents of Germany, a country that, like Japan, lost the war, but maintain friendly relations with neighboring countries and is a member of the European Union, feel about the situation with Japan?

“Unlike Japan, which maintained the imperial system, Germany was able to shift all the blame onto Hitler and the Nazis. In recent years, all hostility with neighboring countries has disappeared; France and Germany even publish joint history textbooks. But despite all this, Germans are still looked at as Nazis, and this image is repulsive. Even in European Union countries, many parents advise their children not to marry Germans.

Japan's neighbors are not as democratic as the European Union, so it is harder for it than for Germany. China, with its weak understanding of human rights and sometimes aggressive foreign policy, seems like a scary country, but Japan must be patient and bring peace” (Joachim, 39, doctor, Germany).

It turns out that reasonable people around the world understand that the Japanese respect peace. Instead of following the lead of China and South Korea, who are fueling hostilities with their words, we must avoid the right-wing image they promote of Japan.

In an interview with the French newspaper Libération, the head of the Asian department, Claude Leblanc, says the following:

“Last November, China unilaterally changed its air identification zone, once again reminding us of the danger posed by this country. But late that year, Japanese Prime Minister Abe made a pilgrimage to Yasukuni Shrine, creating an image of a Japan leaning to the right.

This is what happened with a Korean manga on the theme of comfort women, presented at the international comics festival in the city of Angoulême in the south of France.

Initially, no one was interested in the issue of comfort stations, but the Japanese themselves made a fuss, and people from the circle of NHK Director Katsuto Momiya and Japanese Prime Minister Abe made ambiguous statements on this matter, after which the media of all countries began to be interested in this topic.

If we compare the relationship between Japan and China, Japan and South Korea with football, then after the first half Japan was leading 3:0, but in the second half it made many mistakes, and seconds before the end of the match the score was level. “First of all, China and South Korea, who could not even imagine that they would play a draw with Japan, are pleased with the results.”

China and South Korea have united in anti-Japanese criticism and are trying their best to ruin Japan's image.

However, Japan doesn't need to sweat the small stuff. Even if “unloved by the whole world” and “weak” countries are up to something, it is better to react calmly and with restraint. Because Japan has popularity all over the world.

Author Leonardo Da-Vinchi asked a question in the section Other things about cities and countries

People, tell me which is better, China or Japan, and explain why? and got the best answer

Reply from Tata[guru]
Japan is good, but China is better.

Answer from Elena Vakulenko[newbie]
South Korea.

Answer from Kostyan Norm[newbie]
China is better

Answer from Ik Man[newbie]
Almost everyone in Japan is evil

Answer from Volodya Sachkov[expert]
China.... Because it is a superpower.

Answer from Martynov Alexander[master]
Japan because there is 1 more letter than in the word China. . the question is stupid as hell

Answer from Denis Ikbulatov[newbie]
I am for Japan because Japan is the only country that can afford something that other countries simply cannot bear, from cuteness to fantasy

Answer from Vitya Kostarev[newbie]
Definitely - China, in my opinion, Japan is the second Chernobyl, people there are still dying from radiation.
And in wartime they turned their narrow-eyed faces against us, they went for the Nazis rather than for our peaceful people.
And if America or anyone else attacks us, China will stand up for us, and Japan will help the enemy, they have always disliked us.
And also, judging by the level of development or comfort of life - of course Japan, but on this Eastern island more people will die from natural anomalies (tornadoes, floods, volcanic eruptions) than in China from hunger)

Answer from Elena[active]
I think that China has a larger population, the largest army, China has invented a lot of things, etc.

Answer from Larisa Savosina[guru]
What's better? ! Japan is the second, and China is the third superpower in the world after the United States. In terms of GDP, Japan is ahead of China, and in the production of ships, robots, cars, as well as in the level of literacy, it is far ahead of China. But China has the most millionaire cities (12) and is far ahead of Japan in terms of the number of citizens. In addition, Chinese civilization existed long before the emergence of Japan. Japanese writing, for example, consists of Chinese characters and syllabary.
To be honest, the question is not entirely clear!!!

Answer from Mikhail Smirnov[guru]
Russia is better, because it's us!

Answer from Kokh Alina[guru]
It’s interesting that when people learn to ask precise questions, it will be impossible to understand anything.
Better - for what? Or what? Where is it better to go as a tourist - China or Japan? Or where do people live better - in China or Japan?
In both options the answer is: Japan

Answer from Vladislav Ushkalov[guru]
China is better, why? They already forgot that there is a second Chernobyl, personally, I’m not a radiation freak)):-)

Answer from Mellisa[active]
It depends on what area.... if in household appliances, then Japan assembly is much better than China!

Answer from 3 answers[guru]

Japan is a highly developed state, one of the world leaders in many sectors of the economy and science. Life in the Land of the Rising Sun looks very attractive from the outside, and this is, in principle, true. Legal immigrants here are treated mostly tolerantly, but all visitors, including Russians, need to be mentally prepared for the fact that they will be perceived here exclusively as strangers.

Foreigners in Japan, attitude towards Russians

The current Japanese population is estimated at 127 million. The share of foreigners does not exceed 1.5%, mainly Koreans and Chinese. Russians also live in Japan, although the community can hardly be called impressive. According to rough estimates, the number of our former compatriots who have visas valid for three months or more is about eight thousand people. These are mainly scientists, students, civil servants (embassy and consulate employees), trade representatives, and their families. At least a third of the visitors are women who married Japanese. Russians are usually based in large cities (Tokyo, Kyoto). The diaspora is not growing very actively - by 200–300 people per year.

The attitude towards Russians can hardly be called too favorable, but this has nothing to do with antipathy towards the Russian Federation specifically. Anyone who is not Japanese from birth is considered an alien here for the rest of his life, even if he has official citizenship (to obtain which you will have to renounce your own) and children from a representative/representative of the local population. Moreover, in the event of a divorce, a foreigner who does not have a residence permit must leave the country within a month. Children and joint property remain with the Japanese parent.

Without sufficient knowledge of the local language, it is unrealistic to expect a normal attitude from others, even if you know English, Spanish and German combined well. This, of course, does not apply to tourists or people arriving on a short-term visa.

Without speaking Japanese to a decent level, it is very difficult to expect to get a job.

Official documents and signs are practically not duplicated either in English or in any other language. In general, it is simply not profitable for employers to deal with foreigners. It is also necessary to keep in mind that, not being able to hire a local one, the company’s management will primarily consider candidates of Asian origin. The exception is the scientific, educational and IT spheres. This is where the vast majority of Russians find work.

D. Sharovsky, 29 years old, manager, Tokyo:

When working in a Japanese team, it is important to realize that you are part of the team. The mistake of one is a common failure. Your perfect execution doesn't matter if the project as a whole is a failure. If you have fulfilled your scope, but your colleague has not yet arrived, it is considered indecent to leave. At first it really annoyed me, but if you want to have a normal relationship with them, you need to get used to it. Those who are too proactive are also not welcome.

It should be recognized that, despite all the good manners and politeness of the Japanese, discrimination (“sabetsu”) towards visitors is present here even at the official level. For example, the maximum earnings of a foreigner cannot exceed one and a half thousand dollars. Only certain high-ranking consular and diplomatic officials are allowed to receive more. Problems often arise when renting or buying a home. Many real estate agencies even refuse to deal with visitors. In any case, when concluding an agreement, you will need to meet a Japanese citizen who will agree to become a guarantor. Despite all this, Russian immigrants should not complain much about harassment. The attitude towards blacks, Koreans, Chinese and indigenous people (Ainu, Burakumin, Okinawans) is much worse.

Level and quality of life

Payment of utilities and rent is the largest expense item. It accounts for up to a quarter of the total family income, which on average reaches 35 thousand dollars a year. Of course, foreigners have more modest incomes. If you have plans to obtain citizenship, it makes sense to think about buying an apartment or house - this will become a serious argument in your favor when the migration service considers your application.

Comparison of Russia and Japan

By the way, an apartment in a big city costs about the same as a private home in the suburbs, and the area of ​​the latter will be twice as large. Prices are steep compared to Russian ones; for example, an apartment of 60 m² can cost from 450 thousand dollars. But, unlike the Russian Federation, local state mortgage programs offer humane conditions. Even loans are available at 1% per annum for a period of one hundred years.

Valery, 39 years old, works in IT, Kyoto:

Life in Japan can hardly be called cheap, but the salaries are consistent. As for the attitude of local residents, it is rather neutral towards Russians. In general, many Japanese have such concepts as “yoso”, “soto” and “uchi”. The first category includes strangers whom you see on the street or in transport. The attitude towards them is completely indifferent. But as soon as you, being a stranger, ask something, you immediately go into the “sotho” category. You can be 90% sure that they will try to help you, and they will do it as sincerely and with full dedication. If you find yourself in the “teach” group, it means that you have become a truly close person, practically a member of the family.

The high cost of gasoline, traffic jams and an acute shortage of parking are forcing many city residents to abandon their own cars. Moreover, the public transport system works almost perfectly. Metro, buses and trams go everywhere and strictly on schedule. Food prices are significantly higher than in Russia, but over the past year this gap has narrowed somewhat. A significant number of Russians spend at least half of their family budget on food purchases, while in the Land of the Rising Sun this usually spends no more than a fifth. The cost of household services (haircut, laundry, clothing repair, etc.) in most cases is not very different. When it comes to leisure, the Japanese spend much more on it. Lately the difference has become even more significant. The average bill in cafes and restaurants excluding drinks is lower than their Russian counterparts. Alcohol prices are comparable. Shopping is very popular among the population, but if in the Russian Federation lovers of this activity “attack” mainly clothing stores, then in Japan the main emphasis is on gadgets and modern technology.

Difficulties of immigration

Obtaining a residence permit in Japan is quite difficult, but quite possible. To qualify for this status, you must be a holder of one of the following long-term visa categories:

• working;
• diplomatic;
• family;
• general;
• official.

Work visas can be granted to skilled professionals, medical professionals, scientists, teachers, lawyers, investors and artists. Employees of embassies and consulates come under the diplomatic quota. Family visa is issued to spouses and children of Japanese citizens/permanent residents. In general, students and interns come, in official terms - officials. To obtain any of these documents, you will need to have a guarantor, which is an official organization, a Japanese citizen or a foreigner with resident status. Registration is carried out according to the following scheme. The inviting party (the guarantor can also act in this capacity) sends original documents, the list of which is determined by the type of visa. The applicant takes them to the Japanese embassy or consulate along with a photocopy of his passport and two completed forms with photographs. The application review period takes five working days. In some cases, additional documents may be required.

Receiving a visa does not mean that for the period of its validity the Japanese state will give you complete freedom of action within the framework of local legislation and traditions. According to the latest requirements, all foreign citizens are required to inform the authorities about a change in their place of work, residence address, and even social status. This must be done within two weeks, otherwise a large fine will be issued (about 2 thousand dollars). Malicious violators can easily be deprived of their visa. It’s not easy for people who marry a Japanese citizen. As part of the fight against fictitious registrations, inspections are periodically carried out, many of which are openly provocative in nature. There is even a law providing for the cancellation of a visa if evidence is presented that the spouses have been abstaining from intimacy for six months.

Marina, 31 years old, housewife, Osaka:

I would advise that before marrying a Japanese man, ask if he is the eldest son in the family. If this is the case, then you will most likely have to live with his parents. A friend of mine had a similar situation. For a long time they lived together with their mother-in-law, who turned out to be a very difficult person. I constantly suspected that my friend was with her son solely for the sake of obtaining citizenship. The husband opposed his wife in any conflict so as not to upset the parent. She was then kept from getting a divorce by her child, who by law would have had to be left behind. And as soon as they began to live separately, the situation immediately returned to normal. The Japanese, in general, are morally very dependent on their parents, and this must be taken into account.

Japan or China: where is better to live, pros and cons

The majority of Russians living in Japan on a permanent or temporary basis are from the Far East. This is not surprising, given the geographical proximity of the regions. China is also very popular among our fellow citizens. Let's try to appreciate how different life is in these neighboring Asian countries. By the way, it is worth noting that despite very difficult political relations, Japan is the main investor and trading partner of the PRC. As mentioned above, most Russians go to the Land of the Rising Sun to work in the scientific, educational and IT fields. Holders of other specialties often have to face outright discrimination when applying for work. The presence of a salary cap cannot be called a positive factor either. In terms of employment, China is much more promising. Not only highly qualified specialists, but also mid-level professionals are in great demand there. In general, it is much easier for a foreigner to find a well-paid job in China, as well as to establish friendly relations with the local population. If we talk about quality of life, then Japan is certainly still ahead. This concerns both social standards and infrastructure, as well as the environment. It is no secret that due to powerful industrialization, the level of air pollution in China is close to critical - this is a huge disadvantage. On the other hand, the inhabitants of the country of samurai also often suffer from natural disasters.

Video: how the Japanese treat Russians

Japan is a wonderful place where well-mannered and friendly people live comfortably. The main problem is that a significant part of them are not too fond of foreigners who have decided to settle here thoroughly. There is no need to be afraid of any open manifestations of xenophobia - the local population is quite tolerant. You just need to get used to the idea that you will always be a stranger here. This is how Japanese society works.

Japan and China are two Eastern countries that are sworn “friends” to each other. They have made an invaluable contribution to world culture and are a large part of the world economy. Inscriptions on goods " Made in China" And " Made in Japan" are some of the most common, especially the first one.
Japan
Japan, 日本 (Nihon Koku) is a country located on several islands in East Asia and the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese archipelago consists of 6,852 islands. The four largest islands - Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku - make up 97% of the total area. Population over 126 million people. Japan also has one of the highest life expectancies, at 82.12 years in 2009.
In Japanese, the name of the country is something like "Nippon", which translates to "source/homeland of the Sun", and the name is often translated as "Land of the Rising Sun". This is the symbol that is depicted on the flag. The history of Japan goes back far into Antiquity, but is younger than China.
The first contact with Western countries occurred in 1543, when Portuguese sailors reached the shores of Japan. In the 19th century, the country was forced to emerge from isolation, and gradually began to gain power, and along with this, appetites grew. In the 20th century, Japan entered into an alliance with Nazi Germany. It ended in 1945, after a powerful offensive by the Soviet Army and after the United States used nuclear weapons. On September 2, 1945, the Act of Unconditional Surrender was signed. The country was occupied by Allied troops; military bases are still there today. It can be said that Japan is under complete control of the United States.
After its defeat in World War II, Japan achieved record economic growth that lasted four decades and averaged 10% annually. Prolonged growth in the late 1980s led to investors becoming overly optimistic about the Japanese economy, leading to economic bubbles in the stock and real estate markets. In 1991, economic growth gave way to a crisis, from which the country managed to emerge only in 2000.
The relationship between Japan and Russia is quite complex; the first clashes took place back in the 17th century. At the beginning of the 20th century there was the Russo-Japanese War, due to difficulties within the country (revolution of 1905), the Russian Empire was forced to admit defeat. Then there were clashes with the Soviet country on Lake Khasan and Khalkhin Gol, which ended in the defeat of Japan. As already written above, Japan was completely defeated during World War II. Nevertheless, for some reason, the Japanese leadership does not agree with the results of the end of the Second World War and lays claim to Russian territory, namely the Kuril Islands. Naturally, Russia is not going to give anything to Japan. In general, the attitude of the Japanese towards Russians is approximately the same as towards other nationalities.
Let us list the main associations that arise when mentioning the word “Japan”:

• Rising Sun
• Samurai
• Harakiri (seppuku)
• Banzai
• Haiku
• Anime (hentai)
• Toyota
• And much more…

China
China, People's Republic of China, 中華人民共和國 (Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo) is the largest state in East Asia. The largest country in the world by population, population more than 1.35 billion people. It has the world's largest army in terms of military personnel and nuclear weapons. Since December 2014, it has been the first economy in the world in terms of GDP. China is a world leader in the production of most types of industrial products, including the production of automobiles and consumer demand for them. It bears the unspoken title of “World Factory”.
China is one of the oldest countries in the world; written sources cover a period of at least 3,500 years. True, over such a long period the country often disintegrated, then reunited again, falling under the dependence of other countries, for example, in the 12-13 centuries it was captured by the troops of Genghis Khan. China has always been a densely populated country, and the invaders simply assimilated into Chinese culture.
At the beginning of the 20th century, China almost collapsed, Mongolia was annexed, Tibet was captured by Britain, and the country was rocked by revolutions. Japan also did not lag behind and gradually occupied the territory of China, there was a continuous war between numerous factions.
The civil war ended only in 1949, the Communist Party of China won, and at the same time the People's Republic of China, led by Mao Zedong, was proclaimed.
At the end of the 80s, the Chinese leadership realized the need for reforms, but they had before their eyes the sad experience of the USSR, where the reforms were destructive and the Chinese chose a different tactic - slow, gradual development, and this bore fruit; today the Chinese economy has become the most largest in the world and continues to grow, society is becoming more and more democratic and the country is gradually turning into one of the poles of world politics.
The relationship between Russia and China was very diverse, there were conflicts and alliances. There has never been a direct war. In the 17th century, the first clashes took place, and then the border between the two countries was drawn. In the 19th century, China became a semi-colonial country, its territories were used by Britain, France, the USA, Germany, Japan, and Russia. After World War II in 1949-1956, with the help of the USSR, basic industries were created, industry was nationalized and agriculture was collectivized, and massive socialist construction was launched. Soviet specialists helped in the construction of factories and in the development of technology. The Chinese remember this; many industrial centers have monuments testifying to this. Then there was a cooling, right up to border conflicts, when the Russians were forced to use multiple launch rocket systems. Subsequently, the positions of Russia and China became closer and closer, today the countries cooperate closely, although this alliance arose thanks to Western countries, although they did not want it.
There are fears that the Chinese may populate the Russian Far East and Siberia and subsequently deprive the Russian Federation of these territories. Such a possibility does exist, provided that Russia weakens. To be fair, it must be said that if this happens, then many will want to chop off a piece of Russian territory. Historically, our country is forced to always be combat-ready, to have a strong government capable of quickly making and implementing decisions. At the moment, there is no risk that densely populated China could take away the sparsely populated territory of Russia; it is impossible to predict the further course of developments, but history shows what happened to those who wanted to expand the territory at our expense.
In general, the attitude of the Chinese towards Russians is more positive than that of the Japanese. Our culture and its representatives are quite popular.
Let us list the main associations that arise when mentioning the word “China”:

• The Dragon
• Panda
• Martial arts
• Eastern horoscope
• The great Wall of China
• Consumer goods
• And much more….