708Kviews
I Show The Cultural Differences Between Japan And Other Countries (30 Pics)
708Kviews
I studied in Tokyo from 2010 to 2014 and noticed a lot of cultural differences between Japan and my country so to deal with my culture shock, I started creating comic strips about them. I hope my comics will help more foreigners like myself understand Japan and the Japanese people better, as well as increase awareness about some changes in behavior we might have to make when we visit. These comic strips were selected from a collection of over 300 that I created between 2012 and 2015 and posted on my Facebook page. I also compiled these illustrations into two books: "Eva, Kopi and Matcha" and "Eva, Kopi and Matcha 2.0" which are available on Amazon and other eBook platforms (Kindle, iBooks, Google Books, Kobo).
More info: amazon.com | Instagram | Facebook
This post may include affiliate links.
Eating Noodles
Slurping noodles to eat in Japan is perfectly fine and it is said that they will taste better too.
Picking Up Your Own (And Others) Trash
Baths
Japanese enjoy taking hot baths too, especially hot spring baths. (monkeys are there for humor, you won't get to dip with any, sorry!)
Japanese Service
Toilets
The toilets are always wet in Malaysia and there's always no toilet papers.
Fruits
Anybody bought the expensive Japanese fruits before? Like the melon or the insanely priced grapes...
The Last Stop
If you fall deep asleep on the bus in the US, it may be your last stop...
Vending Machines
There are vending machines almost everywhere, even at places where life-forms doesn't seem to exist.
That's what I noticed the first time I came to Japan. I was walking on a street between empty field and there you had a vending machine in the middle of nowhere, nothing else.
Celebrating Christmas
Strangely Japanese celebrates Christmas not with turkey and ham, but with KFC...
Oh. OH!!!! Maybe this explains my mother-in-law!! We kept insisting "Do you not want something... more? We will get you any---" - "No. KFC." .. okaaay...
Smartphones
You can't turn off camera shutter sound on Japanese smartphones due to privacy and upskirt photo taking.
Actually, that sounds like a good feature, they should do this with other phones.
Tattoos
If the tattoo is small, it can be covered with plaster to enter into the public bath houses or swimming pool.
The reason is not that the person is thought to be a Yakuza. The reason is that you can't forbid only Yakuzas or they would get mad. In order to work around that, since they all have tattoos, this excuse was used. So if a Yakuza gets mad, they can say it's the rule, nothing against them.
Active Elderly
That's so true! In see old people here and they're more active than me!
Seven Wonders Of Japanese
The 7th wonder can be found on my FB or blog.
I don't think you took the train in the summer ... I can assure you they are and look sweaty in the work suits.
Train Etiquette
Now this happens in the USA and it's very annoying. I've been at restaurants and had people at the table next to me with their smartphones cranked up loud so the kid who's hardly touched his food can be entertained.
Sayonara
"Sayonara" means goodbye but has a sense of finality to it, so don't use it to your clients!
Stairs
There is a great number of staircases and very few escalators and lifts at smaller train stations.
Impressive Customer Service
Maybe it depends on where you are in the US. I'm from southeastern Virginia and people definitely greet me with a smile and politeness. No bow though.
Office Toilet
I went to a Japanese company for an interview before I decided to leave Japan. When I went to the ladies toilet, I saw a nice wooden locker cabinet mounted on the wall with small compartments. I know Japanese are very particular about hygiene but to see a locker for toothbrushes and sanitary stuff is a whole new world for me...
Sushi Rice
Somehow sushi rice will fall off when you eat outside of Japan...
Japanese Speak English
Based on the real story at a sushi restaurant...
Kids In Trains
That's in the USA too...people letting the kids run wild on public transportation.
Hairdresser
Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Feels more like an unequal and unfair portrayal of SG.
I thought so, too.
Drifted down to the comments to say this. The title should be "Reasons I don't like Singapore"
Dude. Please take a look at the author’s profile and you’ll probably realise that she’s from Singapore. And to add to that point, why would someone who dislikes their own country be chosen to publish comics in a primary school magazine?
Yeahhh, it is exaggerated both positively for Japan and negatively for the rest of the world. It’s super lame and an outdated way of thinking already lah.
wah u think the ang mo here understand ah
Especially since many "good" points about Japan are actually "bad" points once you're there. Like the queues everywhere. At first it's like "wow they are very disciplined", and after a while it becomes "why won't they go faster already?". ;)
This is true. The author is trying to place Singapore lower compared to other countries. If its just because the author cannot get a good promotion, then the author should resign an leave Singapore, our citizens don't need him/her.
Yep. We tend to describe a place where we lived based mostly on our personal feelings. For example, I think that Italy is the best place in the world and would live there tomorrow if I could. On the other hand, I think that Belgium is a real sh*t-hole and would advise people to stay away from this awful country. Many people think otherwise, and that's perfectly fine and normal.
this whole thing was just a roast of Singapore tbh...
Dang, someone sure hates Singapore.
Actually, the company (?) who wrote this, Evacomics, actually is part of a monthly school magazine thing in primary schools in SG. So probs is just a joke. Anyways, as a Singaporean, I dun feel offended. Just feels relatable honestly.
Yeah I'm a bit confused at the backlash. I make fun of my country ALL the time so I don't know why people are so upset about her poking fun at her own.
This seems to basically be a "have a dig at Singapore" comic. It's just dissing Singapore. And all of Malaysia. And also the US.
This is so damn right. Unfair portrayal of these countries.
Feels more like an unequal and unfair portrayal of SG.
I thought so, too.
Drifted down to the comments to say this. The title should be "Reasons I don't like Singapore"
Dude. Please take a look at the author’s profile and you’ll probably realise that she’s from Singapore. And to add to that point, why would someone who dislikes their own country be chosen to publish comics in a primary school magazine?
Yeahhh, it is exaggerated both positively for Japan and negatively for the rest of the world. It’s super lame and an outdated way of thinking already lah.
wah u think the ang mo here understand ah
Especially since many "good" points about Japan are actually "bad" points once you're there. Like the queues everywhere. At first it's like "wow they are very disciplined", and after a while it becomes "why won't they go faster already?". ;)
This is true. The author is trying to place Singapore lower compared to other countries. If its just because the author cannot get a good promotion, then the author should resign an leave Singapore, our citizens don't need him/her.
Yep. We tend to describe a place where we lived based mostly on our personal feelings. For example, I think that Italy is the best place in the world and would live there tomorrow if I could. On the other hand, I think that Belgium is a real sh*t-hole and would advise people to stay away from this awful country. Many people think otherwise, and that's perfectly fine and normal.
this whole thing was just a roast of Singapore tbh...
Dang, someone sure hates Singapore.
Actually, the company (?) who wrote this, Evacomics, actually is part of a monthly school magazine thing in primary schools in SG. So probs is just a joke. Anyways, as a Singaporean, I dun feel offended. Just feels relatable honestly.
Yeah I'm a bit confused at the backlash. I make fun of my country ALL the time so I don't know why people are so upset about her poking fun at her own.
This seems to basically be a "have a dig at Singapore" comic. It's just dissing Singapore. And all of Malaysia. And also the US.
This is so damn right. Unfair portrayal of these countries.