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Japan is an island country in East Asia with Tokyo as its biggest city and capital. It’s the 62nd largest country in the world by area, but 11th largest by population. It’s the 3rd largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and Japan’s life expectancy is the longest in the world, which is 84.3 years.
Japan has not only gained economic influence, miraculously standing up on their feet after World War II, but cultural too; for example, anime and manga, which originated in Japan, are popular all around the world, in some places even more popular than in Japan. And sushi has become a common food that you can easily order in restaurants or find in supermarkets outside Japan.
These are some of the obvious things we think about when we’re talking about Japan, but Bored Panda prepared you a list of the most interesting and fascinating facts about the country of the rising sun that you may not have heard of before. So enjoy and don’t forget to upvote the facts that surprised you the most!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Part Of A Japanese Student's Daily Routine Is Cleaning The School After Classes
There is a tradition, that after classes, students remain at school to clean it. At the end of the day, students spend about 15 minutes vacuuming, sweeping, and cleaning various spaces in the school. It is believed that it helps to promote students' understanding of life skills such as personal responsibility. It is also an opportunity to engage with other students that are not classmates and spend time with teachers in a less formal environment. Students become aware of cleanliness and don‘t make such a mess in the first place because they know they'll have to clean it themselves. Just 15 minutes a day have a huge impact so that a child will grow up into a more responsible and respectful adult.
Pillowhead 4 years ago
This is done in Philippines too. They have scheduled turns on who cleans on what day
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catta•mrow 4 years ago
When I learned about japan in 3rd grade, one of the videos showed and talked about this. I also like the idea of this!
LittleMissLotus 4 years ago
I lived in the US as a child, and we actually did cleaning like this sometimes. We would wipe off the tables with some cleaning wipes and stack the chairs so the carpet could be cleaned, and teachers would have you pick up 5 pieces of trash from around the class and nobody could leave until they did lol
Nancy Lynch 4 years ago
I can hear the Karens calling for the superintendent and the school board to complain if anyone tried this in the US.
Madonna Rose 4 years ago
students should be taught to clean their personal area
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BluEyedSeoulite 4 years ago
Every school I've worked at in Korea also did this. However, none of the kids were taught HOW to clean and just told to clean. The amount of times I saw kids mopping with nasty mops and water then sweep the damp floors... Not one school used any cleaning solution either.
carolineduffy 4 years ago
That part is definitely important. First, cleaning is a life skill that many seem to overlook. Second, telling a 13-year-old kid to clean but not showing him how is like telling an 18-year-old to start managing their own finances without helping them.
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Daria B 4 years ago
I knew this too. Very common in every school themed anime ever.
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Johnny Guido 4 years ago
Just like learning to clean your room! Everybody should do this. It is only common sense.
RELATED:
#2
Japanese Football Fans Stay After The Game To Help Clean The Stadium
The world was so impressed when Japanese football fans stayed after the games during the World Cup 2018 and helped stadium workers clean up. They did that regardless of whether Japan won or lost. It’s actually part of their culture, as cleaning up is a part of their school lives, so the habits learnt at a young age stick with them through adulthood.
Dahungryfella 4 years ago
When they lost to Belgium in the world cup in the very last minute, the team also left the locker room spotless + an origami swan + a note thanking the organisers and staff members for a wonderful tournament. I always thought that was really cool. Especially when you consider the crushing defeat they had in the very last minute of the game. Just Class acts!
David Martin 4 years ago
Why can't this just be a common practice in life, in any public venue? Arenas, theatres, restaurants, parks; If you create garbage or make a mess, do what you're capable of to clean. If you happen to see garbage that is not yours but easy enough to pick up...pick it up, just to be a good human
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
That's awesome, a whole society doing what I'm trying to teach my kid! I'm gna show him this too ^-^
Paul Davis 4 years ago
I remember seeing videos of "greaser gangs" of unruly youths wearing their oversized pompadours and leather outfits hanging out in public places. And before they left for the day these scary gangsters would clean up wherever they had been hanging out at.
Leanne Delgadillo 4 years ago
The hell great job which is good to do for country. I'm a chef by profession so know the important of that job. Well done guys!!
Madonna Rose 4 years ago
It’s caring people doing what’s right, I’ve thank people I’ve seen picking up their trash and sometimes other peoples too!
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In The City Of Shimabara, In The Street Drainage Canals, Water Is So Clean That Koi Fish Live In It
Because of the volcanic activities of Mount Unzen, there was a earthquake and tsunami in 1792, which triggered fresh water springs that now flow through the city of Shimabara on Japan’s Kyushu island. The water was so clean that in 1978, authorities decided to release colorful koi fish into the 100-meter-long waterway. It is even more amazing when you know that koi fish can survive only in extremely pure water, so that proves the quality of the water and it is just so cool to look at.
Tobin Kern 4 years ago
The water is clean because of the Koi. Koi is a carp and they literally eat the crap in the water.
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J. Cole 4 years ago
You're absolutely right. I'm not sure why you have down votes because the truth is spoken. We have koi in our small man made pond, we put them out in early spring take them in late fall. There is literally nothing done to that pond besides a filter and fall to keep the water clean and moving, as well as some live plants. Koi are not that sensitive, people.
Load More Replies... J. Cole 4 years ago
People, down vote whack opinions, but please don't down vote facts. Koi are not that sensitive! I have a dozen in my yard, have had them for years. Not sensitive.
BluEyedSeoulite 4 years ago
Yep. They are a type of carp and are extremely hardy fish
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TheReader19 4 years ago
Every drain should be this clean, we have lots of canals here and the waters filthy
TheReader19 4 years ago
Local kitties most probably to polite to touch them 😆
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Mer 4 years ago
I think it might be more appropriate to say "the canals are so clean because of the koi fish. The residents wash their dishes in these canals and the fish eat the organic particles as well as other water "impurities". At least this is how I remember learning about it several years ago.
Madonna Rose 4 years ago
Wow, I can’t imagine seeing someone washing dishes in a canal, sad people know or have no other way of cleaning. I wonder if they do their laundry their too!😞
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Bernardita Valdés 4 years ago
How could this be more wholesome? Koi fish in drainage? Thats beyond luxury, a culture of respect and caring.
#4
Many Toilets Have Sinks Attached To Their Tanks To Save Water
There are many toilets in Japan that have sinks attached to their tanks. A person can wash their hands with clean water, which then goes to the tank and they flush the toilet with the same water they just washed their hands with. It’s such a simple, yet clever way of saving water.
Carol Taylor 4 years ago
they are here in Australia...one of our local council buildings had one...I thought it was ingenious...
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Sean Harrison 4 years ago
It's funny but we do have these in the USA, but they are only used in prisons.
K.Kobayashi 4 years ago
Different concept. Prisons just combine two devices into one housing. This Japanese design reuses the same water. The sink drains into the toilet tank. Of course this is intended for hand-washing only.
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Seabeast 4 years ago
This would be great for any part of the world that has droughts. Also, if you don't have to leave the stall to wash your hands, there's less worry about the door having germs.
Fieke Engelen 4 years ago
Never mind droughts, it should be totally accepted usage everywhere in up to date countries
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Vicky Z 4 years ago
All these leaders around the globe just gather and talk and barely do anything about the planet! Why they don't have laws to have these things everywhere?Think of all the water we could save!!
Loraine D.G. MacGinness 4 years ago
Brilliant ALL toilets should use this especially public, theatre cinema, all community buildings hospital - EVERYWHERE !!
Elizabeth Gore Stanley 4 years ago
Denver Colorad has an iconic restaurant that has had a system like this since the 60's! Efficient and effective!
DrBronxx 4 years ago
These are pretty useless really, because you're not supposed to use soap with them. We had the option of putting these in our house when we were building, but the company (Toto) told us that using soap is bad for the system. So we didn't go for it. What's the point in having it if you can't use soap?
#5
Many Public Toilets Have Baby Holders In The Stalls
Many public toilets have baby holders attached to the wall so your hands are free and you can keep your eyes on the baby the whole time without fear of them running off or getting in some other trouble.
Ava Lasley 4 years ago
except they are flimsy, uncomfortable little chairs and hang off of the wall with little straps to keep the kid in the seat, and they are always nasty. One time my cousin sat in one and it was so weak that it broke, my cousin was like a year old.
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Ms.GB 4 years ago
Can I get a baby holder installed next to my cup holder please. That way I can go back and forth...sip of coffee, tickle baby, sip of coffee, tickle baby.
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BluEyedSeoulite 4 years ago
Seriously really useful. Got some shopping bags, coat, and a handbag/backpack and don't want anything to touch the ground? Extra shelf! Have a baby with you and need to use the facilities? No problem!
Corinne Riede 4 years ago
Yes, I was appalled and could not believe it when it was mentioned a friend puts her purse on the floor in the public restrooms.
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#6
There Are More Than 6,000 Manhole Covers Decorated With Art In Japan
The Japanese have managed to make boring and unattractive things such as manhole covers into something you can call art. There are thousands of different designs: different municipalities have their own unique ones that you can't find in other places, reflecting their local culture. In the 1980s, Japan installed new sewers countrywide and to generate some PR around this project, local municipalities decided to decorate the access points with beautiful covers. The craze took off and now there are almost 6,000 artistic manhole covers through the country.
Dippin Dot 4 years ago
Municipalities in the US do this too. My hometown of Port Washington, WI uses the lighthouse on all of theirs.
Madonna Rose 4 years ago
I wioul like to see them...wish you had posted a picture.
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Nikki Owens 4 years ago
Yes, before utilitarianism took over, people valued beauty even in the most mundane of everyday objects. Craftsmen were artisans.
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Japan Is A Super Clean Country
The cleanliness on the streets, in buildings, and on public transportation may surprise you if you’re not used to it, but in Japan, cleanliness is a lifestyle. What is more, spaces are kept tidy not by hiring more staff to do it, but the residents themselves keep it that way. Japanese people are taught from a young age to clean up after themselves. For 12 years while they’re at school, cleaning their environment is a part of the daily routine, so the habits the Japanese acquire remain their whole lives and even if they aren’t really up to cleaning, they still do it out of a sense of duty and responsibility.
TheReader19 4 years ago
I second that emotion, when I moved to Birmingham UK, the amount of spite on the floor; I wanted to vomit
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Richard Liu 4 years ago
Step out of the tourist area and you will find the true face of Japanese daily life. Yes there are a lot of cities much much worse than Tokyo, but you won't claim it "super clean" by any standard. Japanese people are human beings, not extra-terrestrial from Vulcan.
Daria B 4 years ago
Makes sense, but Tokyo was pretty clean enough -> tourist area or not.
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Stijn Cornelis 4 years ago
True... Untill you go to the beaches. I had to do fieldwork on the beaches and shores of Japan and the amount of litter and garbage was astounding. People used them as illegal landfills to dump their old appliances and even cars...
Sue Clifford 4 years ago
So true but there are too many entitled people in America.
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Easily Excitable Panda 4 years ago
This reminds me of Japanese World Cup fans cleaning up their sections of bleachers after the match.
Madonna Rose 4 years ago
They don’t do it here...the ground under the bleachers have half eaten hotdogs, beer and soda cups and cans brought from home..no one dares to say anything...you open your mouth and you could get shot!
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Leigh Boatright 4 years ago
I wish portland oregon was like this. Walk out of my apartment building and see trash and needles everywhere.
Lisa Larson 4 years ago
Having lived there for a couple of years, I can attest to the cleanliness. Even the American areas were cleaner than any neighborhoods in the USA.
Mike Rodrick 4 years ago
In the states, people won't use trash containers if they have to walk more than 3 feet. It's "someone else's job." Look at our beaches. Totally disgusting! This is 1 thing that makes me ashamed to be an American.
#8
Some Bathrooms Have Electronic Maps Showing Which Stalls Are Occupied
When you enter some bathrooms in Japan, you can see an electronic restroom map showing which stalls are occupied and which are open. Furthermore, these screens show if the toilet in the stall is squatting or not. It’s a really useful idea saving people the awkwardness of checking which stalls are free, especially if the doors are closed.
fuggnuggins 4 years ago
Yes, because glancing at an indicator on a door is awkward, as opposed to glancing at an indicator on a wall.
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Steve Barnett 4 years ago (edited)
I believe that the Japanese are very conscious when it comes to going to the toilet. For an example, they have toilets which, if you press a switch, will sound like the toilet is flushing, so it masks the sounds that you make. In addition, I believe that their toilets are literally mechanical wonders, they're heated, etc.
catta•mrow 4 years ago
cool, now do not need to check all the stalls or wight outside the one I want to use!
Jean Thompson 4 years ago
I'll bet that the toilets are left clean after use, in the condition that the user would like to find. Not like some of the disgusting toilets found in the UK.
#9
In Japan, Cars Are Usually Parked In Reverse And Always Between The Lines
There is an unwritten rule that people park only in reverse and then leave their parking spot going forward. That is because Japan is so densely populated and parking spaces are small, so it is safer for them when leaving a space for a driver to be able to see oncoming traffic and not to worry about pedestrians that you accidentally may not notice. Also, because of the limited space, drivers park their cars very neatly between the lines.
RoseTheMad 4 years ago (edited)
top left? , first one in the row under the glass dome type thing.A very Japanese vehicle (those boxy type of cars are seen a lot over there) but could be a rental ;) edit: also the red car beneath the two black cars beneath the incorrectly parked car already mentioned. :O
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TheReader19 4 years ago
Yes it does doesn't it? Almost as much as the light switches being in the correct order
Load More Replies... DrBronxx 4 years ago
This is not special to Japan at all. It's the same where I grew up in Ireland. Also, parking between the lines is considered something worth pointing out?
Tim Fountain 4 years ago
It is when half the drivers in the US can't park in a space that would reasonably accommodate a supertanker! And let's not talk about parallel parking.
Load More Replies... Nikki Owens 4 years ago
That must make it more awkward to load groceries or large items into the back of one's vehicle.
Sandra Bollox 4 years ago
My brother and his wife lived in Takamatsu for 2 years. They told me about this. I guess Japanese people are superstitious. There's a myth that a man was trying to escape a tsunami but because he had to back out he was swallowed by the waves. That's why they all back up. Even if it doesn't make a lot of sense in this context.
K.Kobayashi 4 years ago
This is actually out of necessity. Cars can go into tighter spaces in reverse. Same reason why forklifts all have rear-wheel steering.
Richard Liu 4 years ago
That's because it's a lot easier to do so in reverse. Look at the picture again and check the space you have. It would be extremely difficult to park your car with head in first.
#10
Japanese Researchers Developed Ice Cream That Won’t Melt For Hours
Researchers in Japan discovered an ingredient that helps ice cream to not melt as fast. The ice cream innovation is called Kanazawa Ice and the secret ingredient is strawberry polyphenols, which was discovered by accident. This type of ice cream is already being sold in some places and the dessert can maintain its shape up to several hours.
Daria B 4 years ago (edited)
Trust me, I've bought an ice cream once to enjoy outside and refresh myself, but the weather was so hot, it started melting in less than 10 min. Had to eat it quick and it was difficult already.... u.u I've experienced this in Korea, but I heard Japanese summers aren't any better.
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Dave P 4 years ago
you know they sell icecream bars in the US that dont melt like that either, and have been on the market for decades. They use a special freezing method to get it that way in the American one
Dynein 4 years ago
Ha! That's mentioned in a link I found on this subject: https://sciencemeetsfood.org/never-melting-ice-cream/ The key is to have a sort of "scaffold" around the ice crystals that retains its shape even if the crystals melt, and which separates the crystals so they can't flow together if they melt. Fine air bubbles work well (as they do in egg white foam and whipped cream), and it helps to have very fine crystals. So does adding stabilizers like cornstarch, gelatin, gum... the strawberry polyphenols are really just a new stabilizer, if a very efficient one.
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#11
In Japan, You Can Find Cane And Cup Holders Next To An ATM
Next to an ATM, you can find this strange-looking contraption. It’s meant for you to put your cup in, or for elderly people to prop their cane safely so it won’t fall down while they're taking some cash. It’s nice that services think about it, as nearly a third of Japan’s population is people older than 65 years old.
Vicky Z 4 years ago
It has nothing to do with how many elderly are in the country!! They just respect the elderly as it should be in any civilised country!
Lucas 4 years ago
Not aimed at you but I dislike that it is considered just for the elderly, it isn't just old people that need sticks. It might be that most stick users are, but not all. I have one and am not anywhere near elderly. Otherwise I do agree with your comment.
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Mike Rodrick 4 years ago (edited)
A third of our country doesn't care about our elderly. A society should be judged by how they treat their elderly & their animals. We have a government that wants to take income from the elderly who need it to survive. Reagan is responsible for taxing Social Security; likely to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest.
#12
In Some Hotels, Lamps Have Different Brightness For Double Beds
Some hotels have lamps that can be half-lit, so if one person needs light and the other doesn’t, they can keep only their side on and less light will be directed to the person who is ready to go to sleep.
Geordie Insomniac 4 years ago
Except that they mean twin beds, not double or you would be sleeping with the lamp in between you in bed! 🤣
#13
Ground Staff Will Wave Goodbye Until The Plane Is Ready To Take Off
In Japan, the ground staff, working to help the plane to take off, often waves the passengers goodbye until the plane is on its way.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
On the train, the ticket inspector makes a deep bow both on entering and on exiting your wagon.
#14
People Queue Up In Lines And Can Wait For Long Periods Of Time Patiently
Japanese people are known for their discipline, and that includes queueing up too. To buy something or get a service, Japanese people line up and maintain order, even if it’s for long periods of time; no one is pushing or yelling, no matter if it’s a three-person line to get ice cream or in crowded train stations. There are actually signs on platforms that show you how to line up, and people follow these to maintain order.
jjdubs W 4 years ago
We spent time in England in 1975. My mom always said no one knew how to do a queue like the English, LOL. She'll have to come visit me in Japan.
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Francesca Annoni 4 years ago
You can spot the best restaurant.. if a restaurant doesn't have a line of people outside it's not worth he visit..the more you wait, better is the restaurant!
Nikki Owens 4 years ago
Yep. There was a place like that in Chinatown on the island of Oahu, Hawai'i. A little phô restaurant that would literally have a line down the block every day at lunch. It ran like an assembly line – in, eat, out, next! – but it was SO GOOD that everyone willingly stood in that line for as long as it took. :)
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E B 4 years ago
So my mum's English, and I studied Japanese language at university - there were a number of times where the professor would say something like 'Americans need to be careful of this' or 'this is a real difference between the two cultures' and I would be like 'but that's how I learned to do it at home.' My thought is there must be a bunch of similarities in thinking between the two island empires.
Suze Williams 4 years ago
We're pretty good at queuing in an orderly fashion in England too, usually find the majority of people trying to cut in or get angry aren't natives
J. Cole 4 years ago
Can you imagine a Japanese person's disgust seeing any news of Black Friday in the U.S.?!
Francesca Annoni 4 years ago
I can assure you that I'm disgusted too and I'm not Japanese!
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#15
There’s An Island With Hundreds Of Rabbits
The small Ōkunoshima island in Japan is often also called Usagi Shima, which literally means “rabbit island.” It gets that name because it’s largely populated by rabbits. It is forbidden to hunt them and you’re not allowed to bring cats or dogs on the island. People guess that rabbits occupied the island when children released a few pet rabbits when the islands were evacuated in the 1940s, or that the rabbits are escaped test subjects from the island’s former toxic gas production labs, as there was a secret poison gas factory built on the island at the start of the 20th century.
imposter purple 4 years ago
there is one full of cats, and a fox (zoo) you can go in a park/zoo with foxes and interact with them. i forget what it is called so you can look it up. its in Japan.
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Ariana Brice 4 years ago
this is actually an awful place the rabbits are fully dependent on tourists for food and water. most of them are sick and dying. There is barely any fresh grass on the island it is actually very sad
Demi Zwaan 4 years ago (edited)
That is not lovely, that is sad. Rabbits breed like RABBITS and in a confined space, like an island, they will very quickly outbreed the natural resources and starve, inbreed a LOT and introduce all kind of diseases and defects and spread horrible diseases easily. This is like hell for those rabbits :(
Anonymous 4 years ago
It would even BENEFIT them to have predators released on the island.
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Daria B 4 years ago (edited)
Every time I find out about a Japanese island full of *insert animal name*. It feels as if they had an island dedicated to each species.
#16
Popular Accommodation For Short Visits Is Capsule Hotels
The first capsule hotel was opened in 1979 in Osaka. It is a type of hotel that provides bed-small rooms. They are cheap, usually to stay just for the night, and most often used by Japanese businessmen. Capsule hotels are usually found not too far from the major train stations in large cities. Capsule hotels have washrooms, toilets, and showers, but these are shared among all the guests. Also, there are other services like restaurants, game rooms, or manga libraries.
surprised pikachu 4 years ago
i'm not even claustrophobic and the idea of sleeping in what is basically a glorified cage scares me.
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RoseTheMad 4 years ago
A lot of capsule hotels are also men only, made for the busy businessmen of Japan who dont want to return home so late as to disturb their families who may already be asleep. Most capsule hotels will be pretty cheap iirc, and co ed ones of course exist, and womens only are popping up more and more.
Jeremy Van Portfliet 4 years ago (edited)
I was thinking these would be good in the states. It would be a boon for the homeless.
Johnny 4 years ago
I'd seen photos of these for years and assumed they were just how the Japanese traveled, but it turns out that these aren't that popular outside of Tokyo and a maybe few large cities and are mostly used by salarymen who are either too drunk, or stayed out too late for the train ride home. My wife is from Japan (from what she calls a "small town" of 500,000 people), and neither she nor anyone in her family have ever stayed in one. Most are male only or with a small separate female section, though there are a few female-only capsule hotels.
K.Kobayashi 4 years ago
I grew up there and I've never been in one. I know some penny-pinching business travelers use them, but I've never had to.
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Bonnie Walsh 4 years ago
If you're literally just looking for a place to sleep... Seems extremely convenient
jburgh 4 years ago
I sort of like this idea. Maybe a little bit bigger. When I travel, I want a cheaper hotel room, because I just sleep there. I’d rather spend my money on outside activities, than on a room. It would be nice to have a small private bath, like the ones in campers that have a shower.
CatWoman312 4 years ago
Cool, but no thanks. I have to have a private bathroom. The hotel rooms in the Paris airport are pretty quaint. Very small, but has all you need.
#17
There Is Approximately 1 Vending Machine To Every 23 People In Japan
Japan has the highest density of vending machines in the world. There is approximately 1 vending machine to 23 people. And you can find anything from drinks and candy to hot food and alcohol. Sociologists and economists have offered potential reasons for why there are so many vending machines. Firstly, it’s cheaper to own a vending machine than a shop, because of cost of labor and expensive real estate, and because of the low crime and vandalism rate, companies don’t have to worry about that.
CatWoman312 4 years ago (edited)
Meanwhile in the US we still have the old ones where there’s a 50% chance your chips will get stuck
Aunt Messy 4 years ago
Boss Coffee. Hot coffee in cans out of a vending machine.....What's not to love?
Christina Wang 4 years ago
I remember these in Japan when I went there, the drinks are amazing, there were even vending machines with warm/hot drinks
Uber Mensch 4 years ago
First time I saw a combo hot & cold machine ( canned coffee, etc on one side, sodas on the other) was early 80s. 'Bout fell over at how much sense it made.
jjdubs W 4 years ago
I've only seen soft drinks and coffee in vending machines in Okinawa. My son and I make a game of trying to notice the most remote place we visit that still has a vending machine. We do have two just outside our house. At work, I can get a hot cup of coffee, which is freaking awesome!
Juan Alcorta 4 years ago
there´re everywhere, but, you have to drink/eat close to the machine, since Japanese consider gross eating and walking. Also, the only trash cans you´ll find, are located besides de machine and nowhere else to be seen.
#18
Napping At Work Is Considered Acceptable
Sleeping during work is normal and acceptable in Japan. If in other countries, that would get you fired, in Japan, it is seen as a good sign that shows dedication to the work and that the person worked themselves to exhaustion. The companies may see it as a good thing, but Japanese are the most sleep-deprived nation in the world. People take naps not only at work, but wherever they can. It’s so widespread that there is a word for this phenomena – inemuri.
RoseTheMad 4 years ago
Be aware it doesn't actually mean "sleeping at work" it generally means "sleeping whilst seated" or "sleeping in a public space" , falling asleep on the job is a big no no in Japan also.
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RoseTheMad 4 years ago
This is a complete myth - if you sleep on the job in Japan, you'll be fired or at the very least disciplined. As it would be considered very disrespectful or rude.(Random fun fact, in Japan they have "camps" they send employees to to make them better Employees etc.) "Imemuri" is generally used to mean "sleeping whilst seated" as opposed to "sleeping whilst at work" and Imemuri was a word coined from those that fell asleep in public spaces such as park benches or on trains, NOT their workspace.
Hermione 4 years ago
I worked in a school and did not see teachers sleep during the day but they would stay very late and once saw a teacher sound asleep at his desk on Sunday.
Load More Replies... Johanna 4 years ago
This is something I find sad. I hope there will be a little change so that people dont need to nap everywhere.
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 4 years ago (edited)
Japanese working culture has been renown for how brutal it can be. Tragically, they even have an official term, karoshi, which literally translates to “death from overwork” (there are entire articles devoted to the topic, which is really sombering and quite disturbing). I do hope that reforms are being put in place to help move away from this “overwork” culture.
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Pamela24 4 years ago
"...good sign that they worked themselves to exhaustion."?! Sorry, but that's one of the things that makes me horrified for Japanese people. I don't know ton about the culture but it's not my first time reading about how much pressure there is in Japan on working so much and I don't see it as anything positive. People should be allowed (not just by law but also culturally) to have somewhat of a healthy balance to at least not be falling asleep at work (I know there are extraordinary circumstances like having a baby etc., let's exclude those for this).
Richard Liu 4 years ago
Just plain shameless lie. Napping is only acceptable at launch break. Japan is a real nation on this planet earth, not in a castle on the cloud.
#19
There Are More Than 300 Pedestrian Scrambles In Japan
Pedestrian scrambles or diagonal crossings are very common in Japan. There are more than 300 such intersections. Japan's largest, and most famous, diagonal crossing is found in Tokyo, outside Shibuya station. Over 3,000 pedestrians can cross during the two minutes of green light and it is one of the most well-known pedestrian scrambles in the world. It is so popular that it has become a symbol of Tokyo and Japan as a whole.
Mr. Derpy Dino 4 years ago
I only want to go to japan because of the cars(FULL Alpina BMW's and all that. GTR R-34's sitting in a junkyard...
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Dorothy Cloud 4 years ago
Well, they do have a smaller land mass and bigger population. They have found a way to live with it.
Mary Peace 4 years ago
It looks as if people cross where they like and ignore the striped crossings.
#20
You Can Find Foot Baths On The Streets And They Are Usually Free
A popular onsen type in Japan is ashiyu, or foot bath. Foot baths are different from regular onsens because you can find them literally on the street. Usually they are free, or cost just a few dollars. The hot spring tub comes up to the knees, you don’t need to take off all of your clothes, but you still get the benefits of the hot spring experience. It is also great for people who can’t handle heat very well as it’s not as strong as a standard hot spring.
Steve 4 years ago
If it's from a hotspring, then yes. Hotspring water is heated through volcanic (geothermal) means, and has high sulfur content. It should kill just about anything short of Godzilla, but since this IS japan...
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Richard Liu 4 years ago
In real world Japan, you can only find ashiyu in some tourist attraction spots.
Jill 4 years ago
Yeah, I was wondering about this. I never saw this in Tokyo.
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Brendan Hills 4 years ago
I lived there for 5 years and never saw that - they probably exist but are not common.
#21
It's Common And Sometimes Required To Leave Your Umbrella Outside In A Stand
From the beginning of June to mid-July, Japan enters the rainy season, tsuyu. Then, no one is seen without carrying an umbrella. But the wet umbrellas can make a mess when you take them indoors, and it’s extra baggage you have to carry, so the Japanese have a solution for this inconvenience. Stands for umbrellas are very common; they stand outside buildings and it can be even required that you leave your umbrella there. Many hotels, sports centers, and government offices even provide brolly lockers so you don't have to worry that someone will take it.
Ileana Sky Aviles 4 years ago
Lost my camera and bag with accessories at the busy airport in Narita. Over an hour of searching, it was still in the same place.
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Jill 4 years ago
Most stores (and public indoor spaces) have plastic bags to put your wet umbrella in as well.
K.Kobayashi 4 years ago
That's becoming common in the US. My workplace has them.
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Geordie Insomniac 4 years ago
You'd think they'd hold them upside down so they don't catch water! 🤣🤣
#22
You Can Find Watermelons In The Shape Of A Cube In Japanese Stores
To get the cube shape, the watermelons are grown in boxes and they take the shape of the containers. The idea came so that it would be easier to store them in the fridge and easier to cut without them rolling around. Although the cube watermelons were meant to be more practical, now they are essentially ornamental and it’s not an everyday fruit as it can cost up to $100.
Cain Hargreaves 4 years ago
It is! In some cases, people are expected to give gifts of fruit to coworkers, colleagues, and (especially) superiors/bosses to thank them or to wish them well if they're ill, &c. Your rank determines what kind of fruit to give and how much to spend. So if you're high up in the company, you might be expected to give your superior a $100 watermelon, or maybe you're the person who is expected to give a $40 container of mangoes. Now I know this was the case some years ago, so it may or may not still be true.
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Steve Barnett 4 years ago
Fruit is very expensive in Japan. Considering fruit should be part of your daily dietary intake I don't know why. I’m going to do further research on this.
LittleMissLotus 4 years ago
From what I've seen, it's because the fruit (even regular supermarket fruit) in Japan is generally held to a much higher quality standard- they literally throw pieces of produce that don't look good enough in grocery stores. It also has something to do with the amount of packaging on fruits, because they're often quite nicely packaged. Plus, in Japan, fruits are often given as gifts, and some can be seen as a luxury item, which explains the $100 watermelon above.
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Robsaint 4 years ago
And pretty tasteless as it’s more for show than consumption
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Christopher Bowers 4 years ago
One could make a killing if they open their own produce stand and grew their own like those using boxes and just buying watermelon seeds to grow. Then they could sell them half the price.
Vladimir Petrov 4 years ago
No. They are harvested unripe in order to get more shelf life. They are used for show and decoration (store windows). Also expensive because the yield is low. The dark streaks must be perfectly aligned vertically to fetch high price; also perfect cube shape; no spots or marks on the skin, etc.
Load More Replies... Wouldiwas Shookspeared 4 years ago
This same technique is used on apples, pears, and pumpkins too!! Here’s a cool video with some example :) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3H1KKOvcZJg
#23
In Tokyo's Narita International Airport, There Were Phone Wipe Dispensers For A While
Phones can carry even more bacteria than a toilet seat and we are constantly touching them or bringing them to our faces. That is why the Japanese thought it would be a good idea to have phone disinfecting wipes in bathroom stalls. These were installed in Tokyo's Narita International Airport. The dispensers dubbed ‘toilet paper for smartphones’ were set to remain in place until March 15, 2017.
#24
Restaurants Display Fake Food In Their Windows To Attract Customers
Many restaurants in Japan will attract their customers by displaying examples of their delicious food in their windows. But those mouth-watering dishes most probably are made of plastic. The food replicas cost more than the dishes themselves, but they last for a long time and don’t lose their tasty appearance. Previously, the fake food was made out of wax, but currently non-biodegradable polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used.
AppleDragon 4 years ago
This is in some Chinese restaurants too, when I was 5 I saw one and I wanted the ramen.
Paul Davis 4 years ago
Was going to say, have seen many different sorts of Asian restaurants do this in the U.S., Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and more. And have also seen standard American food restaurants do this occasionally thought most commonly with desserts.
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Daria B 4 years ago (edited)
These are very common in Korea as well, and I never thought they served as an attraction, more like to show you more or less what you're ordering. They tend to be pretty accurate too.
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Paul Beebe 4 years ago
Not to attract customers-it makes it easy to see what the food is in order to make your choice-they're almost always numbered too.
Randolph Croft 4 years ago
These 'dishes' are all handmade. There is a discipline that I forget the name of - your job, basically, is as a 'food reproduction artist' and it's moderately celebrated.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
In Osaka I saw a street of shops specialized in these. Most standard 'ingredients' are easily combined into 'your' dish, but if you're making a nontraditional food (foreign cuisine, new fashion, ... ) then it's all one-off specialist work. And the quality of the model tells you a lot about the quality of the food too.
Cain Hargreaves 4 years ago
Secretly would love some fake food to put on display in my house. Ideally hung on the wall. Just because. Just to confuse my friends.
Luna Lovegood! 4 years ago
I've seen this a lot where I live! They're SO realistic! I love them!
#25
When You Use The Restroom In Someone’s Home You May Need To Put On Designated Bathroom Slippers
You will notice a common trend through this list that Japanese are quite obsessed with keeping everything clean, to the point that they have separate slippers dedicated solely for the bathroom. These slippers are worn to the toilet only, because even if you can’t see the germs, that doesn’t mean that they are not there and you wouldn’t want to spread them throughout your whole house.
Johnny 4 years ago
You jam your feet in them and wear them anyway. At least that's what I do with my extra-wide American feet and we stay at my Japanese mother in law's house. It's not like you're walking very far, just a few steps.
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Juririn 4 years ago
It's a hotel toilet, also I'm not sure that's a urinal.
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Jill 4 years ago
Then you take off your indoor slippers and walk in with only your socks.
Load More Replies... #26
Some Urinals Have Mini Games
In some Japanese urinals, there are mini games installed, controlled by a player’s urine stream. The urinal is installed with pressure sensors and the screen with the game is mounted on the wall. The purpose of the Sega Toylet games was to encourage urinal users to be more accurate in public bathrooms and leave them less messy.
Baali Venomax 4 years ago
"play as you pee" I'm sure they could sell that idea in America! Probably Europe too hehehe
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Shaun Coleman 4 years ago
OK. You may need to see a urologist if urination takes long enough to play a video game.
#27
A Traditional Christmas Dinner Is Considered Chicken From KFC
In Japan, the traditional meal for Christmas is KFC. It is estimated that every year, 3.6 million Japanese families chose fried chicken from this American fast food brand. There are several origin stories as to how the idea was born to make eating KFC a Christmas tradition, but what is for sure is that the campaign started in 1974 and it was successful.
Cain Hargreaves 4 years ago
It is a bit odd but since Japan celebrates Christmas more like a time to party than a religious holiday, KFC would make sense. New Year's Eve and Day the more "serious" holidays in Japan. So where a lot of Westerners would celebrate Christmas with their families and New Year's with their friends, it's the opposite in Japan. Many people celebrate Christmas with their friends and New Year's with their families.
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RoseTheMad 4 years ago
They also order months in advance to make sure they get their christmas KFC before stocks run out
Timi 4 years ago
It doesn't seems healthy but you also have to keep in mind that they are not christian so the fact that they are celebrating Christmas is much more interesting in this post.
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Iván Galarraga 4 years ago
Hey, it's just like the american jews that eat chinese food on Christmas
Nikki Owens 4 years ago
Keep in mind that these chain restaurants which are common, generic & "low class" in the US are usually much more fancy & prestigious in other countries. I grew up in NZ & while KFC was pretty nice, the first TGI Friday's we got in my city was *super* nice! :)
Robin Ellison 4 years ago
Many Japanese are not Christian. Christmas is just an occasion to celebrate, like Halloween or Valentines day. Fried Chicken is really popular there.
Susan Williams 4 years ago
Sounds great to me. How does a decision about food make one more or less Christian?
#28
Japanese Keep To The Left Side On Stairs And On Escalators
In most of the cities in Japan, when you are facing a staircase or an escalator, you walk up or down the left side. There is also such a thing as escalator etiquette that you don’t stand in the middle, but on the side instead. Usually you stand on the left side and leave the right side for people who hurry and walk up and down the excavator. However, recently, many subway stations banned walking on escalators.
J Rob 4 years ago
Everyone standing to one side causes unbalanced wear on the equipment and unnecessary increase in the maintenance schedules.
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Daniel Marsh 4 years ago
Just to mess with the DC folk who always stand on the right and pass on the left.
Sinkvenice 4 years ago
On escalators in England, it's considered polite to stand on the right side if you're staying still and if you want to walk up you do so on the left.
Reirei 4 years ago
Not in my experience, perhaps different in different parts of England. In the westcountry we stay still on the left and pass on the right.
Load More Replies... Richard Liu 4 years ago
Wrong again. In western Japane people are standing on the opposite side. And this is considered as a very bad customs now, because of risks of fall accidents. Some cities are now making formal laws to forbid this practice.
Stephen Cotton 4 years ago
I did a quick search and they are going to ban walking up/down escalators in Saitama prefecture. Probably because it is one of those prefectures where it is confused about what side you should stand on. For example Tokyo is left, Osaka is right side, Nagoya is a bit of both. I don't see them banning the practice in Tokyo or Osaka, since there is little confusion about which side to stand. But I would not be surprised if they do ban the practice in Prefectures where there is confusion. Very interesting either way.
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#29
Japan Has Restaurants Where You Are Served Canned Food
Japan has unique places to eat, like maid cafés or other themed restaurants. One of the most unusual places is a tiny food bar, Mr. Kanso, which serves 300 different kinds of canned foods from all over the world. There is no chef, no menu, no kitchen or waiters, and the prices vary depending on how rare the canned food is. You can find canned egg omelet, bacon with potatoes, rice, tuna, Japanese curry, or egg cakes.
Gregg V 4 years ago
We have restaurants that accept dogs and give them canned food too!
Load More Replies... J. Cole 4 years ago
Man, if Bourdain were still with us I'd write his producers to try to get him to go here!
La Petite Morte 4 years ago
He actually went during one of his No Reservation episodes. They only showed a minute or so of him eating there, it was an 'accidental side trip' and he was very amused.
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Daria B 4 years ago
Because it's cheap, probably, and your home is a bit far at the moment. Highly probable you don't even have any food ready at home to start with.
Load More Replies... La Petite Morte 4 years ago
That's what I was wondering. They must have a can heating something, like modified cup warmers... a boiling pot of water would require a staff member, microwaves are out... hmmm...
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#30
There’s A Robot Restaurant In Tokyo
The robot restaurant is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tokyo. It’s not your traditional Japanese restaurant, but rather a spectacle and the food here is secondary. The shows are loud and wild and they are changed every month, along with costumes and music. The shows are exciting, with bright lights, although not recommended for people sensitive to flashing lights. And, of course, everything is robot-themed.
Asy EnderDragon 4 years ago
i know a friend that went there. she said it was cool but loud and she really liked the cool drink she got even though there are fewer drinks for minors there.
J. Cole 4 years ago
See previous Bourdain comment.... He actually went to this one!!! If I remember right, his mind was blown and he couldn't get enough of it! Lol
Paulina Prazmo 4 years ago
I’m missing his programs 😭 and still can’t believe that he took his own life.
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Noe Martinez 4 years ago
It is located in Kabukicho in Shinjuku. They have nightly shows that you can buy tickets for. You can purchase in advance then queue up in the bar before your time... it gets super packed. Then you get seated and enjoy the show. It is a small “stage” so to speak and you will have to duck some of the robots if you are in the front row.
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Ayden Henderson 4 years ago
THEIR GONNA TAKE OVER,AHHHHH,they look scarybut AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Crybabyartist 1 year ago
On Sam and Cat, there was a restaurant that they frequently went to called "Bots" where the waiters were bots.
#31
More Adult Diapers Are Sold Than Children Diapers
More adult diapers are sold in Japan than baby diapers. The reason for this is that the population is getting old—almost a third of Japanese people are over 65 years old. Also, the birth rates are low: the birth rate in 2020 was 7.301 births per 1000 people, which is 1.3 percent less than in 2019. For comparison, the birth rate in the US in 2020 was 11.990 births per 1000 people, which is 0.09 percent more than in 2019.
Chenandoa 4 years ago
I would sure hope so! I dont think they have any immortal citizens. Jk, I know what you mean, but I had to poke fun at the term
Load More Replies... Paul Davis 4 years ago
I'm suspicious that younger workers also may wear these to reduce the number of times they need to run to the bathroom for breaks.
Kristin Hall 4 years ago
That's quite sad, really. Especially if it is true.
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bossbob64 4 years ago (edited)
I love my adult diapers. You can't see it when I have them on. They hold my urine. They don't smell. And it takes the anxiety out of having to try to find a place to go pee when you really have to go. When I'm fishing I don't have to take off all of my waders and stuff and try to find a private spot. I wish I had started wearing them in my 50s (I'm 71). Nothing to be ashamed of in any way.
Judith Wilson 4 years ago
The birth rates HAVE to be low, at least until more people die. There is literally no place to put them all.
Corinne Riede 4 years ago
Earth is so overpopulated with humans. Any place that keeps a lower birth rate is support for our only home. As someone said, there is no Earth B.
Dorothy Cloud 4 years ago
They probably have a lower birthrate because unlike America, I doubt you get welfare for extra children. If they can't afford them, they probably don't have them!
#32
Smoking Indoors Is Prohibited, But There Are Some Trains That Have Designated Smoking Passenger Wagons
In most crowded outdoor areas in Tokyo, it is prohibited to smoke and there are designated areas for that. In April of last year, a law prohibiting smoking indoors came into full effect. Exceptions apply to private homes, hotel rooms for smokers, and cigar bars. Smoking is also prohibited in such public closed spaces like trains, buses, and airplanes, but there are some trains that have designated smoking passenger wagons.
Gregg V 4 years ago
But tobacco, pot, and alcohol are so so good and dirty good tax revenue.
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JamezyJamez 4 years ago
Smoking cars on trains were banned not long after I moved here in 2007, but the Shinkansen bullet trains have little smoking rooms with strong ventilation between some cars where the bathrooms are located. Also, the smoking ban excludes restaurants and bars under a certain floor space area. Since many food and drink establishments are small, they can still permit smoking if they choose to.
Christie Schmitz 4 years ago
We always passed by a smoking room in Akihabara and we couldn't help but giggle at the sight of all the smoke just hovering in that glass room. But hey, they are convenient and also keep people from throwing their cigarette butts on the ground.
Froganit Gamesy 4 years ago
and in the morning, when the train is very crowded they have women only wagons.
Amy Zettek-Cosgrove 4 years ago
Thankful for an alternative because there’s always going to be smokers.
#33
Maid Cafes Are A Popular Type Of Cafes In Japan
The first permanent maid cafe was opened in the Akihabara area in Tokyo in March 2001. These types of cafes are predominantly found in Japan. They have a unique service system. The waitresses are dressed in maid costumes, which usually are based upon French maids, and act as servants for their masters and mistresses. They have some distinctive rituals, such as greeting customers with "Welcome home, Master (Mistress, My lady)!" Although people go to maid cafes for the experience, you can find menus that are similar to ordinary cafes. However, maids will decorate a customer’s order with cute pictures or sayings.
Erin E 4 years ago
I agree; On the surface it seems cute, but I feel a little creeped out.
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Cain Hargreaves 4 years ago
And there are so many different kinds too, interestingly enough. Maybe you'd prefer vampire-themed maids. Or maybe you'd prefer to be waited on by a butler in a tailcoat. Maybe you'd rather be greeted by your "little sister" than a maid. It's totally fascinating to me.
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Paul Davis 4 years ago
They have all kinds of cafes. Tsundere cafes where the waitstaff act cold to you but also do nice things for the customers while denying it. Kawaii cafes. Ninja cafes. Cat or other animal cafes. Cafe where a monkey serves you....
Miranda Prince 4 years ago
An actual monkey? Damn, I want to go there. We went to a magic cafe once -- the waitstaff all did close-up magic at the tables. It was neat. We also went to a ninja cafe, which was weird and fun.
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K.Kobayashi 4 years ago
Absolutely. As bad as Hooters or Twin Peaks in the US.
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What do you think ?
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
I love the sense of community and togetherness, and all doing their part to keep society clean and functioning! It's such a good life lesson, and one so many ppl seem to have missed (looking at you, litterbugs!)
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
While a nice list, this Japanese man exposes some other sides of Japan. His videos are incredibly well-done: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindYourLoveinJapan/videos
the child 4 years ago
Think I should add a few more: -In urban areas you will sometimes see random fields with rice or vegetables growing, right between apartment buildings sometimes -The streets are often narrow and they don't tend to have cars parked on them -Every New Year's Eve, there is a live broadcasted music show/competition. It's called Kouhaku Utagassen, which means 'Red and White Singing Competition'. Popular Japanese musicians join team red or white and perform live, and at the end of the night the winning team is announced. It's been going since the 1940s.
Shaurya Joshi 4 years ago
It’s been my dream to live in Japan. Hopefully I’ll get there one day
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
I love the sense of community and togetherness, and all doing their part to keep society clean and functioning! It's such a good life lesson, and one so many ppl seem to have missed (looking at you, litterbugs!)
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
While a nice list, this Japanese man exposes some other sides of Japan. His videos are incredibly well-done: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindYourLoveinJapan/videos
the child 4 years ago
Think I should add a few more: -In urban areas you will sometimes see random fields with rice or vegetables growing, right between apartment buildings sometimes -The streets are often narrow and they don't tend to have cars parked on them -Every New Year's Eve, there is a live broadcasted music show/competition. It's called Kouhaku Utagassen, which means 'Red and White Singing Competition'. Popular Japanese musicians join team red or white and perform live, and at the end of the night the winning team is announced. It's been going since the 1940s.
Shaurya Joshi 4 years ago
It’s been my dream to live in Japan. Hopefully I’ll get there one day
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