The French magazine "Le Journal du Journal du Dimanche" ran an article about the fact that some Japan tourist in Paris have had to undergo psychological therapy. The number averages around 12 a year. The reason for the therapy is because these people became mentally unbalanced when encountering something unexpected on their trip -- rude Parisians, dirty streets, etc.
The article went on to say that the Japanese Embassy in Paris has sent four people back to Japan this year. Two of them complained that their hotel rooms were bugged as part of some conspiracy. One believed that he was Louis XIV. One woman believed she was attacked by an electric oven.
The magazine calls it "Paris Syndrome," which was first named in 2004 by a psychotherapist. Wow... Is this only happening to the Japanese? Actually, when I was there, I was shortchanged twice in a cafe, which made me a little disappointed. But I also have fond memories of the food and great museums.
By the way, the "Big Three"; page of Japanese Wikipedia is funny. It has the Three Biggest Tourist Attraction Disappointments: Merlion of Singapore (it doesn't spray water anymore), The Little Mermaid of Copenhagen (too small), and Manneken Pis (also too small). Since I've never been to any of them, I can't be sure :)
I heard about this a while ago (on Neomarxisme.com, probably). I think some Japanese people go to Paris entertaining notions of it being this really romantic, artistic place, and then end up feeling very let down. It's like the people who come to Japan expecting nothing but wall-to-wall traditional culture or pop-trash cyberpunk. I've certainly met a few very disillusioned people living in Japan who were complete Japanophiles before they came here. They'd built the place up so much in their minds that the reality couldn't help but be an anticlimax.
Posted by: Jrim | Friday, October 27, 2006 at 02:44 PM
Hello Thank you for all comments.
I won't think this happen at paris, actually thinking of the number of tourist. This will happen in the U.S. more. But this can be article because some people has too strong love and longing for Paris. Sometimes is's delusion. ha ha ha That is funny part of Paris. I like there and hope to visit there again soon.
Posted by: Mari | Friday, October 27, 2006 at 01:55 PM
Hello again! :) as usual your posts brings a lot of info and relaxation to me. Arigatou! :) ...
i couldn't find the french article there, but reading your lines brought politics to my mind - something like "look, we are so dirty, we have so many villains/immigrants that the tourists are sufering from this!!... and these administratives are doing nothing!!" - if i'm not wrong they are in the middle of an ellection campagne... besides, the number of cases is small, compared to that of japanese tourists... maybe they were already having psychological problems and not aware of them/didn't say they are suffering ... or maybe some are not really bad(kind of homesick, different civilization stress), but underlined as being so and dramatically presenting the worst... I suspect here a little contextual exaggeration :)...
Paris might not be one of the cleanest places on earth, but it's not definetely such a "monster" :)
Posted by: Misha | Friday, October 27, 2006 at 12:45 AM
Greetings from Singapore!
The Merlion still vomits, erm, I mean sprays water you know :P
But they switch it off at night, probably to save electricity ;)
Posted by: Yan Dao | Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 05:21 PM
I wonder if Paris is the only city where this happens?
Posted by: Randy | Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 01:36 AM