61. Everyone is skinny
Go shopping in Japan and you'll quickly notice that sizes are different. Japanese people are the thinnest people amongst G20 nations (lowest obesity rate). The primary reason is the Japanese diet.62. Karaoke echo
Karaoke is great. For some reason, most gaijin dislike echo (a echo affect that's added to your voice). Echo can be turned off if you can figure out the karaoke machine.63. People throw pillows at Sumo matches
Your image of the Japanese as being well behaved may be shattered if you attend a Sumo match. It's common to throw zabuton (座布団) pillows to protest unpopular outcomes.64. Kotatsu
Many Japanese houses and ryokan have no central heating. One room is heated at a time rather than the entire building. In winter, this can be quite chilly. One solution that everyone enjoys is Kotatsu heated tables with blankets around them.65. The Sea of Black
Japanese people tend to dress formally. In summer, Tokyo gets extremely hot and humid. Despite the heat, men don't typically wear shorts.In Tokyo, you may feel underdressed in business casual.
66. Monks everywhere
There are an estimated 100,000 temples and shrines in Japan. There are 2000 temples and shrines in Kyoto alone. Monks and priests running around everywhere.67. Expectations
The best way to experience Japan is to go with an open mind and few expectations. Japan is a fascinating country. If you don't enjoy it — you're doing something wrong.« back to part 1
« back to part 6
| Tweet |
|
|
| Follow @japantalkjohn |



