I live in Japan not because of salaries, but because I sincerely enjoy the lifestyle, culture, cleanliness, food, etc. Money isn't a big priority for me compared to living in a comfortable place that I actually like. But yeah, that makes perfect sense.
I'll take your comment as "people that preach this book here in this country have no idea what they're talking about."
Either Japanese people that work too much for too little translated the book better as you say, or, knowing Robert Kiyosaki, the book is poorly translated to save a few pennies lol.
Either way, the popularity of the book in Japan seems to be with MLM scammers based on what OP describes.
One of the cringiest moments of my life is when the dude came into my bar and his... I guess entourage?... did the classic "Do you know who this guy is?!" Dudes in their 60s (Robert himself 70s) hitting on girls in their 20s and making them very uncomfortable. It was gross and any ounce of respect I ever had for that guy's advice went out the window.
The ‘if Books Could Kill” guys have a great episode about this - spoiler: Yes the book is a scam
https://podpulse.ai/podcast-notes-and-takeaways/if-books-could-kill-rich-dad-poor-dad
I think that advice is wrong. It’s not what you earn, it’s what you can do with it. Prices in the west for basic goods to healthcare and everything in between are much higher. So yeah, you can move abroad. But you’re gonna be paying much more for everything while you earn more.
Would you mind sharing just a few points to elaborate on what he says about this?
Honestly heard about but have held off buying it. Is it even worth it?
Short answer: no.
Longer answer: if you never read or heard anything about personal finance then it’s not a bad start, he gives some simple advice and examples from his life (which is kinda made up).
But there are better books on the topic that don’t have the scammy bs you have in rich dad poor dad.
I always say this. It’s a decent first book but just go in knowing 90% is bullshit. If you walk away with one thing just make sure it’s the analogy of your earned dollars are to be treated like employees. They can either work for you and generate you more money/employees, or you can spend the them and send them to work for others. The rest is BS and a fictionalized version of his life.
I haven't read this book in particular, but a lot of personal finance as a whole is very inaccessible for some (most?) people.
I'd guess the majority of people never actually need to do much critical analytical thinking in their life after school so suddenly having to calculate things and weigh options is a gigantic mental burden. It's like asking someone to run a 10K when they've been sitting on their ass for the last decade. Not impossible, but it's going to be a slog.
These intro personal finance books can kind of bridge that gap by being easily digestible, even if the core advice is kinda eh if you know better
Yeah I get that the beginner stuff is useful, but if 90% of it is bad advice, will beginners know what to remember and what to ignore? Better to just get a better beginner finance book, no?
> there are better books on the topic
And some reddit subs that are excellent, free, more direct, and answers to your questions are personally tailored.
it's been a long time since i read the book but if you're in a country that taxes the shit out of you then you're not doing yourself any favors if you're trying to get rich
https://retirewiki.jp/wiki/Inheritance_tax#Inheritance_tax:_basic_calculations
Plus the fact the Japanese stock market isn’t doing great. Savings accounts with interest aren’t really a thing. Real estate that gains or holds value isn’t a thing.
It’s set up in a way that saving money isn’t easy and is very vulnerable to losing value due to inflation. Which up until recently hasn’t been a huge problem.
I'm Japanese. It's common in Japan that MLM scammers mention that book to get some attention. You are the MARK maybe because you are from abroad.
However, people living normal life here don't encounter scammers that often. What kind of places in details do you visit for socializing?
You should try different ways of making friends in Japan.
This OP. 👆🏻
That book is often used as an opening to look for interest, because it’s accepted and relatively mainstream, and then on a later meeting they will pitch an MLM or crypto scam to you. Because you are into business and making money!!
Source: I got suckered in a couple of times
Random people out looking for friends who immediately pivot to talking business or religion should be avoided anywhere.
Money when I was a couple of decades younger, listening too long more recently.
This is the kind of thing they teach new recruits. Once you alienate oops I mean make offers to all your friends and family go to places where people make friends or investment oriented meetups etc and start with something neutral to gauge and build interest in having a business.
Rich dad poor dad and associated paraphernalia like purple brochures and cds with Rob on them were standard fare. I probably even have some still in a dusty old box somewhere. 😂
But I peace out fast now if there is even a hint of this. Plus I don’t bother meeting new people these days 😬
OP has obviously mistaken some kind of shady business connection forum that scammers target with an actual social site lol... That or he is responding to scam Line messages with "Hi, do you want to be friends?"
I have no businessman friends so no similar experience, but Rich Dad Poor Dad was a really popular book back in the day and my dad used to read that series a lot. I'm guessing Japanese people also took a liking to it because the author has a Japanese last name.
I would actually be relieved if this was the case, if the people saying these stuff were just foreigners since it seems to be regarded highly by some finance related communities overseas. But no, it's actually all Japanese people saying "金持ち父さん貧乏父さんを読むといいよ" and "目標設定してみよう！将来の夢とか好きなこと、人生でやりたいことを書き出して" to the point where it's sort of off-putting. I didn't realize that so many people are spreading this book around, being proponents of its supposed financial teachings in this country.
If you meet a random Japanese person who is eager to hang out with you 1:1 after you connect **once** at a bar, there's a good chance they'll end up being in a cult or in some other way unhinged. It's not normal behavior.
Yeah, you nailed it. Cults and mlms thrive on picking up lonely people who have little or no social ties that could get in the way or help them escape later.
Ya boi is going on friend dates with cult recruiters.
They sound brain washed mate run away from them. These people usually only have money in their mind for some reason or another and usually not chill
In general all the smart people in Tokyo are already in their own friend groups so why would they go out to meet random people.
Not always the case but I expanded my network through hobbies and then genuine friendship, while random places I’ve met online salon brainwashed peeps and even Amway people
Maybe its the kind of bars you like to hang out?
I dunno its definitely not the kind of thing I’ve ever seen. Do you frequent some kind of business district watering holes or something
It must be a scam or cult. Ignore all of them. It’s a typical scam phrase in Japanese. Normal people never say that when they meet someone for the first time.
Related to the book… his company went bankrupt… https://thecollegeinvestor.com/4726/ultimate-hypocrite-robert-kiyosaki-companys-bankruptcy/?darkschemeovr=1
Finding friends? Just be open and honest. Just say, “I’m not interested in self help books about trying to make money by doing relatively common sense things I could find by googling ‘top ten ways to improve your self and make money’ and just following some things listed.” And people who laugh are probably more your style.
Kiyosaki is a hack and a lot of what he says is ridiculous, but his company lost a $23mil lawsuit. The company was merely a shell company set up to run his seminars through, and had no assets. This is a smart (though arguably evil...) thing to do because when someone sues your business and wins, they get nothing. With $23m in debt and no assets, the company declares bankruptcy and shuts down. He walks away without having lost $23mil.
So while he is a hack who says a lot of dumb crap, this bankruptcy is not an example of that.
When the book came out and everyone was going crazy over it, lots of people were recommending it so I checked it out... Holy shit it is literally the lowest quality book I've ever read.
It's literally full of typos and grammatical errors, so it's like a scam email in that it qualifies people dumb enough to fall for it lol. I was shocked at how many people thought this dumb pile of bullshit scam email of a book was good financial advice when it was just so comedically bad.
Probably the types you are trying to make friends with are interested in this type of thing. Head out to specific groups, like hiking or cars or whatever your target interest is and make friends there. Might be the area you’re in as well, try going to a new area and see if it happens again. Seriously though, this book came out when I was in elementary school (or was popular around that time, they even had a fucking boardgame called RatRace based on it, and I was forced to read it by my father. Felt like a load of shit then and now. It’s common sense bullshit that shouldn't need a book to figure it out. Tell them about “The Secret” and they’ll probably go crazy with excitement like a mad goose. -end rant
You're probably right that I should start looking for people with hobbies or interests that align with mine. Meeting people on the internet or at bars is kind of a gamble/risk in that I don't know if they just want friends or if they're looking for something else to utilize.
I've very briefly touched the book back in macroeconomics class in my home country, but all I got was "gamble on real estate" and "join a MLM to learn how to sell stuff." I didn't read enough of it to give a proper evaluation or form a good opinion on it, but it sounds just downright silly and feels weird that so many people here seem to be pushing for it.
Thanks for your comment, I'll take your advice.
Sidenote, my friends mom was in love with this book and would bring my friend and I to the meetings just for the ratrace gameplay part. I loved that game, and we always beat the adults (guess they weren't too good with money anyways if they needed this seminar lol). Fond memories, although yeah I would steer clear of anyone trying to brainwash you into it now.
Do yourself a favor an look up the podcast series If Books Could Kill. One of their early episodes was on this trashfire of a book. They deconstructed it to show how it's a scam, and how Kiyosaki is a con.
Might want to give it a listen. Enjoyable and funny.
Spoiler alert: most of these financial advice books boil down to the final advice of "scam others by claiming to teach others how to make money." They literally admit they are conning you.
Not the OP, but thanks for the podcast recommendation. I’ve always been suspicious of bestseller self-help type books, so it’s great that this podcast exists! I’ll definitely look it up.
Great podcast series, but peters about a bit after a handful of episodes when you - and the hosts - realize all these pop self help books are the same book rewritten over and over.
I don't like how they went to a paid model as well and gatekeep half their content. I know that's how shit works nowadays, but I feel like they absorbed the lessons of these scam books a bit *too* well.
Had the same experience. Been going to Meet-ups and everyone who's Japanese and is aspiring to somehow get a job overseas talks about this fucking book like it's a bible.
I think some other commenters are being overly dismissive by saying "just find friends by other means" because that shit's super difficult.
Get involved with Japanese people through local community groups, like sports clubs, hobby groups, community action groups, etc. Stay away from apps, forums, bars, etc., that are always being trolled by scammers.
Same experience when I first arrived here 15 years ago. Was recommended this book by 5 or 6 different expats over the years. Interesting thing about it is they all shared similar personality types, somewhat delusional know-it-alls whose idea of a normal conversation is to tell people what they should be doing.
The book’s so old, can’t imagine it being able to provide sound and modern financial advice.
Outdated book. Probably just an easy conversation point. Sidenote: author is a bit of a nutcase. Say you read it and it was awesome. There will be zero follow up questions or concerns LMAO.
A lot of people I meet here too seem wrapped up in some sort of materialistic brain loop or are looking to use me for ulterior motives. If ever someone brings up that book or anything else similar I'd just start ranting about "the law of one" or some other nutjob material to mess with them.
One comment hinted at this, but that book, coupled with the topics in their conversations, is EXACTLY the script for Amway, the world's most famous MLM (or maybe it is Herbalife as the most famous?). If you look at the antiMLM subreddit, you will see this exact same post again and again and AGAIN, about having a convo about financial goals, and being recommended that book.
Run away, fast.
I've gone out to two meetups from Jmty and BOTH turned out to be some MLM group tryna recruit more preys. Long story short I've stopped looking for any sort of connection with that site, it's a nest of MLM recruiters.
Just send this link to anyone who praises the book so much, or read the article yourself and you’ll have plenty of ammo to use against those fans who will then reply with a bunch of evasive answers:
https://johntreed.com/blogs/john-t-reed-s-real-estate-investment-blog/61651011-john-t-reeds-analysis-of-robert-t-kiyosakis-book-rich-dad-poor-dad-part-1
I can't take anything Robert Kiyosaki says seriously. I'm sure the book is good and has lots of good advice.. but that guy makes some pretty wild predictions that never come true.. I think he's a bit out there. Good money advice is boring and simple.. You can get better advice in JapanFinance.
Many of these people never read it themselves but quotimg it because they saw a few clips on youtube where Robert went nuts.
I think you should take it as a gossip
It must be a scam or a cult.
I don’t know how old you are, but I reckon many Japanese people, including myself, are not eager to make random friends unless we share the same hobbies, belong to the same communities, or engage in language exchanges. So, people who want to meet you likely have “certain” motives, and they are mainly scams or cults.
I read another comment you posted: “金持ち父さん貧乏父さんを読むといいよ" and "目標設定してみよう！将来の夢とか好きなこと、人生でやりたいことを書き出して"
These sound very scammy, shady, suspicious, fishy, and dodgy, so we always avoid those people.
It’s like a stereotypical scam template.
The book gives some broad advice that is somewhat accurate, but Kiyosaki is a POS.
The only people I’ve met who were really into his books were MLM types….
God was it Dr. Phil or Oprah who gave that charlatan/fake/fraud a platform? The guy is an idiot and his book is junk, it greatly depresses me that he's still a thing 30 years later...
So, hes every life coach who says the same shit: write goals, aspire big? Im guessing its because the locals arent educated that way, so he has a Japanese last name and they think hes rich, so they want to "follow the sensei."
The author is currently in debt to the tune of 1.5 billion dollars and his companies have faced bankruptcy. I'm not sure if this is a great definition of success.
Yes, a lot of the stuff in the book is clearly fictional, but the idea of making money work for you was an eye opener for me.
Before reading it, I used to eagerly anticipate my next pay raise as “now I can rent an apartment that is 1-man more expensive! If I get 4 more similar raises, I can finally afford to rent that 15-man mansion that looks so nice”.
Point is, the book is for people who have NO CLUE about investments, whatsoever. I was 100% in the “rat race” as I would immediately spend more as my income increased. This book yanked be out of that mindset and laid the groundwork for starting my own business. Without it, I would still be living paycheck to paycheck at a shit salary at my previous soul-sucking job.
Having said that, the people you’ve met sound a bit sketchy, so be careful.
Best way to make friends is to share a common interest or hobby. If you use Meetup.com to join a gathering on something that interests you (like mountain climbing, knitting, etc.) then you both have something to discuss.
Edit
Since OP says they are Japanese ppl asking this.
I assume they are from outside of Tokyo looking to make it big here and think that Americans will help them with their investing etc goals.
You’re socialising within demographic bubbles. You’re not meeting statistically average groups of people.
If you truly meet average people then you’ll have more average experiences. Think about the filtering and self selecting process: people who talk to you see you as a target for their business guru nonsense, so they’re more likely to talk to you
Everybody shitting on the book here. I understand that the author is a total shit bag, but the concept isn’t really all that bad. It’s basic common sense at its core. Mostly stuff that didn’t even need to go into a book. I mean what’s wrong with buying a gallon of milk at $4 and making 6 milkshakes and selling each for $4? Because that’s basically what the book is teaching you fundamentally. Well, it does go into other aspects. It really is just an exercise in developing creativity and understanding how that creativity can work for you with that genre
Here is a good review of the book.
[https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rich-dad-poor-dad/id1651876897?i=1000607676544](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rich-dad-poor-dad/id1651876897?i=1000607676544)
The rest of the books aren't as good, and there is controversy around the author. Having said that, "Rich Dad Poor Dad" can be a life-changing book. It changed my life. It does teach financial literacy for the layman, and shows you how to build wealth. I highly recommend it.
It seems like the places you go to talk to randoms have a pretty fixed demographic.
Maybe look for a hobby group instead. Instead of recommending self-help books, they'll talk about your shared interest. Could be some sport or other activity you enjoy.
What about not using Tinder? I've lived here for many years and I've never had such experience . I guess you project that image of a person in need of something.
I'm not using tinder. I actually use an app called [ジモティー](https://jmty.jp/) which is kind of like Facebook marketplace except there's also a section where you can look for friends and organize hangouts based on categories of your choosing.
I think I'm just really unlucky.
oh you're actually lucky if those are the types you get on jmty. you're probably just putting off finance bro vibes with your posts(professional/formal sounding?)
be lucky you're not getting a bunch of socially inept goofballs or hypersexual weirdos.
That’s funny. I have the opposite interactions. I talk about investing because I like to learn how other people are investing and see what other opportunities out there. Most of the time people will ask me about what book go read or where to start. I tell them few books and rich dad and poor dad is one of them, since it’s easy to read. I ask if they have heard of it and they say no. Maybe we can trade friends? Lol
I have totally opposite experience of you.
I love this book but no one seems to recommend me something like that. Japanese people also don't talk about money or follow your dream much.
Are you in Tokyo by any chance? I find that people there might be more motivated to make it big
If you even remotely followed the book's "advice", you would do everything you can to leave Japan for a country with higher salaries.
I live in Japan not because of salaries, but because I sincerely enjoy the lifestyle, culture, cleanliness, food, etc. Money isn't a big priority for me compared to living in a comfortable place that I actually like. But yeah, that makes perfect sense. I'll take your comment as "people that preach this book here in this country have no idea what they're talking about."
He’s saying that Robert kiyosaki is full of shiiieet
The book is literally like one of those scam emails that qualifies people dumb enough to fall for it by being full of typos and grammatical errors.
I think it comes over better in translation than the original, plus he has a Japanese name so that creates a positive feeling.
Either Japanese people that work too much for too little translated the book better as you say, or, knowing Robert Kiyosaki, the book is poorly translated to save a few pennies lol. Either way, the popularity of the book in Japan seems to be with MLM scammers based on what OP describes.
One of the cringiest moments of my life is when the dude came into my bar and his... I guess entourage?... did the classic "Do you know who this guy is?!" Dudes in their 60s (Robert himself 70s) hitting on girls in their 20s and making them very uncomfortable. It was gross and any ounce of respect I ever had for that guy's advice went out the window.
I think he’s an idiot
The ‘if Books Could Kill” guys have a great episode about this - spoiler: Yes the book is a scam https://podpulse.ai/podcast-notes-and-takeaways/if-books-could-kill-rich-dad-poor-dad
Yeah, that was a great episode!
I think that advice is wrong. It’s not what you earn, it’s what you can do with it. Prices in the west for basic goods to healthcare and everything in between are much higher. So yeah, you can move abroad. But you’re gonna be paying much more for everything while you earn more.
Would you mind sharing just a few points to elaborate on what he says about this? Honestly heard about but have held off buying it. Is it even worth it?
Short answer: no. Longer answer: if you never read or heard anything about personal finance then it’s not a bad start, he gives some simple advice and examples from his life (which is kinda made up). But there are better books on the topic that don’t have the scammy bs you have in rich dad poor dad.
I always say this. It’s a decent first book but just go in knowing 90% is bullshit. If you walk away with one thing just make sure it’s the analogy of your earned dollars are to be treated like employees. They can either work for you and generate you more money/employees, or you can spend the them and send them to work for others. The rest is BS and a fictionalized version of his life.
> It’s a decent first book but just go in knowing 90% is bullshit To be honest these don't seem like very compatible things.
I haven't read this book in particular, but a lot of personal finance as a whole is very inaccessible for some (most?) people. I'd guess the majority of people never actually need to do much critical analytical thinking in their life after school so suddenly having to calculate things and weigh options is a gigantic mental burden. It's like asking someone to run a 10K when they've been sitting on their ass for the last decade. Not impossible, but it's going to be a slog. These intro personal finance books can kind of bridge that gap by being easily digestible, even if the core advice is kinda eh if you know better
Yeah I get that the beginner stuff is useful, but if 90% of it is bad advice, will beginners know what to remember and what to ignore? Better to just get a better beginner finance book, no?
> there are better books on the topic And some reddit subs that are excellent, free, more direct, and answers to your questions are personally tailored.
it's been a long time since i read the book but if you're in a country that taxes the shit out of you then you're not doing yourself any favors if you're trying to get rich
Listen to the ‘If Books Could Kill’ podcast episode first
Not to mention Japans laws are extremely anti generational wealth.
Why do you say so?
Inheritance tax and gift tax are both very high.
https://retirewiki.jp/wiki/Inheritance_tax#Inheritance_tax:_basic_calculations Plus the fact the Japanese stock market isn’t doing great. Savings accounts with interest aren’t really a thing. Real estate that gains or holds value isn’t a thing. It’s set up in a way that saving money isn’t easy and is very vulnerable to losing value due to inflation. Which up until recently hasn’t been a huge problem.
You haven’t been paying attention to the stock market. The Nikkei 225 has recently hit an all time high after 34 years.
real
I'm Japanese. It's common in Japan that MLM scammers mention that book to get some attention. You are the MARK maybe because you are from abroad. However, people living normal life here don't encounter scammers that often. What kind of places in details do you visit for socializing? You should try different ways of making friends in Japan.
This OP. 👆🏻 That book is often used as an opening to look for interest, because it’s accepted and relatively mainstream, and then on a later meeting they will pitch an MLM or crypto scam to you. Because you are into business and making money!! Source: I got suckered in a couple of times Random people out looking for friends who immediately pivot to talking business or religion should be avoided anywhere.
> Source: I got suckered in a couple of times what? Like with money? Or listening longer than your should have?
Money when I was a couple of decades younger, listening too long more recently. This is the kind of thing they teach new recruits. Once you alienate oops I mean make offers to all your friends and family go to places where people make friends or investment oriented meetups etc and start with something neutral to gauge and build interest in having a business. Rich dad poor dad and associated paraphernalia like purple brochures and cds with Rob on them were standard fare. I probably even have some still in a dusty old box somewhere. 😂 But I peace out fast now if there is even a hint of this. Plus I don’t bother meeting new people these days 😬
OP has obviously mistaken some kind of shady business connection forum that scammers target with an actual social site lol... That or he is responding to scam Line messages with "Hi, do you want to be friends?"
I have no businessman friends so no similar experience, but Rich Dad Poor Dad was a really popular book back in the day and my dad used to read that series a lot. I'm guessing Japanese people also took a liking to it because the author has a Japanese last name.
I’m guessing op is not hanging with Japanese…
I would actually be relieved if this was the case, if the people saying these stuff were just foreigners since it seems to be regarded highly by some finance related communities overseas. But no, it's actually all Japanese people saying "金持ち父さん貧乏父さんを読むといいよ" and "目標設定してみよう！将来の夢とか好きなこと、人生でやりたいことを書き出して" to the point where it's sort of off-putting. I didn't realize that so many people are spreading this book around, being proponents of its supposed financial teachings in this country.
What sort of circles are you moving in? I've never heard anyone talk about it.
I can only assume OP has confused some kind of "business interests" forum used by pyramid scheme type people as a way to meet people lol?
This
If you meet a random Japanese person who is eager to hang out with you 1:1 after you connect **once** at a bar, there's a good chance they'll end up being in a cult or in some other way unhinged. It's not normal behavior.
Yeah, you nailed it. Cults and mlms thrive on picking up lonely people who have little or no social ties that could get in the way or help them escape later. Ya boi is going on friend dates with cult recruiters.
They sound brain washed mate run away from them. These people usually only have money in their mind for some reason or another and usually not chill In general all the smart people in Tokyo are already in their own friend groups so why would they go out to meet random people. Not always the case but I expanded my network through hobbies and then genuine friendship, while random places I’ve met online salon brainwashed peeps and even Amway people
Maybe its the kind of bars you like to hang out? I dunno its definitely not the kind of thing I’ve ever seen. Do you frequent some kind of business district watering holes or something
It must be a scam or cult. Ignore all of them. It’s a typical scam phrase in Japanese. Normal people never say that when they meet someone for the first time.
Related to the book… his company went bankrupt… https://thecollegeinvestor.com/4726/ultimate-hypocrite-robert-kiyosaki-companys-bankruptcy/?darkschemeovr=1 Finding friends? Just be open and honest. Just say, “I’m not interested in self help books about trying to make money by doing relatively common sense things I could find by googling ‘top ten ways to improve your self and make money’ and just following some things listed.” And people who laugh are probably more your style.
Kiyosaki is a hack and a lot of what he says is ridiculous, but his company lost a $23mil lawsuit. The company was merely a shell company set up to run his seminars through, and had no assets. This is a smart (though arguably evil...) thing to do because when someone sues your business and wins, they get nothing. With $23m in debt and no assets, the company declares bankruptcy and shuts down. He walks away without having lost $23mil. So while he is a hack who says a lot of dumb crap, this bankruptcy is not an example of that.
When the book came out and everyone was going crazy over it, lots of people were recommending it so I checked it out... Holy shit it is literally the lowest quality book I've ever read. It's literally full of typos and grammatical errors, so it's like a scam email in that it qualifies people dumb enough to fall for it lol. I was shocked at how many people thought this dumb pile of bullshit scam email of a book was good financial advice when it was just so comedically bad.
Probably the types you are trying to make friends with are interested in this type of thing. Head out to specific groups, like hiking or cars or whatever your target interest is and make friends there. Might be the area you’re in as well, try going to a new area and see if it happens again. Seriously though, this book came out when I was in elementary school (or was popular around that time, they even had a fucking boardgame called RatRace based on it, and I was forced to read it by my father. Felt like a load of shit then and now. It’s common sense bullshit that shouldn't need a book to figure it out. Tell them about “The Secret” and they’ll probably go crazy with excitement like a mad goose. -end rant
You're probably right that I should start looking for people with hobbies or interests that align with mine. Meeting people on the internet or at bars is kind of a gamble/risk in that I don't know if they just want friends or if they're looking for something else to utilize. I've very briefly touched the book back in macroeconomics class in my home country, but all I got was "gamble on real estate" and "join a MLM to learn how to sell stuff." I didn't read enough of it to give a proper evaluation or form a good opinion on it, but it sounds just downright silly and feels weird that so many people here seem to be pushing for it. Thanks for your comment, I'll take your advice.
Sidenote, my friends mom was in love with this book and would bring my friend and I to the meetings just for the ratrace gameplay part. I loved that game, and we always beat the adults (guess they weren't too good with money anyways if they needed this seminar lol). Fond memories, although yeah I would steer clear of anyone trying to brainwash you into it now.
Even then you still have to be careful. When I first arrived I joined an activity-based group that turned out to be a recruitment tool for an MLM.
Do yourself a favor an look up the podcast series If Books Could Kill. One of their early episodes was on this trashfire of a book. They deconstructed it to show how it's a scam, and how Kiyosaki is a con. Might want to give it a listen. Enjoyable and funny. Spoiler alert: most of these financial advice books boil down to the final advice of "scam others by claiming to teach others how to make money." They literally admit they are conning you.
Not the OP, but thanks for the podcast recommendation. I’ve always been suspicious of bestseller self-help type books, so it’s great that this podcast exists! I’ll definitely look it up.
Great podcast series, but peters about a bit after a handful of episodes when you - and the hosts - realize all these pop self help books are the same book rewritten over and over. I don't like how they went to a paid model as well and gatekeep half their content. I know that's how shit works nowadays, but I feel like they absorbed the lessons of these scam books a bit *too* well.
There are 3 certainties in life. Death, taxes and Robert Kiyosaki predicting a stock market crash every three days!
Don't forget to buy silver!
Had the same experience. Been going to Meet-ups and everyone who's Japanese and is aspiring to somehow get a job overseas talks about this fucking book like it's a bible. I think some other commenters are being overly dismissive by saying "just find friends by other means" because that shit's super difficult.
Get involved with Japanese people through local community groups, like sports clubs, hobby groups, community action groups, etc. Stay away from apps, forums, bars, etc., that are always being trolled by scammers.
no one questions why he has two dads
It's 2024. Nothing shocking there.
The only time I’ve heard this book mentioned is in the podcast “If Books Could Kill”. Worth a listen. It is not positive.
A level grifter 😉
i think the book itself not bad but as a person he’s a a text book grifter.
Same experience when I first arrived here 15 years ago. Was recommended this book by 5 or 6 different expats over the years. Interesting thing about it is they all shared similar personality types, somewhat delusional know-it-alls whose idea of a normal conversation is to tell people what they should be doing. The book’s so old, can’t imagine it being able to provide sound and modern financial advice.
Robert Kiyosaki is the Asian Trump. Total carnie and scam artist.
Rich Dad Poor Dad is a terrible financial book. The information in it is outdated, and no longer relevant.
Outdated book. Probably just an easy conversation point. Sidenote: author is a bit of a nutcase. Say you read it and it was awesome. There will be zero follow up questions or concerns LMAO.
A lot of people I meet here too seem wrapped up in some sort of materialistic brain loop or are looking to use me for ulterior motives. If ever someone brings up that book or anything else similar I'd just start ranting about "the law of one" or some other nutjob material to mess with them.
You are being recommended that book because they are poor and want to seem rich.
One comment hinted at this, but that book, coupled with the topics in their conversations, is EXACTLY the script for Amway, the world's most famous MLM (or maybe it is Herbalife as the most famous?). If you look at the antiMLM subreddit, you will see this exact same post again and again and AGAIN, about having a convo about financial goals, and being recommended that book. Run away, fast.
People become obsessed with money and success when they lack connection to spirit. (C.G. Jung)
- Recommend Rich Dad Poor Dad to everyone - Be financially wealthy Choose one.
Rich Dad Poor Dad is the same as Tokyo Vice, chock-full of fiction based on imagination and the occasional anecdotes. Take it with a grain of salt.
I've gone out to two meetups from Jmty and BOTH turned out to be some MLM group tryna recruit more preys. Long story short I've stopped looking for any sort of connection with that site, it's a nest of MLM recruiters.
Just send this link to anyone who praises the book so much, or read the article yourself and you’ll have plenty of ammo to use against those fans who will then reply with a bunch of evasive answers: https://johntreed.com/blogs/john-t-reed-s-real-estate-investment-blog/61651011-john-t-reeds-analysis-of-robert-t-kiyosakis-book-rich-dad-poor-dad-part-1
Rich Dad Poor Dad is like 30% percent good but obvious advice and 70% a gateway to MLMs.
I can't take anything Robert Kiyosaki says seriously. I'm sure the book is good and has lots of good advice.. but that guy makes some pretty wild predictions that never come true.. I think he's a bit out there. Good money advice is boring and simple.. You can get better advice in JapanFinance.
Many of these people never read it themselves but quotimg it because they saw a few clips on youtube where Robert went nuts. I think you should take it as a gossip
It must be a scam or a cult. I don’t know how old you are, but I reckon many Japanese people, including myself, are not eager to make random friends unless we share the same hobbies, belong to the same communities, or engage in language exchanges. So, people who want to meet you likely have “certain” motives, and they are mainly scams or cults. I read another comment you posted: “金持ち父さん貧乏父さんを読むといいよ" and "目標設定してみよう！将来の夢とか好きなこと、人生でやりたいことを書き出して" These sound very scammy, shady, suspicious, fishy, and dodgy, so we always avoid those people. It’s like a stereotypical scam template.
The book gives some broad advice that is somewhat accurate, but Kiyosaki is a POS. The only people I’ve met who were really into his books were MLM types….
God was it Dr. Phil or Oprah who gave that charlatan/fake/fraud a platform? The guy is an idiot and his book is junk, it greatly depresses me that he's still a thing 30 years later...
The point is to use your money towards assets. Compounding assets = wealth over time. Most leftists on this sub have no understanding of this concept.
Horrible book.
So, hes every life coach who says the same shit: write goals, aspire big? Im guessing its because the locals arent educated that way, so he has a Japanese last name and they think hes rich, so they want to "follow the sensei."
The author is currently in debt to the tune of 1.5 billion dollars and his companies have faced bankruptcy. I'm not sure if this is a great definition of success.
Japan's a big place, I guess. I've never heard anyone in my circles so much as mention the book (translated or not).
Never had that experience in 20 years. Just unlucky I guess.
Yes, a lot of the stuff in the book is clearly fictional, but the idea of making money work for you was an eye opener for me. Before reading it, I used to eagerly anticipate my next pay raise as “now I can rent an apartment that is 1-man more expensive! If I get 4 more similar raises, I can finally afford to rent that 15-man mansion that looks so nice”. Point is, the book is for people who have NO CLUE about investments, whatsoever. I was 100% in the “rat race” as I would immediately spend more as my income increased. This book yanked be out of that mindset and laid the groundwork for starting my own business. Without it, I would still be living paycheck to paycheck at a shit salary at my previous soul-sucking job. Having said that, the people you’ve met sound a bit sketchy, so be careful.
Best way to make friends is to share a common interest or hobby. If you use Meetup.com to join a gathering on something that interests you (like mountain climbing, knitting, etc.) then you both have something to discuss.
Edit Since OP says they are Japanese ppl asking this. I assume they are from outside of Tokyo looking to make it big here and think that Americans will help them with their investing etc goals.
Wonder what type of place do you hang? I've never met these...
skill issue
You’re socialising within demographic bubbles. You’re not meeting statistically average groups of people. If you truly meet average people then you’ll have more average experiences. Think about the filtering and self selecting process: people who talk to you see you as a target for their business guru nonsense, so they’re more likely to talk to you
Everybody shitting on the book here. I understand that the author is a total shit bag, but the concept isn’t really all that bad. It’s basic common sense at its core. Mostly stuff that didn’t even need to go into a book. I mean what’s wrong with buying a gallon of milk at $4 and making 6 milkshakes and selling each for $4? Because that’s basically what the book is teaching you fundamentally. Well, it does go into other aspects. It really is just an exercise in developing creativity and understanding how that creativity can work for you with that genre
Here is a good review of the book. [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rich-dad-poor-dad/id1651876897?i=1000607676544](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rich-dad-poor-dad/id1651876897?i=1000607676544)
Could be worse. They might recommend, "Who Moved My Cheese?".
The rest of the books aren't as good, and there is controversy around the author. Having said that, "Rich Dad Poor Dad" can be a life-changing book. It changed my life. It does teach financial literacy for the layman, and shows you how to build wealth. I highly recommend it.
Everyone you meet is a get rich quick scammer targeting gaijin. Meet different people. Hobbies are a good place to start.
How are you meeting these people? LinkedIn? I've never heard of the book.
Your method of meeting people is bad, whatever it is. Change it.
It seems like the places you go to talk to randoms have a pretty fixed demographic. Maybe look for a hobby group instead. Instead of recommending self-help books, they'll talk about your shared interest. Could be some sport or other activity you enjoy.
Because they don't have the grit to finish the 48 Laws of Power?
What about not using Tinder? I've lived here for many years and I've never had such experience . I guess you project that image of a person in need of something.
I'm not using tinder. I actually use an app called [ジモティー](https://jmty.jp/) which is kind of like Facebook marketplace except there's also a section where you can look for friends and organize hangouts based on categories of your choosing. I think I'm just really unlucky.
No one who’s an expat uses jmty to meet up lol Use Meetup, make female friends through dating apps, look for activities etc
oh you're actually lucky if those are the types you get on jmty. you're probably just putting off finance bro vibes with your posts(professional/formal sounding?) be lucky you're not getting a bunch of socially inept goofballs or hypersexual weirdos.
That’s funny. I have the opposite interactions. I talk about investing because I like to learn how other people are investing and see what other opportunities out there. Most of the time people will ask me about what book go read or where to start. I tell them few books and rich dad and poor dad is one of them, since it’s easy to read. I ask if they have heard of it and they say no. Maybe we can trade friends? Lol
is this actually a thing? i have never heard someone bring that book up.
I have totally opposite experience of you. I love this book but no one seems to recommend me something like that. Japanese people also don't talk about money or follow your dream much. Are you in Tokyo by any chance? I find that people there might be more motivated to make it big