Why Japan Has Left-Hand Traffic
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 22 окт 2019
- If you live in the West, you probably have only a passing familiarity with the geographically small but economically powerful nation of Japan. It's the country that brought us PlayStations, anime, and tiny cars. But there are a lot of surprising quirks of Japanese culture most westerners aren't familiar with.
When you think of driving on the left side of the road, which country do you think of? If you live in Europe or North America, jolly old England comes to mind. India, Australia, and South Africa are also reasonable guesses. These countries, and most of the others with left-side driving, were once part of the British empire, so it's no wonder they inherited the UK's driving habits. But Japan was never part of the British Empire, so why they drive on the right?
Other videos you might like:
Rush Hour in Different Countries Like You’ve Never Seen It • Rush Hour in Different...
What Every Country In the World Is Best At? • Video
Here's What Gangs From All Over the World Look Like • Video
TIMESTAMPS:
They Drive on the Left 0:31
The Kit-Kat is Huge 2:09
KFC for Christmas 3:55
The Only Emperor 5:34
Vending Machines Everywhere 6:55
Old Technology 8:48
#japan #cars #brightside
Asfaw Wossen with King Fuad I of the Kingdom of Egypt in 1931: By Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-12834, CC BY-SA 3.0 de creativecommons.org/licenses/..., en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amha_Se...
Animation is created by Bright Side.
SUMMARY:
- It turns out that while Japan was never a dominion of Her Majesty, British companies were responsible for building Japan's first railways in the 1870s. They brought their lane preference with them.
- Kit-Kat sounds almost exactly like the common Japanese phrase Kitto Katsu. This translates to "You will surely win," and is the cultural equivalent of an English speaker saying, “good luck.” Nestlé was quick to seize on the luckiest bit of free advertising in history, leading the Kit-Kat to become the most popular chocolate bar in Japan.
- Finding out that KFC is considered a traditional Christmas dinner in Japan might come as a shock to some people. Customers will line up around the block and to-go orders must be made months in advance to guarantee they’ll be enough to go around.
- Japan became the sole holder of an imperial title following the collapse of the Ethiopian monarchy in 1974. While the Emperor no longer wields direct power, he continues to hold a position of extreme cultural importance as both head of state and of spiritual traditions. In addition to being the last Empire standing, Japan's Yamato dynasty is the oldest royal family in the world, allegedly dating all the way back to the year 660 BC.
- While plenty of Japanese vending machines sell traditional snack foods, the sky’s the limit as far as automated sales are concerned. This includes neat but relatively reasonable things such as fresh fruit and hot coffee, as well as oddities such as clothing, shoes, umbrellas, surgical masks, and even cassette tapes.
- While most of the Japanese companies you've heard of are sprawling multinationals with multibillion-dollar incomes, huge corporations actually represent a tiny fraction of the local market. With small and medium-sized businesses dominating Japan's economy, most workplaces don't have the resources to update their technology regularly.
Music by Epidemic Sound www.epidemicsound.com/
Subscribe to Bright Side : goo.gl/rQTJZz
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our Social Media:
Facebook: / brightside
Instagram: / brightgram
5-Minute Crafts RUclips: www.goo.gl/8JVmuC
Stock materials (photos, footages and other):
www.depositphotos.com
www.shutterstock.com
www.eastnews.ru
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more videos and articles visit:
www.brightside.me/ 
Хобби
Hey guys! Have you ever tried to drive on the left?
Yes ofcourse
Because I live in India
So I should ride on left side of the road.
Nope.
I live in the UK.
Of coz...my country is LHT.
Of course it’s normal I’ve never tried the right it’s so odd
0:13
Playstations, anime and tiny cars
When Bright Side just sums it all up in a couple of seconds
Ever watched Pokémon? That’s anime. From what I know anime is a show that’s not a tv show or cartoon but may be streamed on certain channels a few times depending on how popular it is
Just Some Guy without a Mustache you are everywhere
He forgot about the most important thing Japan has ever gave us the the r34 Skyline.
So who brought hentai
Yepp.
Btw jellal 😍
We also drive in the left side of the road in the U.K., Ireland, India, South Africa and Australia
Even Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh too drive on left.
in Nepal also
@@animeyudi-ras3483 Even in Guyana and Bhutan
indonesia too
Slovakia too
Should be why America drives on the right!
Most of the world (about 70% of the countries) drives on the right side of the road. Also, the explanation given in the video (about why Japan drives on the left side of the road) also (indirectly) answers why America drives on the right side (and indirectly answers why various other countries drive on whatever side of the road they drive on).
Yeah India drives on the left too
70% of the world drives on the right.
Most of the world drives on the right. Not everything is about America.
Same in Philippines
Thailand 🇹🇭 also drives on the left.
Probably because of Japanese influence.
Japan Panda Yeah when Japanese took over our country and murdered our loved ones with nuclear weapons and forced us into colonization to Japan 🇯🇵 to fight with USA 🇺🇸 luckily we sent 🕵️♂️ spy’s to USA 🇺🇸 so they can tell them so USA 🇺🇸 could plan attacks on Japan 🇯🇵 so once they won the war we would be spared
@@mlivehd7552 Yikes... sometimes it's hard to remember things we didn't live through. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this. I'm sure there can be problems in Thailand though, since Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar all are on the opposite side.
Nukes?
Even 🇮🇳
I ❤️ to drive on the left side of the road because the driver sits on the right side of the vehicle and the steering wheel is also on the right thus making it a lot more safer because our stronger/dominant right hand is controlling the steering wheel and also our stronger right eye can focusing more on the incoming traffic. So that's why I support 100% on the LHT/RHD driving rules because it's the true way of driving.
I'm South African, and fully agree with you! ☺
The UKs reason for driving on the left had nothing to do with Napoleon and was law centuries before him.
It goes as far back to the Romans and continued because it meant when riding, your right hand was free to use sword or other weapon when passing a stranger on a road. I believe spiral staircases in castles went counter clockwise for the same reason. Europe also did the same until Napoleon forced them to change.
It actually makes sense to drive on the left as for most people, your right eye and hand are more effective and stronger for viewing and controlling the wheel respectively.
True
Abso-loody-utely right.
Indonesia use left side too because of pre-Napoleon colonization.
That’s like asking why does America have right-hand traffic
That a story all on its
Because it's easier for right-handed people. (the majority)
I'm 🇨🇦Canadian and we still drive on right-hand traffic because of our land border is next to the states🇺🇸.
@@f.b.i6889 Actually not true, driving on the left makes more sense for right-handed people as we are almost always right-eye dominant and get a slightly better view of oncoming traffic. Besides, LHD is the new method, RHD was originally dominant. RHD also wasn't even universal, nor invented in the US.
@@shebbs1 But why use your left hand to move the gear stick, when the right hand is more coordinated. I know this only applies if you have a manual, but that's what most people had at the time. Also why does something need to being new or invented by us for us to use it? This is America were talking about: we steal stuff all the time.
Here is another fact about Japan
For the first time in Rugby history this year they qualified for quarter finals 👏👏👏
They are also ranked higher than Australia.
Another fun Rugby World Cup fact: in 2015, England became the first Rugby World Cup host nation to fail to qualify beyond the group stage.
Japan's team was so much fun to watch, they brought something new and fresh to the game. I hope to see their progress continue and hope more Japanese get into the sport.
were there any japanese in the team ??
Britain's driving on the left was a throw back to the Romans. When legions passed each other they went to the left side of the road.
It's true about the castles. The spiral staircase was designed so that defenders used their left hand to grip the rope and their right hand was free for their swords, whereas the attacker either had to go up without anything to grab hold of, or, use their right hand to grip and use their left hand to fight.
Someone mentioned about a sword to defend themselves. This isn't quite true. What it is is that a gentleman when escorting a lady would have her on his left arm. If any assailant approached the gentleman's right arm was free to draw his sword to protect her.
(I learned this in history lessons some 50 years ago.)
Finally someone who knows why it is LHD.
TIMESTAMPS:
They Drive on the Left 0:31
The Kit-Kat is Huge 2:09
KFC for Christmas 3:55
The Only Emperor 5:34
Vending Machines Everywhere 6:55
Old Technology 8:48
I was led to think that the reason we in the UK (England, etc) drive on the left, is a throwback to riding Horses and using carriages, where the left hand had hold of the Horses reins to control the horse, while the right hand used a sword or pistol (as most people are right handed), it gave better control of the weapon, the same as in Medieval times of dueling with Lances (Long Pole) which were predominantly held in the right hand while riding on the left at each other. Japan, also has a long history of swordsmanship with Horses (Samurai warriors).
True
You missed out that most South East Asia countries driving on the left side. Yeah, most of them were previously British colonies (Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore & Myanmar) but Indonesia was with The Dutch (Nederlands). Nederlands was driving on the right side while Indonesia was on the left. Thailand was also driving on the left side of the road & they were never anyone colonies.
Japan is awesome and they are way ahead in technology
I think i remember they had videos on their phones two years before we had it in the US
Ok japan is officially in 2070 and everyone else is way behind
Verdade
Nice episode! Very interesting highlights and commentaries.
Japan isn't the only country to drive on the left, Australia and many other countries also drive on the left
Don't forget about little New Zealand - we are a country who drives on the left and also part of the commonwealth.
Tania Hewitt sane with uk
I don’t think he even showed New Zealand on the world map
Tania Hewitt Ireland drives on the left side.
Nepal has also same.
About a 1/3 of the world drives on the left
Not only in britian ruled country
Even Nepalese drive in left side
And they were never ruled by anyone
That's because we get most of our vehicles from India which was ruled by British.
@@bibekadhikari806 not all tha vechiles are from india in our country
And there is nothing on vechile
Its about roads lane
I think that's just because it's mostly surrounded by India Pakistan and Bhutan, all of which were British colonies
@@japanpanda2179 yes that might be true😊
@@bibekadhikari806 Is Nepal accessible from China by road? China drives on the right. How do your road crossings in the high mountains work?
Uk and Ireland drive on the left too
Thank you, i could actually hear some of the explaining of the vid.
in Indonesia we have two standards
if the road has one side, we drive on the left
when the road has two sides, we drive on the left and right
but when we want to stop, we always stop on the left side
Indonesia also drive on left side of the road
While Java Island only became a part of British Empire for 6 years.
True, dutch do this than Indonesia also take the culture of that.and now left side of the road
Super great video. Thank you
It's the same for New Zealand, they drive on the left side too, and the driver's seat in a car is on the right.
We too in Jamaica
It's also the same in South Africa
In Bangladesh aswell
The correct side to drive on too!!!
All British colonies. I'm glad the USA and Canada follow the world's more predominant system.
Lol I love how you never highlighted Zimbabwe(that brown space in between all the red) in red with the other African countries that drive on the left... because we were also a British colony(Rhodesia) and we do drive on the left😂
hey indonesia is left hand driving too
no one care
FYI, Kit Kats are a British invention, having been around since 1935. They eventually went on sale in the US in 1970, and in Japan in 1973.
Your videos are so educational awesome
I was to understand that we (The UK) drive on the left because originally it was easier to defend yourself with a sword with your right hand if you are attacked when passing another on horseback, makes more sense too.
Yeah, and because Napoleon was left-handed, he challenged that convention as a strategy when conquering the rest of Europe, and convinced the rest of mainland Europe drive on the right.
It was the Romans who caused Britons to drive on the left, not obstinacy.
They have been driving on the left in present day England since at least Roman times, if not earlier than that. This 'obstinacy' thing is just a silly story and explanation, with no basis in fact.
“We’re once a part of the British empire”
New Zealand: what about me on the map?
Soda Panda isn’t New Zealand part of uk like Scotland and Ireland ?
He forgot about Pakistan as well. Former British colony
What wasn't the 13 colonies in America by the British why dont we drive on the left side
On the left-hand drive map, also missing were Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka... in fact one third of the planet drives on that side. Also, the use of the left is the European tradition going back to the Romans, which many countries have maintained. A little bit of research should have been done before making this video.
Isn't NZ an Australian province? 😏
My family has been doing KFC Xmas eve in Canada since the early 70's, never realized it was a Japanese tradition until a few years ago.
Make a video about "Why America still using imperial measurement"
I don't know if there is a Bright Side video only about that topic specifically. It would probably be a fairly short video if it was only about America and imperial measurement units. But Bright Side has mentioned in various other videos mentioning America's use of imperial measurement units (included among other factoids about America).
RIshy Production kuujhjjj
America doesn’t use Imperial measurements. We use the U.S. Customary measurement system, which is different from the Imperial system and was developed earlier. You would be better off to ask why the UK still uses Imperial measurements. But then, you might as well ask why both countries speak English!
By the way, they Drive on the Left in the Republic of Ireland too.
Not the North?
In Malaysia, our road is left-handed too 😑
Nice I love all your videos 👍🏽
Japan left hand traffic also came from the fact that samurais found it easier to stick to the left so that when they need to draw their swords and that tradition stuck
0:49
Ummm scooz mi sir
Wherez New Zealand?
You cut me off the map
People are gonna think I don’t exist
Thank you so much sa vedio .waiting for you .
I love your videos 🤩🤩❣️
Simple answer, left hand side is the correct side of the road
Yes even back in the days it was.
Just imaging driving on the right and holding a sword in your Left hand you'll be butchered.
I read somewhere that Driving on the left was so that the right hand could be used to hold the sword.
@@Hamza_inayat Except that I'm left handed, I would hold the sword with my left hand.
Driving on the right makes sense for people that use their right hand the most, using the gearbox shift with your most accurate hand is the most logical, because:
a) the shift is on the center of the car, you should be placed on the left side of the car;
b) that means you should be driving on the right side of the road, because it's safer to calculate distances with the incoming traffic.
@ Correct, the steering wheel can be handled by the other less accurate hand!
@ I disagree. You should be steering with your dominant hand on the steering wheel at all times.
We brits got taught to use the left side of the road by the romans.
Never really saw a need to change as it worked.
Malaysia🇲🇾 also has left-hand traffic
Do u live there or u have been there??
Commonwealth countries kan gitu~
@@pineapplegachagirldogscanp7795 im malaysian and i can confirm it
shy kookie26 I’m Malaysian too!
Akhirnya Ada jugak yg bijak
Finally there is some person who is smart enough hear😂
Very interesting
Thanks 🙏
In Nepal, we drive on left but we were never under British Colonism...
Same driving rule here in Nepal 🇳🇵
You forgot "The Republic of Ireland". I've driven "on the left" there and in England many times. And 90% of the cars have manual transmissions too.
Is the clutch still the left foot, on cars built for left-hand traffic?
@@carultch Yes...clutch, gas and brake pedals are positioned the same as in cars built for right-hand traffic
Thanks, when I visit Japan, I will look for a cassette player. I sorely need one, as I still have my music cassettes, and no workable player.
my country drives on the left side too and yet they missed it-
*New Zealand*
He doesn’t want to waste his time, because why didn’t he include every country with country that drives on the left
Why drive on the left. Because your sword arm needs to hit the goofball from youtube coming the other way.
Common fuddin sense.
I know why they drive on left lane , because Japan have got right-handed steering wheel , so the reason they drive on the left is to see the car on the right lane.
Yes, Right handed Steering wheel is Best and Convenient for Driving.
Not all former British colonies are left-hand traffic, though. Canada, the Caribbean and West African countries are right-hand to facilitate connectivity with their respective neighbouring countries.
In japan they make better cars than in america currently
. Greetings from Chile!
Umm and Australia and England, Ireland, Scotland etc. Think the question is back to front lol
someone said Ireland wow
As a brit I do agree
@@kanidium Hello fellow brit.
I haven't seen the puppies featured vending machine. Is a vending machine for dogs isn't it? It sells dog foods for dogs and the dogs can push the button because the button smells like chicken. It is located in Toyosu, Tokyo.
Do this type of Video of Nepal. Love your videos
Australia has left hand traffic too.
Dont forget vietnam , they have left hand too
My dad when to Tokyo for his job one time he brought back a whole bunch of Kit Kat’s
Mine also
Lucky I don't think I could walk away with out trying one of everything
My dads still out getting milk
What flavour? I hear they have some flavours that are unique to Japan.
Can you Bright side do a video about the delivery job
I love the green tea kit kats. One of my favorite things in japan
Re my friend here in cyprus we drive in the left too
Also a British colony.
Even India 🇮🇳 has left hand traffic 🚥!!
Pakistan introduced left hand drive in india
AwaisAalam they did?
@@awaisaalam
Is Pakistan has cars is they developed ???? Ha ha
@@muthukumars8965 yup bro even Pakistan developed JF 17 in Pakistan not purchase from other countries
I like all your Videos because it make me learn something all in each Video.
Please try your best to add Subtitle to every Videos.
AS I understabd it - it was subtrefudge the counter inteligence - with troops 'positioned' on the right as though going in the opposite direction
“Japan brought us video games, anime and tiny cars”. It also brought us planes and aircraft carriers with missiles only to get nuked in return.
Japan got nuked because they attacked Pearl Harbor.
Oh, my bad.
Pearl harbor was an inside job, look it up. Fed files went public after so many years
They like driving on the left
Yes Me Too, because this Driving system is Best and Convenient.
I find driving LHD weird because I am from the uk
Already went two times it's just beautiful and amazing
Nobody:
Japan: We got PUPPY VENDING MACHINES
PETA:😳😡🤬
Definitely looking into visiting Japan in the not-too-distant future.
The UK drives in the left aswell
Because this Driving System is Best and Convenient.
Nice video
You missed the vending machines that sell cars.
Is it true ? They have car vending machines
@@arulelisa It certainly is. Not many, but they do exist.
@@Li.Siyuan wow !!!
Really?
USA sure is a weird country
I absolutely love videos about random facts. This one was very interesting. Thank you, Bright Side.
Most of the counties have left side traffic
No!
I live in south Africa who drives on the left but I'm afriad you're wrong most countries except british colonies drive on the right. Google it
Yea in NY all sides have traffic, it’s kind of a free for all here, I imagine lots of populated places are like that.
@@Yarzu555 haha
Japan keeps on having different stuff than America just see the picture America roads are like going straight up and like those stuff in Japan are just keeping having different stuff
Australia drives on the left too
Venus Dragojlović Yes we do
@@sydneytravellervlogs4659 couldn't imagine it any other way tbh haha
9 views. 43 likes. Perfect.
Kookie Monster ur profile shows it
@@fa.t4l I like kookies. =)
Kookie Monster same UwU with milk ofc
I like your intro!
That Green Tea Kit Kat is the TRUTH!!!!
Nepal also has left side driving . Can you give some facts of Nepal
no one care
Why does usa have right hand way
*that is what we should ask*
I'm right-handed and American, and my left hand doesn't have enough coordination to shift gears. (Yes, I drive a manual car).
Question is, why shift gears with your left hand if you are right-handed?
@@slowanddeliberate6893 What if you are left handed. You can not drive a car?
@@paulg8730 I think you misunderstood my comment.
Most humans are right-handed, in case you didn't realize that.
@@slowanddeliberate6893 It's called irony.
Most humans can coordinate both hands. Moving a gearshift does not require the dexterity of a brain surgeon.
@@paulg8730 Are you good at writing with a pen using your right and left hands? I'm not.
It's not extremely difficult for a right-handed person to shift gears with their left hand. It's just inconvenient to practice beforehand to build the coordination and muscle memory.
I got to try the green tea KitKat. It was so good.
*I actually asked a Japanese person here in Japan, He said that the Samurai wears their sword on the left side for easier drawing of sword. It was like that since the Edo period.*
IN INDIA ALSO WE HAVE LEFT HAND TRAFFIC
WHO AGREES👍👍👍
You cant agree with that it's a fact not an opinion
More like “Why the rest of the world drives on the left lane”
The rest of the world does not drive on the left. Only 28% of the countries have left-hand traffic. Right-hand traffic is by far the most common. All of mainland Europe, all of mainland North America, most of mainland South America with the exception of Guyana and Suriname, and other than the Indian Subcontinent/Thailand/Malaysia, most of Continental Asia, are all examples of right-hand traffic.
India drives on the left lane wym lol
@@entroxity9137 I already mentioned that when I said, "other than the Indian Subcontinent". Still not even close to "the rest of the world".
@@bibinantony3647 You are thinking of Hong Kong and Macau. China drives on the right.
Bibin antony china drives on the right side.
Actually, every country used to drive on the left, it was all to do with how you mount and dismount a horse, you mount a horse on the left, and drive on the left so don’t mount and dismount into traffic... and Napoleon wanted to say up yours to everybody else.
Also, you hold a weapon in your right hand. If you meet someone while riding a horse, you don’t want to meet on the offside in case that person is an enemy.
In the UK (England) the Roman's 2000 years ago built roads and they marched on the left, this was for self defence as they could use their right arm to get to their swords. Also you mount horses from the left.
Yes these are true,I live in japan and I like the strawberry Kit Kat!
japan is nice and also all things in there is nice
My Favorite:Anime,Manga,Music,Pets,Foods, And Many things
Sorry your wrong ,riding on the left was the ancient norm ,so your sword arm ,your right ,was available for defence when passing on trails It was Napoleon who wanted to be awkward against the British
John Stanton correct. I was looking for this. Also the reason why other countries drive on the right was something to do with loading and unloading cargo from carriages (I can’t remember the full reason)
We drive on the left here in Australia too.
Who else watching this in october 2019
Me
Me/আমি
Not me
Of course everyone who watched this watched it now because it was created a while ago.
Its a video that has 30M sub's. Ofc people are watching now.
I’d love to see the vending machines!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
We were in Japan last year. Vending machines EVERYWHERE! One reason they're popular is because the Japanese still love to carry cash. paying by card is not as common there as elsewhere. Greetings from another in Australia!
Do the Cubans have left hand traffic or right hand traffic in Cuba.
Indonesia 🇮🇩 also left traffic
That puppy vending machine is really sad :(
Fun fact, Sweden also used to drive on the left. In 1967 they switched to driving to the right in a massive operation, overnight!
Nepal 🇳🇵also have left traffic ❤️
sai ho 😍😍
Because this Driving system is Best.
There are other beliefs to this. Japan and England are both warrior nations, when riding a horse a soldier would always ride on the left of the road as that would free his right (sword) arm if he came into conflict with someone riding up to him thus he would not have to lean over his horse to engage in combat. The Japanese preference to walking or riding on the left side of the road actually predates the introduction of the railways by several hundred years due to Samurais and them being predominantly right handed.
Napoleon was left handed and he instructed all his soldiers to learn to fight left handed which is why in France they rode on the right side of the road. This is also why, unlike other countries of the ex British Empire, Canada also drives on the right as it was basically colonised by the French. Then there is Sweden, neither a warrior nation or part of the British Empire, they drove on the left (as all right thinking people do) until September 3rd 1967 when they changed, overnight, to driving on the right.
But ,why they are not appear in any Social media apps??