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There used to be a post on Funny Japanese pranks here but I dont know what happened. It disappeared!

A "say positive" campaign

I didnt know this lab had a "don't say negative" campaign. For example, don't say "atsui" (hot) because summer is understandably hot; or you get penalized. Don't say "tsukareta" (I am tired) and you will be penalized as well. It is our moral duty to work and be tired at the end of the day.

Although the penalty is very cheap (only 10 yen), the act of paying calls to mind the negative thing you have just said---and a good opportunity to erase the negative thought and replace it with a positive one. Good campaign ne? I wish I had known it from the start (they exempted me for being a foreigner). I would have gladly joined in and perhaps, I could have paid the highest. Yes, that is how negative a thinker I have become--maybe due to the society and culture in general. ANyhow,I like the campaign..I love idea. I wish to start something like this with myself and the money generated will be donated to the church, for instance.

This campaign only reflects another facet of the Japanese' attitude. Japanese people are very resilient people, hardly complaining, and keep all the troubles to themselves. They don't show their bad feelings to others. They would still smile at you despite feeling irritated (by you). If they are sick, they dont complain nor talk about it. They just go about their daily task as if every thing is all right when in fact deep inside they are nursing a pain, a headache, tiredness, some irritations, whatever. I feel I am the odd one out here because when I am happy everyone knows about it. When I am sad, they would also know about it. I am very transparent..What they see in me is what they get. But lately, Japs especially the younger generations have become expressive of what they feel--maybe due to external influence of just plain "evolution". Perhaps the prof didn't like hearing minor complains, he instituted this campaign.

And mind you, they dont wait to be reminded by others to pay the penalty once they said something wrong--even if the only witness is no one but himself. I also don't notice here people reprimanding each other for saying bad things. If by some accident somebody complained "it is hot", others would jsut look at him or ignore him. BUt the good thing is the offender pays without having to be reminded..He takes the initiative to pay. Nice, no?