Thailand, Japan 株 相互の affection that is rare in Asia
BANGKOK (AP) ― Thailand is smitten by Japan: Sushi restaurants fill the 商店街s, Issey Miyake's 高級な "Bao Bao" 捕らえる、獲得するs are all the 激怒（する） and Thai tourists are flocking to Japan in 記録，記録的な／記録する numbers to visit a country many 見解（をとる） as a 役割 model.
"I love Japan. They really put their heart into whatever they do," says Aunyawee Sahachalermphat, 26, who has traveled to Japan more than a dozen times since 熟考する／考慮するing there five years ago and owns at least 10 Comme des Garcons shirts, another popular brand that sounds French but is 現実に Japanese.
Like many Thais, she loves Japanese food and admires the 質 of its 製品s and its 前進するd, 整然とした economy that 保持するs a 尊敬（する）・点 for tradition. "We look up to them," she says.
In this June 24, 2016 photo, a Thai shopper gets inside a Japanese restaurant at Japanese shopping 商店街 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thais admire Japanese craftsmanship and the culture's 強調 on courteous and subdued manners, and tend to look to Japan as a 役割 model. Thailand, 一方／合間, is a 好意d 目的地 for Japanese 法人組織の／企業の 投資 and is seen an 招待するing tourist 位置／汚点／見つけ出す that?s different but not too foreign. The 相互の affection between these two nations is rare in Asia, where historical, political and 領土の 緊張s often 複雑にする 関係. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Japan, too, has a soft 位置／汚点／見つけ出す for Thailand, although it doesn't ぼんやり現れる nearly as large in the public mind. It's seen more as a warm, easygoing tourist 位置／汚点／見つけ出す ― a welcome break from Japan's often onerous social codes ― and a 決定的な 生産／産物 and 輸出（する） 中心 for more than 4,500 Japanese companies, 含むing behemoths such as Toyota, Honda and Canon.
All this has resulted in a 相互の affection between these two nations that's rare in Asia, where historical, political and 領土の 緊張s often 複雑にする 関係.
Typical of many in her 世代, Aunyawee traces her 肯定的な feelings to watching Japanese 風刺漫画s such as "Doraemon" and "Sailor Moon" as a child. As an adult, she instinctively 信用s anything "Made in Japan" and admires the courteous, subdued manners of many Japanese ― 普及した 感情s の中で Thais.
経済的な and bureaucratic changes have helped foster these 関係. Three years ago, Japan waived ビザs for Thais for up to 15 days, 誘発するing tourist numbers to 殺到する to nearly 800,000 last year, up five-倍の from 2011.
As Thai incomes have grown and 予算 運送／保菌者s such as AirAsia have 強めるd 競争, trips to Japan have become more affordable. Likewise, Japanese tourists can now 飛行機で行く from Tokyo to Bangkok for about the same price as to Okinawa, in southern Japan.
There seems to be a cultural affinity between these two peoples ― a gentleness, an aversion to 衝突 and an 強調 on proper etiquette ― that creates a sense of familiarity and safety.
Yet there are still enough intriguing differences to make the other culture 控訴，上告ing in a 非，不，無-脅すing way.
Buddhism, for example, has 影響（力）d both countries, although in Thailand it plays a more overt 役割 and it is epitomized by brilliantly colored 寺s and 修道士s in orange 式服s, while in Japan it takes on a more subdued form. Both countries have 王室の families, although the Thai king 持つ／拘留するs greater sway over society than the emperor does in Japan.
"There's a kindred feeling" with Thais, more so than with other Asians, said Mariko Uehara, an English 指導者 from Chigasaki, 南西 of Tokyo, who recently visited Thailand for a second time since 2012. "We have something in ありふれた that makes us feel 安全な・保証する." Some 1.38 million Japanese tourists （機の）カム to Thailand last year, a 類似の level to previous years.
Japan and Thailand aren't encumbered by historical baggage that has 緊張するd 関係 with their 各々の neighbors.
Tokyo's 関係 with 中国 and South Korea are tainted by 領土の 論争s and ぐずぐず残る 憤慨 over Japan's 侵略 before and during World War II. After 簡潔に resisting Japanese 軍隊／機動隊s, Thailand 正式に became an 同盟（する） of Tokyo during most of the war and served as a 供給（する） base and so 苦しむd いっそう少なく. Japan's 悪名高い "Death 鉄道" in western Thailand was built by British, U.S. and Australian 捕虜s and thousands of other Asians.
Japan's rosy image here has been partly 形態／調整d by popular 調書をとる／予約するs, TV 演劇s and movies.
"Khu Kam," a novel that has been made into movies many times ― 肩書を与えるd "Sunset on the Chaophraya" in English ― 描写するs a 戦時 romance between a Japanese 海軍の officer and a Thai woman in the 抵抗. He manages to 勝利，勝つ her over before 存在 killed.
Japanese food, once considered a delicacy in Thailand, has become more affordable and popular as more than 2,300 Japanese restaurants have opened up across the country, ３倍になるing since 2008.
Now a 最高の，を越す 推論する／理由 Thais want to go to Japan is to eat authentic Japanese food ― in Japan.
Chaitee Tandhanskul, a 29-year-old 経営者／支配人 in his family's 化学製品 商売／仕事, says he makes bookings at restaurants in Japan weeks ahead of time, and bases his 旅程 around those 保留（地）／予約s.
"I've traveled many times to Japan just for the culinary experience," he said.
Japan is more popular than previous favorites Hong Kong or Singapore because "it's much more exotic" and いっそう少なく "robotic," said Chaitee, who also roams the country taking pictures.
Taking their cues from Thai fashion magazines and websites that 最高潮の場面 the 最新の Japanese styles, Thai women line up in Tokyo to buy Issey Miyake's "Bao Bao" brand 捕らえる、獲得するs, which can cost several hundred dollars and have become a 中心的要素 of Bangkok's fashion エリート. Shiseido cosmetics, Kenzo shoes and Casio G-Shock watches are also hot.
Many Thais also like Japan because it is 安全な and they believe they won't get cheated by shopkeepers or taxi drivers, said Kavi Chongkittavorn, a 上級の fellow at Chulalongkorn University's 学校／設ける of 安全 and International 熟考する／考慮するs.
The two countries' economies have become ますます intertwined.
Thailand's importance to Japanese 製造業者s was made plain when 厳しい flooding here in 2011 押し寄せる／沼地d many factories and 供給者s, 混乱に陥れる／中断させるing markets as far away as Chicago and London, Japanese 外交官／大使 Shiro Sadoshima said in an interview.
"We need to think ーに関して／ーの点でs of 存在 in the same boat as they are ― that whatever Thailand is doing 井戸／弁護士席 is good for Japan, too," said Sadoshima, who was surprised to find a big "Ippudo" restaurant in Bangkok serving ramen noodles native to his home island of Kyushu.
"It's bigger and grander than the main shop in Japan," he said.
Japan's 公式の／役人 開発 援助（する） to Thailand shows up prominently in places like the "Thai-Japanese 橋（渡しをする）" 調印する ― with 国家の 旗s ― on a flyover at a major Bangkok 交差点. 援助 from Tokyo helped build 14 of the 21 橋（渡しをする）s across the Chao Phraya River that runs through the 資本／首都. 公式の／役人s from the two countries are doing 実現可能 熟考する／考慮するs on three high-速度(を上げる） 鉄道 lines that would cross the country, the 外交官／大使 said.
Bangkok has a large Japanese community, many of whom live clustered in an area that 似ているs parts of Tokyo, with Japanese eateries and yakitori shops lining 味方する streets and Thai hostesses calling out in Japanese. There are at least a couple streets of go-go 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s 充てるd to Japanese 顧客s.
Each country 申し込む／申し出s something appealingly different to the other.
The very discipline and proper etiquette that Thais admire about Japanese culture can become an enormous 重荷（を負わせる） to some Japanese who find Thailand's easygoing, 受託するing ways a welcome 避難.
Kazue Takenaga moved with her three children to Bangkok two years ago to escape the growing 教育の and social 圧力s 直面するing her family, 特に her 11-year-old daughter. Her husband had car parts factories in Thailand, so she decided to move here and 入会させる her children in an international school because the country and 環境 seemed more 受託するing and diverse than Japan, and yet also familiar.
"It's so good that we （機の）カム to Thailand," she said. "Our family's 全体にわたる health is much better. The lifestyle is much easier here. The thought of returning to Japan is daunting."
Thais, 一方／合間, want to see and experience things in Japan they can't at home, like snow, cherry blossoms and colored autumn leaves ― without traveling all the way to Europe or North America, said Tanong Prakuptanon, who runs a "Japanthaifanclub" Facebook page, which has tips for 旅行者s and more than 230,000 信奉者s.
"It's different, but not too foreign," he said. "It's a dream 目的地."
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Associated 圧力（をかける） writers Natnicha Chuwiruch and Jason Corben 与える／捧げるd to this 報告（する）／憶測.
In this June 24, 2016 photo, a 歩行者 passes by 宣伝s for Japanese restaurants in Bangkok, Thailand. Thais admire Japanese craftsmanship and the culture's 強調 on courteous and subdued manners, and tend to look to Japan as a 役割 model. Thailand, 一方／合間, is a 好意d 目的地 for Japanese 法人組織の／企業の 投資 and is seen an 招待するing tourist 位置／汚点／見つけ出す that?s different but not too foreign. The 相互の affection between these two nations is rare in Asia, where historical, political and 領土の 緊張s often 複雑にする 関係. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
In this June 24, 2016 photo, a Japanese family living in Bangkok walks past Japanese shopping 商店街 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai admires Japan culture's 強調 on courteous and subdued manners - 普及した 感情s の中で Thais, who look to Japan more than 中国, the U.S. or other Asian neighbors as an example to follow. The 相互の affection between these two nations is rare in Asia, where historical, political and 領土の 緊張s often 複雑にする 関係. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
In this June 24, 2016 photo, 訪問者s gather 反対するs during the Japan 観光旅行，事業 Fair in Bangkok, Thailand. Thais admire Japanese craftsmanship and the culture's 強調 on courteous and subdued manners, and tend to look to Japan as a 役割 model. Thailand, 一方／合間, is a 好意d 目的地 for Japanese 法人組織の／企業の 投資 and is seen an 招待するing tourist 位置／汚点／見つけ出す that?s different but not too foreign. The 相互の affection between these two nations is rare in Asia, where historical, politica l and 領土の 緊張s often 複雑にする 関係. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
In this June 28, 2016 photo, cars cross the Thai-Japanese friendship 橋（渡しをする） in Bangkok, Thailand. Thais admire Japanese craftsmanship and the culture's 強調 on courteous and subdued manners, and tend to look to Japan as a 役割 model. Thailand, 一方／合間, is a 好意d 目的地 for Japanese 法人組織の／企業の 投資 and is seen an 招待するing tourist 位置／汚点／見つけ出す that?s different but not too foreign. The 相互の affection between these two nations is rare in Asia, where historical, political and 領土の 緊張s often 複雑にする 関係. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
In this June 24, 2016 photo, 訪問者s read ちらしs on hotels in Japan at the Japan 観光旅行，事業 Fair in Bangkok, Thailand. Thais admire Japanese craftsmanship and the culture's 強調 on courteous and subdued manners, and tend to look to Japan as a 役割 model. Thailand, 一方／合間, is a 好意d 目的地 for Japanese 法人組織の／企業の 投資 and is seen an 招待するing tourist 位置／汚点／見つけ出す that?s different but not too foreign. The 相互の affection between these two nations is rare in Asia, where historical, political and 領土の 緊張s often 複雑にする 関係. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
In this June 16, 2016 photo, shoppers 提起する／ポーズをとる for a photo with sumo レスラー statues on a Japanese 主題d 床に打ち倒す of a major shopping 商店街 in central Bangkok, Thailand. Thais admire Japanese craftsmanship and the culture's 強調 on courteous and subdued manners, and tend to look to Japan as a 役割 model. Thailand, 一方／合間, is a 好意d 目的地 for Japanese 法人組織の／企業の 投資 and is seen an 招待するing tourist 位置／汚点／見つけ出す that?s different but not too foreign. The 相互の affection between these two nations is rare in Asia, where historical, political and 領土の 緊張s often 複雑にする 関係. (AP Photo/示す パン職人)
In this June 16, 2016 photo, Tanong Prakuptanon, who runs a Facebook 場所／位置 with 230,000 信奉者s, "Japanthaifanclub," which 供給するs （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） and tips in Thai on 観光旅行，事業 in Japan stands in a Japanese 主題d 床に打ち倒す at a major shopping more in central Bangkok, Thailand. Thais admire Japanese craftsmanship and the culture's 強調 on courteous and subdued manners, and tend to look to Japan as a 役割 model. Thailand, 一方／合間, is a 好意d 目的地 for Japanese 法人組織の／企業の 投資 and is seen an 招待するing tourist 位置／汚点／見つけ出す that?s different but not too foreign. The 相互の affection between these two nations is rare in Asia, where historical, political and 領土の 緊張s often 複雑にする 関係. (AP Photo/示す パン職人)
In this June 16, 2016 photo, Tanong Prakuptanon, who runs a Facebook 場所／位置 with 230,000 信奉者s, "Japanthaifanclub," which 供給するs （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） and tips in Thai on 観光旅行，事業 in Japan stands in a Japanese 主題d 床に打ち倒す at a major shopping more in cen tral Bangkok, Thailand. Thais admire Japanese craftsmanship and the culture's 強調 on courteous and subdued manners, and tend to look to Japan as a 役割 model. Thailand, 一方／合間, is a 好意d 目的地 for Japanese 法人組織の／企業の 投資 and is seen an 招待するing tourist 位置／汚点／見つけ出す that?s different but not too foreign. The 相互の affection between these two nations is rare in Asia, where historical, political and 領土の 緊張s often 複雑にする 関係. The statue written in Japanese reads: "Welcome, left," and "Smile." (AP Photo/示す パン職人)
In this June 24, 2016 photo, 訪問者s stand at Japan 国家の 観光旅行，事業 Organization 反対するs at the Japan 観光旅行，事業 Fair in Bangkok, Thailand. Thais admire Japanese craftsmanship and the culture's 強調 on courteous and subdued manners, and tend to look to Japan as a 役割 model. Thailand, 一方／合間, is a 好意d 目的地 for Japanese 法人組織の／企業の 投資 and is seen an 招待するing tourist 位置／汚点／見つけ出す that?s different but not too fore ign. The 相互の affection between these two nations is rare in Asia, where historical, political and 領土の 緊張s often 複雑にする 関係. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
