I returned from a trip to Japan this past week, and I wanted to write down some thoughts before I forget them.
-Japan is full of polite people. It’s part of their make-up. Everywhere you go people will be polite to you... except public transportation. They have to get on that train, and you will NOT get in their way of that!
-The trains are quick and efficient way of getting around Tokyo. The problem is that depending on the route and time of day, it’s possible the entire population will join you in one car. Leave all concerns about personal space at home.
-There are lines on the ground in the metro stations (among other crowded places), and people actually use them to line up without being told. It’s almost stunning to see this kind of order in such a large population.
-Very young children are often seen riding the trains alone, usually on their way to school. Some couldn’t have been more than five or six years of age.
-Small Japanese children dressed in their school uniforms are probably among the cutest people on the planet. Simply adorable!
-If you’re in a tourist area, the toilets have electric components that do various tasks, from giving you audio privacy to assisting you with hygienic needs. They also have faucets on the tanks so you can wash your hands with the water that flows into the tank. If you’re in a non-tourist area, the toilets are basically porcelain bedpans on the ground. I’m not quite sure how I would’ve managed, and I’m grateful I didn’t have to find out.
-Speaking of bathrooms, there aren’t any paper towels. Even the nicer bathrooms with hand dryers usually have no more than one. People there carry hand towels with them. There also isn’t soap. You just birdbath it and hope for the best, which is surprising for people who seem to greatly value hygiene.
-The apartment was tiny. TINY! And that’s apparently very typical. There was no room for luggage. We had to get very creative and move our stuff around constantly.
-There are twenty-one ways to say “thank you” in Japanese depending on levels of politeness, appropriateness, and familiarity.
-Carry cash. Many places require it. And don’t tip.
-Most people mind their business in public. Don’t expect a lot of smiles or eye contact. It’s just their way of being polite.
-It doesn’t matter if it rains in Japan. Life goes on according to schedule. Deal with it.
-The culture is all about cuteness. You’ll see it all over the place, from how people dress to the marketing to the products for sale. Though mostly girls, both genders use cute characters as fashion accessories.
-What we know as a “swastika” is actually a symbol of peace, and was known for that for centuries before the Nazi Party used it for their purposes. It’s still very common in Japan and can be seen at just about every temple. Though I hear there are movements in Japan to have them replaced, I think we should just leave them alone.
-The people are generally quiet. To be noisy seems to be considered rude. I love that.
-Almost no one jaywalks or crosses the street, even a quiet one, without waiting for the light to turn green.
-The young people seem to be, on the whole, very polite and driven. The contrast between Japan’s teenagers and those in America is striking, and from what I saw, we absolutely will fall far behind them in one or two more generations in just about every way.
-It was a bit surprising to see how many things were written in English, even if not meant for tourists. Electronic devices, key words in advertisements, t-shirts, toys, all kinds of things.
-While I did see quite a few t-shirts with pop-culture references from the U.S., most of it was from the 90s. I saw shirts with Nirvana, Metallica, Tupac, and the Backstreet Boys. I also saw others with Friends, Saved by the Bell, and one of the most shocking, American Gladiators.
-A “cafe” doesn’t necessarily mean a place with coffee and food. Animal cafes are basically photo stops to take pictures of cafes. Manga cafes are for reading manga. Game, computer, and music cafes were also around for similar reasons.
-If you buy milk, it will taste like the milk left in the bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. Not bad, but it’s a bit jarring. You have to be ready for it.
-Vending machines are everywhere! They line the streets, big and small. Walk down a quiet alley, and you’ll see them in the corners. Not old and abandoned, either. They are all very well-maintained. They will have all kinds of drinks - hot and cold, alcoholic and not, everything.
-Ramen is delicious, and it’s everywhere. Just pick one. They’re all the same.
I know there’s so much more that I haven’t thought of, but I need to move on. I have to post this so I can write other things.
