If you look around Japan, you’ll probably find a few psychedelic colored shops around with a big board in front that says “100 Yen Shop“, with the words Yen in Japanese character. 100 Yen Shops are a big thing in Japan because the goods sold there are all 105 yen (100 yen for the stuff and 5 yen for consumption tax) and at that price, it’s a very very good deal indeed; especially for travellers who are on a budget.

The biggest 100 yen shop is Daiso Giga Machida, which spans five floors and its near the Michida Station (30 minutes, 360 Yen from Shinjuku by Odakyu Railways). Currently, the market leader for 100 yen stores is Daiso and they have over 2000 shops around Japan.

You can buy just about anything except fresh food in these 100 yen shops. Stuff like bowls, cups, chopsticks, spoons, forks, mugs, tools, gardenware, stationaries, socks, slippers, markers, swimming googles, pingpong rackets and balls, etc….yea you get the picture. I am definitely a supporter of 100 yen shop because things like cups are in abundance there. It makes a lot more sense to pay USD1 (which is about the equivalent to 100yen anyway) for one cup than to pay USD3-10 for one cup isn’t it? A cup is a cup, just as a spoon is a spoon.

Well, if you’ve just moved to Japan, i’d suggest you buy your nitty gritty but necessary stuff from the 100 yen store. Don’t buy your pots and pans there though…they’re about as hardy as plastics on fire.

Source: Japan Guide

Previously I wrote about Japanese Table Manners in hopes that it’ll help some of you, expatriates, out there. Now I’m going to round it off with the daily etiquettes that you should know. I think with this, you will be more than safe from the hazards of looking like an uncultured buffoon in another culture. Well it’s just nice to know, that’s all, and no you won’t look like a buffoon the first time around if you didn’t know any better but it’s better if you know :D

Okay.

Japanese Etiquette:

In a Japanese house
Upon entering a house, you should always take off your shoes at the doorway and slide into the slippers provided by your host. To which, you will wear those slippers to walk around the house except in tatami rooms, which in this case are mostly dining areas, living rooms, guest rooms, etc etc, you will need to take your slippers off and walk barefoot or with only your socks. And if you need to go to the toilet, take your slippers off and change into a special toilet slippers that is provided.

Sitting Techniques
Many westerners are not used to sitting on the floor; so I can imagine your shock when you are to have your meals close to the floor. Anyway, there is a universal sitting position for both men and woman, which is the formal way called the Seiza. See the picture below:

The casual sitting position for men is usually crosslegged and for women, with both legs on the side. Look at the pictures below:

Seating order
The most important guest sits on the honored seat (kamiza) which is located farthest from the entrance. If there is a tokonoma, or a decorated alcove, in the room, the guest should be seated in front of it. The host or least important person is supposed to sit next to the entrance (shimoza). Of course, there are more factors to be considered in every specific case.

Toilets
There are two types of toilet in Japan; the Japanese style and the Western Style. Public washrooms are usually equipped with Japanese style toilets; which is basically a hole in the ground. Look at the picture below:-

But worry not, more and more western style toilets are popping up in touristic areas. However, since toilet paper may not be provided, it’sadvisable to carry a pack of tissue yourself. In cases of emergencies, a tissue pack can save lives…*nods* I am speaking from experience.

So how do you use the Japanese toilet?
1) Face the hood of the toilet.
2) Pull down your trousers completely below your knees.
3) Squat down as closely to the hood as possible. In case of elevated toilets (see picture), you need to stand on the raised platform while squatting.

Using bathrooms

Japanese toilets and bathrooms are almost always separated. And the bathroom, aside from cleaning yourself is also used to relax yourself. The typical Japanese bathrooms usually consist of an entrance room where you take your off your clothes and the actual bathroom where the showerhead and bathtub is.

When bathing Japanese style, you should rinse your body outside of the bathtub first with water from the bath using a washbowl. Afterwards, you enter the bathtub, which is used for soaking only. THe water tend to be hotter than what you usually might be accustom to, so what you do is just try to not move so much while you’re soaking. the more you move the hotter it seems you see…some scientific thing about exposure to a larger surface area. Anyway, you won’t be scalded, that’s for sure. After you have soaked yourself in for a while, leave the tub and soap your body. Make sure no soap gets into the bathtub. Rinse yourself clean with the shower head and soak yourself in the tub again. Once you’re done, do not drain the water as other members will be using the bath water.

Yes, I cannot fathom using the same bath water like that too. I’ll take a shower any day.

Related Links:

Japanese Table Manners
Practice your Japanese Etiquette
Coming to Japan
Superstitions

Source: Japan-Guide

Buddhism and Shinto are the two major religions in Japan. In fact, these two religions are closely inter-related. The Buddhism-Shinto practice evolved over the years incorporates both religion harmoniously, although initially, there were some contradictions between the religions. The history of Buddhism in Japan can be roughly divided into three periods, namely the Nara period (up to 784), the Heian period (794–1185) and the post-Kamakura period (1185 onwards). Each period saw the introduction of new doctrines and upheavals in existing schools.

Buddhism started in India by Siddharta Gautama, an Indian prince who attained enlightenment after meditating under the Bodhi tree and thus, he is called the Buddha or the Enlightened one. The religion consists of His teachings, which consists of the 8 fold path and the 3 Gems, to which his disciples are to understand and the 5 precepts to which they are to follow. Buddhism is divided into two branches; Theravada and Mahayana. Mahayana is the branch that found its way to Japan from China and Korea.

Buddhism was imported to Japan via China and Korea in form of a present from the friendly Korean kingdom of Kudara (Paikche) in the 6th century. While Buddhism was welcomed by the ruling nobles as Japan’s new state religion, it did not initially spread among the common people due to its complex theories.

Buddhism did not have a straightforward root to the Japanese culture. It was once almost eradicated during the Meiji Period where the emperor re-installed Shinto as the state religion. However, after the fall of Meiji, Buddhism somehow gain it’s stand again in Japan and now co-exist with Shinto almost harmoniously. A great statue of the Buddha can be seen at Kamakura.

People in Japan either consider themselves, Shintoist, Buddhists or both. That said, the Japanese are not very religious in the sense that they do not live their life according to their religion. The average Japanese typically follows the rituals from their religious beliefs on matters like birth, weddings and death only. Today, there are 90million people in Japan who consider themselves Buddhists.

Source: Japan-Guide; Wikipedia

Shinto is an indigenous faith in Japan.

Shinto (神道, shintō) is the native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. It involves the worship of kami (神), gods. Some kami are local and can be regarded as the spiritual being/spirit or genius of a particular place, but other ones represent major natural objects and processes: for example, Amaterasu, the Sun goddess, or Mount Fuji. Shinto is an animistic belief system. The word Shinto was created by combining two kanji: “神” (shin), meaning gods or spirits (when read alone, it is pronounced “kami”), and “道” (tō), meaning a philosophical way or path (originally from the Chinese character Tao). As such, Shinto is commonly translated as “the Way of the Gods”.

After World War II, Shinto lost its status as the state religion of Japan; some Shinto practices and teachings, once given a great deal of prominence during the war, are no longer taught or practiced today, and others exist today as commonplace activities such as omikuji (a form of fortune-telling) and Japanese New Year that few give religious connotations. Important national ceremonies such as coronations and royal marriages are conducted at the Three Palace Sanctuaries in Tokyo, and many Japanese still travel at least once in their lives to the Grand Shrine of Ise in Mie Prefecture.

Shinto has been called “the religion of Japan”, and the customs and values of Shinto are inseparable from those of Japanese culture prior to the influx of Chinese religious ideas that occurred in the mid 4th century. Many famous Japanese practices have origins either directly or indirectly rooted in Shinto. For example, it is clear that the Shinto ideal of harmony with nature underlies such typically Japanese arts as flower-arranging (ikebana), traditional Japanese architecture, and garden design. A more explicit link to Shinto is seen in sumo wrestling, where, even in the modern version of the sport, many Shinto-inspired ceremonies must be performed before a bout, such as purifying the wrestling arena by sprinkling it with salt. The Japanese emphasis on proper greetings and respectful phrasings can be seen as a continuation of the ancient Shinto belief in kotodama (words with a magical effect on the world). Many Japanese cultural customs, like using wooden chopsticks and removing shoes before entering a building, have their origin in Shinto beliefs and practices. Also, a number of other Japanese religions, including Tenrikyo, have originated from or been influenced by Shinto. Tenrikyo is a religion of Shinto origin with some Buddhist influence.

Today, people seek support from Shinto by praying at a home altar or by visiting shrines. A whole range of talismans is available at shrines for traffic safety, good health, business success, safe deliveries, good exam performance and more.

A large number of wedding ceremonies are held in Shinto style. Death, however, is considered a source of impurity, and is left to Buddhism to deal with (which pops me to say “Interesting” in a very unkind manner whilst writing this). Consequently, there are virtually no Shinto cemeteries, and most funerals are held in Buddhist style.

Source: Wikipedia

Ok, this is old news. And for some reason I missed it. I don’t know why, I have no excuses. All I can say is that I hadn’t personally seen any of these myself. I knew they existed in Taiwan, but never had an inkling that they could be found in Japan.

What, Chidade? What can be found?

Pedestrian traffic lights that can count down, telling you how much time there is left before the lights change. Part of me wants to scream “WHAT’S THE POINT?” and the rest of me says: “This is Japan. People like to sleep as a hobby here. Time is important”.

Last year, trials began in Nagoya. No word at what stage they are at now. These traffic lights are going to be like uber traffic lights though. Why? Because they’ll probably also play Toryanse. Ha! Beat that, Taiwan!

Ok, maybe I better not speak too soon. After all, Taiwan’s green man is animated:

Link:
Dottocomu

Hatsuyume is one of the strangest yet quaintest New Year traditions I’ve ever heard of. It’s the first dream that you have in the new year, and is said to fortell what kind of year lies ahead of you. January 2nd is also known as hatsuyume, as it’s the day after the first night of the year (given that most people don’t sleep on New Year’s Eve).

It is said that if you dream of Mt. Fuji, a hawk or an eggplant, you will have good fortune during the year. Why? Well, Mt. Fuji is Japan’s tallest mountain, hawks are intelligent and strong birds and eggplants, or nasubi (茄子) sounds like the word nasu (成す) which means acheiving something great.

Sweet dreams, 3yenners.

Link:
Wikipedia’s link on Hatsuyume

I love ramen/instant noodles, in all forms - packets, cups, in a polystyrene bowl, in a plastic bowl……and when I read that the Cup Noodle Guru has passed away, i thought it was only fair that I mention something about his passing.

He is the Japanese inventor of the modern day instant noodles and that snack, since its invention has sold over billions world wide since its launch after WWII. His name is Momofuku Ando founder and chairman of Nissin Food Products Co. Ltd. and was 96 years old when he passed on last Friday. As a fan of Nissin, the Japanese brand noodles i love after korean’s Shin Noodles brand, I am stocking up my pantry this weekend with Nissin seafood ramen as a sign of respect for the guy.

You can read more about his passings here: Cup Noodle Guru dies

Momofuku Ando even has an instant noodle museum named after him, that pretty much sums up how big he is in the instant noodle world. After all, like Siegmund Freud is father to psychology, Momofuku Ando is father to instant noodles.

image courtesy of cnn.com

Aaah, Christmas. Japan’s third Valentine’s Day, after Valentine’s Day and White Day.

Like Taro mentioned, it seems like Christmas is all about dates and romance and….other things.

Japan is obviously not a Christian country. Official statistics say that 1% of the population is Christian (although I wonder, given the huge number of Mormons who’ve approached me in Japan, whether that’s an understatement). But Japan does have a national pasttime of taking things from other cultures, changing it til it suits them, then adopting it as their own. And Christmas is another victim.

Find yourself a girl (or boy), hold hands while you walk down snow-covered streets to look at the Christmas lights, enjoy the probably stupidly expensive piece of jewellery/lingerie you receive, and make sure you model it privately for the gift giver :P

Oh, and to expand a bit on Taro’s explanation of how to say “Merry Christmas” in Japanese, you guys should also know that very often, Merii Kurisumasu will be shortened to Meri Kuri!

Minna-san! Meri Kuri!

One thing that will almost guarantee a double-take from first-time foreigners in Japan is that some of the pedestrian crossings play music when the light is green. The most common tune that they play is “Toryanse” which is a children’s song. The lyrics (translated) go as follows:

Let me pass, let me pass
What is this narrow pathway here?
It’s the narrow pathway of the Tenjin shrine
Please allow me to pass through
Those without good reason shall not pass
To celebrate this child’s 7th birthday
I’ve come to dedicate my offering
Going in may be fine but returning would be scary
It’s scary but
Let me pass, let me pass

Let me pass, it’s green and safe to go, hehe.

I’ve tracked down a video of one of the pedestrians crossings near Kyoto Station in action. For some reason, the pitch of the song is higher in crossings in Tokyo than in Kyoto. Go figure.

You can also find a midi of the song here.

Link:
Wikipedia’s article on Toryanse

I visited my own “home” for the first time in two years for Christmas just last year. The travel agency didn’t give me enough time to properly transfer planes at Detroit and I ended up in Boston before my bags did. It took an extra two hours for the next flight to come in with my things, and that was just after about 15 hours spent on an airborne, compressed tin can surrounded by a random mixture of Westerners and Southeast Asians. One can imagine the kind of exhaustion I was feeling by the time I boarded the blue line at the airport station. What actively jolted me nonetheless though was the vibrancy of the atmosphere on board. Nothing could be quite more the opposite of my friend’s train ride back (i.e. silence, everyone looks the same, passed out business men, cell phones galore. etc., etc.). For starters, I don’t remember how many nationalities, much less what sort of unique cultural mixtures were represented by the individuals on my train car alone. Then there was the visible reality of class stratification; white collar business travelers fresh off the plane alongside working class Hispanics from East Boston (where the airport is located). Most people were talking to each other in animated voices. A girl in her early twenties was singing a couple of stanzas of Radiohead half jokingly with her friends. Nobody took notice of the wide spectrum of backgrounds represented in that single subway car. There was no consciousness of the three or four languages blending into each other in the background. I could perhaps count a couple of pulled out cell phones, tops. Alas, this was the home I left behind.

I can equally envision how a Japanese person could either feel completely liberated or completely horrified by such an unpredictable, unfamiliar atmosphere of diversity. The diversity is really the half of it. In Japan, there’s only one kind of Japanese person, culturally speaking. In other words, everyone over here fits into one of two general categories: Japanese, and outsiders. I call the latter “outsiders” because that’s what they are. It doesn’t matter if they’re married to a Japanese person, hold a job here, or even have Japanese citizenship. If the shape of the face and the mannerisms (alongside lifelong citizenship) don’t both match the criteria, the person doesn’t “count” as a real member of society. No kidding. It’s a simple dichotomy, and there never have been enough assimilated foreigners in Japan to challenge the status quo of Japanese identity being based on anything other than physicality and one’s reflection of cultural “upbringing”.

Tomorrow: “Part 2: The Reality of the Japanese Social Dichotomy—So, Is It Really Racism?”