Culture

Looking back on my experiences in Japan, I realized how, even though I was on the other side of the world, much was the same. People are people--no matter what country they come from or which language they speak. However, there were some things in Japan that were totally foreign to me. Here's a list of some little cultural things I found interesting.


1. Mayonnaise--They use mayonnaise like we use ketchup... it goes on everything, from sushi to pizza.

2. Construction Areas--Somehow, Japan makes construction areas look so much cuter! I love the robotic "director" pointing cars in the right direction, as well as the "people" holding up the gates.

3. Gifts--The Japanese are huge on "omiagae", or gift giving. A traditional gift is generally fruit, and gift fruits can be quite expensive! The melon below is worth $118 U.S. Dollars.

4. Bugs--This doesn't have much to do with culture, but there were some pretty crazy bugs where Zach and I worked!

5. Vending Machines--You could find at least one vending machine on each street corner... From church to Steve's house, which is about two miles, there were 30 vending machines!

6. 7 and Holdings--Connected to 7/11, this convenience store sells mostly food. "Obento", or boxed lunches, are extremely popular for food-on-the-go. However, unlike American lunchables, these lunches could pass for being from a restaurant!

7. While I'm on the subject of food... The food at rest stops/gas stations is super good, too!

8. Driving--In Japan, people drive on the left side of the road.

9. Roads--Because Japan is roughly the size of California, space is limited. A lot of the two-lane roads in Japan would be considered one-lane roads in America. (The picture below is a two-lane road.)

10. Stop signs--Stop signs in Japan are upside-down triangles.

11. Toilets--One thing I really miss are Japanese toilets... They're always so nice and clean! There are different buttons you can push that perform different tasks, such as heating the seat, spraying water to clean you, or even playing music to cover any noises. Below is a picture of a cleaner that is in every stall... You use that and a clean rag to wipe down the seat before and after you go.

12. Karaoke--Karaoke is extremely popular in Japan... Instead of going to the mall or the movies to hang out, many teenagers go sing karaoke.

13. Denny's--The food at Denny's in Japan is a) definitely not American, and 2) super good quality!

14. Main dish--Rice is always served closest to you at meals, because it is the main dish.

Hopefully you enjoyed learning a bit about Japanese culture!