“Just like earthquakes, there are many collisions between cars every day that don’t cause injury or death.”

I have to say, “Interesting” would be my (and much of the American public’s) opinion of both.

My proof? 10-20 low-budget movies about “10.5!”, “The Big One”, “Shakin’ San Fran”, etc, and then of course the obligatory “Fox’s World’s Deadliest Car Chases” volumes 1 to 200. It’s ENTERTAINING to people. Anyone see this little flick called ‘Titanic’? I think a ship sank or something, pretty disastrous.

Earthquakes and disaster in general hold a lot of people’s interest, because it’s something out of the ordinary. To put your earlier statement to rest, yes – there were a lot of people who found 9/11 ‘Interesting’. TV and news ratings skyrocketed for months especially when footage was shown.

Maybe it’s just America, but it’s sure not a new thing to be ‘interested’ or even ‘entertained’ by disaster. If Japan is outraged about him finding earthquakes ‘interesting’ or ‘amusing’ it’s just one more thing to tack onto the “Nonsense Things the Japanese Hyperreact To List”.

PS: I’m a different Rob.

“An earthquake is a specific type of natural disaster”

No, an earthquake is a specific type of seismic activity which is occurring, basically, CONSTANTLY and ALL THE TIME around the world. A “disaster” from an earthquake causing a great loss of life occurs, otoh, extremely rarely.

Japan lost almost 6,000 in the Kobe quake in ‘95 – http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/world_deaths.php

Japan had 8,300 deaths from traffic fatalities in 2002 ALONE, which is apparently the fewest since the 60s – http://web-japan.org/trends01/article/030318soc.html

Which means cars kill more than the Kobe quake EVERY YEAR, yet newsfolks aren’t out asking people if they’re afraid of cars.

Given the stats and the fact that earthquakes massive enough to cause great loss of life are extremely uncommon, it’s perfectly valid to ask “Why are you so scared of earthquakes?”

All this clip did for me was perpetuate the stereotype that the Japanese culture has a tendency to be panicky, worried and afraid when there’s not any real cause for it.

And this – “It can mean “interesting” in certain contexts, but it is a mistake to always translate it as such.”

Of course. As it’s also mistake to always translate it as “fun,” particularly when it often can have a slightly different meaning, which makes much MORE sense in THIS context, and you’re dealing with somebody who’s clearly speaking it as a second language.

About the translation:

I stand by my translation. I translated as I thought native Japanese speakers watching the TV show would understand it. I wrote the comment about it in this post because of the way I saw a Japanese person react to their use of the word “omoshiroi” on this TV show.

I think you are making the mistake in assuming that Japanese people should interpret the word “omoshiroi” to mean what you or other speakers of Japanese as a second language imagine it should mean in this context.

About the analogy:

I was merely trying to help you with your terrible analogy. Let me simplify it for you.

car = an inanimate object
earthquake = an event

Asking somebody “What do you think of cars?” is in no way similar to the question “What do you think of earthquakes?”

Change the word “car” to “collisions between cars” and your analogy might work. Just like earthquakes, there are many collisions between cars every day that don’t cause injury or death.

Basically, omoshiroi is a positive context.

「面（おも）」は目の前を意味し、「白い（しろい）」は明るくてはっきりしていることを意味した。
そこから、目の前が明るくなった状態をさすようになり、目の前にある景色の美しさを表すようになった。
さらに転じて、「楽しい」や「心地よい」などの意味を持つようになり、明るい感情を表す言葉として広義に使われるようになった。

“I think you are making the mistake in assuming that Japanese people should interpret the word “omoshiroi” to mean what you or other speakers of Japanese as a second language imagine it should mean in this context.”

No, I’m telling you what Japanese people have explained to me it can mean in many contexts. Given that, the fact you think that “native Japanese speakers” would most likely interpret it as “earthquakes are great fun!” speaks more to you than anything else.

“Asking somebody “What do you think of cars?” is in no way similar to the question “What do you think of earthquakes?””

No, but given the rate of deaths caused by cars compared to deaths caused by earthquakes, it makes far less sense to ask “Earthquakes aren’t scary/you aren’t scared?” – like IN THE CLIP – than it would to ask “Cars aren’t scary?” They’re both absurd questions, but only one would be asked. And not the one that kills more people.

Earthquakes don’t kill you, the accidents that result from the man made things falling on you kills you. Cars don’t kill you, the accidents that result from driving millions of cars in close proximity kills you.

The only reasons people don’t consider these 2000lb hulks of metal flying by at high rates of speed, often causing death and destruction, “scary” is because of the powers of denial, the familiarity/social acceptability of it all and the illusion of control they think they have when they drive.

But I understand. Clearly we should all be as worried and tremulous as the Japanese about things that hardly ever happen and are clearly beyond our control. Otherwise it’s douchey. Sign me up.