30 Different Things We Found in Japan That Go Beyond Eating With Chopsticks

Despite globalization, some customs are very different from one country to another. We already know some curiosities coming from the country of the Rising Sun like using chopsticks (hashi) to eat or those beautiful and sumptuous silk garments (kimono). But there are even more curious facts for us Westerners, which most people didn’t even imagine.

At the awesome.club you will discover more about this fantastic country, with its different and curious customs, its enviable education and its rich culture formed almost 3,000 years ago. Check with us and be surprised.

Young Japanese people, for the most part, are nerds (dedicated scholars), are addicted to anime (Japanese cartoon) and games, wear flashy clothes and hair, usually imitating anime and game characters. A very curious thing for those who are not used to it, since you can come across a man in a suit and a girl with doll clothes and blue hair on the street.

The expression Kawaii in Japan for young people means something cute and childishly innocent. This fashion is linked to the way of dressing, stuffed animals and children’s things, such as school supplies and romantic-style makeup. This explosion of cuteness happens because the orientals think the children are very cute, with their big and fluffy cheeks, an example of this is the character Hello Kitty.

The country is full of natural hot springs, as it has volcanic lands, which are very good for health and their name is Onsen. Attending these places is cultural and there are thousands spread across the island. In these fountains people have to be naked and this is not a problem for the Japanese. People are separated only by gender. If you are ashamed, you may be somewhat embarrassed.

Here in Brazil, making noise when eating is rude, but not in Japan. There, it is a sign of education to sip food making noise, in addition to being able to drink straight from the bowl. This act indicates that the meal was wonderful and there is nothing wrong with that: it is even a compliment for those who prepared the food, which can be soup, broth or pasta with broth, vegetables and meat.

Despite globalization, the Japanese still do not welcome tattoos, because in the Kofun period (300-600 BC) criminals were tattooed on their faces as a form of punishment. In addition, there is the association of members of the Yakuza, the famous Japanese Mafia and, because of this, many places such as swimming pools and public restrooms have a sign warning that tattooed people are not allowed.

Brazilians who visit Japan are amazed at the streets, which are very clean and well maintained. We rarely see anyone throwing trash on the floor or graffiti on walls. They have a saying that they follow to the letter: ‘A bird does not soil the nest it is about to leave’, which means that you should only leave a place after making it pleasant for the next one that comes. An example of outstanding civility.

Due to the limited territorial space, the streets generally do not have sidewalks. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t organized. Unlike Brazil, they are perfectly paved, always smooth and without any holes. You end up having to compete for space with cars and bicycles, but everything is well organized and there are hardly any accidents.

The famous tip here in Brazil is not well regarded by the Japanese; for them there is no need to add anything else for the service you have already paid for. If you insist, they may feel embarrassed or upset. But unlike here, you can call out to the waiter in a loud voice and it won’t be considered rude.

Don’t be surprised if you arrive at a public restroom and come across a toilet full of buttons. Sometimes it can be difficult to understand how they work, as most of them are in Japanese. Unlike the bathrooms here, those in Japan are so clean that “you can eat in them”, there is no shower hose, as it comes attached to the toilet and there are no wastebaskets: they throw the paper in the toilet.

Schools have a standard for uniforms: white shirts, black pants for boys, and for girls, sailor-style blouses and pleated skirts. They cannot wear pants even on the coldest of days. That’s why they wear long socks. In professional life, they also like to wear impeccable uniforms or black suits.

The rate of theft of personal belongings is almost zero in Japan. Therefore, it is very common for people to leave their bicycles without a lock or bags and coats on the chair in bars and restaurants to go to the bathroom or do something outside the establishment. And, if you forget what you left and come back the next day, don’t despair: your things will be in the same place.

One more curious thing for us Brazilians is that for the Japanese it is very impolite to blow your nose in public. For this reason, it is already common for them to always carry tissues in their purses or pockets and in some public places this accessory, essential for good education, is offered for free.

It is forbidden to park cars on the street. In Japan, either you have a garage to leave your car or you pay for a parking lot that, despite being public, is quite expensive. If the law is not complied with, the fine is also very high: about 650 reais. Therefore, under no circumstances will you see cars parked on the sidewalks or anywhere else in Japan.

In Japan it is very common to see people taking care of dogs or cats as if they were babies. There they have a population of about 21.5 million pets and the pet trade makes a lot of money. All because they treat dogs and cats like children, don’t hesitate to spend money on brands like Dior and Gucci and walk with their babies in strollers.

They tend to sit at low tables without chairs. Obviously, this doesn’t happen everywhere, but it’s still a strong tradition. And they manage to stay like that for hours on end without getting tired, something unimaginable for a westerner. In most restaurants and houses they only have these low tables on tatami mats and this is the position for having meals.

Mujin hambai are very common there, which are tents for farmers who select the products they want to sell. In addition to leaving some items for tasting, they put their products with the price and without any attendant. They leave only one box without a padlock, so that customers can deposit the amount of whatever they want to take. It seems surreal for those who live in Brazil, but it’s true.

A remarkable thing for those who are Brazilian and are going to Japan for the first time is the kindness of these people. Sometimes it can be even difficult to understand a single word of Japanese, but if you need help, you’ll definitely have it. The so-called Omotenashi, which is nothing more than Japanese hospitality, is a way of life that preserves education, harmony and the need to avoid conflict.

It’s very normal for you to get on a train and see people sleeping. They literally fall asleep whenever and wherever they feel like it. The Inemuri, although strange, are very common in Japanese lands and it is even more surprising how they manage to wake up at the right time to get off the train. Foreigners often say it’s some kind of magic. Will it be?

To the disappointment of most, they don’t just eat sushi. The most common food there are dishes like rice and the characteristic noodles, which usually come with broth. Also, they don’t use a spoon: they drink the liquid directly from the bowl. Some foods are eaten with their hands and small portions are made to fit in their mouths, such as sushi and sashimi.

Some more restricted models already exist in Brazil, but nothing compares to Japan. These machines are scattered everywhere and sell a bit of everything: from ready-to-eat meals in restaurants to umbrellas. They appeared in the 50s and became a real fever there. Incredibly, they are quite common in rural areas and are very useful as they are open 24 hours a day.

We don’t see many overweight people there. It is one of the few nations that has a low obesity rate (3.7%). In Japan, the government invests heavily in nutritional programs and, in schools, children hardly have access to unhealthy foods. Companies encourage employees to avoid being overweight or pay a fine to the government. Only Sumo wrestlers are an exception.

Almost everywhere in Japan, you’ll see options that help people with disabilities. On the sidewalks, train and subway stations, you can see clear signage and tactile flooring, so that people with special needs can find their way around. The traffic lights have sound signals to facilitate the crossing and even the alcoholic beverages are inscribed in Braille so that no one drinks them by mistake.

In Japanese streets there is a type of small room that works as a smoking area. Outside, smoking is not allowed, even outdoors. But, oddly enough, smoking is allowed in signposted restaurants. A marketing company called Piala decided to offer 6 days off with pay to non-smokers because, in their eyes, that employee doesn’t waste time stopping for a smoke.

Although the schools have a janitor, the students are responsible for cleaning. Each class cleans and organizes the rooms they used, as well as common areas such as bathrooms and hallways. This gesture is so common for them that it extends into adulthood and they do the same on the streets. In the Olympics hosted by Brazil, for example, we could see the Japanese collecting garbage at the end of the events.

We’re talking about sleeping in public places, but sleeping on the job there is not only permissible, it’s admirable. This act means to them that the employee has dedicated himself to work until exhaustion, that he has worked hard and that is extremely important culturally. About 23% of them work 80 hours a week and more than 10% reach 100 hours.

In ancient Japan, people used to paint their teeth black. This started because they painted their faces white and their teeth looked yellow. This also prevented cavities, indicated that the woman was married, it was…