(Posted here as requested by the channel admin)

Hello,

I found your channel recently and have found it very informative! I have a question regarding the status quo and blending in, particularly after seeing the bicycle video and how all of the bicycles were the same. What/who dictates the status quo? How does a new trend come to be, or a product become the product of choice (bicycle model), etc?

Thanks

L

Japanese like to be fashionable and follow trends..
but I guess most countries do..
Look at America.. their trend of greeting people with "whatup" or "wassup" is popular now.. but before that there was something else and after that there will be something else..
Japan is not much different in that way.
As for bicycles.. Japanese people are just practical when it comes to bikes.. and being different is not so important

Hello,

Yes, I can see that the following part is indeed very active, but since being original and different is discouraged, who comes up with the ideas?

There are countless bicycle models on the market, but who decided that one would be the one?

Not really a question of practicality or following trends, but who decides them.

Thanks

Speaking to the bicycle question...

As someone that taught in Japanese public schools for five years, I can tell you that everything is the same - uniforms, shoes, backpacks, bicycles, etc - when kids are students so no one kid feels left out cuz he/she doesn't have what the other kids have.

You can't underestimate the group mentality in Japan, and the need to fit in.

I once had an interesting discussion with some of my teachers about why there was no "honors" classes in Jr High schools in Japan, and they said parents would complain if some students were singled out ("Why isn't my son/daughter in the advanced class?", and most students would be embarrassed to be in a different group.

-JCH

Welcome Jason!
I totally agree with what you said.
We would love to get your opinions on more stuff on this forum.

Hi Jason
Yes, we would love to hear some more of your thoughts .. I don't think any of us went to school in Japan.. not any of us older members, anyway