Recently discovered your channel and love your approach. One thing I've noticed in the 10 years I've lived here is that you rarely see things that are "out of order," and when you do, they are always fixed in a timely manner. Back in Canada you'll see things with an out of order sign slapped on them for weeks or even months at a time.
Thank you. I agree with all of your points and have also thought of another to do with the Japanese medical system. In Japan, if you have a health issue with some part of your body, you then take yourself off to visit the relevant specialist for a checkup and can see that specialist straightaway, as on the same day. In Australia though, it can take weeks and sometimes months to see a medical specialist for a health issue as you first need to see your local general practitioner who will then refer you to a specialist. While living in Japan we soon took this system for granted, just accepting the efficiency and speed with having health issues sorted out very quickly. It was only when back in Australia we realised how slow and frustrating the system is here.
This is an interesting point, but it does have some limitations. There are cases where the clinician doesn't have the necessary testing equipment or access to such, and there is still a referral process that happens. I haven't had to do this, but I know people who have had to work their way through several clinics before reaching someone who can really go into depth about their issue.
You're really hitting your stride with the Sakuraco segments. Really well made. One thing I've noticed in Japan is just how quiet traffic is. Is it ever jarring when you come back to the states and realize how much people lean on their horns?
No horns....but I would estimate 30% of the cuts in my videos are scooters riding by. tttttthhhthhthhBBBBBBBBBBBTTTTTTTttthhh. Hate those things when filming, lol
For your reference, under Japan’s Road Traffic Act, honking is prohibited except in emergencies. Conversely, repeatedly honking at a driver in front of you out of frustration because they aren’t driving at a high speed (well above the legal limit) can result in penalties. In particular, if this behavior directly causes a traffic accident, there is a high likelihood of facing penalties. (Of course, there are a few inconsiderate drivers in Japan as well, and this behavior is a social concern due to its role in causing accidents.)
The yellow lights only last about two seconds. It's almost impossible to not run a red light. Best to watch the pedestrian crossing light as it is a sign that a red light is coming quickly.
Another great thought-provoking video Paul 👍 On the point of starting up conversations with people in Japan ... Over my trips I found that people who have visited other countries or lived in other countries for a time are very open to a chat, perhaps welcoming it ... Alternatively asking directions from a Japanese person 'even speaking in broken Japanese' is seldom a welcomed interaction, but once settled quite polite and helpful. Where I live in Australia we have many Japanese visitors fruit-picking on working visas and when I ask them "what are the main things you like about Australia ?" a very common reply is the casual openness of the people to start up a conversation, interesting 🤔 Almost like something in their soul is longing for it. I have a long contact list of Japanese people that I've met in my local Woolworths supermarket that I've taken fishing and on other day adventures and I get to interact with them and understand their experience in Australia against their Japan lifestyle. Japan Trip #11 for me in 2 weeks. It's really healthy to have a reflection between cultures. Of course that goes for differences between any cultures. But I sure do love Japan 🇦🇺❤️🇯🇵
I just arrived in Tokyo. I am going to spend 3 weeks here (well a week in Osaka). Looking forward to checking out a couple of restaurants you recommended in Yokohama.
In Yokohama station on the top floor of a shopping mall at one end of the station is a sushi restaurant (it's called Tsukiji Sushiko, I think it's in the Lumine building) where the bar is slightly elevated and at the back of the restaurant, the front has three areas full of tables. Sitting at the bar in front of these enormous, friendly chefs was one of my favourite places to eat in Japan, and the food was top-notch, the prices reasonable. When I told them I was leaving the country they all seemed rather sad and I promised to come back. Lovely guys, miss them and their food.
@@Exjapter The place often has a queue, so if possible get there early or tell them you'd like to wait for the counter. The chefs are friendly, speak reasonably good English, and will usually tell you what's the best choices for the day. Sometimes they'd make me a treat. The best part of the experience for me was eating at the counter... I'll be in Japan in the new year for a few months so I'm looking forward to going back. Enjoy!
I think the noticing of elderly may have more to do with America being a car culture. My first year in Japan I noticed the uptick in in elderly and also handy cap people. But thinking about it in my home town those two groups of people pretty much drive, or are driven, everywhere.
As a Japanese person who moved from the Tokyo suburbs to the countryside, I've noticed a significant difference in the types of cars on the road. For instance, in central Tokyo, public transportation is generally more convenient than driving, making car ownership somewhat of a luxury. Among car owners, about one-third to one-fourth drive high-end imported vehicles. In contrast, in the countryside, cars are essential for transportation, and it's common for each person to own one vehicle. The variety of cars is markedly different from urban areas, with a sharp decline in the number of imported vehicles and many elderly individuals driving K-cars and K-trucks. (Drivers aged 70 to 75 and older are required to display a sticker indicating their age.)
I enjoy walking and in the beginning I would greet people on the walking path and only receive a Hello back about 50 percent of the time from those passing by. Didn't give up though and after a few months some people would stop and talk to me and enjoy some small talk. I live in rural Japan with very few foreigners around so it takes some time to build trust and get to know people more, Being fluent in Japanese has certainly helped with my big breakthrough coming when I appeared on local TV and was interviewed about the antiques trade here in my area. After that, many people would come up to me as they had seen the interview and have had many nice conversations on my daily walks. I think then in my experience, once there is level of trust and familiarity Japanese people do not just put-up with you but seen to really enjoy the small-talk and actually seek it out when you meet casually out and about.
One of the advantages of the countryside! Yes, once people see you as part of their community somehow, it is easier to talk to others and make friends. Region can make a difference, too. When I jog in the morning in Yamanashi people return my hellos. When I visited Fukui last June, NO ONE returned a hello to me as I jogged past.
I have taught all age levels, from 2 to 18, and the answer is: browbeating with a touch of Hegel thrown in Caregivers give out structured morning rituals and well established prompting, usually by song and piano....and browbeating, albeit in a kind way...and that's it. Japanese socialisation in a nutshell
Yes, the very structured routines are important, and even child psychologists in the West go on about how routine is important - its just American parents and schools dont seem to do it as much/well as Japan.
The newborn thing is a sickness avoidance precaution rather than a meiwaku avoidance precaution. The other thing is, if your kids act up on the train, they get off on the next station and speak sternly and quietly to the kid on the platform until they are calmed down. They do the same when kids are misbehaving on the street, stop walking and take them off to the side. If your kids are awful on the train, you will get death glares from everyone else on the train. I found that out the hard way.
I just moved to Japan in September. I still can't get used to all the bicycles everywhere when I'm trying to walk. And the bicycles are next to the cars. And people also don't ever choose a side to walk on. They're on the left and the right side. It's kind of chaotic. And also, the stop signs are only on the ground so cars can see them and as a pedestrian it's harder to see. So I get nervous crossing every street.
Singlehandedly, the best "children peering over the side like inquisitive animals" impersonation I have ever seen . Just another reason to love the videos. I was literally laughing out loud at the description , then the improvisation of the action ....😆. Lol, you channeled the vision I had and have seen of kids during these outings in Japan ....kudos my friend..
I really noticed the restaurant one when I was in Rome recently - Orders take forever to arrive there, twice they were mixed up, and trying to pay the damn check took forever as well. They go at their own pace in Italy and it is very slow! I really missed Japan in those moments.
I sense that there has been a rise in this notion in the west, that it is the society that must accept the individual, this coincides with a degeneration of religious traditions and acceptance and the empowerment of the individual spirit. This is juxtaposed in Eastern societies where society is defined and it is the individual that must conform. Children in the west who run around and are said to be loud are 'just being kids'. I think there is some fundamental difference in how the human spirit is framed. In a country like Japan, 'society' is solidly constituted by the individual whereas in the West a society is a conglomeration of individuals with likeminded goals, the key difference being a much deeper assimilation between the two units in the former. I feel like explains why social cues and propriety are treated with greater reverence in Japan.
Yeah. I agree with the finally point. When I was commuting for a whole year, I only had 1 conversation on the train, and that was with another foreigner. Yet when I return to Australia, I meet and swapped FB profiles with someone on the first train to my hometown. Personally I don't mind either way.
Was watching this with my daughter who has a 4 year old son. When you mentioned the quiet kids part, we both laughed. But I do get the idea. Perhaps the key to understanding why they are quiet is because of our laughter. An American mom would probably not think a thing about a kid making tons of noise, but Japanese moms are tough as nails when it comes to certain types of behavior like being noisy when out in public. Went to my college's festival today, and my usually boisterous and very noisy grandson became shy. So many of my students saw us, and besides picking up a 19 year old girlfriend dressed as Shrek, he was bombarded with "kawaii!!!" remarks. He was literally trying to climb up on my head in an attempt to hide from all of this unexpected attention from complete strangers. Maybe that's part of the answer, but not sure.
Kids aren't quiet, honestly. But Japanese do a better job of controlling them in public I think. Also, this is only speculation on my part, but I think some parents with particularly unruly kids just don't go out with them very much...
@@Exjapter Oh, that's certainly true! Like you, I'm not sure, but I grew up in the states where fights were almost on a daily basis. After over 30 years of teaching everything from JHS to Uni, I've never seen a single full blown fight. I blame this success on Japanese moms, and society in general. There's probably a cost to pay in terms of individualism, which we both know is a thing in Japan. Still... I'm not complaining.
As for the getting orders wrong segment, I honestly believe it is so noticeable simply because your other main experience is from the US. While in my home country orders do get mixed up sometimes, it seems much rarer that the way you described, and almost exclusively for meal delivery services.
In my country we are taught that if a light turn red you are supposed to look in the mirror and make sure that you don't hit the break if someone is tailing right behind you. I actually failed my license the first time because I hit the breaks in that sweet spot you talk about. I think there is a greater emphasis on not bothering others and being conscientious in Japan. And also a much higher rate of single parents in the US. 23% of children in the US live with a single parent(or 32% in California), while in Japan it's 7%. It is obviously the case that two parents have more time to raise their kid properly than one. Children like to rile each other up, so even a well behaved kid can take on the behavior of it's contemporaries so I think a higher rate of well behaved kid will result in a knock on effect. My experience of Japan is that the elderly are healthier than in my country, and probably even more so than the US. They keep active, do morning exercises and live with their family,. The life expectancy is also 85 vs 81 in the US. I think this means that more of the elderly will be out and about. My country is very similar to Japan in regards to talking to strangers, nobody will ever talk to you in public except in passing while hiking. Japan interestingly also has this habit of always saying "konnichiha" to strangers they pass in a hiking trail. In my country this is starting to change with younger people and foreigners. Foreigners are always noisy in public, speaking loudly in their phone, or playing loud music or talking loudly. And kids have adopted this.
The shared experience through hiking is one of my favorite things here. Thanks for the detailed comment - parenting is hard and being a single parent even harder. It's pretty clear how these things influence children!
Parents raising children in Japan generally start teaching their kids how to behave appropriately in public spaces before they enter kindergarten. For instance, some McDonald's locations in the suburbs have outdoor play equipment for children. After their meals, kids can enjoy running around and playing, but they must remove their shoes to use the play area. They are expected to voluntarily take off their shoes and neatly place them in the designated shoe storage. This expectation reflects the lessons that children have already learned at home and in school about proper behavior in public settings. Paul briefly mentioned infants, and from my personal perspective, this can vary by region. In my neighborhood, it is common to see parents with infants in strollers taking walks in the park on weekends. However, I believe that infants who are not yet able to hold their heads up are often kept indoors to play.
I actually think that parents who have children who are really noisy (particularly difficult children in regards to screaming etc) choose to go out less than other parents - literally sheltering society from their child. I know at least one family in my neighborhood like this...
@@Exjapter I understand what you're saying. I imagine that over the more than 20 years since you first arrived, you've noticed both positive and negative changes in Japan. For example, the quietness on Japanese trains originally came from a sense of consideration for others, yet I feel that more people now find children’s voices disruptive compared to before. Personally, I believe that some level of tolerance is essential when it comes to children’s noise. At the same time, it seems that society was more tolerant in the past than it is today.
@@Exjapter It's one of my dream cars. Every time I see one I get happy :)
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The red lights up here in Hokkaido have the people(myself included at times) in winter going through them in winter with the slippery ice roads. In Summer I don’t do it…but the bōsōzoku blatantly do it when the lights have been red for a while. The third point about kids being quiet, I think is just drilled into the by their parents and kindergarten/daycare workers. But, I agree in your points!
I hear a baby start to cry on the train twice then instantly stop. It was a crowded train so I couldn't see if the parent did anything. Maybe it's a survival thing for the child to be quite when other humans around it are. Has anyone else experienced this in Japan?
I have to add one thing about one of the observations , about the elderly . The older folks were the majority of people who would speak to me . I am middle 50's guy , exactly in the middle ,lol . Some younger people would speak with me but that was usually in a service situation , but on the streets , older folks were always nice or would take the time to come and say hello when I was outside the coin laundry waiting for it too be done . My Japanese is horrible but we always had a way of communicating , even if it was mixed language and charades..lol. Im just a regular guy from the states nothing odd or weird to discourage interaction between people in the Twenty to forties range . Im even just talking general courtesy . Yes , I do know and understand the way the culture is and how it works , that's said for anyone who would like to jump on me for my observation in the comments . I look forward to getting back there and saying hello to some very nice folks when I return to live there with my wife . (she will try to make my Japanese ..better ? Lol.)
The elderly are also unplugged, meaning they are still observing the world around them and saying hello to others on the street. Sometimes just by simply greeting them in Japanese they decide to start a conversation. I agree with your observation.
In regards to quiet children, could it be more about urban vs rural growing experience? I've notice in my city, that the little kids I see out on the street tend to be quiet. I wonder if it's partly because they are overwhelmed/overstimulated by all of the sights, sounds & smells are different from inside the home or other spaces that are traditional kid friendly?
I ordered a pizza and drinks and dessert. The delivery guy forgot to leave the drinks and dessert. I called the shop and, while I was talking to them, he brought them.
I've lived in North Dakota for a few decades, and it seems the Midwest has slowly caught up on the practice of running red lights. These days, it's normal for a few cars to squeeze through after the light changes.
That's too bad. The big one that I noticed when visiting the US last year was how slow people were starting on a green, because people are looking at their phone... People do that in Japan, but much more infrequently because it's against the law nationally and police will ticket you for it.
There was a Makudo where every order we got had some mistake and other reviews showed the same but that was 2020. The place had many college students and did better after the management did extra training.
@@Exjapter No, my wife ordered through the drive through and there were different mistakes like, something missing from the set or a partial different order but it was during/after March 2020 and happened to other orders confirmed by the manager when my wife called a complaint about a specialty burger missing. They got it fixed either with training or with more staff. One time it happened inside when that was allowed again. It was that special Co-vent.
There's a cheap sushi place in Shimbashi where orders are around ¥100. The atmosphere is loud and busy but the quality of the food is, as is typical, excellent. There's a fancy sushi restaurant in Ginza where I had an expensive meal, but I will remember it for the rest of my life. Between those two poles it's always good. I've been back in New Zealand for over a year and a half now and haven't had any Japanese food or "sushi" here because it's just *not* sushi. The rice is entirely wrong, served cold, there's only farmed flappy-pale salmon and chicken (!) on top, sometimes Fijian maguro, but no variety at all, and sloppy-made without any sense of pride, usually by non-Japanese chefs. I miss Japanese food. On the third thing, I wasn't so surprised about Japanese kids being quiet. From the beginning, people in Japan are brought up to value family, community, respect for others. It's baked into everything I saw in Japan, media, education, how people relate to each other, etc. I think the reason that kids are quiet is because all kids are quiet, i.e., individuals within a group of people tend to act like the entire group. So in America kids see other kids acting out, so they act out. If a kid in Japan acts out they get scolded for upsetting the quiet. They learn the value of cooperation, something westerners don't. Westerners value independence, being different, being unique. On the last point, I agree that small talk is not normal. On the other hand, I found that if I remained relatively quiet but clearly open to a conversation, sometimes Japanese men would initiate and engage in what became long conversations (in English) and on occasion would even buy me food and/or drinks. These men had typically lived overseas for some time where they honed their English and likely became more gregarious as well. But it's not very common. Now, I can't remotely imagine this happening with women.
I'd say the only sushi I had in Japan that was disappointing were the sushi rolls from the grocery in which the fish looked like it had been through the blender
I would go further then kids being quiet in public spaces. Public spaces in general are so loud in America. I went back in August for the first time in 2 or so years. I was appalled by the amount of people who were listening to their cell phones speakers at full volume. Everything from TV shows to live soccer games. It was just really jarring. It even happened in a highway rest stop bathroom. It was just so rude and inconsiderate.
The whole thing where people walk around with their call on speaker mode while holding their phone like its a sandwich they are about to take a bite out of is so weird.
I personnally don't need ny nane nentioned, but you nay be in tge top 19 nost important people in Japan to explain what is necessary to us not living in Japan. My guess is to why the kids are very quiet actually seems to me to be that the answer is quite varied. Especially since when I was in Japan from 89' to 95' the kids under the age of 5 were actually quite louder than the ones in the United States, from my experience. One reason I think is because kids are not fed correct food from an early age here in the United States. That naturally to make their disposition more irritable...
Greetings from Laos. I grew up in Seattle, WA USA. Here in Vientiane, the kids are well-behaved and quiet too. They don't run wild in the grocery stores like American kids at Walmart. It's pleasant to shop here in Laos. I think it's a cultural thing.
There are videos of the relative passivity of asian babies compared to european babies existing from day dot. japanese and americans are quite obviously distinct personality wise. I'd guesstimate by rough statistical mental math over big5 only 20% of japanese have personalities near american norms. Compared to americans in the big5 personality matrix japanese are literally 1 standard deviation more agreeable, more neurotic, less extraverted, less open. Many of these like extraversion, openness, neuroticism are significantly genetic at around 50% heritability according to twin studies. In fact i'm pretty sure the difference between between japanese and americans in such personality traits is greater than say the difference between american men and american women.
@@Exjapter no prob, enjoy your content and style. Sorry if my post is a little contentious lol, I just looked up *The Worldwide Distribution of Big Five Personality Traits:Patterns and Profiles of Human Self-Description Across 56 Nations* to see what it might imply in some spheres of japanese life behaviourally.
I'm from Iran, and when we first came to Japan I was also amazed at how school children here were quiet. In Iran, primary school kids, esp boys, talk loudly on the way to and from school and often engage in bantering fights. I have no answer for which one is better though. Shouldn't children be energetic and lively?!
You make a very good point. There are positives and negatives to this fact. Children need to be curious and energetic, and suppressing it can have serious consequences.
I’ve only been to Japan now 3 times as a visitor from Australia so Europeans obviously stand out more so than Asian tourists. On the whole Japanese are very friendly especially when you engage with a nod of the head or a ohayo gusimus. But you notice things like prolonged stares, being followed in smaller stores or people don’t sit near you on buses etc. Is this an insular thing as a result of a homogeneous population with many people not travelling much out of their own country or are they xenophobic. Be interested in others experiences
Hesitance is what it is in most cases. Japanese tend to avoid uncertainty in social situations, but anyone who proves themselves to be adept in public is accepted and treated well. Xenophobia exists, but it is less and less the reason for people avoiding foreigners - it is usually just a reflex for avoiding the risk of being put on the spot.
@@Exjapter Thanks for reply. Thats a good insight. How do you prove yourself to be adept in Japanese public? We dress well and are polite, shouldn’t be looked upon as common thieves when shopping surely. Cheers.
@@Exjapter I'd be interested to know if you ever get "gaijin seated" on trains nowadays? When I visited last year I found Japanese people seemed to have no problem sitting next to me. But I'm only 170cm so not exactly a big scary guy. Also spent most my time on the busy Osaka metro
Generally, we Japanese tend to approach English as something to ‘study’ rather than as a tool for conversation. As a result, we’re often very hesitant to speak if there’s a chance we might make grammatical mistakes, which leads to a worry of 'What if someone speaks to me in English?' That said, I believe most Japanese people are kind, so if you’re able to communicate to some extent in Japanese, interactions should go smoothly.
@@UnimportantAcc I'm the same height and I don't think I look threatening, but I do have long hair. I did notice sometimes people would avoid sitting next to me, at other times I was pretty much ignored, like everyone else. I agree with Paul that it's most likely a native hesitancy, where nobody wants to be forced into a conversation with a stranger, and the Japanese know that foreigners are more likely to try. I never put it down to rudeness.
you have not talked abot cleanliness of the outside. You spend hours walking around, never is there a trash flying around. Despite that as many others asian countries they are heavy plastic users, i mean, they wrap fresh fruit in plastic.. To me this is striking. Although, i am making no fantasy, they do burn, or bury the trashes they would not produce to begin with if they were not behaving as insanely as the rest of the world. but that is another story.
There is a genuine conscientious effort by Japanese to minimize garbage in human spaces (towns/cities). Out in nature is a bit of a different story, unfortunately.
Wdym, I'm certain most supermarkets around the world, where products are wrapped in plastic packaging. And customers are supposed to use recycled bags for environmental reasons. Now that is even stranger.
@@missplainjane3905 are you saying that because everybody does smthg then it is right to be done ? banality of evil, does that ring a bell on your side ? My mean is rather simple, plastics are very often a commercial necessity that is hardly justified once you have accounted for all the environmental damages induced. I note that Asian countries do wrap many single fruits in plastic. That it is totally amazing to see by your eyes how, at least in Tokyo, it is so clean given the crazy amount of single use disposable they consume on a daily basis. As said previously, there is in this country a genuine effort to respect the commons, in the cities. which i do salute, but, i also think it is futile because plastics are a political, societal, commercial habit, not a necessity to transport, sell and consume fruit and vegetable. Also, single use plastics consumed to arrange the products on the shelf are not let to decide for the consumer, they are imposed by the seller. A vast majority of people, that you seem to ignore, dont use that much of plastics. From historical point of view, this is a very recent phenomena, 70 years over the thousands of years of homosapiens, a fraction of a second. As to recycled bag, that does not prevent expansion of plastics use in general, therefor their massive productions, therefor their dissemination. In contrary, one could argue it further justifies the use of plastic based on false promises. Some numbers, plastic production increased by 2% a year, projected to reach 5% for 2050, recycling accounts for 10%, burning 20%, the rest, 70%, is thrown away to decay in the wild and return to us through the food chain. 95% of plastics are produced for single use only. 50% of plastics were produced during the last two decades. Your comment strikes me.
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Recently discovered your channel and love your approach. One thing I've noticed in the 10 years I've lived here is that you rarely see things that are "out of order," and when you do, they are always fixed in a timely manner.
Back in Canada you'll see things with an out of order sign slapped on them for weeks or even months at a time.
@@settingsunmedia
Can you give examples
I really enjoy learning about Japanese society and cultural.
Got to listen to the whole thing while working out today. Another great vid. MORE! I demand MORE!
Hold yer horses. My schedule allows only 1 or 2 a week....
Thank you. I agree with all of your points and have also thought of another to do with the Japanese medical system. In Japan, if you have a health issue with some part of your body, you then take yourself off to visit the relevant specialist for a checkup and can see that specialist straightaway, as on the same day. In Australia though, it can take weeks and sometimes months to see a medical specialist for a health issue as you first need to see your local general practitioner who will then refer you to a specialist.
While living in Japan we soon took this system for granted, just accepting the efficiency and speed with having health issues sorted out very quickly. It was only when back in Australia we realised how slow and frustrating the system is here.
This is an interesting point, but it does have some limitations. There are cases where the clinician doesn't have the necessary testing equipment or access to such, and there is still a referral process that happens. I haven't had to do this, but I know people who have had to work their way through several clinics before reaching someone who can really go into depth about their issue.
Same in the UK. It's terrible. If you've got something serious, go private, otherwise it may well cost you your life.
In Australia we stop for yellow light. No one runs reds because we have loads of cameras. They'll loose their licence if they do it twice
You're really hitting your stride with the Sakuraco segments. Really well made.
One thing I've noticed in Japan is just how quiet traffic is. Is it ever jarring when you come back to the states and realize how much people lean on their horns?
No horns....but I would estimate 30% of the cuts in my videos are scooters riding by. tttttthhhthhthhBBBBBBBBBBBTTTTTTTttthhh. Hate those things when filming, lol
For your reference, under Japan’s Road Traffic Act, honking is prohibited except in emergencies. Conversely, repeatedly honking at a driver in front of you out of frustration because they aren’t driving at a high speed (well above the legal limit) can result in penalties. In particular, if this behavior directly causes a traffic accident, there is a high likelihood of facing penalties. (Of course, there are a few inconsiderate drivers in Japan as well, and this behavior is a social concern due to its role in causing accidents.)
@@gotakazawa408 Wow! I had no idea. Thanks for that information. That makes total sense.
Haha, if you think America's bad hitting for the horn, go to Italy...OMFG, what a cacophony!
The yellow lights only last about two seconds. It's almost impossible to not run a red light. Best to watch the pedestrian crossing light as it is a sign that a red light is coming quickly.
Yes! I have become an avid pedestrian light watcher - although sometimes there are special lights where it doesn't really help...
Another great thought-provoking video Paul 👍
On the point of starting up conversations with people in Japan ... Over my trips I found that people who have visited other countries or lived in other countries for a time are very open to a chat, perhaps welcoming it ... Alternatively asking directions from a Japanese person 'even speaking in broken Japanese' is seldom a welcomed interaction, but once settled quite polite and helpful. Where I live in Australia we have many Japanese visitors fruit-picking on working visas and when I ask them "what are the main things you like about Australia ?" a very common reply is the casual openness of the people to start up a conversation, interesting 🤔 Almost like something in their soul is longing for it. I have a long contact list of Japanese people that I've met in my local Woolworths supermarket that I've taken fishing and on other day adventures and I get to interact with them and understand their experience in Australia against their Japan lifestyle.
Japan Trip #11 for me in 2 weeks.
It's really healthy to have a reflection between cultures. Of course that goes for differences between any cultures.
But I sure do love Japan 🇦🇺❤️🇯🇵
Thank you for the detailed comment. Hope trip #11 is stellar!
I just arrived in Tokyo. I am going to spend 3 weeks here (well a week in Osaka). Looking forward to checking out a couple of restaurants you recommended in Yokohama.
What's your schedule? I don't mind a good excuse to visit a favorite restaurant.... (Sorry - inviting myself is a bit rude, lol)
In Yokohama station on the top floor of a shopping mall at one end of the station is a sushi restaurant (it's called Tsukiji Sushiko, I think it's in the Lumine building) where the bar is slightly elevated and at the back of the restaurant, the front has three areas full of tables. Sitting at the bar in front of these enormous, friendly chefs was one of my favourite places to eat in Japan, and the food was top-notch, the prices reasonable. When I told them I was leaving the country they all seemed rather sad and I promised to come back. Lovely guys, miss them and their food.
@@Exjapter I am interested, I haven't scheduled it yet. I've been awake for 29 hours and need to sleep.
@@murray.altheim that sounds great, I will go and check that place out.
@@Exjapter The place often has a queue, so if possible get there early or tell them you'd like to wait for the counter. The chefs are friendly, speak reasonably good English, and will usually tell you what's the best choices for the day. Sometimes they'd make me a treat. The best part of the experience for me was eating at the counter... I'll be in Japan in the new year for a few months so I'm looking forward to going back. Enjoy!
I think the noticing of elderly may have more to do with America being a car culture. My first year in Japan I noticed the uptick in in elderly and also handy cap people. But thinking about it in my home town those two groups of people pretty much drive, or are driven, everywhere.
Thats a good point, although I am surrounded by elderly drivers all the time, too.
As a Japanese person who moved from the Tokyo suburbs to the countryside, I've noticed a significant difference in the types of cars on the road. For instance, in central Tokyo, public transportation is generally more convenient than driving, making car ownership somewhat of a luxury. Among car owners, about one-third to one-fourth drive high-end imported vehicles. In contrast, in the countryside, cars are essential for transportation, and it's common for each person to own one vehicle. The variety of cars is markedly different from urban areas, with a sharp decline in the number of imported vehicles and many elderly individuals driving K-cars and K-trucks. (Drivers aged 70 to 75 and older are required to display a sticker indicating their age.)
I enjoy walking and in the beginning I would greet people on the walking path and only receive a Hello back about 50 percent of the time from those passing by. Didn't give up though and after a few months some people would stop and talk to me and enjoy some small talk. I live in rural Japan with very few foreigners around so it takes some time to build trust and get to know people more, Being fluent in Japanese has certainly helped with my big breakthrough coming when I appeared on local TV and was interviewed about the antiques trade here in my area. After that, many people would come up to me as they had seen the interview and have had many nice conversations on my daily walks. I think then in my experience, once there is level of trust and familiarity Japanese people do not just put-up with you but seen to really enjoy the small-talk and actually seek it out when you meet casually out and about.
One of the advantages of the countryside! Yes, once people see you as part of their community somehow, it is easier to talk to others and make friends.
Region can make a difference, too. When I jog in the morning in Yamanashi people return my hellos. When I visited Fukui last June, NO ONE returned a hello to me as I jogged past.
@@Exjapter Fukui is one cold miserable place.
@@thadtuiol1717
You been all over
I have taught all age levels, from 2 to 18, and the answer is: browbeating with a touch of Hegel thrown in
Caregivers give out structured morning rituals and well established prompting, usually by song and piano....and browbeating, albeit in a kind way...and that's it. Japanese socialisation in a nutshell
Yes, the very structured routines are important, and even child psychologists in the West go on about how routine is important - its just American parents and schools dont seem to do it as much/well as Japan.
The newborn thing is a sickness avoidance precaution rather than a meiwaku avoidance precaution.
The other thing is, if your kids act up on the train, they get off on the next station and speak sternly and quietly to the kid on the platform until they are calmed down. They do the same when kids are misbehaving on the street, stop walking and take them off to the side.
If your kids are awful on the train, you will get death glares from everyone else on the train. I found that out the hard way.
Thanks for the comment. You are probably correct about sickness avoidance, and avoiding meiwaku is just a side benefit.
I just moved to Japan in September. I still can't get used to all the bicycles everywhere when I'm trying to walk. And the bicycles are next to the cars. And people also don't ever choose a side to walk on. They're on the left and the right side. It's kind of chaotic. And also, the stop signs are only on the ground so cars can see them and as a pedestrian it's harder to see. So I get nervous crossing every street.
Bicycles....I could do an entire episode on them.... Perhaps I will!
In every street ?
Singlehandedly, the best "children peering over the side like inquisitive animals" impersonation I have ever seen .
Just another reason to love the videos. I was literally laughing out loud at the description , then the improvisation of the action ....😆.
Lol, you channeled the vision I had and have seen of kids during these outings in Japan ....kudos my friend..
They are adorable...like meerkats standing up and looking about.
I really noticed the restaurant one when I was in Rome recently - Orders take forever to arrive there, twice they were mixed up, and trying to pay the damn check took forever as well. They go at their own pace in Italy and it is very slow! I really missed Japan in those moments.
Orders taking forever...yeah, that's another good one. You get used to really fast service in Japan as well.
I'm visiting Japan. You might have just saved my life with the light tip
Wow, glad to be of help then!
I sense that there has been a rise in this notion in the west, that it is the society that must accept the individual, this coincides with a degeneration of religious traditions and acceptance and the empowerment of the individual spirit. This is juxtaposed in Eastern societies where society is defined and it is the individual that must conform. Children in the west who run around and are said to be loud are 'just being kids'. I think there is some fundamental difference in how the human spirit is framed. In a country like Japan, 'society' is solidly constituted by the individual whereas in the West a society is a conglomeration of individuals with likeminded goals, the key difference being a much deeper assimilation between the two units in the former. I feel like explains why social cues and propriety are treated with greater reverence in Japan.
Thank you for the thoughtful, well written comment. I agree that what you say likely plays a part.
I do miss the small talk, but I have gotten used to silent trains…
Yeah. I agree with the finally point. When I was commuting for a whole year, I only had 1 conversation on the train, and that was with another foreigner. Yet when I return to Australia, I meet and swapped FB profiles with someone on the first train to my hometown. Personally I don't mind either way.
Yeah, i am happy to swing to either extreme.
I like to be left alone! lol
Was watching this with my daughter who has a 4 year old son. When you mentioned the quiet kids part, we both laughed. But I do get the idea. Perhaps the key to understanding why they are quiet is because of our laughter. An American mom would probably not think a thing about a kid making tons of noise, but Japanese moms are tough as nails when it comes to certain types of behavior like being noisy when out in public.
Went to my college's festival today, and my usually boisterous and very noisy grandson became shy. So many of my students saw us, and besides picking up a 19 year old girlfriend dressed as Shrek, he was bombarded with "kawaii!!!" remarks. He was literally trying to climb up on my head in an attempt to hide from all of this unexpected attention from complete strangers. Maybe that's part of the answer, but not sure.
Kids aren't quiet, honestly. But Japanese do a better job of controlling them in public I think. Also, this is only speculation on my part, but I think some parents with particularly unruly kids just don't go out with them very much...
@@Exjapter Oh, that's certainly true! Like you, I'm not sure, but I grew up in the states where fights were almost on a daily basis. After over 30 years of teaching everything from JHS to Uni, I've never seen a single full blown fight.
I blame this success on Japanese moms, and society in general. There's probably a cost to pay in terms of individualism, which we both know is a thing in Japan. Still... I'm not complaining.
I"ve been in Tokyo for 9 years and find everything you said to be true.
As for the getting orders wrong segment, I honestly believe it is so noticeable simply because your other main experience is from the US. While in my home country orders do get mixed up sometimes, it seems much rarer that the way you described, and almost exclusively for meal delivery services.
In my country we are taught that if a light turn red you are supposed to look in the mirror and make sure that you don't hit the break if someone is tailing right behind you.
I actually failed my license the first time because I hit the breaks in that sweet spot you talk about.
I think there is a greater emphasis on not bothering others and being conscientious in Japan. And also a much higher rate of single parents in the US. 23% of children in the US live with a single parent(or 32% in California), while in Japan it's 7%. It is obviously the case that two parents have more time to raise their kid properly than one.
Children like to rile each other up, so even a well behaved kid can take on the behavior of it's contemporaries so I think a higher rate of well behaved kid will result in a knock on effect.
My experience of Japan is that the elderly are healthier than in my country, and probably even more so than the US. They keep active, do morning exercises and live with their family,. The life expectancy is also 85 vs 81 in the US. I think this means that more of the elderly will be out and about.
My country is very similar to Japan in regards to talking to strangers, nobody will ever talk to you in public except in passing while hiking. Japan interestingly also has this habit of always saying "konnichiha" to strangers they pass in a hiking trail. In my country this is starting to change with younger people and foreigners. Foreigners are always noisy in public, speaking loudly in their phone, or playing loud music or talking loudly. And kids have adopted this.
The shared experience through hiking is one of my favorite things here. Thanks for the detailed comment - parenting is hard and being a single parent even harder. It's pretty clear how these things influence children!
Excellent. Subbed.
Thank you!
Parents raising children in Japan generally start teaching their kids how to behave appropriately in public spaces before they enter kindergarten. For instance, some McDonald's locations in the suburbs have outdoor play equipment for children. After their meals, kids can enjoy running around and playing, but they must remove their shoes to use the play area. They are expected to voluntarily take off their shoes and neatly place them in the designated shoe storage. This expectation reflects the lessons that children have already learned at home and in school about proper behavior in public settings. Paul briefly mentioned infants, and from my personal perspective, this can vary by region. In my neighborhood, it is common to see parents with infants in strollers taking walks in the park on weekends. However, I believe that infants who are not yet able to hold their heads up are often kept indoors to play.
I actually think that parents who have children who are really noisy (particularly difficult children in regards to screaming etc) choose to go out less than other parents - literally sheltering society from their child. I know at least one family in my neighborhood like this...
@@Exjapter I understand what you're saying. I imagine that over the more than 20 years since you first arrived, you've noticed both positive and negative changes in Japan. For example, the quietness on Japanese trains originally came from a sense of consideration for others, yet I feel that more people now find children’s voices disruptive compared to before. Personally, I believe that some level of tolerance is essential when it comes to children’s noise. At the same time, it seems that society was more tolerant in the past than it is today.
@@gotakazawa408
Each individual used to be a child once
Seeing so many Subaru Impreza in one video is astonishing. Seems that car is not that expensive in Japan like in the west 😅
Interesting detail that I didn't notice...
@@Exjapter It's one of my dream cars. Every time I see one I get happy :)
The red lights up here in Hokkaido have the people(myself included at times) in winter going through them in winter with the slippery ice roads. In Summer I don’t do it…but the bōsōzoku blatantly do it when the lights have been red for a while. The third point about kids being quiet, I think is just drilled into the by their parents and kindergarten/daycare workers. But, I agree in your points!
Good observations - in the winter it's a different equation. I drive differently in Yamanashi than in Yokohama, for sure.
I hear a baby start to cry on the train twice then instantly stop. It was a crowded train so I couldn't see if the parent did anything. Maybe it's a survival thing for the child to be quite when other humans around it are. Has anyone else experienced this in Japan?
I have to add one thing about one of the observations , about the elderly .
The older folks were the majority of people who would speak to me . I am middle 50's guy , exactly in the middle ,lol . Some younger people would speak with me but that was usually in a service situation , but on the streets , older folks were always nice or would take the time to come and say hello when I was outside the coin laundry waiting for it too be done . My Japanese is horrible but we always had a way of communicating , even if it was mixed language and charades..lol. Im just a regular guy from the states nothing odd or weird to discourage interaction between people in the Twenty to forties range . Im even just talking general courtesy . Yes , I do know and understand the way the culture is and how it works , that's said for anyone who would like to jump on me for my observation in the comments .
I look forward to getting back there and saying hello to some very nice folks when I return to live there with my wife . (she will try to make my Japanese ..better ? Lol.)
The elderly are also unplugged, meaning they are still observing the world around them and saying hello to others on the street. Sometimes just by simply greeting them in Japanese they decide to start a conversation. I agree with your observation.
In regards to quiet children, could it be more about urban vs rural growing experience? I've notice in my city, that the little kids I see out on the street tend to be quiet. I wonder if it's partly because they are overwhelmed/overstimulated by all of the sights, sounds & smells are different from inside the home or other spaces that are traditional kid friendly?
That could be, and testable vs kids in other big cities worldwide.
I ordered a pizza and drinks and dessert. The delivery guy forgot to leave the drinks and dessert. I called the shop and, while I was talking to them, he brought them.
Not surprising it will happen sometimes, but I can't remember the last time it happened to us!
About ordering food in the US, could it be a result of low pay and bad work environment? Or is that the same in Japan?
Minimum wage in Japan isn't that great either, unfortunately.
Someone told me that Japanese todlers can do whatever they want but as soon as they hit school confirmity is essential - no exceptions...
The standard treatment in schools is pretty conformity heavy.
I've lived in North Dakota for a few decades, and it seems the Midwest has slowly caught up on the practice of running red lights.
These days, it's normal for a few cars to squeeze through after the light changes.
That's too bad. The big one that I noticed when visiting the US last year was how slow people were starting on a green, because people are looking at their phone... People do that in Japan, but much more infrequently because it's against the law nationally and police will ticket you for it.
There was a Makudo where every order we got had some mistake and other reviews showed the same but that was 2020. The place had many college students and did better after the management did extra training.
Did you have special requests? I wonder if that makes the difference.
@@Exjapter No, my wife ordered through the drive through and there were different mistakes like, something missing from the set or a partial different order but it was during/after March 2020 and happened to other orders confirmed by the manager when my wife called a complaint about a specialty burger missing. They got it fixed either with training or with more staff. One time it happened inside when that was allowed again. It was that special Co-vent.
There's a cheap sushi place in Shimbashi where orders are around ¥100. The atmosphere is loud and busy but the quality of the food is, as is typical, excellent. There's a fancy sushi restaurant in Ginza where I had an expensive meal, but I will remember it for the rest of my life. Between those two poles it's always good. I've been back in New Zealand for over a year and a half now and haven't had any Japanese food or "sushi" here because it's just *not* sushi. The rice is entirely wrong, served cold, there's only farmed flappy-pale salmon and chicken (!) on top, sometimes Fijian maguro, but no variety at all, and sloppy-made without any sense of pride, usually by non-Japanese chefs. I miss Japanese food.
On the third thing, I wasn't so surprised about Japanese kids being quiet. From the beginning, people in Japan are brought up to value family, community, respect for others. It's baked into everything I saw in Japan, media, education, how people relate to each other, etc. I think the reason that kids are quiet is because all kids are quiet, i.e., individuals within a group of people tend to act like the entire group. So in America kids see other kids acting out, so they act out. If a kid in Japan acts out they get scolded for upsetting the quiet. They learn the value of cooperation, something westerners don't. Westerners value independence, being different, being unique.
On the last point, I agree that small talk is not normal. On the other hand, I found that if I remained relatively quiet but clearly open to a conversation, sometimes Japanese men would initiate and engage in what became long conversations (in English) and on occasion would even buy me food and/or drinks. These men had typically lived overseas for some time where they honed their English and likely became more gregarious as well. But it's not very common. Now, I can't remotely imagine this happening with women.
I'd say the only sushi I had in Japan that was disappointing were the sushi rolls from the grocery in which the fish looked like it had been through the blender
Supermarket sushi isnt the greatest, but that sounds particularly awful.
I would go further then kids being quiet in public spaces. Public spaces in general are so loud in America. I went back in August for the first time in 2 or so years. I was appalled by the amount of people who were listening to their cell phones speakers at full volume. Everything from TV shows to live soccer games. It was just really jarring. It even happened in a highway rest stop bathroom. It was just so rude and inconsiderate.
The whole thing where people walk around with their call on speaker mode while holding their phone like its a sandwich they are about to take a bite out of is so weird.
I personnally don't need ny nane nentioned, but you nay be in tge top 19 nost important people in Japan to explain what is necessary to us not living in Japan.
My guess is to why the kids are very quiet actually seems to me to be that the answer is quite varied. Especially since when I was in Japan from 89' to 95' the kids under the age of 5 were actually quite louder than the ones in the United States, from my experience.
One reason I think is because kids are not fed correct food from an early age here in the United States. That naturally to make their disposition more irritable...
Interesting. The diet in Japan has changed a lot, even in just the past 10 years.
I think it's from the upbringing
Greetings from Laos. I grew up in Seattle, WA USA. Here in Vientiane, the kids are well-behaved and quiet too. They don't run wild in the grocery stores like American kids at Walmart. It's pleasant to shop here in Laos. I think it's a cultural thing.
Interesting! Whats going on with American parents? Lol
There are videos of the relative passivity of asian babies compared to european babies existing from day dot.
japanese and americans are quite obviously distinct personality wise. I'd guesstimate by rough statistical mental math over big5 only 20% of japanese have personalities near american norms.
Compared to americans in the big5 personality matrix japanese are literally 1 standard deviation more agreeable, more neurotic, less extraverted, less open.
Many of these like extraversion, openness, neuroticism are significantly genetic at around 50% heritability according to twin studies. In fact i'm pretty sure the difference between between japanese and americans in such personality traits is greater than say the difference between american men and american women.
Interesting ideas, thanks for the comment.
@@Exjapter no prob, enjoy your content and style. Sorry if my post is a little contentious lol, I just looked up *The Worldwide Distribution of Big Five Personality Traits:Patterns and Profiles of Human Self-Description Across 56 Nations* to see what it might imply in some spheres of japanese life behaviourally.
I'm from Iran, and when we first came to Japan I was also amazed at how school children here were quiet. In Iran, primary school kids, esp boys, talk loudly on the way to and from school and often engage in bantering fights. I have no answer for which one is better though. Shouldn't children be energetic and lively?!
You make a very good point. There are positives and negatives to this fact. Children need to be curious and energetic, and suppressing it can have serious consequences.
I’ve only been to Japan now 3 times as a visitor from Australia so Europeans obviously stand out more so than Asian tourists. On the whole Japanese are very friendly especially when you engage with a nod of the head or a ohayo gusimus. But you notice things like prolonged stares, being followed in smaller stores or people don’t sit near you on buses etc. Is this an insular thing as a result of a homogeneous population with many people not travelling much out of their own country or are they xenophobic. Be interested in others experiences
Hesitance is what it is in most cases. Japanese tend to avoid uncertainty in social situations, but anyone who proves themselves to be adept in public is accepted and treated well. Xenophobia exists, but it is less and less the reason for people avoiding foreigners - it is usually just a reflex for avoiding the risk of being put on the spot.
@@Exjapter Thanks for reply. Thats a good insight. How do you prove yourself to be adept in Japanese public? We dress well and are polite, shouldn’t be looked upon as common thieves when shopping surely. Cheers.
@@Exjapter I'd be interested to know if you ever get "gaijin seated" on trains nowadays?
When I visited last year I found Japanese people seemed to have no problem sitting next to me. But I'm only 170cm so not exactly a big scary guy. Also spent most my time on the busy Osaka metro
Generally, we Japanese tend to approach English as something to ‘study’ rather than as a tool for conversation. As a result, we’re often very hesitant to speak if there’s a chance we might make grammatical mistakes, which leads to a worry of 'What if someone speaks to me in English?' That said, I believe most Japanese people are kind, so if you’re able to communicate to some extent in Japanese, interactions should go smoothly.
@@UnimportantAcc I'm the same height and I don't think I look threatening, but I do have long hair. I did notice sometimes people would avoid sitting next to me, at other times I was pretty much ignored, like everyone else. I agree with Paul that it's most likely a native hesitancy, where nobody wants to be forced into a conversation with a stranger, and the Japanese know that foreigners are more likely to try. I never put it down to rudeness.
you have not talked abot cleanliness of the outside. You spend hours walking around, never is there a trash flying around. Despite that as many others asian countries they are heavy plastic users, i mean, they wrap fresh fruit in plastic.. To me this is striking. Although, i am making no fantasy, they do burn, or bury the trashes they would not produce to begin with if they were not behaving as insanely as the rest of the world. but that is another story.
There is a genuine conscientious effort by Japanese to minimize garbage in human spaces (towns/cities). Out in nature is a bit of a different story, unfortunately.
Wdym, I'm certain most supermarkets around the world, where products are wrapped in plastic packaging. And customers are supposed to use recycled bags for environmental reasons. Now that is even stranger.
@@missplainjane3905 are you saying that because everybody does smthg then it is right to be done ? banality of evil, does that ring a bell on your side ?
My mean is rather simple, plastics are very often a commercial necessity that is hardly justified once you have accounted for all the environmental damages induced.
I note that Asian countries do wrap many single fruits in plastic.
That it is totally amazing to see by your eyes how, at least in Tokyo, it is so clean given the crazy amount of single use disposable they consume on a daily basis.
As said previously, there is in this country a genuine effort to respect the commons, in the cities. which i do salute, but, i also think it is futile because plastics are a political, societal, commercial habit, not a necessity to transport, sell and consume fruit and vegetable.
Also, single use plastics consumed to arrange the products on the shelf are not let to decide for the consumer, they are imposed by the seller.
A vast majority of people, that you seem to ignore, dont use that much of plastics.
From historical point of view, this is a very recent phenomena, 70 years over the thousands of years of homosapiens, a fraction of a second.
As to recycled bag, that does not prevent expansion of plastics use in general, therefor their massive productions, therefor their dissemination.
In contrary, one could argue it further justifies the use of plastic based on false promises.
Some numbers, plastic production increased by 2% a year, projected to reach 5% for 2050, recycling accounts for 10%, burning 20%, the rest, 70%, is thrown away to decay in the wild and return to us through the food chain. 95% of plastics are produced for single use only. 50% of plastics were produced during the last two decades.
Your comment strikes me.