A visitor in Japan

By / August 3, 2024 / commentary

Japan is one of the G7 nations — Asia’s most ‘developed’ by the UN definition. Yet it feels so foreign to me. I’ve never relied on Google translate more in all of our travels. And most of the other Asian nations we’ve visited are far less advanced.

If Tokyo is like New York, and Kyoto is like Washington D.C., then IMHO, Ōsaka is like Chicago — less pretentious, more blue-collar, and more hearty.

All over Japan, it is impolite to eat as you walk. In fact, if you eat (or drink) while walking, Japanese will consider you a nuisance. Especially the elders.

The streets in the three main cities we’ve visited so far are like downtown Cleveland roads on a Sunday morning — empty! Japan’s metro areas have robust public transportation, and many people ride bicycles. When the Japanese working class want to buy a car, they might have to wait two months— unlike in America where dealer lots abound.

Some Japanese stores operate on an honor system! You take what you want and leave money in the box. I’m not able to envision how that could work in other countries — including my own.

Safety is paramount in Japan – a nation that’s seen its share of devastation. Street crews have hard hats and shoes instead of towels and flip flops.

If I saw three pieces of litter in each city we’ve visited— that’s a lot. Japan is almost as squeaky clean Singapore, but here, thankfully, you can still buy gum.

What’s more: people take their trash home to dispose of it. There are not many garbage cans in public places. Waste management is so meticulous in Japan that it has its own Wikipedia page.

Tedly has already covered how the toilets work with their bidet-like features. (Go here to see it —> Things that surprised Tedly about Tokyo.)

These Humans of Earth — the Japanese — are just like us. They’re just like Guatemalans, Serbians, Indonesians, Bulgarians, and the rest of us. They have beliefs and systems. They like meat and sweets. Everyone loves a sunny day that’s not too hot, and all of us have finite time in this life.

Japan is fantastic!!

One month down, one more to go. And I will have barely scratched the surface.

Thanks for reading, “A visitor in Japan.”

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