The “Japan won’t accept foreign tech” meme is strong out there, I know, but it’s baseless.

Similarly, “a connection between ‘not invented here’ and the historical tendency to define what is Japanese-ness by contrast to the outside other” – whether that exists in meaningful form or not, is there evidence that such a factor is behind any negative reactions to Street Maps? If no evidence, then the claim can’t be made.

(Apologies if this appears multiple times; the submission process is acting funny.)

The “Japan won’t accept foreign tech” meme is strong out there, I know, but it’s baseless.

Similarly, “a connection between ‘not invented here’ and the historical tendency to define what is Japanese-ness by contrast to the outside other” – whether that exists in meaningful form or not, is there evidence that such a factor is behind any negative reactions to Street Maps? If no evidence, then the claim can’t be made.

There is an answer. Just search with any major search engine “videography” and our site will come up close to the top of page one. This ranking was built over years strictly by building a following of people who wanted to understand the complex stress of living in this information environment. Put bluntly, “Common Sense is being lost to political, commercial and religious forces by means of data overload.” We have not evolved to handle the world in our headspace 24/7 and everywhere as we seek peace from the chaos.

I’m not yet sure how this connects, but as I understand it, GSV covers many countries, its a service provided without cost on an increasingly global scale. Try as I might, I cant think of a locally grown parallel example. I suspect a connection between “not invented here” and the historical tendency to define what is Japanese-ness by contrast to the outside other. Its not “good” or “bad”, it just is what it is.

@issey
There is really no taboo on photographic public places or crowds here but there is a taboo on the media displaying personal information in cases involving a crime or of minors. AFAIK, GSV violates neither of of those taboos.

The “situation” is that there is Internet – invented in US and spreading in many countries across borders and cultures.

There are laws in Japan (rewrtitten versions from Europe, France if I am not mistaken). They do not prohibit anyone from taking pictures of public places and streets in Japan. So here ends the right of privacy in Japan according to the law in Japan. Correct?

And exactly here starts my right to do whatever I want with these pictures. It is my custom to make pictures, you know. My tradition, culture if you want…. So it is Japan custom against my. And I do not like when somebody violates my culture by forbidding me to take pictures of public places.

If the Japanese culture forbids this, they should change the law. Otherwise my right has priority over any cultural claims of uniqueness of “us against them”. No more closed cities for “barbarians”. We are all humans.

Yes, Japan has to adapt to Gaijin. There is absolutely nothing arrogant in it. It adapted in the past, it will adapt in the future. No big deal.

What is so wrong with some Japanese feeling violated by the GSV? That Mr. Higuchi claims Japanese are different? Yes, they are different. And so are the Italians, and the Chinese, and the Thais. We all have cultural differences. But Mr. Higuchi’s claim and assertions do not in any way suggest that other countries do not have issues with GSV. At worst, he only suggests that if this feature could be thought of by the Google, an American company, then maybe in America it is more acceptable.

What I find to be the height of arrogance is Julian Stoev suggesting that Japanese space has to adapt to the situation. What is “the situation”, pray tell, Mr. Stoev?

Even Pro-Choice supporters think that abortion is a choice. That is the fundamental difference in belief that they have with Pro-Life believers. Why can’t the Japanese have a choice not to have their homes’ pictures online, or even complain and rant about it?

I think that one’s sense of privacy is based on one’s cultural inclinations. If they feel that way, so be it. No one can say it’s wrong.

Can’t see any reason to think so.

While the original author apparently wants there to be some special “uniquely Japanese” take that Google needs to be aware of, there’s been no evidence presented for such a thing. The author’s concerns about Street View are potentially valid, to be sure, but are the exact same concerns Google is facing all over the world.

And this has probably been pointed out already, but there’s a certain disingenuousness inherent in many claims of “such-and-such foreigners are acting in Japan without knowing the culture” – when the people performing the actions actually *aren’t foreign*. The “culturally insensitive” Street View maps the author decries are being created by Japanese drivers managed by Japanese staff at Google Japan. So much for special Japanese needs being ignored by insensitive foreigners!