A good culture reinforces good virtues. And it shows in the behavior of the citizens. Good virtues like modesty, moderation, cleanliness, hard-work, and wholesomeness. Politeness is a huge deal in Japan. People bow and smile to one another. And whoever doesn't will stick out like a sore thumb. Cleanliness is a huge deal in Japan. The streets are super and clean, and so are the interior of their houses. Cleanliness and politeness are just super ingrained in their culture. Japan is a good example of a high civilization that looks like a high civilization.
America reinforces excess, edginess, trashiness, silliness, laziness, vulgarity, and violence. If you look at American media, it makes perfect sense. Hip-hop and rock music is full of bragging. Music subject matter includes swearing, partying, being rich, acting silly, addressing haters, and just living a wild hedonistic lifestyle. Drake, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Miley Cyrus, Nirvana. You take a walk in the streets and see people flaunt the most ridiculous looking outfits. Hollywood is full of violence and torture. Hostel, Saw, Halloween, Final Destination, Requiem for a Dream, Joker. Violence is glorified. It gets celebrated when an upcoming movie is announced to be rated R. You look at the 7 deadly sins and they're all glorified in American media. It's no surprise that America has by far the highest count of serial killers in the world. And it's no surprise that guns are legal in America. It's no surprise that Americans are the fattest among first world countries.
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Just so we're clear, I love the art of Hokusai, the novels of Murakami and Ishiguro, the Flower Travellin' Band, YMO, nearly all Japanese food, Buddhism and Japanese philosophy, the films of Kurosawa and of course Yoko, as well as a whole host of other things about Japan including Manga.
I just don't like Jpop. Because ever song I've heard sounds like an X Factor winner or a bad boy/girl band.
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