Is japan anything like the manga and anime I read and watch??

Question

in all aspects (like how are the school systems and the interactions between people)

Answer 1

Not really.

Manga, Animes, J-dramas are all made for entertaiment purposes, and are a little exaggerated.

But when it comes to school systems and customs, it's pretty much the same.

Answer 2

No. Only a few aspects of Japan are anything like manga or anime. Maybe the high school system is similar, but manga makes Japanese schools seem ideal when they are very difficult. Most Japanese children attend cram schools in a desperate attempt to pass very difficult entrance exams to get into college.

Sadly, so many Americans think that Japan is a wonderland that is exactly like an anime or a manga, and that is just not the case.

Firstly, Japanese people are not always very welcoming to foreigners. They are a very homogeneous society (98.6% of the population is native, and only a portion of .6% encompasses foreigners living there from America. My source on this was CIA Factbook.), and some can be very racist towards non-Japanese. If you plan to go there for a long period of time, you will always be looked at as a foreigner.

Japanese lifestyle is as wonderful as it is because everyone in Japan works HARD. The same can be said about most Asian countries, but in Japan, you must have a very strong work ethic. You will live in a very small space (because Japan is only slightly smaller than the size of California) and if you get a job there, you will probably work long, stressful hours.

Having said that, Japan is an amazing place. Its just not for everyone, and not for a lot of people who only want to go there after watching lots of anime and manga. What I would do if you are interested about taking a trip is to learn some of the language and learn about the culture. Japanese people are MUCH more friendly and accepting of foreigners that know Japanese and don't act completely "American."

Check out Japanese music (traditional and modern), Japanese traditions (tea ceremonies, ikebana, etc.). Learn about as much of that stuff as you can, and you will be much better prepared.If you only like a few aspects of Japan and its culture, you may not like it enough to commit at a higher level.

I'm not trying to scare you out of your interest, but I just want you to know what you might expect because I was in a similar situation. I am still learning everyday, and it will take a long time, but if you really love it, it will not seem arduous. Take a few minutes everyday to study Japanese, and try to possibly arrange a homestay with a Japanese family.

Hope this helps!