1. Honor and respect. This is a culture where everyone respects each other and their country. You are polite and address those you encounter, honor guests, and would never do anything to embarrass or make a scene in public (argue, speak loudly, be obnoxious). Which brings me to my next 2 points…
2. Low crime rate. One of the lowest in the world. If you leave a bag on a table in a public place, you can bet on it being there 12 hours later. You never have to worry about larceny, people breaking into your belongings, murder, rape, or kidnapping (in America sometimes you have to worry about double locking your doors everytime you go out!). These people just respect one another. It’s amazing.
3. High suicide rate. One of the highest in the world. I’ve had conversations with many (Christian) Japanese about their people and they confirm this over and over. They are a non-religious people group who aren’t raised to aspire to follow their dreams. They lack hope in something greater than themselves and they place their satisfaction where it will fail. Even one day as my team and I rode the public train, we got stopped and everyone had to reroute trains because someone jumped in front of the tracks. I confirmed this with my hostmom and she said suicides like that happen often…
4. Fancy toilets. Everywhere. Not only are they all heated but there’s a bunch of buttons on the side to adjust seat temp, volume of flush, music (yes), and adjust the pressure and temp of water for the bidet. I’ve wanted to press them but I’m scared something unexpected and horrible will happen. Not only that, some toilets even have sinks attached to the top of the commode where the water will turn on simultaneously as you flush the toilet.
5. No central heating. This has been pretty rough. Waking up and seeing your breath first thing in your bedroom is not fun (it’s even worse when you have to get dressed!). Heating is extremely expensive. Although most people make up for it in other ways with heated floors and blankets, hot water bottles in bed, space heaters (everywhere), and of course the good ol’ wearing 5 layers of clothing inside.
6. Non religious. As mentioned earlier, most people here call themselves “non religious”, yet most are still superstitious and partake in some sort of religious thing just to “play it safe”. They will have Buddha shrines and visit temples every once in a while to bless their businesses and family… ya know, just in case.
7. Hospitable. Japanese people are THE MOST hospitable people in the world!!! I’ve hardly had to pay for one meal since living with host families and they will over accommodate just for you. If I take away one thing from Japan it’s their respect for hospitality. That’s what I want to bring home with me and extend to others as I have been shown. It’s been such a blessing.
8. Public bath house. Communal bathing is not a shameful thing. Us conservative Americans were quickly introduced to this day 1 when all the women had to shower together in a communal shower area. After you are completely clean the custom is to then have everyone go and soak in a huge hot tub to relax. Anxious at first, but it quickly became our FAVORITE thing to do in the evening. This is just as normal as massages or getting your nails done. So they have public bath houses which are a bit fancier and yep, you’re cleansing and soaking nakey with a bunch of strangers young and old! So freeing. And so relaxing.
9. Super clean. When walking around town I will literally LOOK for a speck of trash on the side of the road and I won’t find any! The other crazy part is that you can hardly find a public trash can anywhere! People just respect their country and do not litter. Every car on the road is also no older than 5 years old and very shiny with not one dent to be found. Is this real life!?
10. Fashion. These men and women walk around in the most chic, expensive, and fashionable clothing! Everyone wears designer everything and always looks entirely put together. But we know beauty is fleeting. We are told that this fashionable appearance is a façade to mask the unhappiest and despair that embodies this culture. But still… I feel like I’m in Manhattan.
11. Ohio. A state in America. Ohayo (pronounced the same), “Good Morning” in Japanese. 🙂
Enjoy this view from “The Land of the Rising Sun” photo credit Alysa Sharp, my mighty and awesome friend and Team Leader.
