30 Strange, Interesting and Curious things about Japan
Sunday, January 30, 20051. People yell at you to be polite when you enter a store (they are actually welcoming you, but it doesn't sound like it at first!)
2. The Playboy Bunny logo is worn by anyone and everyone from babies to teens to grandma's...the bunny is cute so why not wear it!
3. Kids run around in bare feet in winter! I kid you not! and when they do wear shoes half of them don't wear socks!
4. Hello Kitty flip flops can be worn by females and males alike!
5. It is fully acceptable for men to go to the conbinie (convenience store) in thier slippers.
6. Good service means you use many more words to be polite...efficiency is irrelevant.
7. You can get rice makers that plug into the cigarette lighters in your car.
8. Unbrella's are ok to borrow from putlic racks if you need one, as long as you put it back later.
9. There are bags for wet umbrella's at almost all stores and restaurants so you don't get water on thier floors...the environment is not a concern...
10. Scarves magically reappear on tea bushes (read the story futher down in this blog).
11. Little old ladies will elbow you out of the way when they want to get off/on the train, be careful!
12. It's ok to put your feet on the seats on the train, just take of your shoes first to be polite.
13. It is extreamly rude to talk on a mobile phone on the train, the train crew will make you end your call.
14. It is fully acceptable to go out drinking and get very drunk with your boss/coworkers...in fact it's expected...but you better show up at work the next day!
15. You should never leave work before you boss...if you do you are considered a lazy employee...
16. Some of the things you can buy in vending machines (other than drinks)
- half a dozen eggs
- flowers
- girls underwear
17. Unmarried men are not expected to know how to cook, if they don't live with thier families, they often eat food from the convenience store every night.
18. If a visitor is coming to your house for the first time it is custom to meet them at a train station or a landmark nearby and show then where you live...streets rarely have names and adresses are formed based on the area which you live in...Even Japanese people can't find thier way around!
19. You can drink beer from a bottle or can on the train at any time.
20. If you are sick you should wear a face mask so as not to pass on your germs, taking a day off work is unacceptable.
21. If you take a day off work or go on holiday, you must bring "omiyage", a souvenir/present, for your boss and office...we get alot of chocolate from students this way!
22. On Valentines Day only females give gifts. Women give chocolates to thier boss, those they are interestined in, or thier partner. They likely give chocolate to a few people. Men give nothing at this time. On March 14th it's White day and men should choose 1 women they like and give her some flowers or candy. We don't even get chocolate out of this...I personally feel cheated!
23. the banking system is one of the most backward in the world with a distinction between domestic and international visa cards and ATMs which don't clearly state the difference between them and the insanely high withdrawl fee and just ludicrious .00001% interest bearing account (submitted by The G In J).
24. Women must wear a hood to hide thier horns at thier wedding.
25. Numbers 4 and 9 are unlucky...13 is ok though, so most hotels have a 13th floor but no 4th floor (4 means death).
26. You only cross your chopsticks at a funeral, it is a sign of death.
27. You can only kill spiders at night, if you kill a spider in the morning it is bad luck.
28. If your bike gets impounded, you have to pay a fee to get it out, however, the pound workers will put air in your tires and even give you a new bike seat if needed!
29. A health system that charges mad money for routine colds 10000yen including medicine and 5000 yen for a friggin' doctors note without cracking even a smile (sent to me by The G In J)
30. If your train is delayed you can get a ryoshusho (reciept) that you can give your employer to prove it was the trains fault and not yours! But, you may have to stand in line for a while for it....
