During my time in Japan as a proselyting missionary for my church, I ate, breathed, and slept the culture for two years straight, then again afterwards when I returned for a time on business. Well, after over a decade of separation from the ‘land of the rising sun’, I was able to trek back and stay for a week just for fun. I wanted to blog the whole trip and write about some of my experiences there, but I concluded I would keep it simple instead. Some things had changed over the past decade since I was there last, but others stayed just the same…and I forgot how great they are. Some you may know about, some you may not, but below are 10 awesome things about Japan and they come with plenty of pictures:
1. Engrish
The Japanese love English on their merchandise and businesses. It makes the product look ‘cool’ and sophisticated (not unlike Americans’ fascination with kanji characters) but unfortunately, for reasons that are unclear to me to this day, oftentimes they are not proofread before going to print. It seems that Google Translate is sufficient enough for most companies to give the green light and what results are wacky, nonsensical snippets of, how a native would pronounce it, ‘Engrish’. Check some out:
2. The Waiter Button
Maybe I’m just extra needy, but every time I go out to eat in the States I find myself needing the waiter/waitress more often then they come and check on me. Well, Japan has you covered. Just press the button fixed at all tables in the joint to summon one to your side! Need a drink refill? Wanna change your order? Just want to see a polite, smiling face? Press that sweet magical button. And by thew way, everywhere you go expect levels of customer service Americans will never attain.
3. Warning Signs
I guess warning citizens against feeding the sharks, running out into the road, or watching their footing are too dark of subject matter for the Japanese to handle. This may be why many warning signs are often illustrated with humorous cartoons of the worse-case scenarios turning what should be a somber safety lesson into a laugh-filled photo shoot. Observing the small sample below will do the job better than any explanation I can offer.
4. ‘Gatchapon’
You know those 25 cent machines at the front of the gas station or super market that dispense plastic bubbles with a prize inside? Well they have them in Japan too…only theirs are on crack. While ours might contain a sticker or plastic ring, theirs contain anything from pet clothing, to 6” robot or anime/game character models, to phone accessories and the prices usually float around the equivalent of two to eight dollars. And by the way…they are everywhere!
5. Bidet Toilets
We have them here, but they are very common in Japan, both in houses and public restrooms to ensure things stay as germ-free as possible. These ‘smart’ toilets (pronounced ‘be-day’) talk to you, clean your posterior with a myriad of custom settings, dry you off, or even play ambient noise so that the person in the neighboring stall can’t hear the audible horror of your bathroom visit. At first, I was weirded out…but they grow on you quickly…
6. Akihabara
This one’s a bit of a cliché for foreigners, but I couldn’t resist. Akihabara is one of the shopping districts of Tokyo and has been nicknamed ‘Electric Town’ for a reason. Towering buildings in all directions literally overflow with video game, anime, manga, and PC merchandise. In other words, it’s the nerd center of the universe and it is absolutely glorious. Expect to find Gundam-themed cafés, thousands of arcade machines, and fellow patrons cosplaying for no apparent reason…not to mention anything electronic you could be looking for whether it be from 1980 or a few years into the future.
7. Town Theme Songs and Mascots
Yep. You read that correctly. A lot of towns in Japan have some sort of animated animal or character to represent their fine corner of the country. Often, they will feature on signs, in parades, on city buildings and the like. But beyond that, there is usually a fun little jingle unique to where you are that plays at train stations or even at crosswalks when the light turns green (or blue as they say it).
8. Convenient Stores
In Japan the convenient stores are actually convenient. It’s hard to walk for more than two minutes without running into one of the prominent chains that dot the streets like Lawson, Family Mart, or even 7-11. The difference here though, is that not only can you buy goodies and snacks, but also rent movies and video games, drop of parcels for shipment, fax or photo copy, and more.
9. Public Transportation
Japan is famous for its intricate system of trains, buses, and subways. But it’s something you have to see to fully believe. Maps of train lines look like a bowl of spaghetti and in some places in Tokyo, there are even workers whose sole duty is to cram people into the train doors so they can close. No matter what your method of transportation is, your bound to be amazed.
10. The People
Saved the best for last. Japanese people are awesome. Their reputation of being insanely polite is true, though most people don’t mention the thick shell of reservation and shyness you need to get through first. Once you do, you will find some of the funnest, most considerate, genuine people on the planet. They are always willing to help any way they can, love to have a good time, love to give gifts, and don’t ever expect anything in return but friendship. There are so, so many amazing people I am proud to call friend over there, but below are just a few pictures of some of the folks I hung out with on this past trip in particular.
America is absolutely my home and I would never want to leave it permanently, but I would be hard pressed to find a wackier, funner place to spend a week or two than good ol’ Japan. This article has just scratched the surface so I recommend anyone that is curious to just go and check it out for yourself. You won’t regret it. Comment below about your favorite things in Japanese culture!
Thanks so much for sharing your travels! Wonderful!!