Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - Printable Version

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Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - Tobberoth - 2009-08-27

Pretty much every Japanese person I met in Japan claimed to know at least 6000 kanji. Not all of them were even college graduates.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - Evil_Dragon - 2009-08-27

andrewlandry Wrote:As I commented on his video, Japan probably wouldn't have the top 5 newspapers in circulation if people couldn't read them.

And if I may add... as far as I can see, there's not a single tabloid among them.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - hknamida - 2009-08-27

andrewlandry Wrote:This guy is... not so bright.

As I commented on his video, Japan probably wouldn't have the top 5 newspapers in circulation if people couldn't read them.

http://www.newspapers24.com/largest-newspapers.html

Maybe they just look at the pretty pictures.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - LazyNomad - 2009-08-27

Tobberoth Wrote:Pretty much every Japanese person I met in Japan claimed to know at least 6000 kanji. Not all of them were even college graduates.

Where did you met so many Kanken 1 kyuu graduates?

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - ruiner - 2009-08-27

Have you seen his other videos?? This guy knows a lot about Japan! + So cool with the cigarettes and red hair dye. ;p

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - ropsta - 2009-08-27

I'm shocked by some of the comments in this thread here. Frankly, I expected that you all would know better. These insults just show what little understanding you all have of the current situation in Japan. That's understandable because most of you don't actually live there. Those of you who do actually live there, tend to surround yourselves with like-minded people.

Now, if you were to say ask a random guy in Osaka the meaning of random kanji, if he looked well-off enough, financially, he would be able to answer the questions with a high degree of success. However, if you were to search the alleys for a poor retarded hobo, you'd find that he is unable to provide a sufficient answer to the question.

Here we have illustrated a direct correlation between poverty and education.

Is this sample any, in any form, representative of the Japanese population in its entirety?

The answer is... hell no.

However, I did personally befriend this poor retarded hobo. And I can tell you, his friends.... are just as dumb as he is.

This is my experience. What yours @_@

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - ruiner - 2009-08-27

ropsta Wrote:I'm shocked by some of the comments in this thread here. Frankly, I expected that you all would know better. These insults just show what little understanding you all have of the current situation in Japan. That's understandable because most of you don't actually live there. Those of you who do actually live there, tend to surround yourselves with like-minded people.

Now, if you were to say ask a random guy in Osaka the meaning of random kanji, if he looked well-off enough, financially, he would be able to answer the questions with a high degree of success. However, if you were to search the alleys for a poor retarded hobo, you'd find that he is unable to provide a sufficient answer to the question.

Here we have illustrated a direct correlation between poverty and education.

Is this sample any, in any form, representative of the Japanese population in its entirety?

The answer is... hell no.

However, I did personally befriend this poor retarded hobo. And I can tell you, his friends.... are just as dumb as he is.

This is my experience. What yours @_@

hehe, I wonder if this guy has even been to Japan or met a Japanese person. His 'facts about Japan' video seems to be an oversimplified/misread/deliberately twisted mishmash of posts from various Japanese blogs and Wikipedia. I even saw him perpetuating a myth from some old WaiWai article.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - Evil_Dragon - 2009-08-27

ropsta Wrote:However, if you were to search the alleys for a poor retarded hobo, you'd find that he is unable to provide a sufficient answer to the question.

I'm pretty confident the hobo could read your average Kanji compound like 麒麟 without any problems. Smile

Does this mean his Kanji level is over 9000? Hell yes!!

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - ropsta - 2009-08-27

Evil_Dragon Wrote:
ropsta Wrote:However, if you were to search the alleys for a poor retarded hobo, you'd find that he is unable to provide a sufficient answer to the question.
I'm pretty confident the hobo could read your average Kanji compound like 麒麟 without any problems. Does this mean his Kanji level is over 9000? Hell yes!!

Keyword... retarded Wink

. Plus, my experience might be a little bit different from yours.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - Tobberoth - 2009-08-27

LazyNomad Wrote:
Tobberoth Wrote:Pretty much every Japanese person I met in Japan claimed to know at least 6000 kanji. Not all of them were even college graduates.
Where did you met so many Kanken 1 kyuu graduates?

There's no way they could pass Kanken 1kyuu. Remember, knowing kanji is the least of your problems at such a high kanken level. You need to know etymology, seal script etc to pass 1kyuu.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - bodhisamaya - 2009-08-28

andrewlandry Wrote:This guy is... not so bright.

As I commented on his video, Japan probably wouldn't have the top 5 newspapers in circulation if people couldn't read them.

http://www.newspapers24.com/largest-newspapers.html

Your comment has been deleted along with the one I left this morning. He seems to be removing any opinion that doesn't agree with his.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - Draak - 2009-08-28

He has got a PHD in BS. Total BS

I commented on his video but he deleted it. I'm sure he does allot of this.

First of all he claims to be European. Danish? Yet his accent is flawless American/Canadian English? huh? Danes tend to have a Germanic accent all around. Myself im from Poland, i have a general idea of european intonations. This does not add up.

Second of all. A ex Gf "fiance" that "died" I don't buy it. Seems like totaly validation to me. Any sane person who had a tragedy happen to him like that would never get on youtube and flaunt it like:

"I want special consideration, cause ive had so much pain" total emo.

Hurry up and cut yourself already.

Pretty sure his GF dumped his @ss cause hes crazy. And now he just made up some drama story to keep himself interested. Ive seen this happen to my roomate, so yea its plausible.

Some people just love to BS instead of acquiring value. Totaly fits the profile.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - meolox - 2009-08-28

The guys an idiot, he deleted my initial comment which was in no way rude nor mentioned his ex.

I've left a second telling him he's wrong, no doubt that'll be deleted too.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - yukamina - 2009-08-28

Draak Wrote:Yet his accent is flawless American/Canadian English? huh?

Well that's definitely not how it sounds to me.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - bodhisamaya - 2009-08-28

This guy gave a good response to Tokyo Zeplin's insanity

Go to

and flag Tokyo Zeplin (and give him one star). He is perpetuating myths that scare new Kanji students and is preventing anyone who wants to point this out by blocking them.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - ruiner - 2009-08-28

bodhisamaya Wrote:This guy gave a good response to that guy's insanity

hehe, Funny where he points out the oddness of referring to this 'ex'--is he calling his 'soon to be wife who committed suicide' his 'ex' and using her as an example in a weird Internet rambling video? Or is he putting that bit about her in his profile and yet has moved on to date and break up with someone else and also use this new ex as an example in his 'kanji are hard' video?

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - masaman - 2009-08-28

When does he learn your girlfriend's "I don't know" means "I don't bloody care what you are talking about. Speak something more interesting"?

edit:
I had no idea how many Kanji I knew so I browsed 200 or so random 常用漢字. I didn't have single Kanji that I didn't know. Granted, being a bookworm I probably know more Kanji than average Japanese people, but still, 500? 4th graders know that much.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - CKBrown1000 - 2009-08-28

masaman Wrote:When does he learn your girlfriend's "I don't know" means "I don't bloody care what you are talking about. Speak something more interesting"?

Damn right. Maybe she didn't speak good English, so he misunderstood what she was saying.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - ropsta - 2009-08-28

masaman Wrote:When does he learn your girlfriend's "I don't know" means "I don't bloody care what you are talking about. Speak something more interesting"?

edit:
I had no idea how many Kanji I knew so I browsed 200 or so random 常用漢字. I didn't have single Kanji that I didn't know. Granted, being a bookworm I probably know more Kanji than average Japanese people, but still, 500? 4th graders know that much.

Dude, this is only because you are one of the privileged. The fact that you are in Colorado right now clearly demonstrates that you have money. But for those guy who aren't as fortunate as you, this is a harsh reality.

@andrewlandry

Newspapers cost $$$. Get it. The rich guys just buy extra to use a floor covering for they're pet tigers. You know those thing crap - a lot!

Also, I really don't think you guy should keep commenting on his girlfriend like that. I'm sure that's the only reason he'd do such a thing. Stop it! It's not cool -at - all.

bodhisamaya Wrote:This guy gave a good response to Tokyo Zeplin's insanity

Common man! That's a walking advertisement there.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - sup3rbon - 2009-08-28

Obvious troll is obvious!

Also he deleted my comment to, and all I said about his girlfriend was that she was being modest, and clearly knew more than 500 because she was able to get into university. Lame.

And gimmeabreakman's response was great, as are most of his videos.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - ropsta - 2009-08-28

sup3rbon Wrote:Obvious troll is obvious!

Also he deleted my comment to, and all I said about his girlfriend was that she was being modest, and clearly knew more than 500 because she was able to get into university. Lame.

And gimmeabreakman's response was great, as are most of his videos.

Wow. Because when someone has a different opinion from the rest, he's obviously trolling. :roll eyes:

Now I'm starting wish "I" could delete posts here.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - ruiner - 2009-08-28

ropsta Wrote:
sup3rbon Wrote:Obvious troll is obvious!

Also he deleted my comment to, and all I said about his girlfriend was that she was being modest, and clearly knew more than 500 because she was able to get into university. Lame.

And gimmeabreakman's response was great, as are most of his videos.
Wow. Because when someone has a different opinion from the rest, he's obviously trolling. :roll eyes:

Now I'm starting wish "I" could delete posts here.

What's funny is that I actually agree with the idea that literacy isn't as cut and dry as '99%' (it denotes the ability to read and write simple everyday statements) and of course there's a lot of sociocultural factors involved in language education and use--and we know, Japan isn't great about addressing its inequality issues in public discourse... it's just that he's so foolish and extreme in his claims. I might even describe him as douche-like.

Actually because of his video I played off my annoyance for energy and did some research, whereby I stumbled across an interesting new book called Reading Japan Cool: Patterns of Manga Literacy and Discourse (2009). The chapters on kanji use are surprisingly nuanced and contemporary--some of the text reflects the articles we've discussed here at RevTK in the past regarding Japanese critics on the (alleged) decline of literacy in relation to mobile culture.

http://books.google.com/books?id=iEeHTogL6uUC&pg=PP1&dq=reading+japan+cool

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - bodhisamaya - 2009-08-28

ropsta Wrote:Wow. Because when someone has a different opinion from the rest, he's obviously trolling. :roll eyes:

Now I'm starting wish "I" could delete posts here.

It's not just an opinion. It's downright insulting. To claim Japanese university students don't even know 500 kanji? It would be equivalent to an Asian guy claiming Americans can't multiply numbers beyond 3 on the 九九 table without a calculator (assuming he is not in Mississippi).

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - masaman - 2009-08-28

ropsta Wrote:
masaman Wrote:When does he learn your girlfriend's "I don't know" means "I don't bloody care what you are talking about. Speak something more interesting"?

edit:
I had no idea how many Kanji I knew so I browsed 200 or so random 常用漢字. I didn't have single Kanji that I didn't know. Granted, being a bookworm I probably know more Kanji than average Japanese people, but still, 500? 4th graders know that much.
Dude, this is only because you are one of the privileged. The fact that you are in Colorado right now clearly demonstrates that you have money. But for those guy who aren't as fortunate as you, this is a harsh reality.

I don't feel like I'm privileged when I'm fixing my couch with duct tape but OK, let's say I'm privileged 'cause that makes me feel good. Cool

The question is, how un-privileged Japanese natives need to be to only know 500 Kanji? At the end of 3rd grade, pupils are taught about 500 Kanji. I have a list of vocabulary words for American grade school kids, and here are some from the list for 4th graders.

ability, abnormal, abuse, accelerate, accept, acceptance, accident, accidental, accomplish, account, accurate, acquaintance, action, active, activity, addend, adequate, adjacent, adjust, admire

You have to be reeeally unprivileged to not know most of these words, don't you think?

edit:
And come on. Why do business owners put signs that are not understood? They are trying to attract people. Not repel them.

Japanese people are stressed because they can only read 500 Kanji. - bodhisamaya - 2009-08-28

masaman Wrote:The question is, how un-privileged Japanese natives need to be to only know 500 Kanji? At the end of 3rd grade, pupils are taught about 500 Kanji. I have a list of vocabulary words for American grade school kids, and here are some from the list for 4th graders.

ability, abnormal, abuse, accelerate, accept, acceptance, accident, accidental, accomplish, account, accurate, acquaintance, action, active, activity, addend, adequate, adjacent, adjust, admire

You have to be reeeally unprivileged to not know most of these words, don't you think?

Haha. I can't type a third of those words without spell-check. What is addend?
Yep, I grew up in Arkansas Rolleyes