Japan observations
Tyler Cowen lists some small observations on a recent trip to Tokyo. Here’s some of my own, having lived in Tokyo for the past 18 months:
All public schools use a chiming clock to tell the time, the chimes are identical for every school, and they play a gentle version of the chimes of Big Ben in London.
Advertisements on trains and in public places don’t highlight URLs any more, they show you a search box with what to search for.
People do not eat in public unless there is a seat to sit on. As a last resort, squat (do not sit) on the pavement. Walking and eating simultaneously is rude.
Phone cameras make a very loud sound when you take a picture (and you can’t turn the sound off), for obvious reasons.
Mobile phones often have a built-in flashlight, which is much more useful than you’d expect.
People who were walking often start to run when going up stairs.
In winter, drink vending machines sell hot cans of coffee as well as cold drinks.
There are very few public rubbish bins. Take your trash home with you.
Restrooms are generally pretty clean, but there is often no soap and/or no means of drying your hands. As a result, many people, especially women, carry a small hand towel, and some people carry soap.
Movies are very expensive, about 2,000 yen per person. Renting a DVD is very cheap, about 350 yen for an overnight new release.
You can easily buy cigarettes and beer from vending machines, although soon you will need an electronic ID to prove you are old enough.
At home, your electricity plan determines how much power you can use at any given instant (e.g. 30 amps). Exceed the limit and all the electricity to your apartment shuts off, without warning. If you want to increase the limit, you have to pay a higher monthly fee.
Car drivers are generally very careful and cautious. Bicycle riders are not, and often ride on the wrong side of the road, though red lights, etc.
9 Comments
Interesting post.
By the way, can you see in day to day life in Tokyo, the more weird side of Japanese? like custom playing and the great attraction to robots and machines?
I wonder if Japanese people write blogs like this about the Western world. For example:
“Cars will sometimes run through a red light with their middle finger up.”
The bicycle thing is the same here (Montreal) too. Sometimes it’s just more convenient to ride on the wrong side of the road. You can actually see the cars coming before they hit you.
Nice post. You might also want to add that, in some parts of Tokyo, it is unlawful to smoke in public places (such as on sidewalks). They have designated ’smoking areas’ instead.
@IllegalCharacter - We do, we do. However, being as a Japanese American, I have a hard time figuring out which side is the peculiar one. :P
@IllegalCharacter:
I’m sure they do.
IllegalCharacter: Having spent some time in Japan and now returning to the ‘West’, I’m looking forward to observing what things seem unusual, in the reverse direction.
@Jason: Perhaps both sides are the peculiar ones :)
This post/discussion has really piqued my already growing curiosity about experiencing different cultures. Hopefully I can get the courage sometime to head to Japan or Korea or someplace far away for a year or two.
Good posting…
I knew I was kicked out from Japan because I often ate in public space!!
Have you ever annoyed by the announcement in public transportation, like, “next station is Shibuya, the right side door will open.”, “Shut off your cell phone.”, or “Keep quiet!!!!”?
Have you ever noticed there are “Women only train car” in big cities, while there is absolutely no “Men only”?
CDO: I always thought it ironic that the announcements on the train about being quiet and switching off your cellphone are so noisy …
I’m japanese graduate student.
This article is very interesting for japanese people.
It offers us new insight toward japanese culture.
There are very few public rubbish bins. Take your trash home with you.
The reason is below.
After the terrorism in London,trash boxes were gotten away for the security reason.