Hi, I have a question firstly for any non-Japanese people who have lived in Japan:
What are the wierd/strange/culture shock things that you notice?
For example:
People leave their bikes unlocked
ATMs talk to you
There are customs for everything
Those people at the check out speak so much!
Theres no street names
Its OK and polite to eat noisily
You can buy cooked boiled eggs
Too many insane people....
Anything you want! Please tell me no matter how silly, serious or minor.
I also have the same question for any Japanese people who have lived in England
What are the wierd/strange/culture shock things that you notice?
For example:
People eat in the tube
A one day ticket is cheaper than a return ticket
Clothes are cheap
Semi-skimmed milk is the most bought
etc etc
Thanks :)
What are the wierd/strange/culture shock things that you notice?
For example:
People leave their bikes unlocked
ATMs talk to you
There are customs for everything
Those people at the check out speak so much!
Theres no street names
Its OK and polite to eat noisily
You can buy cooked boiled eggs
Too many insane people....
Anything you want! Please tell me no matter how silly, serious or minor.
I also have the same question for any Japanese people who have lived in England
What are the wierd/strange/culture shock things that you notice?
For example:
People eat in the tube
A one day ticket is cheaper than a return ticket
Clothes are cheap
Semi-skimmed milk is the most bought
etc etc
Thanks :)
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コメント(29)
Non-Japanese in Japan section:
Its impolite to blow your nose while eating, you're supposed to snuffle...
180°turn around from where I come from. And somewhat unappetizing too in my opinion, but I guess thats what makes it a "culture shock"
Non-British (but not Japanese) in London:
Water out of the tub tasted like water out of a pool, that is like chlorine. Had to buy water from a supermarket to brush my teeth. Drinking that is out of the question for me. (Not so much a "culture" shock but more a shock about the seeming lack of sewage plants.)
Its impolite to blow your nose while eating, you're supposed to snuffle...
180°turn around from where I come from. And somewhat unappetizing too in my opinion, but I guess thats what makes it a "culture shock"
Non-British (but not Japanese) in London:
Water out of the tub tasted like water out of a pool, that is like chlorine. Had to buy water from a supermarket to brush my teeth. Drinking that is out of the question for me. (Not so much a "culture" shock but more a shock about the seeming lack of sewage plants.)
Im Japanese used to live in England.
Summer time: changes time one hour ahead(?) I couldnt get why do that?!
but it was great to go out till 10pm that still bright!difficult to sleep at night though.
Free hospital: if people who live in England more than 6months dont need to pay!once I went to surgery to check my body and I was waiting to pay!
what a great country Britain is;D
Hole socks:normaly English people wore a hole sock.I noticed a lot of time even a host father.
Leather jacket in the summer:people wear whatever they want to wear!all ok any season(anyway 4 season a day,thats why?)
Buy one get one free:every supermarkets say that sales talk! I tended to buy too much...why dont they sell just half price?!
Summer time: changes time one hour ahead(?) I couldnt get why do that?!
but it was great to go out till 10pm that still bright!difficult to sleep at night though.
Free hospital: if people who live in England more than 6months dont need to pay!once I went to surgery to check my body and I was waiting to pay!
what a great country Britain is;D
Hole socks:normaly English people wore a hole sock.I noticed a lot of time even a host father.
Leather jacket in the summer:people wear whatever they want to wear!all ok any season(anyway 4 season a day,thats why?)
Buy one get one free:every supermarkets say that sales talk! I tended to buy too much...why dont they sell just half price?!
Non Japanese who lived in Japan
- People falling asleep on you in the train.
- People falling asleep standing up in the train
- Very drunk salary men passing out in the train station
- Salary men picking their noses in the train
- Being completely squashed in the train at rush hour
Mine seem to all be about the train - spent too much time on them!
- People falling asleep on you in the train.
- People falling asleep standing up in the train
- Very drunk salary men passing out in the train station
- Salary men picking their noses in the train
- Being completely squashed in the train at rush hour
Mine seem to all be about the train - spent too much time on them!
Japanese who lived in England quite long enough.
<Positive shocks>
- No cashier in the doctors.
- People wait and keep the door open for next person.
- Teletext (English subtitle is very helpful for English learners.)
- ATMs are available 24hrs.
- Wide range of fat-free / reduced-fat food products.
- Central heating system (It keeps warm every where in the house unlike Japanese house).
<Negative shocks>
- Wearing shoes in the house.
- Smashed windows in the town centre.
- So many dog poohs on the pavement.
<Other shocks>
- New born babies (like 5-day old) with their moms enjoying shopping at shopping malls.
- Very generous social security system (I put this here because I think it has positive and
negative sides)
- Asking directions to foreigners (like me).
etc, etc....
<Positive shocks>
- No cashier in the doctors.
- People wait and keep the door open for next person.
- Teletext (English subtitle is very helpful for English learners.)
- ATMs are available 24hrs.
- Wide range of fat-free / reduced-fat food products.
- Central heating system (It keeps warm every where in the house unlike Japanese house).
<Negative shocks>
- Wearing shoes in the house.
- Smashed windows in the town centre.
- So many dog poohs on the pavement.
<Other shocks>
- New born babies (like 5-day old) with their moms enjoying shopping at shopping malls.
- Very generous social security system (I put this here because I think it has positive and
negative sides)
- Asking directions to foreigners (like me).
etc, etc....
I spent 4 mos. in Tokyo and here are some things I noticed as different or surprising.
- No shoes in fitting rooms. I was aware of the 'no shoes in the house' custom, but not in the fitting rooms. The dude in the store was cool. In really broken English he was like "fucking stupid Japanese rule." It was funny. Oh, and also, you're not allowed to try on shirts.
- You can drink alcohol in public. This was a pleasant surprise. In America, you either get arrested or strongly reprimanded by the police if you get seen drinking outside.
- No benches or trash cans in public. I ended up carried a lot of trash in my pockets. There was also only one bench in the town I stayed in. I guess its so bums won't have a lot of places to sleep.
- Everything is really clean.
- Americans are tall. I'm of average height, 5'10" (~178cm), and when I got to Tokyo, I didn't think anything of it. But when I came back to America, I had a layover in O'Hare Airport in Chicago and I was like "NO WAY! These people are huge!"
- No eating and walking. I was always in a rush in the morning and I sort of hated this rule.
That's all I can think of for now. I'm at work, so I should get back to that.
- No shoes in fitting rooms. I was aware of the 'no shoes in the house' custom, but not in the fitting rooms. The dude in the store was cool. In really broken English he was like "fucking stupid Japanese rule." It was funny. Oh, and also, you're not allowed to try on shirts.
- You can drink alcohol in public. This was a pleasant surprise. In America, you either get arrested or strongly reprimanded by the police if you get seen drinking outside.
- No benches or trash cans in public. I ended up carried a lot of trash in my pockets. There was also only one bench in the town I stayed in. I guess its so bums won't have a lot of places to sleep.
- Everything is really clean.
- Americans are tall. I'm of average height, 5'10" (~178cm), and when I got to Tokyo, I didn't think anything of it. But when I came back to America, I had a layover in O'Hare Airport in Chicago and I was like "NO WAY! These people are huge!"
- No eating and walking. I was always in a rush in the morning and I sort of hated this rule.
That's all I can think of for now. I'm at work, so I should get back to that.
Japanese living in England
People never wait for the lights to change before crossing the road.
People love dipping biscuits into tea.
People drink tea at least every 2 hours.
Typical lunch - sandwiches, cocolate bars and crisps.
Cocktail means gin & tonic
If you have a garden, your friends expect you to have a BBQ party.
Taxi - you tell a driver your destination from the window before you get on, and pay from the same window after you get off.
There are lots more .... but I love them, though.
People never wait for the lights to change before crossing the road.
People love dipping biscuits into tea.
People drink tea at least every 2 hours.
Typical lunch - sandwiches, cocolate bars and crisps.
Cocktail means gin & tonic
If you have a garden, your friends expect you to have a BBQ party.
Taxi - you tell a driver your destination from the window before you get on, and pay from the same window after you get off.
There are lots more .... but I love them, though.
>10
No trash cans in public.
That's kind of a weird practice, but we did have trash cans in public, until a series of "bombs in trash" incidents had become a problem in the society. some people got either injured or killed and ever since that the japanese tend to think of trash cans as dangerous objects that they could be used as a way to attack innocent civilians. those incidents happened a few years ago, I think.
anyone remembers when??
>4
girls shouting commercials in public? like what? I've never seen anyone doing it and since i'm japanese and don't know a thing about it, I think this won't be considered a "custom".
No trash cans in public.
That's kind of a weird practice, but we did have trash cans in public, until a series of "bombs in trash" incidents had become a problem in the society. some people got either injured or killed and ever since that the japanese tend to think of trash cans as dangerous objects that they could be used as a way to attack innocent civilians. those incidents happened a few years ago, I think.
anyone remembers when??
>4
girls shouting commercials in public? like what? I've never seen anyone doing it and since i'm japanese and don't know a thing about it, I think this won't be considered a "custom".
> girls shouting commercials in public? like what? I've never seen anyone doing it and since i'm japanese and don't know a thing about it, I think this won't be considered a "custom".
In Tokyo there were always some girls screaming "onegaisimaaaaaaaaaaaasu"(in a real annoyingly high-pitched or "burikko-na" voice) and handing out stuff in front of all kinds of stores. My japanese friends used me as a shield because those girls wouldnt dare talk to a foreigner and they couldnt talk to my friends with me in between. I think the "technical term" is kaban-musume? Theres even people whose sole job is to hold up a sign because if the sign was not carried by a human it would be illeagal to place in a pedestrian area (or so i heard)
In Tokyo there were always some girls screaming "onegaisimaaaaaaaaaaaasu"(in a real annoyingly high-pitched or "burikko-na" voice) and handing out stuff in front of all kinds of stores. My japanese friends used me as a shield because those girls wouldnt dare talk to a foreigner and they couldnt talk to my friends with me in between. I think the "technical term" is kaban-musume? Theres even people whose sole job is to hold up a sign because if the sign was not carried by a human it would be illeagal to place in a pedestrian area (or so i heard)
>15
oh I get it lol it's some practice seen in cities to try to get attentions. those people obviously don't know what makes people annoying.
>holding up signs and ads
that's kinda interesting now that you've mentioned it, they do seem peculiar. any businesses making people stand and hold a sign I come to notice that a lot of them are doing illegal stuff anyway. lol
oh I get it lol it's some practice seen in cities to try to get attentions. those people obviously don't know what makes people annoying.
>holding up signs and ads
that's kinda interesting now that you've mentioned it, they do seem peculiar. any businesses making people stand and hold a sign I come to notice that a lot of them are doing illegal stuff anyway. lol
I'm a non-japanese living in Japan and there are so many things that really baffle/amuse me. :)
Right now, there's one thing I just recently noticed that I am wondering if anyone else even notices... When there is a cooking segment or a tv show is featuring some restaurant or something, they often show a close up of the food. I can understand this, but what I don't understand is that they often jiggle the food, particularly if the food has a somewhat gelatinous texture. Does that somehow make it more appetizing? Do they always choose a guy with shaky hands to pick up the food? There's always room for jello?
I don't know, but now I really seem to notice it a lot more.
Right now, there's one thing I just recently noticed that I am wondering if anyone else even notices... When there is a cooking segment or a tv show is featuring some restaurant or something, they often show a close up of the food. I can understand this, but what I don't understand is that they often jiggle the food, particularly if the food has a somewhat gelatinous texture. Does that somehow make it more appetizing? Do they always choose a guy with shaky hands to pick up the food? There's always room for jello?
I don't know, but now I really seem to notice it a lot more.
Non-Japanese in Japan
Being stared at 24/7
The bereaved being the "host" of their own loved one's funeral when they're really sad
The price of funerals in Aichi (HOLY SCHMOKES, I thought it was just their weddings)
Having to pay for food that you don't order at some resteraunts (I thought it was free for the longest, until my friend pointed it out)
Being stared at 24/7
The bereaved being the "host" of their own loved one's funeral when they're really sad
The price of funerals in Aichi (HOLY SCHMOKES, I thought it was just their weddings)
Having to pay for food that you don't order at some resteraunts (I thought it was free for the longest, until my friend pointed it out)
Non-Japanese in Japan
-salary-men talking to themselves while waiting for traffic light
-being stared(not a direct stare, but glance through the corner of the eye)
-people blowing their nose in public and pretend that nothing happened
-schoolgirls wearing mini-skirt even though it's freezing outside
-being christian during wedding and buddhist during funeral
-old women with purple hair :P
-borrowed words that was being modified, exp: パソコン、スーパー、 デパート、 コンビニ
sorry, a bit off topic, not all are customs but that's something i found weird or interesting in general
but love it or not, that`s something that makes japan/japanese people so unique
-salary-men talking to themselves while waiting for traffic light
-being stared(not a direct stare, but glance through the corner of the eye)
-people blowing their nose in public and pretend that nothing happened
-schoolgirls wearing mini-skirt even though it's freezing outside
-being christian during wedding and buddhist during funeral
-old women with purple hair :P
-borrowed words that was being modified, exp: パソコン、スーパー、 デパート、 コンビニ
sorry, a bit off topic, not all are customs but that's something i found weird or interesting in general
but love it or not, that`s something that makes japan/japanese people so unique
English guy in Japan (Went to Osaka for 2 weeks over last month)
The Gigolos in Osaka, at shinsai bashi bridge!!!
They were sooo strange, always trying to do Nampa to other guys
The waste of public money buy employing people to tell other people when it's safe to cross the road
Lots of girls/guys standing outside bars trying to bring people inside, it's just wasting money, if people want to go to a good bar, they will go, having someone tell them it's a good bar doesn't work.
No one really talks to each other on the tube (underground) and it's rude to use the phone there as well, however in England we can't use mobile phone on the underground, but everyone wishes we could. I always called my friends on the tube, but people looked at me because maybe they thought i was rude.
People looking at me strangely because i went out at night in just a t-shirt....haha, maybe that is just because i'm English, English guys don't like wearing Jackets if we go out clubbing at night.
Japanese people drink 2 beers and then get red face, so funny, but it means they're too shy to get smashed.
Korean people in Japan think it's soooo strange that i could speak Korean. I think they think only Korean people can speak their language
The Gigolos in Osaka, at shinsai bashi bridge!!!
They were sooo strange, always trying to do Nampa to other guys
The waste of public money buy employing people to tell other people when it's safe to cross the road
Lots of girls/guys standing outside bars trying to bring people inside, it's just wasting money, if people want to go to a good bar, they will go, having someone tell them it's a good bar doesn't work.
No one really talks to each other on the tube (underground) and it's rude to use the phone there as well, however in England we can't use mobile phone on the underground, but everyone wishes we could. I always called my friends on the tube, but people looked at me because maybe they thought i was rude.
People looking at me strangely because i went out at night in just a t-shirt....haha, maybe that is just because i'm English, English guys don't like wearing Jackets if we go out clubbing at night.
Japanese people drink 2 beers and then get red face, so funny, but it means they're too shy to get smashed.
Korean people in Japan think it's soooo strange that i could speak Korean. I think they think only Korean people can speak their language
Great topic.
Englishman living in Osaka.
Its hard to spot culture differences cos im so used to it now!
But somethings that still make me smile include:
adults reading manga in public.
Warikan- can be a big problem in london. If one person has 10 drinks and another has 1, should it be the same price!?
People assuming foreigners cant speak the language
Conbini- so much better than the UK!
VIKING!
Smoking in restaurants /bars
Hot drinks from vending machines!
Englishman living in Osaka.
Its hard to spot culture differences cos im so used to it now!
But somethings that still make me smile include:
adults reading manga in public.
Warikan- can be a big problem in london. If one person has 10 drinks and another has 1, should it be the same price!?
People assuming foreigners cant speak the language
Conbini- so much better than the UK!
VIKING!
Smoking in restaurants /bars
Hot drinks from vending machines!
Japanese who used to live in England.
Not so much as shocks, but there were quite many differences i noticed between Japan and England, and I mostly liked them.
-people don't use umbrellas until rain gets heavier
-bus drivers swear at passengers (once i saw one of them spit at a passenger)
-tube staff go on strike every now and then
-boiled Brussels sprouts
Not so much as shocks, but there were quite many differences i noticed between Japan and England, and I mostly liked them.
-people don't use umbrellas until rain gets heavier
-bus drivers swear at passengers (once i saw one of them spit at a passenger)
-tube staff go on strike every now and then
-boiled Brussels sprouts
- mixiユーザー
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