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Even After X amount of years in Japan I'll never get used to____

C4ssandra

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What are some things about Japan that despite living here for many years, still irk/baffle you?

For me, it's the way cashiers hand back change. Placing the bill on my palm, then receipt then waterfalling the change onto the paper drives me insane. It becomes a wild race of how quickly I can pour the coins into the change pouch of my wallet, stuff the bills into the other section and do whatever I feel like doing with the receipt.

If I'm holding shopping bags I normally just end up scattering 100 yen coins and my dignity everywhere.

It's a really minor thing but I know I'll never be able to accept a fist of coins and receipt without feeling agitated.

I'm particularly interested to hear non-american perspectives on this
 
Ladies at social events (cocktail parties etc where you would expect people to be a bit ...refined) asking immediately about my job, age, marital status etc...
but it can be funny too. Often I reply whatever BS I want (« Ambassador of Montenegro », priest etc... 30 year old , 60 year old... married, single, gay etc ) then I ask « and how about you, how old? » and love to see their reaction :D
 
Getting out of elevators is an art form and seems to be someone always willing to push the open button to allow people to exit. But for regular doors it seems that no one cares and rarely see someone hold a door open for someone.
 
Getting out of elevators is an art form and seems to be someone always willing to push the open button to allow people to exit.

I do that every time in big elevators. Almost weekly I get into a fight of the will; which one gives up, releases the door open button first and goes out. :D

Though I didn't think that was a particular Japanese thing. Then again I never thought about the coin & receipt thing either. They were just... things. :LOL:
 
The ungodly crowded Tokyo subway.. people being pushed into the trains by oshiya or worse, being shoved out of the train car by other passengers when you’re all trying to exit on the same station. I don’t mind waiting for the next train if the arriving one is packed, but usually me and a couple other foreigners are the only ones who practice this behavior.

Being treated like an exotic animal for my looks. Being asked if I am a model. Yes, I used to be a model when I was younger but I have other qualities and I don’t base my worth on how beautiful I am. (And to be fair, I am not the most beautiful woman on planet Earth) I’d rather like to get positive comments about my sense of humor, or other talents. Although I could turn a blind eye on reality and enjoy the attention, my self awareness dictates that these comments are being made simply because I’m exotic.

Crossing my hands on top of each other like a proper lady. Lol

Other than that, as a Mediterranean I miss the warmness of my people. I miss the friendliness, smiling faces, suntan, laughter and so on. I miss hugging people tight and kissing them on the cheek and not being judged for this. Sometimes I don’t want talk about the weather, or my weight.. :( I can’t ever get used to the predictable banter here and miss having compelling discussions with my friends from college.
 
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Ladies at social events (cocktail parties etc where you would expect people to be a bit ...refined) asking immediately about my job, age, marital status etc...
but it can be funny too. Often I reply whatever BS I want (« Ambassador of Montenegro », priest etc... 30 year old , 60 year old... married, single, gay etc ) then I ask « and how about you, how old? » and love to see their reaction :D

It's interesting. In the office I've seen the women gossip about a new Male colleague. Instead of discussing his personality or whether he's even handsome or not they seem to focus on what kind of car he drives, what kind of watch he wears and then speculate based on that what his income is
 
Getting out of elevators is an art form and seems to be someone always willing to push the open button to allow people to exit. But for regular doors it seems that no one cares and rarely see someone hold a door open for someone.

The first time I held a door for a salary man behind me, he looked so shocked and taken aback, like I had just dirtied his bloodline
 
Dealing with my name in any kind of institutional setting for the first time. Especially when I ask 'how should I write my name' and I am looked at like I'm an idiot. And then I explain why (do you want romaji or katakana? Which order? Middle name? Like on my passport or some other document and it dawns on them that they don't know and are going to have to make something up. And whatever way I do it, it will be wrong and I'll have to go in again.
 
The ungodly crowded Tokyo subway.. people being pushed into the trains by oshiya or worse, being shoved out of the train car by other passengers when you’re all trying to exit on the same station. I don’t mind waiting for the next train if the arriving one is packed, but usually me and a couple other foreigners are the only ones who practice this behavior.

Being treated like an exotic animal for my looks. Being asked if I am a model. Yes, I used to be a model when I was younger but I have other qualities and I don’t base my worth on how beautiful I am. (And to be fair, I am not the most beautiful woman on planet Earth) I’d rather like to get positive comments about my sense of humor, or other talents. Although I could turn a blind eye on reality and enjoy the attention, my self awareness dictates that these comments are being made simply because I’m exotic.

Crossing my hands on top of each other like a proper lady. Lol

Other than that, as a Mediterranean I miss the warmness of my people. I miss the friendliness, smiling faces, suntan, laughter and so on. I miss hugging people tight and kissing them on the cheek and not being judged for this. Sometimes I don’t want talk about the weather, or my weight.. :( I can’t ever get used to the predictable banter here and miss having compelling discussions with my friends from college.

In regards to the train thing..I find it interesting that it's more socially acceptable here to body check everyone out of your way when getting off the train..as opposed to just saying "excuse me"
 
The ungodly crowded Tokyo subway.. people being pushed into the trains by oshiya or worse, being shoved out of the train car by other passengers when you’re all trying to exit on the same station. I don’t mind waiting for the next train if the arriving one is packed, but usually me and a couple other foreigners are the only ones who practice this behavior.

Being treated like an exotic animal for my looks. Being asked if I am a model. Yes, I used to be a model when I was younger but I have other qualities and I don’t base my worth on how beautiful I am. (And to be fair, I am not the most beautiful woman on planet Earth) I’d rather like to get positive comments about my sense of humor, or other talents. Although I could turn a blind eye on reality and enjoy the attention, my self awareness dictates that these comments are being made simply because I’m exotic.

Crossing my hands on top of each other like a proper lady. Lol

Other than that, as a Mediterranean I miss the warmness of my people. I miss the friendliness, smiling faces, suntan, laughter and so on. I miss hugging people tight and kissing them on the cheek and not being judged for this. Sometimes I don’t want talk about the weather, or my weight.. :( I can’t ever get used to the predictable banter here and miss having compelling discussions with my friends from college.

You definitely have other qualities than your looks ... :D
And the last paragraph about missing warmth (not warmness darling ;)) I could have written it too.
 
It's interesting. In the office I've seen the women gossip about a new Male colleague. Instead of discussing his personality or whether he's even handsome or not they seem to focus on what kind of car he drives, what kind of watch he wears and then speculate based on that what his income is
They must be on SA... :ROFLMAO:
 
It's interesting. In the office I've seen the women gossip about a new Male colleague. Instead of discussing his personality or whether he's even handsome or not they seem to focus on what kind of car he drives, what kind of watch he wears and then speculate based on that what his income is

When I was still new to Tokyo some local guys would try to impress me with their gem and diamond bezel watches. Supposedly the average watch adorned with crystals and such would cost around 800.000 yen, therefore would signal the financial power of the owner.

To me it means nothing. Maybe he only had 1 million yen in his savings account and made the unwise financial decision to spend 80% of it on a watch? Maybe he has a shopping addiction? Now I know everything about brand items and own some luxury designer items myself, but having these pieces still doesn’t have much meaning to me.
 
To me it means nothing. Maybe he only had 1 million yen in his savings account and made the unwise financial decision to spend 80% of it on a watch?

More likely he had 10.000 yens in savings and bought in on credit. :D

But I thought the car and cash thing was more Chinese than Japanese. In Singapore they say the girls rank guys based on five Cs. Car, Cash, Condominium, Career and then what was the last one, the one that was not so important, oh yeah: Character. :ROFLMAO:
 
More likely he had 10.000 yens in savings and bought in on credit. :D

But I thought the car and cash thing was more Chinese than Japanese. In Singapore they say the girls rank guys based on five Cs. Car, Cash, Condominium, Career and then what was the last one, the one that was not so important, oh yeah: Character. :ROFLMAO:
So Cock is not among their primary concerns , it seems ... OK I need to move to Singapore and buy a nice car :D
 
So Cock is not among their primary concerns , it seems ... OK I need to move to Singapore and buy a nice car :D

Just remember the cars are around four times more expensive than in Japan. And you need a licence to buy one, which of course costs you a kidney.

And if you think it bothersome that girls in Japan ask you what you do for living in trying to guess how much money you make you'll be wonderfully surprised; in Singapore they ask you how much you make as a foreplay. :eek::D
 
Just remember the cars are around four times more expensive than in Japan. And you need a licence to buy one, which of course costs you a kidney.

And if you think it bothersome that girls in Japan ask you what you do for living in trying to guess how much money you make you'll be wonderfully surprised; in Singapore they ask you how much you make as a foreplay. :eek::D
Fine for me (except the kidney part, I prefer to pay cash than with body parts)
 
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The first time I held a door for a salary man behind me, he looked so shocked and taken aback, like I had just dirtied his bloodline
Yep its a pet peeve of mine. Toyoites seem to have never learned door- holding manners when growing up. People here are genuinely taken aback when you hold the door open for them.
 
- the relative lack of trash bins in public spaces

Those disappeared after the metro sarin attack.

Of course the trash bins didn't have anything to do with it but you know, must do something! So they removed basically all trash cans in a day.

And then they figured, this actually is way cheaper than having them. If someone complains they can always say "we must be vigilant to prevent terror attacks".
 
Those disappeared after the metro sarin attack.

Of course the trash bins didn't have anything to do with it but you know, must do something! So they removed basically all trash cans in a day.

And then they figured, this actually is way cheaper than having them. If someone complains they can always say "we must be vigilant to prevent terror attacks".

If I could vote , at least for local elections, my vote would go to the candidate who would promise:
- no more Nigerian tout
- more trash bins in the streets and stations
- more trains on the Toei lines (always packed, especially the Mita line)
- less crows (hate those fuckers)
And of course less taxes but that would be totally unrealistic :D
 
The change issue, train manners and holding the door for ladies. J-Girls seem embarrassed by that treatment because they are used to holding umbrellas and doors for their sempai-tachi.

When I sensed that unease among J-Girls, I would switch on my Arnold Schwarzenegger voice and say: “男の中の男は親切とレディーズファーストです。”

That often sent them into a state of vertigo.