There are two reasons why you don’t see many trash cans in Japan: 1. crows 2. terrorism (subway sarin attack, 1995)
You can’t take your leftover food home with you after a meal… it’s not a thing here, so don’t ask for a box
Don’t tip after a meal
If you order a burger in Japan, chances are, it’ll come with a triangular pocket of parchment paper. This is intended to hold your burger while you eat to make the experience less messy. Brilliant.
Don’t eat the oak leaf on Kashiwa mochi. It’s a wrapper. Although there are some leaves on other types of mochi that you are supposed to eat.
There’s so many different ice cream flavors in Japan! While in Matsushima, I glanced at an ice cream shop menu and saw jellyfish flavored, wasabi, black vanilla, edamame, hojicha (roasted tea), squid ink, and matcha, of course. Would you ever try wasabi ice cream?
You’re supposed to stand on the left side of the escalator, especially at train/subway stations to make room for people who are running late.
People mostly pay in cash here.
You can’t send oranges, apples, or any fruit/vegetable to Japan, even if it’s complete dehydrated. They will dispose of it before it arrives at your doorstep. See my Day 33 post for a story about that…
Most streets in Japan don’t have street names. It makes finding directions very interesting.
When hosting a dinner party, it’s very rude to tell guests to “help themselves”. This is because you are expected to serve your guests, even when they want seconds.
Japan bases its social-political model on confucianism
I looked out the window to see cherry blossom petals floating through the air, almost like bubbles or snow. It was beautiful and I made a comment to a coworker who told me there’s a phrase for it: “sakura-fubuki” which means cherry blossom snowstorm.
In traditional Japanese workplaces, women are expected to prepare tea for the whole office.
“hana” means either “nose” or “flower” depending on the Kanji
In an elevator filled with businessmen and women, the women are expected to press the elevator buttons. If no women are present, the youngest male is supposed to press the buttons.
“hōrensō” means spinach
In the Japanese workplace, seniority is favored over merit.
The two major religions in Japan are Shinto and Buddhism. Shrines are Shinto and temples are Buddhist.
When in doubt, bow it out.
The Cheetos in Japan are not the same at the Cheetos in America… quite disappointing actually.
There is no Japanese “bless you” when someone sneezes
After finishing lunch, students head to the bathroom with a cup to gargle water. This is encouraged because it is known to 1. clean the mouth and 2. prevent illness.
From observing, it seems as though people never have one hand vacant when eating a meal. They bring the bowl or plate closer by holding it in one hand and eating with the other. When finished, they pick up another bowl or plate. Not sure if this is an official etiquette rule, but it’s something I’ve noticed.
Christmas is a couples holiday, kind of like Valentine’s day. For Valentine’s day, the girls give boys chocolates. A month later, the boy will give a gift to the girl who won his fancy.
It’s okay to slurp your noodles
In Japan, it can be rude to turn your back on someone when saying goodbye, so many people will leave the room facing you, bowing and saying goodbye over and over before closing the door.
Don’t feed the seagulls at Matsushima Bay
Hojicha tea is roasted in a porcelain pot over charcoal and even though it looks brown, it is green tea. This is a common dinner tea.
Fur Elise is the garbage truck tune (in Taiwan)
Apparently when women do the winged eyeliner look, it’s not always just a fashion statement; it also keeps the sun out of their eyes
Some people call Band-Aids ‘plasters’.
When taking a picture, Japanese people say “Niiii!” which means “two” in Japanese. Hence the reason why they are always holding peace signs in their pictures. They’re actually holding 2’s because they’re posing for the picture as they say “Ni” instead of “cheeeese”… Makes sense right?
Octopus in Japanese is “tako”, so when kids say they like to eat “tako”, they aren’t talking about Mexican cuisine…
Sitting criss-cross applesauce is completely impolite, especially if you are a lady. It is considered “man-spreading”…
Do not walk and eat at the same time.
Do not walk or stand with your hands in your pockets. It’s a sign you are lazy.
Apparently Japan’s killer bees come out in the summer. Get stung once, it feels as though you’ve been shot, but not poisoned. Get stung twice, you should probably head to the nearest hospital…?
Before getting into a car (to drive), you must look underneath the car to check for sleeping cats. They look for this when you take your driving test.
Do not write any name in red ink; it is a sign of aggression.
When signing your name in Japan, use block letters rather than cursive. Most Japanese people do not know how to read cursive because it does not exist in their language. Block letters are capital letters.
In some circumstances, you must wash your trash before putting it in the trash bag.
When buying flowers, it is important to look at the kanji on the label carefully. Some flowers are arranged for the dead or for funerals and it would be insulting to give these flowers to someone who is alive and well.
Do not use a spoon to eat your soup; slurp.
Want to know why there are so few car accidents in Japan? I was told today that if you commit a hit-and-run, there is a 98% chance the police will find you and “your life will be over”. If you injure or kill someone in an accident, the consequential fees are so great that you would have to mortgage your home, you’ll be fired from your job, and your criminal record will make it almost impossible to get another job.
– Chopstick Rules:
Do not pass food from chopstick to chopstick
Do not separate or cut your food with chopsticks
Do not pull a dish closer to you with your chopsticks
Do not take food by poking it with a chopstick
NEVER stick your chopsticks straight into your rice
Almost everyone backs into a parking space instead of pulling in.
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