Did you know that Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world? People there must truly possess some secret knowledge when it comes to the recipe for a long life. Some of the traditions and lifestyle peculiarities in the land of the rising sun may be very surprising to us, but there’s actually so much that we can learn from the ways of life in this country.
We have gathered some facts about Japan that show this enigmatic country from a totally unexpected side. Caution: You might want to book a trip there right after reading this article!
17. Care for the environment
Have you ever seen fish in the drainage canals of your hometown? Probably not. But in Japan, it no longer surprises anyone since their drainage canals are so clean that even koi carps inhabit them.
16. Cleaning is taught from a young age.
The whole world was surprised by the tidiness of the Japanese fans who picked up trash after the football games during the World Cup this year. They cleaned the stadium after each game, regardless of whether or not their team won. Love for tidiness and organization must be a traditional trait of the Japanese since they’re taught to participate in “cleaning time” sessions at school from a very young age.
15. Customers come first.
This is just another level of care for the comfort of customers that we may want to adopt very soon. If you’re shopping and want to keep on looking without worrying that your frozen meat might get defrosted, refrigerator lockers are at your disposal. Just imagine how handy it is!
14. Limitless love for manga
It’s not a secret that manga is very popular in Japan, with over 2 billion copies of it sold each year. In fact, the Japanese use more paper to produce manga and other comic books than they do for toilet paper.
13. You can never have too many chopsticks.
What is your association with Japanese cuisine? Whatever it is, we’re sure that this meal is eaten with the help of chopsticks. But did you know that the Japanese use around 25 billion pairs of them each year? This amount of wood is enough to build 17,000 homes!
12. Kit Kat for students
The popular candy bar in Japan is known as Kitto Katsu, which translates to “You will surely pass” in Japanese, making Kit Kat a popular gift for students during the exam season. It comes here in more than 300 different flavors that are unusual to the rest of the world — from Earl Gray tea and grilled corn to cheese or even wasabi.
11. An unusual dish for Christmas
11. An unusual dish for Christmas
Do you like Kentucky Fried Chicken? If yes, you should visit Japan on a Christmas Eve since KFC is a typical Christmas dish here. However, don’t expect it to be an easy one to get — the lines can be up to 1.5-2 hours long, as there are so many people craving KFC for Christmas.
10. Canned food restaurants
Lovers of canned food will also enjoy Japan since there are a lot of
restaurants and bars that serve only this type of food. The most popular
chain of such restaurants is Mr. Kanso. The shelves of this restaurant
are stocked with a variety of canned foods from all over the world, so
even a sophisticated guest will find something to try.
9. Slurping sounds are polite
How should you let someone know that you’re enjoying your meal? By
slurping, of course. In Japan, slurping is appropriate and indicates
good manners. So if you plan a visit to Japan, start practicing your
slurping sounds, otherwise, the chef might think their dish isn’t
delicious enough.
8. A different way to greet someone
The Japanese do not shake hands when greeting each other — they bow
instead. The lower the bow, the deeper the respect. So don’t stretch out
your hand unless you want to feel uncomfortable.
7. Death from working too much
Taking naps during work in Japan is not only acceptable but also highly respected. Japanese even have a term for this activity — “inemuri.” Death from overexertion at work is also common in Japan. It’s called Karoshi and the major cause of it is heart attacks.
6. A good omen
Black cats are considered to be bad luck charms in many countries and cultures. But not in Japan! Here, they are thought to bring good luck and happiness. So if you happen to come to Japan, don’t run away from a black cat and don’t be afraid if you see one cross the road!
5. Bunny island
Ōkunoshima is a Japanese island full of rabbits. They’ve lived here since World War II, when they were brought to the island to test the effects of different poisonous gases. Luckily, the horrifying experiments are in the past and these days, you can simply enjoy the company of thousands of fluffy little bunnies.
4. The center of emotions
What is the center of emotions? The heart? Not if you are in Japan! The Japanese believe that love comes from the belly (hara) and silent communications are really appreciated here. They are known as haragei — “speaking from the belly.”
3. The number of death
The number 4 (shi) is often avoided in Japan because the word “death” sounds the same in Japanese. So don’t be surprised if you don’t find the fourth floor or notice how there’s nothing between 3 and 5 in some areas. 4 is not the only “scary” number in the Japanese culture — number 43 (shisan), for instance, sounds like stillbirth (shinzan) and is often avoided in maternity hospitals.
2. A place to buy cuddles
Feeling lonely? The Japanese found an unusual solution to this problem. There is a “co-sleeping specialty shop” in Tokyo that lets you sleep with a staff member. And by sleep, we mean cuddling and nothing more.
1. School uniform
You’ve probably seen girls dress this way in manga or anime cartoons. In fact, it was inspired by the uniform of Japanese schoolgirls. The design of the uniform varies depending on the school but the common traits are a short pleated skirt, a blouse or a sweater, and knee socks. Most of the girls also try to add accessories to express their originality.
Which of these facts about Japan did you find to be the most surprising? Which of them have you heard about before? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
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