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Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Asli Akalin

“Please Don’t Romanticize Japan”: Person Living In Tokyo Exposes The Dark Aspects Of Japanese Culture

Article created by: Justinas Keturka
If you grew up on Miyazaki films like I did, there’s a good chance you have an idealized image of Japan in your mind. The beautiful scenery and magical worlds he depicted in Spirited Away,
My Neighbor Totoro , Howl’s Moving Castle , Kiki’s Delivery Service , Castle in the Sky and many more movies made me believe that Japan has a beautiful, whimsical feeling that nowhere else in the world could ever emulate (and all of those films aren't even set in Japan!).

Just like anywhere else in the world, though, Japan might not be exactly what you would expect from seeing films and the media. Yes, its cities are much cleaner than the metropolitan areas in many other countries, and the nature is absolutely stunning. But as one student studying abroad in Tokyo has come to find out, nowhere in the world is perfect, including Japan.

Below, you’ll find explanations of some of the darker parts of Japanese culture that TikToker Ashley in Japan has been sharing with her viewers. Be sure to upvote any of the information that surprises you or that you have observed in Japan as well, and feel free to share your thoughts on this topic in the comments. If you are from Japan, do you agree with Ashley’s observations? And if you live in Japan or have ever been there before, we would love to hear what your favorite parts of the beautiful island nation are as well. Then if you’re interested in checking out a few more Bored Panda articles highlighting all of the unique qualities of Japan, you can find those right here, here and here!   

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