Teens! Online!
Japan may have been late to enter the online age, but its young people are no strangers to the Internet. To sample what Japan's youth are talking about among themselves, TIME dropped in on an Internet "chat room," a virtual conversation in which anybody can type in a comment and have it seen by all participants, who can add their own instant responses. The administrator of a website designed for high school students, teachers and their parents agreed to let us moderate a discussion. Dozens of students from across Japan (and one Japanese living in Sweden) participated. The following is a partial transcript, translated into English. For Japanese speakers who want to know more on what kids are chatting about, go to www.koukou.net.
TIME: Older people complain about your generation's sexual behavior: kissing in public, going to love hotels, living together.
Chocho: I don't think it's bad to kiss in public.
Kosuke: That's a matter of individual freedom.
Mixkick: I think people are free to do anything they want, so long as it does not violate law and public morality. But we probably shouldn't do anything we would feel ashamed to have our children find out about someday.
Daru: Morality is not designed by anybody, so it's natural that it changes shape as time goes by. It is arrogant of older people to press their understanding of morality on the younger generation. On the other hand, I feel there are certain moral codes of the time you have to abide by.
Mimi: Yes, there are certain things I can't condone, like enjo-kosai ["paid services" some schoolgirls provide to older men, ranging from merely sharing a meal together to having sex].
Daru: But I am upset when people draw a general image of young people based on the behavior of a limited population.
Chie: Right. They make it sound like everybody is doing it.
TIME: Adults also complain about your general behavior in public places, like eating on the train, putting on makeup in public, sitting on the floor, things against which there are unspoken rules.
Supika: What's wrong with those?
Yuyu: Yeah, I wouldn't worry about that.
Asuka: Those things make me feel sick myself. I hope you won't think that just about everyone is like that.
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Click here for the full transcript.
THIS WEEK'S TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Young Japan Home
The Me Generation:
The country's privileged youth are struggling to define what they want. Their efforts--both frivolous and fundamental--are already beginning to transform the culture
Day in the Life:
What a 17-year-old girl does--and buys
Culture Club:
Tokyo has taken over as the source of what's hip and happening for the rest of East Asia
Sound Factory:
An Okinawa school turns out stars
Talk Talk:
What teens are chatting about online
Not Playing Ball:
A fresh generation is starting to shake up the hidebound world of Japanese baseball
Outside the Box:
Breaking the education straitjacket
Viewpoint:
Actress Youki Kudoh says respect the old ways
Viewpoint:
Parents should examine their own ethics
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