54 Photos That Prove Japan Is Not Like Any Other Country
Japanese culture is absolutely incomparable to any in our Western world. Their deeply rooted politeness, precision, and dedication to work are rarely seen anywhere else. And though you might know Japan as a home to anime, sumo wrestlers, cherry blossoms and bullet trains, their ingenuity shows in many other aspects of their daily lives. Starting with extremely innovative toilets and vending machines filled with fresh farm eggs, to the unique system of Tokyo subway and drainage canals swarming with Koi fish. These are just a particle of the interesting facts about Japanese culture. Actually, there are so many that this one post couldn't fit them all.
Bored Panda has compiled some of the weirdest inventions, cultural practices and amazing facts about Japan that will make this country your go-to destination.
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Bus Drivers In Japan Were On Strike But Continued Driving Their Routes While Refusing To Take Fares From Passengers
I have double thoughts about it. Part of me, thinks this is awsome and effective, but the othe other part thinks that, if you don't make regular people uncomfortable too, you make less impact and the people might not want to support your cause because for them, the protest is only beneficial. If everyone's uncomfortable, everyone will be like "Oh, give them what they want, so this can f***ing end!" But then, again, not everyone is the same, and my appreciation for this kind of striking is prevailing. So, I praise these drivers.
Japanese Fans Stayed Behind After The FIFA World Cup 2014 Match To Help Clean Up
every blue bag filled should be a rewarded with a free ticket to the next match
There Are Baby Seats Attached To The Wall In Most Bathrooms
I Recently Gave Birth In Japan. Here Is Some Of The Hospital Food I Ate
you know what ya get in the UK? toast. I mean, it's damn good toast, but...
You Can Often Find This Kind Of Toilet In Japan. Wash Your Hands And Reuse The Water For Your Next Flush
Most Japanese Schools Don't Have Custodians. Instead, The Students Do The Cleaning Themselves As A Part Of Showing Gratitude To The School And Learning How To Become More Productive Members Of Society
That's great, but there are 2,384,600 janitors/ building cleaners employed in the US. Most young kids are expected to do little chores in the classroom but janitors take care of hallways, bathrooms, etc. It's a job that requires no formal education and keeps a lot of people employed.
The Note In Japanese Says, "I Accidentally Knocked Over Your Bike And Broke The Bell. I Am Very Sorry"
This Is How Smooth The Bullet Train Is In Japan
I love their bullet trains! You'll barely feel it's already moving...
I Dropped My Shopping Bag On The Streets Of Osaka And When I Went Back To Look For It Later That Day, Someone Had Placed It Next To A Tree Untouched
apparently there was once a time when this sort of honesty ruled the world?
Commuters In Tokyo Pushed A Train Car To Save A Woman Who Fell And Got Stuck Between The Car And The Platform
Japanese Toilets Often Have A Button That Plays White Noise/Water Sounds So You Can Poop Without Other People Hearing Your Business
First time I used this toilet I was slightly disconcerted by the accuracy of the water jet but pleasantly surprised by its effectiveness
Another Reason Why I Love Japan
And in escalators, they stay left (I think) if you'll just stand and if you'll walk you go right...
In Trains You Can Rotate The Seats In Any Direction
In the UK, these would be broken in no time at all..So a BIG waste of money. . I wish we were as respectful of things in general as the Japanese are..
Another Great Japanese Invention: Umbrella Lockers. So You Don't Have To Carry Them Around Inside A Building And Nobody Takes Yours 'Accidentally'
This Toilet In Japan Has A System Of Occupied/Vacant Toilets Information
This Japanese Gum I Have Came With Little Pieces Of Paper Inside For You To Spit Your Gum In To When You’re Finished With It
This Shopping Center In Japan Has Free Refrigerated Lockers For Your Perishables So You Can Keep Shopping After You Get Your Groceries
At Narita International Airport (Tokyo) They Give You Free Origami Instead Of Candy
Photo I Took Of Tokyo Commuters Waiting For Their Train
In the Dominican Republic people can wait patiently too. And if a pregnant woman appears, they let her go to the front immediately.
In Japan, The Ground Crew Bows And Waves Goodbye To The Departing Aircraft
What I love about them is their sense of courtesy... When you are around a neighborhood and go down for a morning walk, neighbors will greet you a warm "Ohayo!" (Good morning!) It's very heartwarming..
Japanese Airport Staff Sorted Luggages On The Belt By Their Colour
This Bedside Lamp At My Hotel In Japan Can Be Half Lit
Ordered This From Japan And It Came With A Little Note And Origami Crane
Children's Seat On The Fujikyu Railway Line In Japan
Toreiyu Tsubasa Train In Japan Is Equipped With Footbaths So You Can Enjoy A Relaxing Trip
Japanese Often Line Up For Buses, Trains, Restaurants Or Shops And Can Wait In Lines For Long Periods Of Time. Kids Learn How To Line Up As Early As Kindergarten As It Teaches Self-Discipline, Cooperation And Respect
"Kids Learn How To Line Up " Try it in my country and parents would lynch the teacher who restricted the freedom of their little psychopaths!
Tokyo Train Company Tsukuba Express Apologized For 20-Second-Early Departure
Whaaat, wooow :O In my country the trains sometimes doesn't come at all and nobody tells you why :D
This Lift In Japan Has A Seat That Can Be Used As A Toilet In An Emergency
I'm more impressed with the deodorant, so even if you're stuck in the lift for hours, you don't need to worry about the embarrassment of getting stinky : )
Restaurants In Japan Display Fake Food That Looks Just Like The Real One From The Menu
Japanese ATM's Have Cane Holders Due To The Aging Population
There Are Over 300 Scramble Intersections In Japan Where You Can Cross A Street Diagonally
At Some Tourist Spots In Japan There Are Stands To Hold Your Smartphone So You Can Take Good Selfies
Japanese Hotel Apologies For One Minute Internet Stoppage At 4am
The Elevators In My Office Building Have An Umbrella Sign That Lights Up If It's Raining Outside (Osaka, Japan)
This Hospital In Japan Offers Glasses With Different Prescriptions For Filling Out Forms
This Japanese Taxi Has A Button To Request Slower Speeds
In Japan, You Not Only Have To Take Your Shoes Off And Change Them To Slippers At The Entrance, But Also Use Different Slippers When You Go To The Bathroom
A Vending Machine Selling Farm Fresh Eggs In Japan
Everybody Lines Up Their Carts Nicely At The Food Court In Costco In Japan
These Fitting Room Instructions In Japan. Cover Your Face To Prevent Makeup From Getting On The Garment
I think it is the right one, when you have a make-up, so in this way clothes will stay clean
In Japan They Sell Square Watermelons To Fit Better In The Refrigerator
Toothpick At A Mall In Japan Had A Mint Coated Tip
This Urinal In Japan Is A Video Game You Play With Your Pee
Only In Japan Would Someone Leave These Out While They Sleep
Designated Smoking Rooms On Trains In Japan
That’s cool in my opinion. Smoking is bad but it’s mainly a personal choice like drinking alcohol or overeating. Instead of nearly outlawing it, they accommodate.
This Japanese Handrail Bends With The Steps
I don't think this would be safer or easier to use than the straight handrail.
It's funny how so many of these are both brilliant and awful. I have been many times in Tokyo and while I love the discipline, cleanliness and helpfulness of the Japanese, it can quickly get on my nerves... The reason is simple: the price to pay for this is just too absurdly high. Especially since I'm married with a Japanese woman, because now I need to follow the rules. And trust me, there are lots of them. So many that it's impossible even for a Japanese person to know all of them... And Japanese society (in Tokyo at least) can be very very stressful after a while. Impossible to compare with what we can see in western countries. But at the same time I love Japan. But I hate it... This is why I still don't clearly know if I want to leave in Japan. Part of me says "it's a fantastic country". And it is. But part of me also says "I wouldn't last more than a year in this madness". I've lived in many different countries and Japan is the only one that makes me feel this way...
Glad you pointed that out. People who are not from the culture see all this and think it's great and they want to live there. They don't realize most of these things stem from the culture and discipline of the people, and they are such a hard working society that is very stressed out. The suicide rate is fairly high and a lot of it stems from work fatigue and work related depression. Japan is also a very male dominated society. I would not mind visiting but I don't feel like I could handle the stress of such a busy society.
Yes, the suicide rate is high not (only) because the Japanese are a proud people, but mostly a lot many of them are under a lot of pressure, at all time. Japanese society can be pretty unforgiving if we don't follow the rules and if we don't "succeed". But like you said, I only wanted to point out that this perfection comes at a very high price. Maybe too high for many people alas... Note: I love Japan very much. But like many other countries. ;)
I think I'm gonna add that the suicide rate is also very high because although Japan has a great perspective on bodily health, they don't have a great one on mental health. I've had several penpals from Japan I spoke to regularly, and one of them was writing to me online in email exchanges. And in one, she told me about how she was late for work because someone committed suicide by jumping in front of the train AGAIN! It's almost an everyday occurance there. And she spoke to me about how Japanese people tend to be too proud to seek out medication or treatment for mental health issues. There are exceptions, such as if kids are endangered due to a parent's mental health or their job performance suffers. But for the most part things like Depression, Anxiety, etc are not talked about. Japan is a very secretive society, so things like that wouldn't be talked about.
I appreciate your and Bob's more rounded perspective of Japanese culture. People always want to tout the positives without having a clear understanding of the entire culture. I've read a lot about the culture, had friends from Tokyo and I absolutely would not want to live in Japan. The social pressure is far to high and individual freedoms are sacrificed for the greater collectivist "good". Of course there are aspects I love and that I think we could take from, but as Bob stated, the price for the individual is simply too high. American culture values individual liberty and freedom over collectivist ideology with the rights of the individual being the at the core of our government and culture, which the polar opposite of Japanese culture.
very unfortunate Kathryn.
It's important to remember that the grass is not always greener! Many people think this looks amazing compared to how 'messy' America is, but we have a lot more free reign in what we do and our career paths because there aren't these very high and strict expectations. I respect the Japanese and how hard they work, and the level of respect they maintain, but it seems almost robotic to me and I could not do it!
I like the idea of " take the good, and leave the bad" in regards to different cultures. If it serves you keep it if not, forget it. Nice comment
THANK YOU. Every rose has it's thorn.
I understand that this pressure has also resulted in the loss of many people enjoying romantic relationships. They spend so much time at work and helping with family, they don't have time to pursue relationships or, if they have one, to spend intimate time together.
It may be that it’s only tougher for you because you weren’t raised in that kind of society? Not being sarcastic, I really don’t know if that’s right or not. But it could be that people who are raised into this are much less stressed out by it.
Their suicide rates are high, and personally I have spoken to Japanese natives who are born and raised. Some aspects of their society are indeed something they're used to. But others have them very stressed out. The thing that we as Westerners will always say when we watch an anime is that 99% of the problems would go away if they just TALKED it out. But Japanese will not do that. They are a very secretive society, one that encourages people to keep their problems to themselves. So things like loneliness, depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation... it's a problem. Granted, it encourages people to be more observant about the people around them, but at the same time if people aren't, you will have people passing out at work or school from overworking, or even committing suicide. Teens have a lot of pressure to get into a good High School, and then again to get into a good college. And then while in Middle school or High School, their test scores are posted for the whole school to see.
Look at the rates of people staying single longer due to societal stresses, and the suicide rates. There are countless stories you can Google about how stressed out that society is on the whole. It's absolutely a double edged sword for the native inhabitants.
Recommend checking out Finland. It is the Western World version of Japan
Isn't the suicide rate in Japan very high, especially among younger people?
Do you think like... the Yakuza are more or less relaxed than the average person?
Probably less relaxed, since they have to chop off fingers for their mistakes.
Why do so many commenters find it impossible to compliment one society without putting down another? Enjoy Japan for what it is. They have some wonderful cultural attributes, and they have their problems. Just like every other place in the world. It really is possible to appreciate their culture without putting other ones down.
Well Bob, I don't think the rules are that tough. I spent 10 years of my youth growing up in Japan. It was fun, laid back and because of the low crime rate, much less stressful than the US. I could go anywhere any time and feel safe. I was not exposed to drugs or many of the temptations that most American school children must face. I am an Air Force brat so perhaps that is why the rules didn't phase me. As for the suicide rate there are more factors to consider. Suicide is not viewed the same way in Japan as it is in the US. In the US we consider all life to be sacred and suicide is murder. It is considered shameful. In Japan suicide restores honor to the family. It is a cultural difference. Many of the suicides are committed by young people who have not achieved their academic goals or are fearful of failure. American teens that commit suicide do so, because they feel they don't fit in. Americans have changed and many work the same long hours as the Japanese.
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better hurry go now, and convince your Japanese wife that life is better where you are from - give it a few more years, bob, and you'll only go back for visits ...
c, this post was never intended for you ... don't come, btw
Why do so many commenters find it impossible to compliment one society without putting down another? Enjoy Japan for what it is. They have some wonderful cultural attributes, and they have their problems. Just like every other place in the world. It really is possible to appreciate their culture without putting other ones down.
Thank you!
Well put! I'm not cutting on any country,but it is a mindset here in the U.S.Not many here in the US will admit that we may not have the solutions .We have a tendency to think OUR way is the way the whole world should solve a certain issue.Typical for "my way or no way" thinking.If it did not cost so much I would love to be able to live in Japan and other countries,especially many Asian countries.I would take the time to enjoy their culture,not find fault with it.
I agree. I loved living in Japan! Extremely kind and respectful (at least back 3 decades ago.) Drivers turned off high beams whenever they stopped at a traffic light so as to diminish the safety hazard and/or discomfort in the eyes of oncoming traffic drivers. It was verboten to play music on trains, lest you'd infringe upon the rights of others to have "quiet time." And no one went out into public areas if they were ill/had a cold, etc. If riders absolutely HAD to go on a train while they had sniffles, they always wore masks. Plus, I got my exercise while fervently bowing (deeper than the first one bowing! Absolutely!) It seemed that most of their customs/practices were not only well thought out, but obviously necessary in order to secure maximum comfort for all as well as to increase productivity on an individual as well as societal level.
I lived in Okinawa and traveled to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka... was fab. The language was a challenge but I took some classes just to getby. Would certainly love it to revisit!
Well put! Why Is it so many people think their way is the only way of thinking? I personally would love to be able to live and visit other countries...especially many Asian countries. I have visited an Asian country that has many problems, but the people live with joy and a zest for life and true freedom that most people I have met can only dream of. It is not that hard to enjoy another culture if you take the time to understand them and get to know them.
Some of the solutions there are super simple and super needed everywhere. With a little effort we could make things a lot faster, nicer and easier.
It's funny how so many of these are both brilliant and awful. I have been many times in Tokyo and while I love the discipline, cleanliness and helpfulness of the Japanese, it can quickly get on my nerves... The reason is simple: the price to pay for this is just too absurdly high. Especially since I'm married with a Japanese woman, because now I need to follow the rules. And trust me, there are lots of them. So many that it's impossible even for a Japanese person to know all of them... And Japanese society (in Tokyo at least) can be very very stressful after a while. Impossible to compare with what we can see in western countries. But at the same time I love Japan. But I hate it... This is why I still don't clearly know if I want to leave in Japan. Part of me says "it's a fantastic country". And it is. But part of me also says "I wouldn't last more than a year in this madness". I've lived in many different countries and Japan is the only one that makes me feel this way...
Glad you pointed that out. People who are not from the culture see all this and think it's great and they want to live there. They don't realize most of these things stem from the culture and discipline of the people, and they are such a hard working society that is very stressed out. The suicide rate is fairly high and a lot of it stems from work fatigue and work related depression. Japan is also a very male dominated society. I would not mind visiting but I don't feel like I could handle the stress of such a busy society.
Yes, the suicide rate is high not (only) because the Japanese are a proud people, but mostly a lot many of them are under a lot of pressure, at all time. Japanese society can be pretty unforgiving if we don't follow the rules and if we don't "succeed". But like you said, I only wanted to point out that this perfection comes at a very high price. Maybe too high for many people alas... Note: I love Japan very much. But like many other countries. ;)
I think I'm gonna add that the suicide rate is also very high because although Japan has a great perspective on bodily health, they don't have a great one on mental health. I've had several penpals from Japan I spoke to regularly, and one of them was writing to me online in email exchanges. And in one, she told me about how she was late for work because someone committed suicide by jumping in front of the train AGAIN! It's almost an everyday occurance there. And she spoke to me about how Japanese people tend to be too proud to seek out medication or treatment for mental health issues. There are exceptions, such as if kids are endangered due to a parent's mental health or their job performance suffers. But for the most part things like Depression, Anxiety, etc are not talked about. Japan is a very secretive society, so things like that wouldn't be talked about.
I appreciate your and Bob's more rounded perspective of Japanese culture. People always want to tout the positives without having a clear understanding of the entire culture. I've read a lot about the culture, had friends from Tokyo and I absolutely would not want to live in Japan. The social pressure is far to high and individual freedoms are sacrificed for the greater collectivist "good". Of course there are aspects I love and that I think we could take from, but as Bob stated, the price for the individual is simply too high. American culture values individual liberty and freedom over collectivist ideology with the rights of the individual being the at the core of our government and culture, which the polar opposite of Japanese culture.
very unfortunate Kathryn.
It's important to remember that the grass is not always greener! Many people think this looks amazing compared to how 'messy' America is, but we have a lot more free reign in what we do and our career paths because there aren't these very high and strict expectations. I respect the Japanese and how hard they work, and the level of respect they maintain, but it seems almost robotic to me and I could not do it!
I like the idea of " take the good, and leave the bad" in regards to different cultures. If it serves you keep it if not, forget it. Nice comment
THANK YOU. Every rose has it's thorn.
I understand that this pressure has also resulted in the loss of many people enjoying romantic relationships. They spend so much time at work and helping with family, they don't have time to pursue relationships or, if they have one, to spend intimate time together.
It may be that it’s only tougher for you because you weren’t raised in that kind of society? Not being sarcastic, I really don’t know if that’s right or not. But it could be that people who are raised into this are much less stressed out by it.
Their suicide rates are high, and personally I have spoken to Japanese natives who are born and raised. Some aspects of their society are indeed something they're used to. But others have them very stressed out. The thing that we as Westerners will always say when we watch an anime is that 99% of the problems would go away if they just TALKED it out. But Japanese will not do that. They are a very secretive society, one that encourages people to keep their problems to themselves. So things like loneliness, depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation... it's a problem. Granted, it encourages people to be more observant about the people around them, but at the same time if people aren't, you will have people passing out at work or school from overworking, or even committing suicide. Teens have a lot of pressure to get into a good High School, and then again to get into a good college. And then while in Middle school or High School, their test scores are posted for the whole school to see.
Look at the rates of people staying single longer due to societal stresses, and the suicide rates. There are countless stories you can Google about how stressed out that society is on the whole. It's absolutely a double edged sword for the native inhabitants.
Recommend checking out Finland. It is the Western World version of Japan
Isn't the suicide rate in Japan very high, especially among younger people?
Do you think like... the Yakuza are more or less relaxed than the average person?
Probably less relaxed, since they have to chop off fingers for their mistakes.
Why do so many commenters find it impossible to compliment one society without putting down another? Enjoy Japan for what it is. They have some wonderful cultural attributes, and they have their problems. Just like every other place in the world. It really is possible to appreciate their culture without putting other ones down.
Well Bob, I don't think the rules are that tough. I spent 10 years of my youth growing up in Japan. It was fun, laid back and because of the low crime rate, much less stressful than the US. I could go anywhere any time and feel safe. I was not exposed to drugs or many of the temptations that most American school children must face. I am an Air Force brat so perhaps that is why the rules didn't phase me. As for the suicide rate there are more factors to consider. Suicide is not viewed the same way in Japan as it is in the US. In the US we consider all life to be sacred and suicide is murder. It is considered shameful. In Japan suicide restores honor to the family. It is a cultural difference. Many of the suicides are committed by young people who have not achieved their academic goals or are fearful of failure. American teens that commit suicide do so, because they feel they don't fit in. Americans have changed and many work the same long hours as the Japanese.
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better hurry go now, and convince your Japanese wife that life is better where you are from - give it a few more years, bob, and you'll only go back for visits ...
c, this post was never intended for you ... don't come, btw
Why do so many commenters find it impossible to compliment one society without putting down another? Enjoy Japan for what it is. They have some wonderful cultural attributes, and they have their problems. Just like every other place in the world. It really is possible to appreciate their culture without putting other ones down.
Thank you!
Well put! I'm not cutting on any country,but it is a mindset here in the U.S.Not many here in the US will admit that we may not have the solutions .We have a tendency to think OUR way is the way the whole world should solve a certain issue.Typical for "my way or no way" thinking.If it did not cost so much I would love to be able to live in Japan and other countries,especially many Asian countries.I would take the time to enjoy their culture,not find fault with it.
I agree. I loved living in Japan! Extremely kind and respectful (at least back 3 decades ago.) Drivers turned off high beams whenever they stopped at a traffic light so as to diminish the safety hazard and/or discomfort in the eyes of oncoming traffic drivers. It was verboten to play music on trains, lest you'd infringe upon the rights of others to have "quiet time." And no one went out into public areas if they were ill/had a cold, etc. If riders absolutely HAD to go on a train while they had sniffles, they always wore masks. Plus, I got my exercise while fervently bowing (deeper than the first one bowing! Absolutely!) It seemed that most of their customs/practices were not only well thought out, but obviously necessary in order to secure maximum comfort for all as well as to increase productivity on an individual as well as societal level.
I lived in Okinawa and traveled to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka... was fab. The language was a challenge but I took some classes just to getby. Would certainly love it to revisit!
Well put! Why Is it so many people think their way is the only way of thinking? I personally would love to be able to live and visit other countries...especially many Asian countries. I have visited an Asian country that has many problems, but the people live with joy and a zest for life and true freedom that most people I have met can only dream of. It is not that hard to enjoy another culture if you take the time to understand them and get to know them.
Some of the solutions there are super simple and super needed everywhere. With a little effort we could make things a lot faster, nicer and easier.