I hope this is the right forum to put this >__>.

Weyl, I suppose since I started learning Japanese in year 8 doing a year exchange to Japan is something I've wanted to do(I went on a short exchange in year 9, it was absolutely awesome).

The first place I applied to didn't even have any places to offer(even though they advertised they did), and so. Just in the dead line for this other program, I got accepted into it on the Australian side of things.

On the exchange form one of the questions was "Have you seen a psychiatrist in the last 6 months?" and then asks what for. I knew as soon as I saw it that it was going to be a pain in the butt. But I hate being dishonest and put it down anyway. (I have a mild form of the inattentive type, and since finishing school have been taken of medication, I've gone back to putting the cheese in the sink and completely losing half of my sentences and such, but I can deal/don't care)

And I get rejected about a month before I'm due to go by the Japanese side of things. I suppose it has to do with the shame culture(western culture is said to be a guilt culture. Googling might find something), the alumni exchange student I was put in contact with thought this too, apparently many still have the idea that it is better to commit suicide than admit to having a mental disorder/defecit/whatever(she also mentioned they don't even have a word for depression).

And we definitely pushed the issue, put them in touch with my past teachers, had my psychologist and psychiatrist contact them. Still no.

So as a last ditch effort I'm trying with my school old school, they have a sister school in Japan and do exchanges with them.

As can be expected I'm super disappointed (I deferred my uni course for it D:).

So, thoughts/experiences/general discussion on anything I've mentioned etc. :D?

My mum seems to think I have the worst luck, but you get on with things. Although lately it just seems like this (http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Here-It-Goes-Again-lyrics-OK-Go/A95AEC36F44707F3482570FA000D09E0)

western culture is said to be a guilt culture. This intrigued me. Where or how did you come across this idea? Can you explain it a bit?

Let me see if I can find that article I read a while ago...

This explains it quite decently http://www.doceo.co.uk/background/shame_guilt.htm

Hope that helps

On the exchange form one of the questions was "Have you seen a psychiatrist in the last 6 months?" and then asks what for.

I find this interesting that they even think they have the right to ask someone that. As far as I'm concerned, your visits to a doctor, be it a GP, a dentist, dermatologist, psychiatrist, whatever, is YOUR business. And what you discuss with your doctor is between you and your doctor, and whoever else you choose to disclose this to.

If their reasoning is that your visits to a psychiatrist could mean that you may be a less favorable candidate as an exchange student, then I think this is discrimination. The panel that chooses the students should have enough background to ask appropriate questions in an interview-type setting that will guide them in choosing candidates that will make good exchange students. Letters of recommendation are also often a part of the application process.

I was an exchange student to Japan about 12 years ago. After I returned to Canada I remained very involved in the program and was on the judging panel for the upcoming exchange students, for a few consecutive years. We NEVER would have asked anyone to disclose information regarding their medical history.

I am sorry to hear that you are being held back from reaching this goal of yours because of this. :( I hope it works out for you and you are able to take part in the exchange experience.

I wonder if the medical history is necessary re: liability if an exchange student should need medical care during their stay?

I wonder if the medical history is necessary re: liability if an exchange student should need medical care during their stay?Usually it is, since the organization or school is legally liable for the welfare of the participants. It is usually an issue of insurance cost and medical waivers.

I was thinking it over and shame vs. guilt culture seems a very unlikely reason for denying acceptance into the program. Ockham's razor. The more likely answer is that there are large legal complications regarding medication, what is legal and reguired in one country vs what is legal and required in another.

I suppose it has to do with the shame culture(western culture is said to be a guilt culture. Googling might find something), the alumni exchange student I was put in contact with thought this too, apparently many still have the idea that it is better to commit suicide than admit to having a mental disorder/defecit/whatever(she also mentioned they don't even have a word for depression).This is what's bugging me though. Japanese has 8 distinct words describing suicide, including a few that refer to a depression state. The assumption that the Japanese culture denies or ignores depression be "they don't have a word for it" is illogical. Language is symbolic, and while the lexicon can tell a great deal about what is emphasised within a culture, it does not provide the complete picture. For example, the Japanese ideas of ikegana or wabi-sabi, do not have lexigraphic (word) equivilents in English, but the concepts (purpose of life or beauty in imperfection) are understandable in Western culture.

I think the issue the alumnus was refering to is the cultural norm of placing the value of the group above the value of the individual, meaning that illness based solely on the complaint and expereince of the individual may be seen as being attention seeking and contrary to the unity of the group. Hence, culturally-chastizable. (See A. Kleinman's work on somatic disorders and depression in China, 1984). The West does not hold this veiw, so it seems unlikely that they would deny your acceptance due to this ideal. Again the legal formalities of insurance and controlled medications seem a more likely cause.

English / Japanese: depression = ikisosou, fukeiki, ousho, utsubyou, kubo, kubochi

English / Japanese: depression = ikisosou, fukeiki, ousho, utsubyou, kubo, kubochi

or

不況

to be exact.

why "??" ?

Again the legal formalities of insurance and controlled medications seem a more likely cause.

It was made clear that I wouldn't be taking medication over there. All the schools it seemed were worried I'd disrupt class and such :/

English / Japanese: depression = ikisosou, fukeiki, ousho, utsubyou, kubo, kubochi

Heh, should have checked up on that myself. I'll quiz her next time I see her, see whether it whether it was a mistake or meant something by it.

My school and their sister school is awesome, going is now looking like a YES :D. Except we haven't got an official yes as of yet because the principal of the school in Japan is having heart surgery.

WhatAsaidtoB, that is great news about your exchange. My son is in Japan right now and had no difficulty getting through immigration with a large supply of meds and no difficulty getting a visa.

My school and their sister school is awesome, going is now looking like a YES

Best of luck keep us posted.

My take on this is that it has nothing to do with legal issues. Japan has fewer lawyers than the state of Washington. Very few court cases because people lose face when involved in one - either side - and whether they're in the wrong or right (though people still pursue them anyway).

I'm of the opinion that the Japanese consider foreigners to be defective (read: non-Japanese) by nature and informing them of any issues you may have only confirms their suspicions. And they harbor a lot of suspicions. I lived in Japan for three years and it was great at times but a strain at others to constantly be sized up and judged, i.e., compared to the larger culture.

My advice to you is to never volunteer information to anyone in Japan if it has the potential to reflect poorly on you. The whole 'being honest' thing doesn't work there. I believe that the average Japanese person will always choose harmony, aka conformity or whatever you want to call it, over honesty if it will make less waves. In my opinion, they value the ability to get along well with others more than anything else. In Japan, do as they do and you'll do fine. Not lie, so much as share as little as possible, suck a lot of air and say things are difficult when people push you on uncomfortable topics, which they generally don't. Saying 'difficult' will save you a lot of trouble. Consider that your escape hatch. :D

My .02

I'm of the opinion that the Japanese consider foreigners to be defective (read: non-Japanese) by nature and informing them of any issues you may have only confirms their suspicions. And they harbor a lot of suspicions.What an awful experience for you.

I lived in Japan for three years and it was great at times but a strain at others to constantly be sized up and judged, i.e., compared to the larger culture.This doesn't happen in western cultures?

What an awful experience for you.

This doesn't happen in western cultures?Oh, it does! For sure! But I should qualify that statement. In America people judge others based on more diverse range of factors, which of course include socio-economic status and ethnicity. In my opinion, in Japan, that spectrum of disparities is much, MUCH narrower. At times it felt binary. You either were Japanese or you weren't. Yes, it's like that everywhere, but in comparison I would say Americans are proud of their culture where Japanese are proud of their ethnicity, from which the culture is derived. It's like that everywhere but particularly intense in Japan.

Now throw in some cognitive dissonance. It is comforting, at least, to know that if you do or say anything strange, it can be chalked up to your inherent (deviant) cultural behavior. :)


As far as getting meds in Japan, it was cake. I came with documentation to prove my diagnosis but none of the three doctors I met with ever doubted me. Maybe it shows. :D Anyway, where I was (out in the country) they only had Ritalin so it may not be possible to get your medication of choice but they do have something.

Now throw in some cognitive dissonance. It is comforting, at least, to know that if you do or say anything strange, it can be chalked up to your inherent (deviant) cultural behavior. :)Sounds like a great place for ADHDers.


As far as getting meds in Japan, it was cake. I came with documentation to prove my diagnosis but none of the three doctors I met with ever doubted me. Maybe it shows. :D Anyway, where I was (out in the country) they only had Ritalin so it may not be possible to get your medication of choice but they do have something.Good to know.