Note: The Main Issues in JPN DC

  I posted a question about "problems in JPN DC" to Reddit and received almost 60 comments! Some say "no problems at all", but some pointed out things that may/should be a big deal.

  Then, I'd like to summarize opinions/thoughts from them and consider the way how this blog can support people as a website written by a Japanese. I couldn't reply to all the comments, but they were all inspiring for me. If you're the one of the redditors, let me say thank you so much!
  This post deals a little bit delicate matters. I'll take care of the nuances of my words, but I can't do that completely because I'm just a learner of English.

Opinions/Thoughts from Redditors

• One can't find translation of Japanese savage macro.
• Japanese players persist in following only ONE strat in PF. People in NA are more adjustable.
• People don’t point out mistakes or things can be improved for others. Japanese players keep silence. They tend to have just only greetings.
• People follow some popular macros to complete savages. Although there should be multiple strats in RF, they know all of them? Also, do they expect it to other players? How do Japanese player feel when they see an English macro about a Japanese strat?

  In another comment, one mentioned it may make JPN people confused because of the difference of the attack names.

• In Japan, it is important to stand on the same page.
• There was a macro one has never seen in PF, and when he/she was about to ask,he/she had been kicked soon.

  In another comment, one mentioned that there are some cases that a person don’t admit his/her own mistake in savage, and at last, party members make an “E” player as a “scapegoat.” Also left a comment saying “Have they had bad experiences through playing with English-speaking players?”

• Even if one wrote a recruitment in Japanese, some leaves when they see the letter “E.” one uses Japanese macros and takes care not to speak English unless people asks his/her language.

  In another comment, the biggest reason why “J” people avoid “E” people is that no expectation of communication.

• You must be able to speak Japanese fluently when your party confirms the roles and positions assigned to each before starting to try to savage. In Japanese, it’s difficult for some to understand and to speak English.

  In another comment, one says “Auto translation is not enough to have communication. I can’t explain about mechanics also.”

• People can’t discuss the strat and the macro that isn't concrete ones when they don’t understand fully both of the languages. It’s not use even though you can use auto translation or know just only some simple Japanese words. Guide videos, websites and macros are useful, but there needs much more communication with others over them.
• It doesn’t mean you can speak Japanese in fluent because you understand almost of Japanese saying. And also, you can’t have communication comfortable with the skill you got. You have to know the Japanese manners and to keep in mind not to bother others.
• Even though I understand Japanese, I’ve been kicked as soon as I read “E言語ですね (He/She is “E.”) ” someone said. Being kicked without some conversations is not fair.
• You need to understand the culture how Japanese people think.

  In another comment, one says “Japanese pretend as if they are always polite and keep their negative emotions in themselves in their culture.”

• Most of the Japanese don’t swear. But there’s a prejudice against “E” for certain.
• It’s hard to understand the difference of “in-game etiquette” between Japanese and other DCs. There seem to be some strict systems in Japan to think of PF and DF, and loot rules.

  In another comment, one says “It’s difficult to aware of the etiquette in Eureka, such as the way how to join a party with ‘ノ’ and the meaning of the phrase ‘沸きます (NM will be popped.) ’.”

• The latest duties are really active. But other duties are dead after the time crowded.

  In another comment, one says “It takes so long until a party matched when you queue in a duty with ”E” only. So “E” people checks on “J” too. Are the Japanese players aware of that?"

• JP ONLY

  There seem to be many concerns about such as "language barrier", "Japanese original strategy", and "'JP ONLY' recruitment". I'm glad to hear that some enjoy their playing in Japan and some people plan to make their alt there to study Japanese.

  Well, I'll show my own ideas for those opinions and consider what my blog can do.

My Ideas

• It's true that people can't communicate enough smoothly with being able to understand some Japanese macros and words only.

  But I think you can have chats "smoother" if you know them and the Japanese playing style.

• Actually, people in the same time zone and those from all over the world are playing together in JPN DC, but there is an aspect that JPN DC is regarded as "only for Japanese" by JPN people.

  Personally, I want the DC to be treated as "for ASIANS."

• I can't deny that there's a prejudice against foreigners that some Japanese people have.

  There are some cases that party members don't have communication each other even if there are only J players and with no progress, one starts voting to give up the duty. It should be worse situation, I reckon. I hope that more Japanese would welcome English-speaking players who have made efforts to communicate, and more people could to afford it. In other DCs, people are willing to accept Japanese even though he/she is not so good at English.

• I feel sorry for the people who have been kicked with a glance at "E" by Japanese party leader.

  The reasons for that may be like, from the difficulty of the communications or from taking so long to complete the duty as some already mentioned.

• The information such as macros and Japanese strategies are not enough in this game or on the Internet. I found that some get them from their friends and Discord as the sources of the knowledge.
• I understand that there's an atmosphere that players don't give some advice to others.

  It may come from the possibility for the people to be reported as harassment. I don't want to believe this, but it's really happening.

Summary of My Ideas

"People can't communicate enough smoothly with being able to understand some Japanese macros and words only."

  I can't help agreeing with this opinion entirely. This blog emphasizes "smooth communication" but it should be better to be rewritten to "smoother communication." For this idea, I'd like to suggest you to try to understand the language and the culture of the community that you'll join. This might have been already tried, but it's an important and an easy way to make the communication comfortable.

  For exmaple, when you see a saying "白さんこっち来て！　頭割り！" in a duty, if you don't know that "Japanese often call others with their role name" and "頭割り = stack," you may not be able to imagine who he/she talks to and what the chat is about. In other words, you can recognize what is said with just being aware of these "白さん" and "頭割り."

  I don't impose the Japanese language and customs of there for you, but I'd be delighted if there's some information useful in my blog for you when you got be eager to have much more fun in JPN and, in addition, to get along with Japanese players.

  This is just my own case, with learning abbreviations and the names of mechanics, I've gotten some of what NA people talking about recently! You can have soon response to chats with understanding the words. The experience like this should make your Eorzea life more interesting, I guess.

  I suppose you can gain profit from the grasping the common sense or tacit knowing of a foreign community. In my case, I’m half Japanese and Half Filipino. And of course, the way of thinking and the manners are completely different. In Japan, people believe that it’s nice to have hesitation or to keep one at a distance, but in the Philippines, people prefer to receive one’s kind hospitality and see it is much beautiful. The difference can be seen here also, on your display. The scenery you’re watching is a kind of foreign world. It may be better for you that making yourself adapted to the culture, getting some knowledge of it and in situations unpleasant you encounter, tolerating them. If you feel something wrong or find one’s stance too aggressive in a local custom, I recommend you to keep the emotion inside yourself. I think it’s an issue that must be solved near future even if not immediately.

  This is true that not so many but some of Japanese people have exclusive attitudes to foreigners, and I can’t deny it. They cannot afford to spend time when they can’t make themselves understood with their English skills or can’t expect smooth communication in Japanese with English speakers. Even if they could, it would take for a while and some finally gives up their duty. English is the most common language, so Japanese people can learn it a little more and they can find this world much wonderful, I think.

  When you’re kicked with a glance at the language “E” by a party leader, however hard you try to get closer to the Japanese way, accepting it as unlucky is good for your mind. It’s easy to say but you can take the occasion that he/she lost one’s chance to meet you, an awesome friend!

 Although people who already have prejudices in “E” won’t change their views, I hope our Eorzea can be a world much comfortable through the efforts of both Japanese and English-speaking player. I wish there could be less “JP only” with this trying.

Conclusion

  “the language barrier”, “Japanese own manners and rules” and “’E’ only queueing takes too long until a party matched” are the most typical problems I received.
  Then, I'll keep introducing some information about..

• Tables of ENG-JPN terms that not enough supported with auto-translation
• Japanese own rules and manners
• Posts for Japanese players to refer to when they play with English-speaking players

  I couldn’t show all the comments on Reddit but they have great tips to consider the circumstances foreign player in JPN DC surrounded. Also, I’m glad to read the comments such as ”I’ll check your blog.” and “Nice effort.”
  LET ME TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO LEFT MESSAGES ON REDDIT AND WHO READ THE POSTS ON MY BLOG!!