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Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/3/29 22:13
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We are currently enjoying our vacation in Japan. Yesterday we visited Ueno park to see the cherry blossoms. While we took some photos a strange japanese(?) guy suddenly appeared next to us. First he started a quite friendly conversation (in english), asked some common things (Where are you from, how do you like japan, ...). Then he suddenly changed the subject and told us to think about the bad things that happening in japan. He started to tell us weird things about the police in japan and that japan is a big prison without freedom of speech. The situation was a little creepy. We felt quite uncomfortable and did not know how we should react - We ended the conversation as politely as possible and walked away (as fast as possible). This was our first bad experience since we are in Japan -The first and last one i hope. Has anyone experienced the same in Japan? What ist the best way to react in such a situation Thanks a lot!
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by on_the_fly (guest)
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Re: Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/3/30 01:42
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Sorry to burst your bubble, but eccentric people exist also in Japan. Deal with them as you would anywhere else.
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by Firas
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Re: Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/3/30 06:22
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As spring comes, strangers come. It's a typical aspect that strangers appear on street(park in this case) quite often and take sometimes criminal actions include homicide in spring. If you see someone who does strange thing or, someone whom you don't know come close, leave away immediately no matter whom he/she is. It was not a danger man you have seen in Ueno-koen park, but, there are many strangers who carry knives in spring season. Those people are normally mental disorder.
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by tokyo friend 48
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Re: Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/3/30 08:12
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Ueno Park has a high concentration of homeless people and strange people. I have seen aggression and strangeness there multiple times. Not the most pleasant place in Japan. The particular person obviously has his issues with society and wants to share them with others. I would consider it an interesting, educational encounter rather than a bad one. Travel should not just be about fun and enjoyment. It should be about getting to know other societies, including their strengths and problems. This is just my personal opinion.
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by Uji
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Re: Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/3/30 13:36
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I agree with the others, but perhaps that specific guy wasn't actually a "crazy" guy but more a person with a specifically harsher view on the society and wanted to let the international world know about it in the (to him) politest way as possible. After all, Ueno Park is an ideal place to talk to foreign tourists.
I think you did the right thing by moving away mildly. Being a Japanese resident I would do the same. But unless he was especially pushy he's not violating the law, because here in Japan we have the freedom of speech and he can talk to anyone in any way he likes ;)
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by Uco (guest)
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Re: Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/3/30 14:15
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I guess this is the "World Traveller Guy", he walks around with his luggage with a sign on it?
He goes like, how he was arrested in Nara or somewhere for talking with foreigners...bla bla bla...Total power to one side people and total powerless people on the other side... like rich and poor.. Then something like hitting people and how hitting the police in Japan gives you life sentence while in other countries you get 1 month or only a fine...Which is a bad thing in his mind that you can't hit the police....
Last time I just talked bullshit back to him, then he walked away pretty fast :)
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by AHVdk (guest)
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Re: Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/3/30 18:31
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As you've been told Japan is a democratic country and it is not a crime to talk in public. I don't know where you are from if people in your country are not allowed to express their opinions. Just walk away if you're not interested. There is not a "Japanese crime season". Enjoy Spring!
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by jn (guest)
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Re: Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/3/30 20:56
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Thanks for all your friendly replies! I think AHVdk is right - The guy had his luggage with him.
@Uji: Meanwhile i share your opinion about this "educational encounter". Maybe I was just overwhelmed with the situation becauce it all happend so unexpectedly. The fact is: Now I know another facet of Japan. ;O)
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by on_the_fly (guest)
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Re: Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/4/2 10:00
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Who is this world travller guy?? But yes, Japan has a number of sides to them. If you ever walk about Tokyo parks or gardens at sunrise you'll see a number of homeless packing their stuff. You won't see them in normal hours as they will hide their presence.
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by joshua hugh (guest)
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Re: Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/4/19 13:32
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I have never been spoken from homeless person in Japan. Maybe ,because it is Japanese. However, when I was sitting on the stairs of New York's Broadway, I have spoken from a homeless person about God . I could not be well understood English . Maybe, he probably was interested in me a foreigner. I am an sometimes talked to homeless selling The Big Issue, sometimes I saw the people of homeless who came to eat a meal in the church (though I am not a Christian) People of homeless is also each person.
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by haro1210
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Re: Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/4/22 13:51
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yeah, ueno park.... Once a old guy there offered me 10.000jpy to look at his d***
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by hmm (guest)
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Re: Strange guy at Ueno park?
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2015/4/26 01:43
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Sadly your not alone. This happened to me at the beginning of April.
Usually I ignore weird people, but he stopped me and started to talk about that you have mentioned. At this point some Japanese people stared to look at him in a weird way. He also tried to sell his poems and Haikus, I said that I wasn't interested and when he started to beg after some money to get some beer literary. Got a little it scared confused so gave him 10 Yen. Usually I rather not give money to begging people, instead I give them food like fruit and bread. But I got scared...so I did not had the time to think. The market are also weird, someone jumped in front of me and said "Japanesu sexy massage, do want japanesu sexy massage?!!"...and two weeks after when I was visiting the market again I was followed by a man that whispered "Hallo" repeatedly and I said "No, no thanks"...he follow me 400 meter and that was creepy. After that another guy started to follow me but this time I said no, thanks on Japanese (Polite form) and he stopped shortly after.
I would say, that there you see a lot of tourist there is even more "dangers" that lurks. Anyway, Japanese is safe country but it doesn't mean that you should let the guard down. This apply on every country, every country have it's ups and downs.
Sorry for my English! Greetings, Gabe
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by Gabe (guest)
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