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When creating a look to perfection it is not appropriation it is respect for the culture.

The lack of exterior lighting maybe due to fact that there are a lot of bugs is Japan. Bugs are attracted to lights and spiders are attracted to bugs. Lights turned on outside at night creates an unsightly mess by your home. This is my thinking of why. But main roads and pathways do have street lighting.

Subbed. I'll be moving to Japan very early next year and I'm finding these videos very useful. Fingers crossed for the next few months Regarding foreigner bubbles, I'm unlikely to fall in one. I'm moving to a place where there are very few westerners, but also I am quite adventurous, and like to try new things just outside my comfort zone, which in turn gets progressively wider and wider.

The inheritance tax is what got me. When my Dad died and left some money to me and my two sisters, they had a good laugh at my expense because Japan demanded a share of my inheritance. My sisters had no inheritance taxes in the USA. I had to fork over 10% to Japan because I live here. The tax office people in Japan are very nice and I go to them every year so they can input my numbers into their online system which unfortunately is not available in English. Besides filing a tax return in Japan, I have to file an annual report of my worldwide assets similar to the FBAR report that the USA requires of those with overseas assets. As a US citizen I have to file a tax return in the USA and the FBAR report. But at least getting all these tax returns and reports in order is something to do during the long Hokkaido winters! Another issue is the exit tax that Japan will hit me up for if I ever decide to leave Japan. It is about 15% of the increase in one's assets that occurred while one lived in Japan.

I love that you're really measured and bring up nuance in all things. You give a strong impression that you are simply interested in learning and understanding

After I spent 2 years in England, I couldn’t help but notice that the curtains of houses were so thick that you could never tell from the outside,that people were home and the lights were on at nighttime. I never asked anyone, but guessed that it was possibly carried over from World War Two, where Towns and Cites had to exercise light discipline at nighttime, for instances of enemy bombing raids, and not give the enemy anything to navigate by from the air. Japan had a similar past so I’m just throwing the concept out there. A friend told me that Japanese people often do things, but sometimes the reason gets lost to time…maybe all an elderly neighbourhood Hancho knows is that’s how things have always been.

Many use dvds etc. They want to actually OWN the media. You make a lot of assumptions.

Another point in favour of dual citizenship: all the children from mixed marriages have to choose which citizenship to keep. If they are living abroad they are more likely to choose the citizenship of the country they are living in. In my case, my son will likely want to choose Italian citizenship once the time comes to choose. Japan is losing *a lot* of citizens this way.

The second hand prices being high might be because they're not necessarily second hand. Your example of book-off: I have a counterexample from Hobby Off where I bought a model train as "second hand" that was in fact brand new. I don't know how this works, they could be second hand in the sense that they belonged to collectors and they were never even opened. I have also bought from the very same Hobby Off toys for my son that were quite used, and the price for those was accordingly lower.

I lived in Japan For 5 years long ago. I married a Japanese citizen and our first child was born there. We have been married, living in America for many years. I would potentially like to retire in Japan, but my wife will not return. I wonder whether I can get a visa…spouse visa like I used to have? If my wife is not with me🧐

I'd more like to know where you're walking? wow what a view. I frequent Tokyo. Cheers!

Just came from Japan. One mystery remains, why people in osaka stand on the right side. Whereas in Tokyo is not the case.

Thank you so much for sharing your conversation. I'm off to visit the tax office later this month, and ask about declaring my foreign annual income. It's comforting to hear that Ben had a rewarding experience. Here's hoping Yokohama is as kind.

Remember Japanese are very indirect and very proud. Merchants and customers have too much pride for returns. They would probably gossip about the situation privately, and resell it on the down low.

As someone recently retired in Japan this was helpful. Ben is a great resource and thanks for sharing him with your viewers.

I believe foreigners get treated very differently depending on certain factors, most importantly the fact that you dress formally, with a shaved face, and you are in touch with the japanese way to act as well. I think people look at you and instantly know that you're here working in japan, which makes you stand out from the tourists, which helps you be recognized as a serious person or even a local. This means people's expectations of your japanese will be far higher! You might not have noticed this, but I think a big part of why some people are annoyed at the nihongo jozu is because they may genuinely be dressing as a tourist, or acting like one.

Not sure if it’s been mentioned, but I’ve got another mystery. Why are there escalators only part of the way out of the subway station? Is it because of the lack of space? Hmmm.

Here are my thoughts on the matter: 1. Slow doors in shopping district. Why? I think it comes down to old not updated technology. It's not the same as it is in America nowadays. Also, the slower to open doors might help with preventing theft. The slow doors keep thieves from getting away as fast, if they have to put in the effort to push the door open, they will think twice before making a run for it with the goods. The Japanese are less about convenience, and more about customer service. Their theory is that if the customer can put up with a little bit of inconvenience, then the staff can make up for it with (mostly) excellent customer service. They choose their battles wisely. And if 'a system ain't broke, don't fix it' seems to be their motto, then I applaud them for sticking to their guns/ the golden standard of customer service. 2. Little to no lighting on Japanese narrow streets at night. Why??? Maybe the people in Japan feel so safe that they don't feel the need to illuminate their streets at night. With crime rates being lower/ not the norm, and people/ neighbors aren't as nosey or intrusive as people in other countries, they feel that having more light would just draw in the idiots like a moth to a flame (so to speak). And they don't want to draw attention to their neighborhood, so they keep it dark so as to say, "There is nothing to see here. So go away, and go to sleep, like a good boy or girl (etc). No light keeps people from exploring the neighborhood, unless of course they bring their own lighting with them (for better or for worse). It's their indirect way of saying, "Come back tomorrow. After the sun sets, we don't do business here (unless you're a member of the Yakuza)." It's just safer to travel during the day than at night. Shady business is conducted mostly late at night, so if you don't want to be caught for a crime you didn't commit, you'd stay the heck away until morning comes (unless it's an emergency, of course). It's not that the Japanese are unfriendly (maybe they are, but idk), it's just more convenient and polite to conduct business during the daylight hours. 3. No returns policy/ returns unheard of. Why??? Returns are inconvenient, and a bit of a nuisance. Especially if the item is not broken or defective in some way. If the customer is making a return just to make a return for no rhyme or reason, then it becomes inconvenient. The hassel of exchanges can be annoying. With the declining birth rate in Japan, plus an aging population, maybe they are short staffed? So they don't have enough staff on hand to make the returns system work properly. It would just be an ever accumulating mountain of stuff that nobody wants, and it's a hassle for old people to go and put it back on the shelf (for multiple reasons: physical disability, damaged packaging, clothing treatments and cleanings, general tedium, etc). Basically, to make a long story short, they don't want to hate their lives more than they already do. They've been through a lot (mental health wise), and doing more returns would just put a strain on the system that companies can't keep up with. It's a losing battle, with not enough youth to keep up with the demand. 4. Physical media shops (so many in Japan)! Why? Collectors exist, like you said. Money can still be made from physical products/ media items. As long as demand in the market for physical items exists, the sale of physical items will continue to be a thing. Plus, digitized items are overrated, plain and simple. 5. Embracing fashion trends that are more costume-like than modern fashion. Why? Costumes are more exciting than modern fashion, which is very plain and boring in contrast. It is a way to spice up everyday life, and express yourself. Plus it's fun to walk down the street and to be complimented for being the best dressed person on the block. It helps with people's confidence. And it's a personal choice. It's an esthetic thing. Some people just want to feel/ be cool and not suppressed by modern society (that more often than not act like they have a stick shoved up their butt/ they are unpleasant to be around. They're very controlling and manipulative.). Dressing up gives people a way to tell their fellow otakus apart from your average typical stuffy corporate dude. Cosplay is a good way to make friends and bond with the community y'all share. As one would say, "Friendship is a beautiful thing! Behold the power of friendship!!! Friendship, FTW!!!" *Insert crowd of rabid otakus jumping up and down shouting friendship at the top of their little otaku lungs* Cosplay promotes a sense of community and togetherness. People just want to be friends, you know. They get tired of that stuffy corporate life, and just want to let their hair down without having to worry about someone coming along and ruining the fun for them (also known as: the fun police). Some people just want to cosplay, because it makes them happy. And there is nothing wrong with that (as long as they're not hurting other people, etc). You know how it is. Thanks for reading! 😊

In Japan, automatic doors in stores often require you to stop close to the door before they open, unlike in the U.S., where they often open from a further distance. This difference is partly due to space efficiency and energy conservation. Japanese store layouts, especially in urban areas, are often compact, and automatic doors are set to minimize unnecessary openings, keeping the indoor temperature stable and reducing energy loss. Additionally, setting the doors to open only when someone is very close helps prevent unnecessary opening in busy pedestrian areas where people might just be passing by. This setup aligns with Japan’s emphasis on efficiency, compact design, and energy-saving practices.

The biggest mystery for is in Japan is every time I meet a foreign resident living in Japan for many years their name is always Paul. They are usually middle aged, teaching english, has a cute japanese wife, and they are always depressed. I'm not saying you are depressed mr. exjapter. but thats my general impression.

Thank you for this Paul. Very informative. I'm an American and my wife is Japanese. We are planning to retire to Japan in 2026. Keep the videos coming.

Id say that you are looking at things through a western perspective so these differences make no sense to you. Im sure if you would ask Japanese people about these things, they would probably not even have an answer since those things have always been that way too though. These are all just my opinions from living in Osaka for a few years. For the automatic door I just think there is so much more foot traffic in Tokyo compared to any city in the USA that it wouldnt make sense for the sensor to be more out in Tokyo. The door would be opening and closing all the time from the people just walking on the sidewalk. For the lights in residential streets I feel like Japanese ppl dont think twice why they would need them. You talk about making it feel safer but Japan is already incredibly safe. That safety thought is very much American since something bad can happen in America walking down a dark street. Dark streets in America tend to be unsafe while Japanese dont have associate dark streets with unsafe. The Japanese might just have a feeling that all sales are final so they dont do returns. I do feel they should at least allow a customer to exchange the same item for another size though especially if its a gift for someone else. I think its fine to not allow returns. Look at how things get in America with returns. People abuse that system harshly by buying things to wear once and return it a few days later for a full refund. At costco you can return anything no questions asked and they will accept it 99% of the times even if you are returning something years later. Japanese stores should be fair with exchanging items for another size of the same item but i feel returns are not needed. For physical media, I think the easiest possible answer is how old the people in Japan are on average. Older generations are more willing to buy physical media and most ppl in Japan are older. I also think Japanese people, even younger people like physical goods more than Western people. Manga is still being bought so much all the time for example instead of buying digitally. As for fashion all i would say is the Japanese do it better than the original all the time. Costumer or not.

Speculation on the costume-like fashion. I believe it is due to a more casual individualism being a difficult lifestyle aspect in Japan. If you liked hiphop and chose to casually wear a few nice hiphop accessories, and some nice sneakers, you would stand out but still be casual, making it uncomfortable for others that you aren't conforming to usual fashion, and that you might dress like that "naturally." If you go all the way with a tailored outfit, however, that places you into a category of lifestyle cosplay. People assume that you aren't really like that underneath, and you just enjoy occasionally living that feeling, so they can still relate to their perception of the hidden you underneath. Plus, you are showing off your skill and devotion, which Japanese people always respect, pretty much regardless of what it is you are expressing. You are a niche fashion cosplay otaku. And even if you do wear that outfit all the time, you are now in a distinct group of people who dedicate themselves to that fashion style, and it's kind of an occupation, which is also more comprehensible.

Having to stop when entering through an automatic door made me go crazy.

Great video! I was shocked by how dark my neighbourhood was when I first moved to Japan lol. As for the costume-like fashion, I think it's linked to the prevalence of uniforms in Japan. There is a certain costume one is expected to wear in order to identify as a member of a given group, and perhaps this applies not only in the workplace, but also during one's leisure time. People might not want to stand out as an individual as much as they want to signal their membership in a particular group, and perfecting the uniform is crucial to that. Couple all that with the Japanese affinity for attention to detail and we may have a halfway decent theory lol

I'm just guessing here, but I imagine Japan being the type of society where you take full responsibility that you decided to buy something and also sellers being so responsible that the products are fine 99% of the time. Being wishy-washy and returning stuff on a whim or buying low-grade stuff/scams fits better elsewhere perhaps.

I think looks like the Lolita look are because Japanese people want to belong to a tribe. Salarymen are a tribe, so are Lolita girls. Every tribe in Japan has strict rules, even if that tribe is trying to be anti-social. Some tribes come and go, for example greasers dancing at Yoyogi used to be a thing. The greasers are gone now. Bozozuku is another tribe that had died out. Japanese low rider culture is authentic to a fault. Again-it's a tribe. One reason crazy fashions exist in Japan is because girls schools have great home economics classes. In my country of Canada, a 17 year old girl who can make her own dress is unheard of. In Japan, the girls used to bring their sewing boxes to harajuku on a Sunday. Of course they express themselves with textiles...it's what they know.

Firstly, the doors are calibrated for black head of hair and black eyes..... poor you... Secondly, there is no 'you'.... evidenced by the doors not opening ... just thrust threw by forcing the bloody door

The thing about the subcultures is that most of them are derived from American sub cultures. Kind of like the Chicano style subculture and Hippie subculture. It's kind of strange because if you dressed like that in America you either will be mistaken as gang affiliated or for the Hippies they assume you smoke weed lol. I just came back from Japan and yes the outfits do look like costumes and I didnt really see much people in casual wear until I went to Yokohama and Chiba area...

So what？

I like physical media because sometimes it can be hard to keep track of digital files. There's also a lot of companies trying to keep things on subscriptions or being unusable without the internet and I don't always want to use a computer/whatever. It could also be good for decorating I guess. But I don't live in japan so maybe it's different

Thanks, good questions! As a fellow long-timer, I'll comment on the fashion question as I don't see much response on that so far. I think that fashion is always repurposed within cultures. (Some would say appropriated, although I wouldn't) For example you used the example of the women wearing Peruvian textiles, but you didn't mention how those textiles are worn and by whom in Peru, you mentioned the contrast between how they are worn in Japan and the U.S.. Imagine how odd the American rave counter-culture movement might look to Peruvians living in the Andes. The U.S. has repurposed that look one way and Japan has another way. I think all cultures do this. And this applies to all the fashion in Japan. The Lolita outfits might look like Victorian maids costumes to us, but not to them. It means something different, something within the culture. At the same time fashion is universal and international, so we do all wear similar clothing. However, these fashion trends are mixed and jumbled and come to mean something different in relation to each culture. Another culture's meaning is rarely exported in tact, and even if it is, it is quickly bent or even broken to fit or contrast with the new culture's reference points. I'm not sure how to respond as to the "perfection" of it all. It simply is a look they've created using elements of other looks. I would argue that every culture creates the "perfect" versions of whatever look or fashion they intend to create. In the case of the American counter culture, perfection is looking a bit worse for wear, as if you'd just come back from Burning Man.

About the doors. From what ive noticed is the japanese walk slower. Their pace on average that is seems more relaxed westerners seem to walk fast and differently with a different gait.

Regarding the costumes: after spending a few years in Taiwan which has a lot of similar societal behaviors and from my limited time in Japan and having one Japanese friend, I think they just think it’s cool and don’t gatekeep the way Americans do. That would also explain why Americans will get angry at other Americans for wearing a kimono while Japanese people aren’t bothered by it at all.

1.: Hypothesis, economic reasons. The Japanese seem to be very thrifty. This way of operating automatic doors means that there is less average open time, and thus less heat escapes in winter and less cold escapes from the air-conditioned room in summer.

As someone who is planning to retire and move with my Japanese wife from the US to Japan very soon, let me say thank you for this great video, Paul. I just got through listening to all of your podcasts, and in many ways, this video is an extension of those conversations. I really appreciate all that you are doing, your videos are incredibly beneficial (and downright interesting!) for someone like me who is preparing for the adjustments needed to transition into Japanese society.

Alan Grant in Japan

I always enjoyed pov of gaijin living in japan instead of another tourist. You got my subs

it’s funny hearing americans talk about surprising things in japan because sometimes the norm in the world isn’t the american way 😅

Even after having lived in the US for 35 years, my Japanese wife still expresses surprise at how simple it is to return items, for just about any reason, in stores here. She always makes me take care of return requests, and is always surprised that I am able to do it without any problem.

I meant to ask you on the video about retiring in Japan. But, here it goes..if you are a lifer like I am and you also an American, right? Would you ever change your citizenship over to Japanese and give up American citizenship (since we can’t do dual citizenship)? If so why? And if not…why not? If you covered this before sorry for asking. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. Weighing options, you know.

On the flip side of the your stance on automatic doors, living in a western country I think the sensors of the automatic doors are too sensitive, always opening just because someone walks past more than a metre away - gets on my nerves.

1 automatic door. most real shops are facing public streets with heavy foot traffics. shops dont want to false trigger automatic door. 2. historically electricity is expensive in japan. 3.the return and refund policy is strictly north american thing. 4. DVD and CDs. I think you are right. selling to collector has huge profit margin potential compare to selling to average consumers.

automatic doors are for 170cm tall business men so if you are taller you will suffer. Any japanese ladies i know have no problems...

Is the collecting records/discs/old video games thing to do with Tsukumogami (whereby they consider inanimate belongings to have spirits/souls and worthy of looking after and keeping)? Or a kind of ‘mono no aware’ thing? With regards the cultural appropriation/costuming: That’s easily understandable as Japan being a massively homogeneous rigid society with (some might say almost oppressive social norms and expectations) and thus dressing Hip-Hop is a rare opportunity to break free of that a little and have a little individualism in a highly cooperative society.

Regarding the clothing it seems its an all or nothing mindset, nobody wears bright coloured shirts or slightly different garments, its all black/white/beige/dark blue, long pants/jeans etc. very plain and simple style, except when its not and they look american or goth or full out designer etc. also... why no shorts?

Physical media is goated, love japan

Fast doors dangerous bro

Another interesting channel. Subscribed. I've found like 5 interesting channels like yours(foreigners spend 10+ years in Japan). That's insane

Physical media is based af. Especially seeing how the globalist cabal is pushing the you will own nothing and be happy mantra it is our holy duty to stand against it. If you own the original physical media you are imune to their retconning, gaslighting and censorship. More and more we see this with games and films being remastered for “modern audiences ™️ “ AI feeding us fake information. History being rewritten, etc