My question is what is so funny? What are you laughing about?

Question

Firstly I would like to state that this question is in no way racially motivated even though I may come across as ignorant, that said.. I have just come back from a week long vacation in Hawaii on the Island of Oahu, the tourist population consisted of mostly American and Japanese vacationers split about 50/50. I am neither American or Japanese and so I took part in some people watching on this trip. There is one thing that I noticed more than anything else unlike the Americans who went about their day getting red sun bathing, shopping and eating with a blank look upon their faces the Japanese visitors in comparison almost always seemed to be laughing and giggling about something. Every where I went the Japanese boys and girls, ladies and men were laughing about 90% of the time. Laughing when swimming, when walking on the street, when crossing the road, when shopping. My question is what is so funny? What are you laughing about? No offence is meant by my question, thank you.

Answer 1

Japanese people laugh for several reasons. First the obvious is because something is funny. Second, because they are nervous. Three, because they are confronted with something different. Four, because they don't know how to respond.

I would say that what you saw would be a combination of the second, third, and fourth reason.

I have been living in Japan for over 15 years, and I think a more direct question would be about their comedy. I look at Japanese comedy and I ask your question, "What's so funny?" They just have a different sense that other cultures.

What you said about Japanese is not racist, but what you said about Ameicans is a bit offensive.

Answer 2

i felt good when I read that because its a dramatic change from the Japanese in Japan. Walking around their daily lives with glazed over eyes tired from the little hours of sleep, and dreading the day before them. So to here that they were all laughing and giggling and having a great time, well if I was in Hawaii then I would be too!
It would have been very exciting, to see all those new and different people and things.

Answer 3

If they were relatively young, (teenagers or in their 20s) then it's common for them to be laughing and having fun. There are actually many people living in Hawaii that are Japanese, so they could've been residents going out for some fun.

At any rate, I think the answer really has to do with their conversation. Since I assume you do not know Japanese, it is impossible to know exactly what is so funny, but Japanese friends like to talk, and often joke around or laugh at mistakes that they make (which may be made quite often if they are not used to being outside of Japan)... I think it's kind of like most people.

Answer 4

Hawaii is a fun place, so they're having fun. Myself; I prefer Maui to Oahu, but the whole state makes me want to smile at least. Spam sushi is good for a laugh, as is the tremendous size of many of the people who eat it.

Answer 5

I think they are having fun, enjoying Hawaii and having lots of curiosity that they don't know the answers but making it very simple...Laugh at it..though it may look offensive to others, for them it is just like discovering things around them and trying to figure it out but afraid to ask so they just laugh at it.. especially young generations, you will always hear them giggling..I doesn't irritate me anymore since I have lived long enough in Japan..as much I would try to approach them and help whenever I can when they are on trip..I've seen them everywhere, I have been to Hawaii too, Florida, San Francisco etc.. though they're surprised when they see somebody could speak their language and again start giggling.. ..there might be something funny in other circumstances and they are not loud people anyways so I don't really mind.. I understand how you noticed about this, but like Japanese, there are things that they don't understand about foreigners too so I don't think your question is offending.
Sometimes, I heard them use the word. foolish (Baka) or anything that is annoying or offensive when you know what's that mean but for them this is just like an expression.. I find this giggling and laughing is out of curiosity. simple way of making things not too complicated.. In other times, they are just like us who become frustrated in things around them and does this makes them bored..so even it is not so funny at all, they would do something or say something that they think would break the ice.. and start giggling..
Sometimes I would ask them....what is so funny? and they would responded ..Nothing.... so it is not really a big deal what is that all about..but there are also some kind of Japanese you don't encounter yet, like the ones who try to avoid crowds as much as possible, they have their own world and don't show much emotions..which is very hard to approach..
there is the akarui person..means fun to be with or lively and the kurai person means not sociable and boring to be with.
this is just my observation. which other has something to say for any reason..I don't find you ignorant, you observe a lot and that is very wise to know them the way they speak, eat, laugh etc etc. and I don't think this is an attack or racist observation anyways..


good day!

Answer 6

a lion grow to be walking for the duration of the jungle very proudly together with his chest severe interior the air asking each animal he got here upon who grow to be the king of the jungle? nicely rather much all the animals each and each in turn mentioned that he grow to be,of path he belted out his maximum loudest roar while he approached them. On drawing near a huge elephant, he did the comparable, notably the elephant picked him up in his trunk, and swung him into as plenty timber as he would desire to in all hazard locate, hurting the undesirable lion. The lion bruised and battered became to the elephant and mentioned oh that's ok in case you probably did no longer understand the respond to my question all you had to do grow to be ask.

Answer 7

Well, next time you visit a completely different culture, you may find things amusing too =)

You say that you engaged in some "people watching"? I've never been on a holiday to do that. I think they call that "stalking" where I'm from. =) (just kidding)

Answer 8

They're in Hawaii.
I would be laughing if I was in Hawaii.

Or maybe there's a Japanese speaking weed dealer.

Answer 9

uh...maybe cuz they are on vacation and they are having a fun time? just a guess...
i do have several friends from japan that giggle alot during our conversations over little things. might be cuz they are girls or i dont know, next time why dont you stop them and ask them if its racking your brain so much.

Answer 10

They are laughing because they own most of Hawaii.