Comments on: Japan Enveloped by Huge Cloud! http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/ A fresh look at Japan, by gaijins for gaijins! Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:21:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Susan http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-80476 Susan Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:13:44 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-80476 I love it! It is so funny, and so true. Everything from a missed bus to death in the family could be "taihen". Ahh, brings back memories... I love it! It is so funny, and so true. Everything from a missed bus to death in the family could be “taihen”. Ahh, brings back memories…

]]> By: 0rion http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-80418 0rion Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:33:26 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-80418 Top notch satire! Loved the pictures that went with the article, as well. :) "Taihen" has definitely got to be one of the most overused words in the entire Japanese language. Top notch satire! Loved the pictures that went with the article, as well. :)

“Taihen” has definitely got to be one of the most overused words in the entire Japanese language.

]]> By: Bill http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-46487 Bill Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:57:02 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-46487 I just found your site and spent about 2hr internetting the day away. Enjoyed this article, good humor. I so know what you mean about the taihen thing! I just found your site and spent about 2hr internetting the day away. Enjoyed this article, good humor. I so know what you mean about the taihen thing!

]]> By: Ao http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-8257 Ao Thu, 10 May 2007 17:38:26 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-8257 One thing that kind of blew my mind when I was back in Japan was how every single person in my office said the exact same thing on September 11th (I guess it was the 12th in Japan). I walk into the office. "アメリカは大変ですね" Yeah, pretty taihen. A few seconds later, "大変ですね" After the 10th taihen, it started to get creepy. Did everyone in Japan hold an emergency meeting and decide what they should say to Americans about the "Simultaneous multiple occurrence terrorism incident"? Now I know better... it was the taihen cloud all along! One thing that kind of blew my mind when I was back in Japan was how every single person in my office said the exact same thing on September 11th (I guess it was the 12th in Japan). I walk into the office.

“アメリカは大変ですね”

Yeah, pretty taihen. A few seconds later,

“大変ですね”

After the 10th taihen, it started to get creepy. Did everyone in Japan hold an emergency meeting and decide what they should say to Americans about the “Simultaneous multiple occurrence terrorism incident”?

Now I know better… it was the taihen cloud all along!

]]> By: taxed-man http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-8225 taxed-man Thu, 10 May 2007 13:40:14 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-8225 Everyday I see a specific example of the Taihen Cloud: In Japan there is an "Elevator taihen-cloud." Many people are in a rush to get where they are going, never more so in a crowded elevator. Japanese people try to show their consideration to others. In elevators they do this by conducting an amazing contortionist effort. As the Japanese person leaves the elevator, he recognizes that he has maliciously stopped the elevator midway, making everyone else in the elevator wait, while he gets out. Upon this realization he feels there is only one way he can ever be forgiven. Thats when the contortionist act begins. The left foot exits the elevator, the right hand reaches to the left. As his body-proper leaves the elevator his arm remains inside, mystically reaching--and finding--the "close door" button (standard button in Japan elevators). Thus, feeling redeemed and thinking his taihen-cloud has lightened somewhat, he removes his arm from the close button and rushes off to his office, heading to other awaiting taihen-clouds. Granted, when his hand finds the close button the door does begin to close until, of course, the door-sensor picks up movement and the door opens again. Yes, little does he know, the prat's arm, as leaving the elevator has defeated his whole time-saving exercise and taihen-cloud gratification. Meanwhile, the gaijins waiting in the elevator roll their eyes... This is when a group of people in an elevator. When the door opens at a floor mid-way up, the person on his way out, after stepping out of the elevator, has this taihen feeling that he must press the "close door" button in supposed consideration for his fellow elevator riders. What he forgets in his taihen-ness is that firstly there are a number of people already in the elevator trying to get their fingers on that damn close door button so they can get upstairs 0.75 seconds quicker, and also that there is an infrared sensor being broken by his arm, which means that he cant actually close the door anyway! Everyday I see a specific example of the Taihen Cloud:

In Japan there is an “Elevator taihen-cloud.” Many people are in a rush to get where they are going, never more so in a crowded elevator. Japanese people try to show their consideration to others. In elevators they do this by conducting an amazing contortionist effort. As the Japanese person leaves the elevator, he recognizes that he has maliciously stopped the elevator midway, making everyone else in the elevator wait, while he gets out. Upon this realization he feels there is only one way he can ever be forgiven. Thats when the contortionist act begins. The left foot exits the elevator, the right hand reaches to the left. As his body-proper leaves the elevator his arm remains inside, mystically reaching–and finding–the “close door” button (standard button in Japan elevators). Thus, feeling redeemed and thinking his taihen-cloud has lightened somewhat, he removes his arm from the close button and rushes off to his office, heading to other awaiting taihen-clouds. Granted, when his hand finds the close button the door does begin to close until, of course, the door-sensor picks up movement and the door opens again. Yes, little does he know, the prat’s arm, as leaving the elevator has defeated his whole time-saving exercise and taihen-cloud gratification. Meanwhile, the gaijins waiting in the elevator roll their eyes…

This is when a group of people in an elevator. When the door opens at a floor mid-way up, the person on his way out, after stepping out of the elevator, has this taihen feeling that he must press the “close door” button in supposed consideration for his fellow elevator riders. What he forgets in his taihen-ness is that firstly there are a number of people already in the elevator trying to get their fingers on that damn close door button so they can get upstairs 0.75 seconds quicker, and also that there is an infrared sensor being broken by his arm, which means that he cant actually close the door anyway!

]]> By: fuckedgaijin http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-334 fuckedgaijin Tue, 05 Dec 2006 13:20:54 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-334 What is it about Japan. All gaijins constantly complain about it, and why they shouldn't be here and that they are planning to go home (some day..). But, whilst saying so, they are looking into housing loans, having babies, looking for which junior school to enrol their kids in. Even though we are covered by the taihen cload at all times, there is a subterranean force that draws us back, no matter how we draw up escape plans. I feel like I am on and island like in the TV series "lost". If you watch it, you'll know what I mean.. What is it about Japan. All gaijins constantly complain about it, and why they shouldn’t be here and that they are planning to go home (some day..). But, whilst saying so, they are looking into housing loans, having babies, looking for which junior school to enrol their kids in. Even though we are covered by the taihen cload at all times, there is a subterranean force that draws us back, no matter how we draw up escape plans. I feel like I am on and island like in the TV series “lost”. If you watch it, you’ll know what I mean..

]]> By: Daniel http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-319 Daniel Wed, 29 Nov 2006 07:34:39 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-319 After 5 years out of Japan, my wife has finally purged the last remnants of the Taihen Cloud Effect. She often says "no worries mate" in an affected aussie accent and the japanese phrase "nantoka naru" (roughly: "something will work out" or "she'll be right mate") But some weird stroke of fate, I now say "dou shiyou" much more often >_ After 5 years out of Japan, my wife has finally purged the last remnants of the Taihen Cloud Effect. She often says “no worries mate” in an affected aussie accent and the japanese phrase “nantoka naru” (roughly: “something will work out” or “she’ll be right mate”)

But some weird stroke of fate, I now say “dou shiyou” much more often >_

]]> By: Overoften http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-316 Overoften Tue, 28 Nov 2006 23:14:02 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/japan-culture/japan-enveloped-by-huge-cloud/#comment-316 :) Great bit of cultural insight! Top job. :)
Great bit of cultural insight! Top job.

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