是什么让日本与众不同？

Assistant：
Japan is different in many ways that make it a unique and fascinating country. Some of the factors that contribute to Japan's distinctiveness include its rich and ancient culture, including traditional arts such as tea ceremonies, calligraphy, and ikebana (flower arranging). Japan also has a strong emphasis on politeness and respect in social interactions, as well as a deep-seated sense of community and group harmony.
In addition, Japan is known for its technological innovation and pop culture influence, with advancements in robotics, electronics, and video gaming. The country's unique blend of modernity and tradition is also evident in its architecture, fashion, and cuisine.
Geographically, Japan is an archipelago made up of four main islands and numerous smaller ones, which gives it a diverse natural landscape and climate. The country is also prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons, which have influenced its approach to disaster preparedness and resilience.
Overall, Japan's combination of ancient traditions, modern innovations, and natural beauty sets it apart and makes it a truly distinctive nation.

日本在许多方面都与众不同，这使它成为一个独特而迷人的国家。形成日本特色的一些因素包括其丰富而古老的文化，包括茶道、书法和插花等传统艺术。日本在社会交往中也非常强调礼貌和尊重，以及根深蒂固的社区意识和群体和谐。
此外，日本以其技术创新和流行文化的影响力而闻名，在机器人、电子、视频和游戏方面取得了进步。这个国家独特的现代与传统的融合也体现在它的建筑、时尚和美食上。
在地理上，日本是一个群岛，由四个主要岛屿和许多较小的岛屿组成，这使它具有多样化的自然景观和气候。该国还容易遭受地震和台风等自然灾害，这影响了其备灾和抗灾能力。
总的来说，日本结合了古老的传统、现代的创新和自然美景，使它成为一个真正与众不同的国家。

Takeo Sawai：
I think we are the same as everybody else.
We are a bit obsessed with hygiene, think other people first before yourself in order to live comfortably, keep the rules, do your assigned job properly, stick to manuals, do as other people do because the most of the time it would be safer to follow others and above all, you do not stick out from the crowds otherwise you would be hammered out, try not to speak out what you really think, keep it in your mind.
That’s probably why we have a functional transport system, good service, non-chaotic society, everybody happy ever after.
Occasionally, people commit suicide but that’s OK, better than killing others before killing oneself.
Other than that, we are the same as you!

我想我们和其他人一样。
我们有点过于注重卫生，为了生活舒适，先考虑别人，再考虑自己。遵守规则，正确地完成分配给你的工作，遵守手册，和别人一样做，因为大多数时候跟随别人会更安全，最重要的是，你不能从人群中脱颖而出，否则你会被淘汰，尽量不要说出你真正的想法，把它记在心里。
这可能就是为什么我们有一个功能齐全的交通系统，良好的服务，不混乱的社会，每个人因此幸福的原因。
偶尔会有人自杀，但这没关系，总比先杀了别人再自杀好。
除此之外，我们和你们一样!

Ansh：
The 3 that I Love Most About Japan
1. Japanese People
On my very first visit to Japan, I arrived in Tokyo on a stormy August night. I was exhausted following the flight from New York, and a little overwhelmed by my new surroundings. After the flight and a train ride from the airport into the city, I hopped into a taxi from the station for the last leg of my journey. Not realizing that taxi doors open automatically in Japan, I committed my first etiquette faux pas – a very common one indeed, and typically laughed at. We reached our destination and I paid the white-gloved taxi driver. As I started out of the taxi, the driver stopped me. “Do you have an umbrella?” he asked. I told him I did not, but since I only had a few steps to walk, told him I was OK. But he was having none of it. From out of nowhere he unveiled a spare umbrella, and compelled me to take it. And thus, with his kindness, the first Japanese person I ever met in Japan had set a tone that would continue to this very day.
2. Japanese Food
At this point — thanks to Jiro’s fame, and countless celebrity chefs having extolled their obsession with Japanese cuisine — it is widely known that Japan has some of the best, if not the best, food on earth.
The level of love and respect that goes into food preparation in Japan is nothing short of awe-inspiring. And it’s in no way limited to high-end or fine dining. From cheap neighborhood noodle shops to Michelin-starred and other top restaurants, the quality and taste of food in japan is of an incredibly high standard.
Whether you’re going for a simple, casual meal — or splurging on an exquisite once-in-a-lifetime meal at the counter of a shokunin (master) — you can almost always count on thoughtful and considerate service, and painstakingly prepared food.
3. Traditional & Contemporary Japanese Culture
An enduring cliché about Japan is that the old and traditional coexist harmoniously with the modern and futuristic. And yet, to a remarkable degree, it’s true.
While the country certainly modernized much more quickly than lovers of old Japan would have liked, Japan — despite its striking modernity — nevertheless retains a rich and enviable cultural heritage that even today feels very alive and relevant.

我最喜欢日本的3点
1. 日本人
我第一次访问日本时，是在8月一个狂风暴雨的夜晚抵达东京的。从纽约坐飞机回来后，我筋疲力尽，对新环境有点不知所措。从机场先后搭乘飞机和火车进城后，我从车站坐上一辆出租车，开始了最后一段旅程。没有意识到在日本出租车的车门是自动打开的，我犯了我的第一个失礼的礼仪——这确实是一个非常常见的错误，通常会被嘲笑。我们到达了目的地，我付了钱给戴白手套的出租车司机。我刚从出租车里出来，司机就拦住了我。“你有雨伞吗?”他问。我告诉他我没有，但因为我只有几步路要走，我告诉他我没事。但他一点也不喜欢。他不知从什么地方拿出一把备用的伞，逼着我拿了起来。因此，我在日本遇到的第一个日本人，以他的善良，定下了一种基调，这种基调一直延续到今天。
2. 日本食品
在这一点上，由于小次郎的名气，以及无数名厨对日本料理的痴迷，众所周知，日本拥有一些世界上最好的食物，即使不是世界最好的，也是地球上最好的。
在日本，人们在准备食物时所表现出的爱和尊重程度令人敬畏。而且它绝不局限于高端或高级餐饮。从廉价的社区面馆到米其林星级餐厅和其他顶级餐厅，日本食物的质量和味道都达到了令人难以置信的高水平。
无论你是去吃一顿简单、随意的饭，还是在师傅的柜台上挥霍一顿一生只有一次的精致大餐，你几乎总能得到周到的服务和精心准备的食物。
3. 传统与当代日本文化
关于日本，一个经久不衰的陈词滥调是，古老和传统、现代和未来和谐共存。然而，在很大程度上，这是真的。
虽然这个国家的现代化速度比旧日本的爱好者所希望的要快得多，但日本尽管有着惊人的现代化，但仍然保留了丰富而令人羡慕的文化遗产，即使在今天这些文化也有着很大的活力和体现。

Marianne Kimura：
Japan has a unique religion (some people say it’s not a religion, but a cultural practice) called Shinto. I don’t think it is found in any other country.
Shinto is a pagan religion, so the gods and goddesses are based on nature, such as the sun, the moon, thunder, the wind, and so on. There’s no sacred text in Shinto, no scxture, no dogma, no theology (which is wonderful, as it is free like the wind, no discriminating against anyone). The Kojiki, which few people read and I haven’t read it, details some myths (stories) of the gods and says there are around 8,000,000 gods. But the number 8 million is taken to mean “plenty”, not an exact number.
I grew up in the USA during the 1970s and 80s and I was raised as a religious “none” (my parents were atheists (as far as Abrahamic religions were concerned), which was not that common back then. But looking back, I think my family had deep spiritual connections with nature through their hobbies of sailing (dad) and gardening (mom).
I knew from merely living in America that many people attended church/synagogue, drove to those buildings, listened to sermons, etc. Imagine my surprise when I moved to Japan and found this was not the pattern with Shinto! Shinto shrines are just little torii gates and an altar. They usually don’t have parking lots (like so many other things here) because Japan is a lot more walkable than America. People don’t go in groups, there’s no sermon, no meetings, no lecture or sermon. You drop a little money, a five yen piece is considered the luckiest one, into the altar box and clap your hands, bow, and ask the gods for your wish: like good health, a romantic partner, a good test score, favorable outcome of your next soccer game, etc.
Some shrines have little staffed windows in a little wooden building where you can buy a good luck charm or arrange a purification ceremony for a bit more money. (A Shinto priest would conduct such a ceremony. There’s no lecture at this ceremony either, there’s chanting and special branches from a bush (I think it’s sasaki, but I could be wrong) are used.) Speaking of plants, there are often trees or stones with straw ropes (shimenawa) indicating the tree or stone has a god or spirit inside; in a sense, the tree is a god or a spirit. Sometimes it might be a spring, or even I have seen a small river, ocean rocks, a waterfall, caves, etc. with a shimenawa strung there.
I’m not an expert on this, so I might have gotten something wrong (if so, apologies).
I do think that Japan went through a lot (it had to close its borders around 1600 and defend them militarily, which it did very effectively and bravely until the US arrived in coal-powered ships around 1860, and by then the age of forcibly converting people to Christianity was somewhat over, thankfully) to keep this nature-based spiritual practice, which is very unique! (At least, I’ve not seen nature based spirituality elsewhere except for the informal kind that my parents have, an abiding love for and joy in nature). Wait, I think my experience dancing around a flower-decorated Midsummer pole in Sweden (my mom is Swedish and I have relatives in Sweden) might be a sort of pagan thing. But it was only once or twice, as I didn’t live there.
So the whole experience of defending and protecting Shinto and Japan for 250 years, (even as other countries, the ones who went with the Abrahamic religions, decided to leave nature behind and go all in on the fossil fuels, massive economic growth and pollution (now leading to climate change and our oceans being 100 degrees F and a mass die off of sea creatures)), has given Japanese people a very very unique, kind of contrarian (it’s sometimes useful to be a contrarian), outlook. While Japan was a closed country, its population was stable at 20–30 million. Imagine if the world had been able to keep a stable fairly healthy population like the Japanese instead of massive rapid growth followed by what seems to be coming, which is, according to The Limits to Growth charts, a massive rapid decline.
This Shinto or animistic outlook sees humans as just part of the universe, not as the central figures and above nature (as the Abrahamic religions do). And scientifically, the Shinto view is confirmed as correct! Our atmosphere, containing enough oxygen so we can breathe easily, is ENTIRELY thanks to ocean plankton and trees! Who are the real gods? The trees. The plankton. It’s thanks to them I can type this now, because I’m breathing. And I presume you are using oxygen as well.
Shinto has some rules about materials. The shrines must be built in a certain way: real wood of certain trees from a certain mountain. And they must be built using the same methods from over 1300 years ago. Even the tools have to be made in that way. That emphasis on and attention to materials spreads to Japan’s culture. The food is good, the transport systems are good, the cities are safe and walkable. Traditional products like fans, bamboo baskets, rice paper, indigo dyed fabrics calm the mind (and science has proven that natural materials cognitively benefit the mind and the body! Google it!). Because people here are trained in a deeply cultural and implicit way to care about materials and the effects of materials. Materials are the gods, I guess you could say, and people try to keep up! That leads to humility (not extreme, but a healthy balanced one) and openness. (All the young people studying the trendy Stoics know how important those qualities are for life.)
I live in Kyoto, where tourist numbers are exploding and have been for over 15 years (with a pause during covid). Particularly, I note huge numbers of western tourists. It’s so crowded on some streets that locals like myself simply avoid whole areas because it’s too hard to walk there. I think I know why everyone is coming here though….It’s to imbibe Japan’s unique outlook and perspective.

日本有一个独特的宗教(有些人说它不是宗教，而是一种文化习俗)，叫做神道教。我认为在其他任何国家都找不到。
神道教是异教，所有神灵都是以自然为基础的，比如太阳、月亮、雷、风等等。神道教没有神圣的文本，没有经文，没有教条，没有神学(这很好，因为它像风一样自由，没有歧视任何人)。很少有人读过《古事记》，我也没读过，这本书详述了一些关于神的神话(故事)，并说世界上有大约800万个神。但是800万这个数字被认为是“很多”的意思，而不是一个确切的数字。
我于20世纪70年代和80年代在美国长大，从小就没有宗教信仰(我的父母是无神论者(就亚伯拉罕宗教而言)，这在当时并不常见。但回想起来，我认为我的家人通过他们的帆船(爸爸)和园艺(妈妈)的爱好与自然有着深厚的精神联系。
我仅仅从在美国的生活中就知道，很多人去教堂/犹太教堂，开车去那些建筑，聆听布道等等。想象一下，当我搬到日本，发现神道教的模式不是这样时，我有多惊讶！神道教的神社就是小鸟居和祭坛。他们通常没有停车场(就像这里的许多其他东西一样)，因为日本比美国更适合步行。人们不分组，没有布道，没有会议，没有演讲。你往祭坛盒子里扔一点钱就行，五日元的硬币被认为是最幸运的，然后拍手，鞠躬，向神灵祈求你的愿望：比如身体健康，一个浪漫的伴侣，一个好的考试成绩，下一场足球比赛的好结果等等。
一些神殿在小木结构建筑里有小窗口，在那里你可以买到一个幸运符或安排一个净化仪式，这得花更多的钱。(神道教的住持会主持这样的仪式。在这个仪式上也没有演讲，只有诵经和灌木的特殊树枝(我认为是佐佐木，但我可能错了)。说到植物，通常会有用草绳(shimenawa)绑着的树或石头，这表明树或石头里面有神灵或神灵；从某种意义上说，这棵树是神或精灵。有时是一汪泉水，甚至我看到了一条小河，海洋岩石，瀑布，洞穴等与草绳串在一起。
我不是这方面的专家，所以我可能说错了什么(如果是的话，我向大家道歉)。
我确实认为日本经历了很多(它不得不在1600年左右关闭边境，并在军事上保卫他们，它做得非常有效和勇敢，直到美国在1860年左右用煤动力船到达，到那时强迫人们皈依基督教的时代已经结束，谢天谢地)，以保持这种基于自然的精神实践，这是非常独特的!(至少，我没有在其他地方看到过基于自然的灵性，除了我父母拥有的那种非正式的，对自然的永恒的爱和快乐)。等等，我觉得我在瑞典仲夏节(我妈妈是瑞典人，我有亲戚在瑞典)绕着花装饰的柱子跳舞的经历可能是一种异教的事情。但只有一两次，因为我不住在那里。
因此，250年来捍卫和保护神道教和日本的整个经历（即使其他国家，那些信奉亚伯拉罕宗教的国家，也决定将自然抛在身后，全力投入化石燃料、大规模的经济增长和污染（ 现在导致气候变化，我们的海洋温度达到 100 华氏度，海洋生物大量死亡）），给了日本人一种非常非常独特的逆向思维（有时逆向思维很有用）。 虽然日本是一个封闭的国家，但其人口稳定在200-300万。 想象一下，如果全世界都能够像日本人一样保持稳定、相当健康的人口，而不是大规模快速增长该有多好。似乎这即将发生，根据增长极限图表，人口将大规模快速下降。
这种神道教或万物有灵论的观点将人类视为宇宙的一部分，而不是以人类为中心并凌驾于自然之上（就像亚伯拉罕宗教那样）。 而且从科学上来说，神道教的观点被证实是正确的！ 我们的大气层含有足够的氧气，使我们能够轻松呼吸，这完全归功于海洋浮游生物和树木！ 谁是真正的神？ 树。 浮游生物。 多亏了他们，我现在才能打字，因为我还在呼吸。 我猜你也在使用氧气。
神道教对材料有一些规则。 神社必须以某种方式建造：使用来自某座山的某些树木的实木。 它们必须使用 1300 多年前的相同方法建造。 就连工具也得这样制作。 这种对材料的重视和关注蔓延到了日本文化中。 食物美味，交通系统良好，城市安全且适合步行。 扇子、竹篮、宣纸、靛蓝染色织物等传统产品可以平静心灵（科学已经证明，天然材料对身心都有好处！谷歌一下！）。 因为这里的人们接受了深刻的文化和隐性的训练来关心材料和材料的效果。 我想你可以说，材料就是上帝，而人们努力跟上！ 这会带来谦逊（不是极端，而是健康平衡的谦逊）和开放。 （所有研究流行的斯多葛学派的年轻人都知道这些品质对生活有多重要。）
我住在京都，那里的游客数量呈爆炸式增长，这种情况已经持续了 15 年多（新冠疫情期间暂停了）。 我特别注意到大量的西方游客。 一些街道上非常拥挤，像我这样的当地人干脆避开整个区域，因为步行到那里太困难了。 我想我知道为什么每个人都来这里……是为了吸收日本独特的观点和视角。

Hüseyin Can Özdemir：
Japan is a unique country with several distinguishing characteristics that set it apart from other nations. Here are some of the key factors that contribute to Japan's distinctiveness:
Culture and Traditions: Japan has a rich and ancient culture that is deeply ingrained in its society. From traditional tea ceremonies to sumo wrestling and kabuki theatre, there are numerous aspects of Japanese culture that are unique to the country.
Technology and Innovation: Japan is a global leader in technology and innovation, with companies such as Sony, Toyota, and Nintendo being world-renowned for their innovative products and cutting-edge technology.
Work Ethic: The Japanese work ethic is legendary, with long hours and dedication to their jobs being highly valued. This has led to a highly productive economy, but also to concerns about work-life balance.
Social Harmony: Japan is a society that values social harmony and group cohesion, with a strong emphasis on social etiquette and respect for others. This has helped to create a relatively low-crime, high-trust society, but can also lead to conformity and a lack of individuality.
Natural Beauty: Japan has a diverse and stunning natural landscape, from the snow-capped peaks of Mount Fuji to the cherry blossom-lined streets of Tokyo. The appreciation of natural beauty is deeply embedded in Japanese culture, and contributes to the country's unique charm.

日本是一个独特的国家，具有与其他国家不同的几个显著特征。 以下是日本独特性的一些关键因素：
文化和传统：日本拥有丰富而古老的文化，在其社会中根深蒂固。 从传统茶道到相扑和歌舞伎剧院，日本文化的许多方面都是该国独有的。
技术与创新：日本在技术与创新方面处于全球领先地位，索尼、丰田、任天堂等公司以其创新产品和尖端技术享誉全球。
职业道德：日本人的职业道德堪称传奇，长时间工作和对工作的奉献精神受到高度重视。 这带来了高生产力的经济，但也引发了人们对工作与生活平衡的担忧。
社会和谐：日本是一个重视社会和谐和群体凝聚力的社会，非常重视社交礼仪和对他人的尊重。 这有助于创建一个犯罪率相对较低、信任度较高的社会，但也可能导致从众和缺乏个性。
自然美景：日本拥有多样且令人惊叹的自然景观，从白雪皑皑的富士山山峰到东京樱花林立的街道。 对自然美的欣赏深深植根于日本文化中，并赋予了这个国家独特的魅力。

I love the zen culture, japan is very special. So here are my tips.
Eat at Kagari in Ginza every trip, I waited an hour in line, ate my meal, and then very seriously considered getting right back in line.
Going to an open-air onsen is also a must, I'm personally nostalgic for the one in Kurama but anything secluded with a good view is great.
If I could stay in any hotel I've ever been to in Kyoto with money as no obxt, I'd stay in Kanamean Nishitomiya. Fabulous rooms, every convenience, great location, great staff, unbelievable bathtub. Private inner courtyard that the bathroom opens up into.

我喜欢禅宗文化，日本很特别。 这是我的建议。
每次旅行都在银座的 Kagari 吃饭，我排队等了一个小时，吃完饭，然后非常认真地考虑立即回去排队。

去露天温泉也是必须的，我个人很怀念鞍马的露天温泉，我觉得任何僻静且风景优美的地方都很棒。
如果我可以不花钱在京都随便选一家酒店住，我会住在Kanamean Nishitomiya。 很棒的房间，一切都很便利，优越的地理位置，优秀的员工，令人难以置信的浴缸， 浴室通向私人内部庭院。