You know you're in Japan when....

[Lodestar]

LIFESTYLE MAR. 29, 2016 - 06:19AM JST ( 68 )
You know you’re in Japan when…
TOKYO —
“You know you’ve been in Japan too long when you start bowing on the telephone” is an old classic. But how about those things that, even if you haven’t been here long, still make you stop and think, yup, this is definitely Japan.

This is just our list and everyone is sure to have their own, but we hope you’ll enjoy these little gems, and perhaps even add your own in the comments section.

Okay, ready?

You know you’re in Japan when…

1. They’re blasting The Carpenters over the speakers at a restaurant.

The Carpenters (yes, the American pop duo of the ‘60s and ‘70s) is still popular in Japan whether at karaoke with friends or at a restaurant. The group having recorded 11 albums of easy-listening music over their career means that it’s not likely you’re going get too far away from being on the “Top of the World,” in the Land of the Rising Sun.

2. When the department store plays Auld Lang Syne over the speakers at the end of the day.

Hearing this old Scottish tune usually makes one think of the end of the year…unless, that is, you’re in Japan, where the tune is played at the closure of almost anything, from stores to the end of two-hour parties. The tune even has a Japanese version called “Hotaru no Hikari”.

3. The party lasts exactly two hours.

Many official parties in Japan (end of the year parties, beginning of the year parties, and work-related parties) take place in rented banquet rooms, so hotels and conference facilities rent them out in two-hour lots. And you best be out by the time the next customer’s party starts in that same room. Even if, at the end of the second hour, things are just starting to groove, the tell-tale bars of Auld Lang Syne, punctuated by farewells from the emcee, will signal the time to exit.

4. Everyone waits patiently at the pedestrian crossing, even though there are no cars coming.

In Japan, most people don’t cross the street until the red “don’t walk” guy turns into the green “walk” guy, even if they can see for miles down the street and there’s not a vehicle in sight.

5. When you see little kids performing their school show at the mall, dancing to hip hop lyrics so foul, you could never print them in a newspaper.

From strange English to just plain offensive English, Western culture can rear its ugly English head in some strange places, from song lyrics to slogans printed on t-shirts, their ill meanings unbeknownst to the Japanese. There’s nothing quite like the sight of a room full of seven-year-old kids happily eating lunch at school while listening to uncensored gangster rap.

cont'd
http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/you-know-youre-in-japan-when

[left-of-center2012]

1. Interesting

An old room mate of mine spent 20 years teaching English in Japan and married a Japanese woman.
He said the real culture shock was when he returned to the U.S., how crazy we had become.

[Odin2005]

2. TIL I'm Japanese when it comes to pedestrian signals.

[djean111]

3. Thanks for this thread! I used to work in Tokyo, one to two months at a time,

couple of weeks back in Florida to do laundry, etc., between 1995 and 2000. Miss it a LOT.

You know you are in Japan when the laundromat is on the honor system - the dryers will be full and running, with no one around, and every once in a while someone will dash in and get their dried clothes.

You know you are in Japan when you start every interaction with a little bow; it is so lovely and civilized.

You know you are in Japan when forks just seem barbaric.

You know you are in Japan when you have to demonstrate your cold symptoms to the man behind the counter at the drugstore, because the cold remedies are behind the counter.

You know you are in Japan when you are getting checked out at the grocery store, are handed however many plastic bags your cashier thinks you need so you can bag your own stuff - and the cashier or helper bags any "personal products" in a separate little paper bag, neatly taped shut.

You know you are in Japan when the vending machines are everywhere, are never vandalized, and have rows of red-striped selections - hot - and blue-striped selections - cold. And canned iced coffee is addictive, when you don't even like coffee.

You know you are in Japan when, as the first customer of the day, you are graciously bowed into a department store, when it is first opened in the morning.

You know you are in Japan when you have to make a decision about breakfast - MacDonald's when it opens at 7 am, with the frightening possibility of not getting in and out of the subway to work before the rush, or getting something to eat at the convenience store on the walk from the subway stop to the office.

You know you are in Japan when your purchase, at any large department store, is wrapped beautifully as a gift, and all you had to do was say yes, it is a gift.

You know you are in Japan when you realise you must stop saying Hi! to greet people, and saying Hai! as yes! - because the Japanese will assume you are always saying Hi! and hilarity ensues. Same for "cleverly" answering the phone with 'moshi moshi" - don't do that unless you know how to speak Japanese.

You know you are in Japan when you have ten or fifteen kinds of Pocky to choose from.

You know you are in Japan when the proprietor of a shop gives you a little tiny wrapped present, in addition to your purchase.

I think I need to go back for a nice visit - not a "tourist" visit, but just walk around and ride on the trains and get my evening meal from the vendors in the big train stations or department stores. The Tokyo experience of an office worker.

[GeoWilliam750]

5. Japan is very civilised

Everything works, and the people are so nice

Pity about the government.

[Lucky Luciano]

4. Got back two days ago from Japan.

I was mostly in Kobe, but also a bit of Osaka, tottori (for the sand dunes), Arima Onsen for the ryo-kans, and Kinosaki for a very nice ryo-kan.

Had some really top end Kobe beef in several places. Great trip as always.

[rpannier]

6. #4 is so true

The first time I was in Tokyo I was out about 2 am in the Shinjuku area. The crosswalk was red, no cars, I was about to cross against the light and I saw 4 people across the street waiting. I decided I wasn't going to be the 'guy' they all tell their friends about at work the following day - The foreigner who was so impatient he couldn't wait 40 seconds for the light to change

[GOLGO 13]

7. I was there in the 80's for about a year

Nice country. Would like to go back someday with the family.

[KamaAina]

8. 4. Everyone waits patiently at the pedestrian crossing, even though there are no cars coming.

You could also be in Canada, eh?

[csziggy]

9. #1 is enough to prevent me from ever visiting Japan

I detest the Carpenters and feel nauseous any time I hear their music. The worst roommate I ever had only listened to the Carpenters, 24/7 for six months solid. That was not what made her the worst roommate - but the other things that she did were what made me hate the Carpenters and have nausea every time I hear them.