What The Japanese Have That You Don't

Finally, I have a scientific response to the often asked "what do the Japanese have that we (Americans) don't?"
Besides the obvious answer of manners and an understanding of the world outside their own country, the Japanese have a specific gene that Americans do not.

In USA TODAY, I just read that the Japanese have a specific gene for breaking down porphyran, which is found in seaweed. Pretty sweet でしょう？ So much for 'we are all the same on the inside'.

One a similar note, I freakin love 海苔 (nori/seaweed). There are all different types of seaweed and its found in all types of Japanese cuisine. You can put it on your rice like this, or you can just eat the dried sheets like big potato chips (probably my favorite way to enjoy it). Probably not good for your sodium intake, but delicious!

Jihanki

I've only talked about these in passing, but I'd like to discuss vending machines, 自販機, in a little more detail. In America you only hear about the weird ones that dispense panties, liquor, and porn. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I would venture to say you could get EVERYTHING you could want from a vending machine in Japan. Here are some futsuu and bizarre vending machines.

This article offers some additional insight into Japanese society and vending machines and how vending machines actually work in Japan. I have yet to see a machine out of order or steal my dollar. Interestingly, you can use 1000 yen bills (about $11) in jihanki, which is unheard of in America. The article is written in real (British) English, so I hope you know what a 'metre' is...

If you don't have any money (like after an expensive trip to Soap Land or something like that) you can use your phone to buy stuff from some vending machines. You can also get cold drinks in the summer, and hot drinks in the winter. Hot corn soup or boss coffee makes the winter bike rides quite tolerable. Recently Japan initiated a pass system requiring a special card to buy cigarettes to keep the underage kids from getting their hands on them. This pass system spread pretty quickly around Osaka, but I'm not sure its made its way to the countryside yet.

The chu-hai vending machine will always hold a special place in my heart but, like the trains, they shut down around midnight. So start your boozing early or plan ahead!

ちゃりに乗る時

I came across this article today and it paints a pretty clear picture of what commuting is like in any Japanese city - not just Tokyo.

I found the 'mamas on bikes' section particularly spot on. Why are you still reading this, read the other article! (’-’*)

One thing they left out of the article is the sweet little bike bell. Unlike in America where the car horn is typically a sign of someone's frustration, the bike bell is a courteous tool that most people (about 99% from my experience) move out of the way for. The only people who don't are the 60+ year old salary men who are stubborn as hell. Here is an awesome video to illustrate my point.

I think now is a good time to bring up an interesting fact about Japan - Japan is more than just Tokyo. Say what?!?! Yeah, its true. Tokyo is a pretty cool city, but its not the only city (though it is the largest city in the world), and a lot of gaijin tend to forget that. But since most movies that deal with Japan take place in Tokyo, and most companies have their headquarters there, you are pretty much forced to see or work in Tokyo at some point in time....so all is forgiven.

I actually found Tokyo to be the least 'Japanese' city in Japan - it has a huge foreign population and a Chipotle - how Japanese could Tokyo actually be??

Engrish

I stumbled across an interesting TV show in Japan the other day (yes, an interesting Japanese TV show. I was just as surprised as you) and it really opened my eyes about the English language. This show, Eigo de shabera naito, is an educational and entertaining show that tests the English ability of non native speakers. It is co-hosted by a goofy looking goober Patrick Harlan who actually seems like a decent guy. He's a gaijin talent from the US.

Native English speakers, particularly Americans, are very quick to laugh or poke fun at incorrect English but if you do the math, the ratio of native English speakers to non-native is about 1:4 ( have seen the numbers vary from about 1:3 to 1:5). This is a pretty humbling statistic. Not only does it make my own 'version' of English seem insignificant, but just knowing that such a large group of people are at least bilingual makes me feel a bit stupid and want to study Japanese harder.

So what is English really? English to me is just communication. If the listener/reader understands, isn't that enough? Isn't that the point?

Here is a youtube clip of the TV show:

Mary Kate and Ashley in Japan

hafu

Believe it or not, Japan has an ugly side, and I mean ugly in the literal sense. Hafu (half Japanese, half something else, usually white) receive a lot of undeserved attention and stardom in Japan. Look at these links to judge for yourself, but the majority of hafu are gross (the ones that are famous anyways, I personally know some hafu that are real lookers) in my opinion. Go ahead, click some of the links.
Anna Ohura
Kimura Kaela
Becky

...Gross, right?? I think that horse faced Becky tart is probably the worst of them. Becky, if you are reading this I think you're a 6 at best and how you became famous is beyond me... （　´∀｀）

Most of them enjoy celebrity status because they are too untalented or unattractive to be a celebrity anywhere else or they are parents of other Japanese celebrities. This started as an informative post and ended up pretty hateful...my bad.

Not ALL celebrity hafu are gross, but it would be safe to say the majority are. And I hear the word 'hafu' kind of has a negative connotation to it, so use it sparingly.

More on Japanese snacks

Words cannot express how much of a sucker I am for Japanese snacks. In America I eat an average of 5 chips a year, and about 10 cheez-its. But as soon as I landed in Japan I was double fisting pocky and jyagariko.

What I like the most are the unique flavors. Melon and apple kit kats, ume and salad jyagariko, milk tea and green tea chocolate.
These are all AMAZING. Here are some pictures of what you should be buying/eating every chance you get.
The drinks are equally creative in flavor. I recommend the ume calpis.