The result is a country that came of age without the influence of other cultures and countries. It’s a place that will leave you fascinated, curious, and craving more.
This rule following, group-before-self mindset ensures that even during rush hour, everything flows smoothly. But, I have to wonder if after a crappy day, people are ever tempted to break the rules, cut in line, or (gasp!) cross the street illegally. As it turns out, there is a good reason for all the noise you might encounter at a ramen shop. According to the Japanese, slurping noodles brings out the flavor much like swirling your glass at a wine tasting. It also cools the noodles, and finally, it allows you to eat those noodles quickly before they get overcooked in broth and lose their texture. From what I understand, there’s no rule forbidding eating on the go, but it remains an unspoken cultural norm. If you want to dive into your convenience store bento box, head to a park bench or dig in at the store’s dining area. But there’s actually a reason for this common behavior. Apparently, Japanese culture dictates that office workers can’t say no when their boss offers them a drink, resulting in a lot of very drunk men headed home after a day of work and a few too many beers. Despite all that, I can’t explain why I didn’t see any women passed out in public. Confusing. Right? I’d love some answers. Culturally, it’s a nice way to show respect, say thanks, acknowledge someone, or apologize, but I have to wonder… Does it ever feel odd or dated? Sanitary-wise, it makes sense, but it takes a lot of extra work — especially if you’re wearing lace-up shoes. As you might imagine, there are five or more separate bins at every public trash and recycling station in Japan. Which begs the question, do people get tired of following this strict process? Similarly, cashiers seem to love using plastic bags. If you buy a pack of gum and a bottle of tea from a convenience store, the cashier will often put the gum in its own little bag, tape it closed, and then put the little bag of gum and the bottle of water in a larger plastic bag. There’s a reason why the only Japanese phrase I know is: Fukuro wa irimasen, which translates to “I don’t need a bag.” Couple that with the fact that you’ll very rarely see trash or debris on the streets, even though public trash cans are pretty rare to come by. Do the Japanese carry trash around in their pockets? Do they keep mini trash bags in their purses? I have so many questions. It’s just another of Japan’s great mysteries. Making things cute (a term called kawaii) is something Japan does well. And everyone is totally on board with it, from the salaryman headed to the office with a plush kitty keychain on his briefcase to the 50-year-old woman with a Pusheen phone case. Similarly, I went to see a young, all-female J-pop group perform in Tokyo and was shocked to find that the audience that knew every word and sported the band’s gear was mainly comprised of men in their 40s. Is it all OK? Or is there something a bit weird about it? I became so obsessed with these super realistic replicas that I went to a plastic food-making class to see how they’re made. I’d honestly love to see what they could do with Reese’s. For example, their toilets, which have built-in bidets, seat warmers, drying features, and privacy sounds so no one has to hear you use the bathroom. Or kotatsu, an electric-heated table with a blanket draped over it that makes a night in a cold building cozy and enjoyable. You’d think that the whole world would be dying to get their hands on these gadgets.
