I have two Stanley Kubrick movies on that list…”The Shining” and “2001: A Space Odyssey”.

Stanley Kubrick was an over-rated director, in my opinion.

I’m not the only one who hated The Shining…Stephen King, the man who wrote the book that the movie was based on, hated what Stanley Kubrick did to his work and never allowed Kubrick to direct any of the movie version of his books again!

So I don’t see how you could have liked Forrest Gump … it was dull and pointless too!

In fact, I’m not a big fan of Tom Hanks … I think he’s overrated.
I didn’t like any of his movies except for The Green Mile – - and that was good DESPITE him, not BECAUSE of him.

OK … “Big” was good.

Another movie that I wasted money and time on was Die Hard 5.
And that was especially disappointing because I’m a big fan of the first four Die Hard movies!

Any other questions?

- –
Do you live in Japan?
What part? When did you come to Japan?
Are you from America?

Thank you.

>Can you please give more examples?

To illustrate the same point? I suppose I could…but wouldn’t that be redundant?

>some Japanese people don’t ask a question directly…A Japanese person will ask someone else if I am married.

This seems to a specific incident that happened to you…not really a general “cultral difference”.

Can you speak Japanese? Maybe the person who was wondering couldn’t speak English?
I’m just guessing though.

>It’s strange that many Japanese people will say that a foreigner looks so handsome or so beautiful, when they are just average looking.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.

>Why do so many Japanese married couples lose amourous interest…?

(I edited your question. Certain words seem to attract spam…and you had one such word in your comment -)

Is that so? If it is, I couldn’t really say “why”.

>many foreigners…comment on how nice a Japanese person’s outfit looks, but the Japanese person will assume the compliment is a flirt tactic.

Does that happen to “many” foreigners” ?
Has it happened to you?

It is true that Americans are kinda known for giving “empty compliments”…Japanese don’t really do that – so they don’t really know how to react when they receive one.

>I’ve been told that if you say a girl is Kawaii, that means you want to date them. But if you say Kireii, it is more of a neutral statement.

Who told you that?
I’d say that it depends on how it’s said and in what context.

But, in general, it’s true.

>Foreigners…think most of Japan people as super creative/artistic/and think outside the box.

Do they?

>I feel like that only about 5% of the population is like that, while 95% people just live normal lives. What do you think?

I couldn’t imagine what percentage of the population would be classified as “super creative”.

>Do people sue in Japan?

Very rarely.

>What are common “Taboos” that Americans (don’t realize they make) when they are with Japanese people?

Most are minor and Japanese people understand that visitors to another country will make such cultral mistakes.

As for the ones that would make a Japanese feel uncomfortable:
sticking chopsticks into a bowl of rice, or
wearing shoes where they’re not supposed to (such as on a tatami).

>Why don’t Japanese friends teach their American friends about these “Taboos”!?

Who wants to be a nag? Or make someone feel uncomfortable or embarrassed?

>”In time, my friend will realize their mistakes.” But I disagree

Well, I came to Japan knowing nothing about Japanese manners or culture…and there was no internet back then.
And over time, I’ve begun to act more “Japanese” than “American” !

Can you please give more examples?

- Also I’d like to ask your thoughts about how some Japanese people don’t ask a question directly to a person, instead they will ask another person about the person they are interested in.

For example, if someone wants to know if I am married:

1. An American will ask me directly.

2. A Japanese person will ask someone else if I am married.

I prefer personal questions to be directed at me. Otherwise too many rumors begin to happen.

- It’s strange that many Japanese people will say that a foreigner looks so handsome or so beautiful, when they are just average looking.

But I guess this is where the “Little-White Lie” is used to make people feel good/harmonious.

- Why do so many Japanese married couples lose amourous interest after they are married. It happens to American couples, but it seems more dramatic in Japanese couples.

- Please explain the difference between a compliment and flirting. I think that so many foreigners come to Japan and they will comment on how nice a Japanese person’s outfit looks, but the Japanese person will assume the compliment is a flirt tactic.

- What is the nuance between saying a girl is cute (Kawaii) or beautiful (Kirei)? I’ve been told that if you say a girl is Kawaii, that means you want to date them. But if you say Kireii, it is more of a neutral statement. True?

- Foreigners read magazines, watch TV, and the Internet and think most of Japan people as super creative/artistic/and think outside the box. I feel like that only about 5% of the population is like that, while 95% people just live normal lives. What do you think?

- Do people sue in Japan? I almost never hear about civilian lawsuits in the news. Is that because there aren’t any or because they want to keep it hidden from the mass media?

- What are common “Taboos” that Americans (don’t realize they make) when they are with Japanese people?

- Why don’t Japanese friends teach their American friends about these “Taboos”!? I feel that many Japanese people say, “In time, my friend will realize their mistakes.” But I disagree and want to say, “We are Americans and don’t pick up on other culture’s subtleties at all! You have to teach us or else we’ll never get it!”

Really looking forward to your response.

Thanks for telling me about it!