Take a shot every time I touch my forehead in dismay. You'll be dead by the 10 minute mark. Seriously though, I hope this video helps some of you with your future trips to Japan. Things to watch out for, things to expect, and things to avoid as a foreigner. Also CHECK OUT VICTORY BELLES if you enjoy pretty ladies, WWII history, and high management games! victorybellesgame.com
Great video, gaijin goomba, and i especially think it's terrible to put down animals unless ABSOLUTELY necessary, such as when they are at the end of their life, and not able to get better, and suffering a lot, and unable to regain quality of life. I think Japan is an amazing country, but the fact that some people would rather kill a healthy animal just because they aren't a baby animal is pure evil. We adopted a 12 or 13 year old pitbull a few years ago, and he was one of the most adorable, sweet puppies EVER! we only had Loki for a few years, but he was so friendly and kind. Even older animals can be wonderful pets, even if they don't have as long. EVERY pet deserves a loving and caring home and family.
I've long held the belief that if you love something, you have to acknowledge the flaws or you don't love it, you love the idealized version of it. Gaijin, I tip my hat to you! 👒
If you love something, just leave it alone. If it loves you too, it will come to you. I have no desire to travel. I get enough culture through the internet. I'd rather just learn from it and improve my own environment, rather than invade someone else's environment for my own indulgences. That being said, I'd probably be a hell of a lot happier living in a different country.
As a Dutch person, I'm surprised to hear cyclists A) Don't signal where they're going. B) Exclusively use their right/dominant hand. If I go right, I'll point using my right hand. If I go left, I'll point using my left hand. At least the "In an accident the cyclist is always innocent" rule is the same lol
Yea but you in a car get a small dent, the cyclist might lose their life So should all the honest people have a worse chance at defending themselves because of a few rotten apples? You as the car driver are trained to look out for cyclist and correctly regulate your speed to not get them in danger. Cyclist didnt learn much past "red is stop and green is go" and sometimes the "signal your path" stuff.
@@Runei-Crystal Yes and no. I don't know where you live but US architecture for roads is dogshit and SUPER dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. Even the 'dedicated lanes' are literally just...slivers next to speeding traffic - zero protection. The people driving the metal missiles down the road (typically speeding) should be the ones assuming the responsibilities. Roads were originally for people - not cars.
I have a massive fear of going to japan solely because I'm afraid I will inevitably do something I shouldn't, even innocently. My memory sucks under pressure so I'm not sure I'll even remember a lot of DO NOTs mentioned here. Still, in the remote case that I do go there, I'll be sure to keep most of this video in my memory, thanks a lot Goombah!
I’m the same way but I can tell you I was just there and didn’t have any major screw ups. Just remember to be vigilant about what you’re doing (i.e before going into a shrine watch how others go in and mimic it etc.) It’s all about doing as the Romans do and if you genuinely don’t know, don’t be afraid to look it up or ask for help (English should be fine for most major areas but be prepared with at least some Japanese if you decide to go this route.)
Social anxiety, I've been there! If it makes you feel better, I think you have quite a bit of wiggle-room as a foreigner, they'll be more forgiving. I'm sure you'd be able to "sumimasen" your way out of most situations :3
Don't worry too much about it! Japan tends to give foreigners a bit of a free-pass, they know that Japan's culture is pretty unique in the world and a lot of people won't understand. To the point that we often call committing a faux pas but getting away with it 'cuz we're not Japanese a "gaijin smash". But if you can try your best to avoid what you can, it will make things a lot smoother!
from what i've heard, they're pretty chill with minor things. They understand that foreigners aren't going to know every detail of their culture. Just don't be a complete douch nozzle, which applies anywhere, and you should be fine. Still good to be aware of some cultural taboos to avoid.
As someone who is slowly doing his research this country, hearing the bad marks is exactly what I want to hear. It helps make my expectations more real, and able to give respect properly when I do plan to visit myself. Thank you for bringing these out for us. Sidenote: I was just as livid as you were when mentioning the disrespect in a place of worship. As someone who's not very religious myself, I still give as much respect that I can.
I don't actually think the Japanese themselves have much use for the religious shrines other than tourism... I understand exactly how this sounds... But seriously I haven't seen a single anime mention really anything about the Shinto religion or gods... Oh no the monks and things are always mentioned of course... But they are only ever used for a quick access to a needed spell or something... I literally cannot name a single Shinto God or Goddess and yet I know Shinto is Polytheistic... Basically what I'm saying is I think an Atheist could be more right about Christianity in casual passing than a Japanese Person would be about their own cultural religion...
@@AnthonyGladbach By that notion, it makes it confusing why they demand respect and strict ritual behavior from tourists when they themselves dont know their own religion and rituals.
There are many issues in Japan, like any country. Discussing them is just considered impolite or boorish. Police have little funds and will turn away cases for: not being severe enough to warrant their resources, the culprit not being immediately obvious, or the evidence not being immediately apparent. The jails will force you to confess by holding you indefinitely. The courts are a formality and have a near 100 percent conviction rate. Not to mention, despite what everyone will tell you, gaijin are still mistrusted in Japan. Many businesses will deny you service, and many police refuse to assist gaijins when they are the victim of a crime.
@@Bionickpunk Probably some delusional sense of national pride. Or some just simply don't like foreigners and just want to find an excuse to talk down to them.
@@AnthonyGladbachongratulations, you missed the point and have outed yourself as a complete douche. Don't be disrespectful of foreign religions and do your research, period. That was end of story, is the end of story, but no, let's try justifying not bothering to known anything and be distrepectful. Hell, back in the 80's, nobody was allowed to put holy symbols in video games or comics or movies, are you saying it was appropriate for someone in the 80's to trash a Christian church because of that? Because that's the thesis of what you said.
Hey Goombah, I've been watching you since I was about 13 and I'm finally going to Japan this year. So I just want to thank you for being the reason I actually took off the rose colored glasses and started learning about the culture. I was planning to get a goshuincho and go to as many shrines as I could so thanks twice for the warning.
From my 3 years living in Japan and studying Japanese, the first thing that I say when I need to do something important is "please don't use keigo, it's difficult to understand." Especially so on phone calls where it's already hard enough to understand what they're saying. On the topic of plastic, when I saw bananas individually wrapped in plastic, I was very confused. Like "Uh, it has an evolutionary thing that literally makes putting it inside a plastic bag irrelevant."
I feel like the "Cool Japan" initiative has been almost too effective and as a result your videos are invaluable. We're going to Japan on our honeymoon and having more realistic expectations and cultural know-how will help me avoid the Paris Syndrome of it all
@joaoballan2080 It's like a severe form of culture shock some people get when visiting Paris. The city is so different in person to how it's portrayed in media that it has caused issues for international visitors
Especially for Japanese, not being rude here the wiki article was where I first heard of Paris Syndrome. Japan is very hands off in affection, what is a common thing you see in France not just media? The double kiss on the cheek, you don't do that in Japan ever unless it is a truly personal experience and it is absolutely not public. Even American feels put off by that but we get it. Japanese people don't do that even to family. The romanticism of Paris is painted in a way that makes it seem perfect to visit. Heheh you gotta know what you're going.
my main rule when traveling anywhere on vacations is to never drive yourself, it will just make you annoyed and stressed out… yea it means a bit more planning but you get to relax much more… the hand gesture thing would so mess me up as we use our left arm to signal to go left and our right arm to signal to go right while cycling and not some right handed motion as a car driver might not see the motion you did in time and almost crash into you.
@@TheFatalcrest To be fair, US is hostile to everyone who isnt in a car, and even then car drivers dont have it any better since poor land use and massive sprawl makes car commute time inhumane during rush hours.
@@Bionickpunk I can tell you don't drive because no, drivers, for the most part, aren't like that. What irritates us is when pedestrians and cyclists do stupid things like not use a crosswalk because god forbid they not walk the extra 100 feet to get to the crosswalk or use the crosswalk as if being on a bike still makes you a pedestrian just because you don't have an engine.
To be fair British cyclists are way more considerate than Japanese cyclists, its just that there’s terrible cycling infrastructure in the UK and the country is full of terrible drivers. In japan the drivers are extremely considerate, but those cyclists certainly are not 😂
@@fakhribintang Because Japan has an even worse cycling infrastructure than the UK, along with car infrastructure. Just look at those narrow streets in Japan, they are for nothing but pedestrian traffic and yet they use it for cars, bikes, motors, trucks and what have you.
Honestly, we have the same problem in the US too. Though, thankfully, most of the streets are wider. Doesn't help when cyclists ride side-by-side and do not give a heck.
@@NightmareShadows13 No, in the US you have the opposite extreme problem of having too much car dependency and no care for public transport or alternative forms of transit, along with deliberate bulldozing of historic city centers for parking lots. The fact that you blame cyclists when the system is so heavily against anyone who isnt in a car is laughable.
Oh man the petshop talk got me. Sadly similar set ups are quite common across the world. My region of Canada has stopped having cats and dogs for sale due to laws against puppy/kitten mills which was a major issue in this area. Its the first step towards a better pet ecosystem, there are plenty of legit breeders, adoption places and all sorts of free pets to pick up from people that cannot take care of theirs any further.
Better off not having pets in the first place and just having children also do yourself and favor and never go to China because the things that happen in Japan are a paradise compared to what I saw there.
I went to Japanese University and what my Japanese teacher told me was that if Keigo is not understandable you should ask the other person to talk in ます形 (masukei, so masu-form)... not sure if everyone would agree to be less respectfull but it's worth a try. Then again, she tried really hard to make us understand Keigo because it's that important...
God, I get you so hard, when you were talking about that cultural deafness of the tourists! I live in Germany. And in one of the most tourist heavy areas of the country. Whenever it is summer, we're overflowing with tourists from everywhere. And I - for the life of me - cannot get it how people are being so ignorant, when they come into another country! Like, I had people from Switzerland going to our local Hardware Store for Propane Gas for their stupid Van. And they just unplug that thing from their vehicle, don't even close the valves properly or put the red safety cap on top of it and roll that thing across a FULL parking lot! With children's in tow! I've had some American tourists come to our store, trying to haggle prices for car prints with me, too. And when they didn't get it, they stood outside our store and yelled something about us being KKK members, pointing and doing very "X's power" emotes, till we called the police for them harassing us. And then they just tried to do a fist fight and (as far as one of our customers told us (who works for the police)), they got evicted out of Germany for illegally running around with a gun in their car among other felonies... What the hell is wrong with people not informing themselves on the situations in other countries?! Do they just THINK their actions are excusable, because they come from somewhere else???
Not trying to devalue your experience, but the Americans you came across seem more like an exception and not the rule. Like, it seems to me like they came to the country LOOKING for trouble, considering they brought a gun and everything. They most likely were up to something illegal in the first place, and as much as Americans CAN be rude, most of them don’t travel for the sole purpose of committing crimes. A lot of them just don’t inform themselves on cultural norms and just cause misunderstandings by accident.
As an American, I SINCERELY apologize for their bad behavior. Those Americans fall under the category of “people who should not travel internationally.” When I travel to other countries (and other states,) I try to be as respectful of other countries’ cultures as I can (and if I do something wrong (by accident,) I apologize constantly.) I know my country doesn’t have the best reputation worldwide, but I just want to say that not all Americans are like that.
I'm reminded of when my friends came to visit me while I was living in Japan, and we were in Akiba, and one of my friends left her camera in the bathroom of the Yodobashi. We ran back in (this was like 5/10 minutes before closing too), and I went to the closest counter to the bathroom and explained in my broken Japanese about my friend's forgotten camera. The clerk responded in Japanese to me. Then when my friend caught up with me, I explained to her (in English) what the clerk had told me. When the clerk got off the phone with the store security, she turned to my friend and told her "They're bringing your camera here now." in English. I really appreciated that she matched the language presented. I'd been in Sendai for almost a year at that point, so I'd gotten so used to people not speaking English that visiting Tokyo was a bit of culture shock.
Lol, reminds me when a friend in our exchange group left her phone in the toilets of a bowling alley. We went back the next day and it was exactly where she left it. I also remember when I went to check my watch when I was shopping, I looked at my arm and saw that I left my watch at the hotel. A random Japanese guy came up to me and told me the time. He gestured by looking at his arm, communicating that because of what I was doing, he knew I was trying to check the time.
I admire yours (and many other youtuber's) frankness when discussing Japan. Growing up, Japan was one of those nations that was presented to my generation as this exoticized utopia, in a similar vein to Canada, New Zealand, Iceland, etc. These were places that seemed so distant and so uncomplicatedly admirable that I couldn't help comparing what I imagined they were like, to the often miserable and self-loathing impression my own country - that being England - often left me with. I pretty much hated everything about my home country because I was infatuated with the idealized versions of the aforementioned "good examples". Whilst I still have pretty complicated feelings towards England these days (I still detest many aspects of our culture, but I'm also mature enough to understand that I'm rather fortunate to have been born in the UK) I'm also glad to say that I no longer have this star-struck self-deluding image of Japan in my mind. Japan has many cultural exports and social mores I find appealing, but I'm also pretty clear-eyed about the certain values Japanese people _very broadly_ possess that I disagree with, as well as the endemic challenges Japan faces. I owe a lot of that understanding to folk's like you Gaijin Goombah, so I reckon I ought to thank you for that! :3
People disrespecting sacred ground... it might not be sacred _to you,_ but that doesn't excuse insulting the people it's important to! Regarding keigo, English doesn't have the rigid social registers Japanese has. Relatively, it's like trying to hold a conversation in perfect Shakespearean English.
Why do people even go to religious sites and do the rituals if they are not part of that religion or even know the basics of the religious rituals? Its like going to a mosque as a tourist and pretending you are Muslim while messing up all the rituals. You dont do that, so why do it in Shinto shrines?
I would bet money that a lot of them loud, disrespectful tourists are part of some sect of christianity. Be it southern baptist, catholic, methodist, whatever. I come from the south and there's this attitude that other faiths are just not real or play acting or something to that degree. And cause of that they don't have to show reverence or respect. I've also seen people who hold am idea that if you give respect and reverence to another faith you're somehow betraying your church. Back in the early 00's i got curious about the muslim faith, cause it was kinda all over the news at the time. When i next went to church our bible study group leader was saying a lot of islamophobic things like they hate jesus and god and crap. When i started correcting him he asked how I knew and I told him that i had been studying Islam and Quran on the internet. ...the _look_ on his face and the faces around me. You would almost think that i had somehow recrucified jesus in front of them. My point is that I'm 95% certain that them people who are disrespectful of the temples and their rituals is cause they just feel like they can because they have one true faith and everything else is beneath them. It's okay to act out some of the rituals as long as you're not serious about it because God needs to know you're just having fun.
@@Bionickpunk people absolutely go to mosques as tourists because they're beautiful. the blue mosque in istanbul gets millions of tourists who come to visit. same as japanese shrines. they're beautiful cultural landmarks so tourists come.
@@memelord4639 Yeah but they dont go in and start praying like Muslims...so why do people do that in Shinto shrines? Big difference between visiting as a tourist and doing religious rituals for a religion you aint part of.
Yeah speaking super formal or shakespearan indicates some level of almost arrogant pride and/or snobbery. On the flip side, being polite to strangers, especially if in a service job, is normal here in US too. I say this as working in retail.
Hey Goomba, I got to travel to Japan for my first time in March and was super excited to see Gundam Base Tokyo. I'm a new Gundam fan who got into gunpla this year and was disappointed by the selection there. I've been watching your videos for about 7 or 8 years now and you helped me find a lot excitement and beauty in the world through Japan. Before my trip I felt like I was connected to other people through the internet, but I traveling there humbled me. It was vastly different experiencing the culture rather than watching it. I was lucky enough to eat lots of delicious food, see the cherry blossoms, and visit the Tokyo Art museum. Being in Tokyo and having Kindergarten level Japanese was surprisingly easy and I didn't have anyone throw difficult language at me. I did accidentally confuse a chinese restaurant order by ordering in Japanese, but using the chinese word for what I was ordering. He was very confused about what language I spoke. That was my experience with language there. I do think the woman you spoke to was surprised at your level of fluency and may have reflexively spoke in keigo to a customer. You know Japan better than me though. Great video! Thanks for reading.
I have to admit that while I do bow before entering a shrine, I often forget to take my hat off (especially at smaller shrines). I take 'do as the natives do' quite seriously, which makes it more confusing as I often see Japanese people passing through Torii with their hats on. The most annoying thing about tourist groups is that they never seem to shut up when riding trains. Completely silent at the platform but non-stop chattering on the train. That and they never seem to mind their surroundings. A reminder to any tourist: Check your surroundings before you take a picture, don't suddenly stop in the middle of the road/sidewalk, shut the hell up when you are using public transportation.
As someone currently living in Japan, the Keigo bit hit HARD. There are SO many conversations I would be able to completely understand... in regular Japanese. But Keigo is a nightmare!! DX
Thanks Gaijin Gombah for this video just to let you know I saved an abandoned German Shepherd that was 4 years at the time.He was about to be put down ,but I got him in the nick of time. He is now the greatest treasure & I also saw many dogs abandoned during my travels in Mongolia it was a severe heart breaker for me.😢
I think English is considered one of the hardest languages to learn, even people who live in america have have their whole life still occasionally have difficulties with it. That being said it's even stupider to go to another country and expect them to just know english.
Through manga, I remember reading a series called Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs. It kind of addresses issues of treating dogs as simply accessories, especially if they're pure-bred, but it also takes place in a pet shop. Now the dogs are treated fairly well, but what it doesn't talk about is euthanasia if an animal doesn't sell. Normally, it's supposed to be slice of life content (with slight fan-service), but I feel like not addressing that, especially when its based in a pet shop, kind of overshadows the overlying problem. Its a dark topic, and I can't really say if the mangaka wanted to address that or not, but it did shed some highlights of the treatment of pets in Japan. For example: one chapter talked about how a dog was abandoned because a couple had a baby and didn't want the dog anymore. There are even some instances where background characters talk about adopting a dog as a placeholder until they have a baby. This series ran from 2004-2010, but it is concerning that these issues are still recurring in 2023. When you addressed this topic it reminded me of that series. Sorry this comment was a little long. Overall, your video was really informative. Thanks for all your hard work in making this!
I loved your prior video, but I also really loved this video because sometimes you have to air out the bad to appreciate the good. It's important to address all sides of that which you love, especially if your intent is to educate others about it in the hopes that they, too, will love or at least appreciate it. I'd love to see more stuff like this occasionally mixed in with your usual content.
Gaijin Goombah, words can not express how thankful I am to you and you're videos, I re-watched a bunch of them before I went on my trip to Japan a few years ago and now here I am planning on another Japan trip and I'm looking forward to watching them again. ^_^ *bows*
The 3 Ws are essential for traveling even in your home country! I live in a very small area and I've been to New York City several times now and the 3 Ws were incredibly important important for navigating the subway system. So honestly just always apply the 3 Ws when you're traveling period! Thanks for all the helpful tips for Japan! I hope to travel to Japan someday and your content is very helpful to know what to do and to avoid to NOT do!
Honestly, I've thought about going to Japan for some time, but I'm still trying to grab a foothold of the japanese language. I told myself that I would not go until I at least understood enough to actually not be a problem. (Everybody that wants to go to Japan TRULY OUGHT TO VIEW THIS VIDEO ALL THE WAY THROUGH.)
I went to Japan a few months ago. I had google translate on me and I would write down if I can before hand a question or something along those lines. I even asked them to speak in my phone to translate what they're saying. Annoying yes although it helped out greatly. I also tried to make their job as easy as possible as I don't want to be one of those bad apples like I asked if I could eat here and I thanked them for the food. There was so many that also helped me out as well while in Japan. When I got lost or tried to understand google maps, the staff or someone helped me out. There was a time where I was crossing the railroad track after a few cars went through plus some on a bikes and I was cut off by the guard rails at the last second (don't think those are what they are called) and some couple came running and helped me out with my luggage and I got off the track in time. So many kind people I saw over there. Over here I bet people would take out their phones and post it up on TikTok. I had a great time over there and I plan to go next year. I just wish some people have some common sense and stop making us look bad.
It’s good that you came across some nice people, but there are kind and mean people everywhere, even Japan. Ps. I’ve lived in Japan and looking forward to visiting again this month! 😊
Regarding the fault hitting cyclists, that's not a Japan thing, that's a non-American thing. That's true in Canada as well, pedestrians and other non-motorized vehicles (bicycles, scouters, etc.) always have right of way. Mind, we (in Canada at the very least) have "publicly" owned (it's complicated, technically it's state-owned and for profit monopoly, don't ask) auto-insurance that will just charge a simple premium to the driver and cover all the charges.
In America, pedestrians are supposed to have the right of way, but automakers ( and the oil industry) have influenced our government (with $$) and culture (with propaganda) for the last century for the sake of profit. American culture = MONEY OVER EVERYTHING.
They can have the right of way without jumping out in front of a car with no warning or not signaling that they are suddenly stopping/changing directions when there is a car around.
There’s something to be said for speaking plainly. It’s enough of a problem when you understand what someone is saying because you share a common language, never mind crossing a language barrier. I’m a therapist by trade, and specialise in working with people that don’t speak English as their first language. I do however speak a second language fairly fluently and have crossed that language barrier as a matter of daily life living in another country. Being met on the level by someone, it goes a long way. In the English speaking world, we could live out our lives never having to speak another language. The Japanese are the same. I’d like to think that younger Japanese are changing this but it’s also down to individuals who want to approach the world with openness and tear down these barriers. Like your Warhammer employee. Also helps when you work for a company that is English as all hell 😂
I like when people take the good with the bad, it is needed, not this whole hearted praising it, not tearing it down to be toxic, playing the middle ground in well... just about anything is important, nothing is without flaws and perfect, just as much as nothing isn't without its positives. Edit: then later... yeah us as visitors need to be more respectable, anybody else remember Logan Paul and the trouble that caused? Don't be like him, educate yourself. Like even comparing it to as simple as walking into your neighbors house, you going to wash your feet in their sink? Their hot tub? Even washing in their tub, you still ask if it's ok at the very least because it's not your tub, DESPITE BEING A PLACE MENAT FOR CLEANING YOURSELF, respect people, 2 way street. Even if you're an Aestheist, you still know respect right? How to properly ask for permission, know when to back off, and when or where is the right place and time? It's not hard to do. Especially with the children, now I get why my grandpa stopped eating out many years back, and stopped going to theaters even before I was born, here I am sitting in a theater and the kids are running up and down the lanes, kicking back of my seat, like you tell the kids sit down, be quiet, or you're leaving. I know some parents are sensitive about punishment nowadays for kids, but even saying that in a calm voice, telling them they can't watch the movie, then you leave. Same is true for restaurants, you're there to eat, if you're good and control yourself maybe we go to the park after, if you can't sit still then we won't eat here at all and leave. Then that family in your story has the GALL TO ASK WHY YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND?!... like.. wha... how... WHY ARE YOU THERE AT ALL?! HOW DID YOU GET THESE CHILDREN 8 AND YOUNGER ON A PLANE AND WHY ARE YOU THERE IN A COUNTRY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD WITH A LANGUAGE SO FAR REMOVED FROM ENGLISH, YET ARE BEING... I... UM... oooof, I'm just listening to you, I've never been to Japan, and DEAR GODS, old new japanese english etc by the gods just... how? How can people be this stupid and insensitive? They don't understand the language, not saying you have to learn Japanese, but patience is a virtue, be respectful and patient, doesn't matter how hungry or tired you are, be appropriate and polite... like again how do you not learn this stuff EVEN FROM YOUR OWN COUNTRY?! People hate America, and frankly despite being one, it's these horror stories, where I feel hurt... *BUT I CAN'T BLAME THEM!!!* I might be respectful, I might not act like this, but yeah a lot of Americans kind of suck and give some of us a bad name. There's a reason stereotypes and stigmas exist, when it becomes the majority, when the world sees us as that it's because it's the majority... That being said and, wow didn't expect to get into an essay of ranting lol, yeah sometimes it can't be helped, we're only human, we make mistakes, even if it's something that seems obvious. Which is why words of politeness should come into play, thank you, your welcomes, the I'm sorry or apologies. Going to my movie example, I can't deny I've been loud myself, or I've talked during movies, you just get so excited and forget, especially if it's something you're passionate about, you know super well. Like say the Mario movie, I'd convinced my mom to go, and I'm trying to explain some stuff to her, but I am also trying to keep as quiet and brief as possible, because I'm trying to help her understand some things about Mario. Did the same with the Sonic movie 2, convinced her to get a go and get a glimpse at my world of games, because we both like movies, still a fun thing to get together and do when we have the time to hang out. No one told me to ever be quiet, but if they did I was ready to apologize and shut myself up, because that's the appropriate thing to do, even if they're angry about it and don't deserve respect, you be the bigger person in that situation and still listen.
Going to Japan is on my bucket list for sure. I do appreciate the insight into the culture from you because you have lived there before. I can appreciate the honesty because every country has their flaws as stated in this video. I also am a history nerd and studied it for my undergraduate and would do the upmost to ensure I know of the traditions before I head over. I also am familiar with phenomena of culture shock.
speaking of the plastic waste in Japan they are trying to switch to using bio-degradable plastics as in plastic made out of organic compounds that they decompose much like a plant, several of my Japanese snacks used them and they make good fertilizer in my garden.
As long the incinerate everything it won't be a problem but they still pretend to recycle and the money would be better spent on better bio-degradable packages. Wish we had good incinerators like the Japanese do.
And it's plastic, whose importance is insanely blown out of proportion, so the ACTUAL disproportional waste production - US municipal waste - would fly by the wayside. This is the ABSOLUTE TOP by a huge margin of producing ALL WASTE IN THE WORLD. Tokyo has a single landfill that is estimated to suffice for 50 years. You can't laminate your plastics hard enough to make supermassive layercakes out of them and fill up your landfills. Japan simply has TACKLED the opportunity in reducing plastic waste, because there's so much APPARENT progress to be made there, especailly with grifters honking on about plastics they SEE right there on store shelves. US population is 3x the Japanese, guess how much more MSW they produce than Japan? 6.5x times, 260 million tons next to Japan's 40, which is a lot adn japan culd still reduce it to at least 1/3, as could EVERY large-living opulent western nation from Germany to Turkey. But USA has absolutely no excuse, it even exceeds 1 Billion Chinese, not per capita but the raw number. USA is also a large scale EPOTER of their waste, not into single landfill in Tokyo but INTO their subservient client nations and throttling theri economic subsistence as USA essentailly saves money by not adding the real cost of waste management into the product.
The biking problem in Japan is similiar to that of the Netherlands... though only in Cities like Amsterdam where you as a car are a guest and the scooters and bikes are.. insane.. And with the dawn of e-bikes.. IT ONLY GOT WORST SINCE THEY GOT FASTER! To the point of when Gajin says "if you hit em it's your fault".. even if you prove it wasn't your fault.. cause courts tend to defend the weaker traffic. And you as a car? Weaker.. and as a pedastrian you stand a chance!
There is one thing, a theory I have, but you need to glitch a unbreakable master sword, to send a rock hammer back in time to the beginning of TOTK, and such a glitch does currently exist. If what is under those rocks, is the same as what is found later in the game... then possibility A is possible, if it is something different, then we got Possibility B... which leads into A. A. Zelda was always going to go back in time, and there is no 'downfall timeline' we are missing out on. B. Zelda getting the stone, was the start of the cycle, in the original timeline a downfall timeline, YES, Raru seals Ganondorph, however Ganondorph has 6 stones instead of 1, and then Zelda gets the stone, erasing the first timeline... thus Link does not have to fight a 6 stone empowered Ganondorph.... Thank the Goddess.
Wherever you go, there will be people who just do stupid things, but thanks to people like you, those who actually think about how their behavior affects other will have a starting point for learning how to act in different places
I spoke with "that guy" on the phone at my job the other day so you know if it happens between people from the same country, it sure as hell is going to happen between them and someone foreign, especially when there's already a lack of respect from tourists.
6:37 - These hand signs are actually not even the same everywhere. Not talking about Japan here, but in Denmark, for example, left hand out means going to the left. Right hand out means going right. Left hand up means stopping (usually to turn left). These are generally taught.
This was very informative, definitely brings to light the issues people will face and should avoid doing...like MUMBLING!!! 27:37 I learned to never mumble in front of Gaijin because I'm certain he would eviscerate me.😅😅
Thanks for the video Goombah! I hope to go to Japan one day and I’m slowly but surely trying to learn Japanese as well. This video was very informative on what to do and not do if I ever get the chance to go. And a fair warning on what communication struggles I might experience while there. Look forward to more folklore videos. Those are my personal favorites. Have a blessed week
That thing about the use of bells on bikes is the same here in the UK (at the very least on paper). The use of a horn or bell is to warn pedestrians that they are there or coming.
It's seams Horrible how everyone labels the Manji and the hock cross in Japan and India in temples and shrines with 1930s Germany and how everyone thinks the Manji and hock cross is not a peace symbol and others are trying to revive it back to it's former glory before western nations and Germany ruined it for Asians and Indians for eternity
Pretty sure that thing about Cyclists being given the benefit of the doubt over car drivers if they get hit is not just a thing in Japan. Afaik the same (or something similar) is also true in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, in the US, I was taught from a young age that it doesn't matter if you have the right-of-way over the car. The car will win the fight, and that's all that's really going to matter. The several thousand pound weight difference means you don't take the risk.
@@ImminDragon Well seeing how the US was bulldozed to be hostile for bikes and pedestrians due to automotive and oil lobbying, its no wonder why car first culture sprung up. Good example are stroads, they are everywhere in the US and Canada, and they are horrible for cyclists and pedestrians.
@@ImminDragon Lol, that's like how we treat trucks in Australia. You DO NOT mess with trucks in Australia. Right or wrong, the only thing that will matter is who is alive, and who is lubricant.
Barely anyone here in America seems to remember the bike hand signals I feel. It might be because of the area I live in but this feels like the thing that is not just Japan. Doesn't make it any better, we still need to do the hand signals especially on busy roads. The animal problem hurts my very soul because I truly love my cat and I can't understand why people would want to do that to perfectly healthy animals just because they got a little old. Sometimes the older animals are the ones that are easier to take care of because they know how to use the litterbox and to just be. I hope that something can be done about that and they can have good lives.
Unfortunately this practice doesn't sound limited to just the Japan but the US as well. So if you work in the veterinarian industry you will see these pets come in. If your company has, I'll deal with the air lines and they're basically from breeders and you're just allowed to fix them up just enough so they can fly to wherever they're supposed to go. You can't cure them. Just got to make them look good and it's heartbreaking
When I went to Japan, we went to a few shrines the first day. We were so afraid that we were going to accidentally be distespectful, so that night back at the hotel we studied shrine etiquette online. We made sure that we wouldn't be disrespectful and I wish more people would do that.
I've been writing a book, and, the parts that are supposed to be primarily in Japanese, I instead wrote in English, because I don't know Japanese. For most of it, it's supposed to be assumed that everyone (except the main character) is addressing everyone else how they're supposed to. But I specifically referenced the system in a recent chapter, wherein a the main character, who's pretending to be a student, is not being addressed like a student by a teacher, who knows she's not a student, because he regards her as a kami, but it's also hypocritical of her, because she's not talking to him how a student should be talking to a teacher, because she addresses everyone as if they're equals, especially when they're not. The only reason the system is referenced at that point, is because it's told from a 1st person perspective, and it's annoying her that he's not automatically playing along with her ruse.
I have always felt the opposite when it comes to expecting them to know English, From what I'm told you're right, the right areas they make it English friendly. I wish I could learn to speak Japanese, I might be able to learn to understand it, but due to nerve damage in my face from a very bad infection in my noggin I have a lot of trouble with the tongue gymnastics. I've always been curious as to how that might be seen over there. One day I really do pray I can go visit.
The tori gate/shrine stuff is good advice cuz I didn't know that and now I'm just hoping I didn't do that stupid stuff whenever I came by one, aaaah. Also I was a biker who traveled mostly that way aaaa. I hope I wasn't one of those rude bikers. I think I also used my bell sometimes, gently just to signal "Biker coming up, don't wanna spook you suddenly".
Bells are supposed to be "Hey, I'm coming" in every country. They're just poorly utilized. I use my bell well away from pedestrians here in the US so it's less scary, but it lets people know to not walk in the middle of the path and to not be scared I'm coming.
15:20 was the *exact* analogy I thought of. I'm a Baptist, and if some guy came in and started swishing his feet in the tub like a kid at the city pool, I'd be pretty angry. People need to find some empathy before going to sacred spaces... It reminds me of a time when my family toured a Catholic cathedral in Savannah, GA and I stuck my finger in the little basin of water. I didn't know better because I was a little kid, and none of my family are Catholic, but I was scolded and taught respect right then and there.
this video was incredibly refreshing, thank you for your honesty, sometimes in the gaijin word i feel like its... not okay to express criticism but hearing your well informed takes, helps me be realistic and prepare for when i someday get to
Learning what NOT to do, is just as important at what to do. Information wrapped in glorious frustration, well done mate! Now go get some nice tea, you deserve it.
Had a JSDF group visit us here on JBER in Anchorage, AK and they were extremely respectful and excited to work with us. The only problem we had was the language barrier, Google translate was well used on both sides.
A little clarification: in the US hand signals are supposed to be done with the left hand so that they can more easily be seen by oncoming traffic and any driver behind you (because that is the side of the vehicle the driver is on). Im assuming Japan uses the right hand for the same reasons.
I hate it when people just choose to go somewhere and not understand that the culture is different there and there are things that are expected of you, somethings that are LEGALLY expected of you. Its infuriating if you don't want to learn a whole language then like a grab a translation book at least! Gah if I go to a place I just want to know what's expected of me behavior wise, it's literally not that hard
Yeah people should be required to learn the language before travailing to the country that a great way to stop all these problems because then most countries wouldn't have to worry about tourism as there would be hardly any also the whole jobs thing.
@@southcoastinventors6583 You're overestimating people's ability to effectively pick up a new language. What, you're expecting folks with globe hopping jobs to speak every single language for each country they visit? The best compromise is having a translation booklet on hand.
@@acedias12 Actually I am not because most people could easily learn a second language but they won't since I have talked with several different people teaching Japaneses and it almost always the same most people tend to fizzle out in a couple of months, because realize subconsciously how much time it takes to learn and just default to English the whole world will eventually speak it anyways or just use there smartphone. I mean just look at Japanese it takes years of dedicated practice and even easy one to learn like Spanish generally people are pretty bad at. It just not going to happen, people want to travel to have fun or see new things.
A lot of people treat foreign countries like they're theme parks, and the people living there are employees of the park. As a guest, you're representing your country, so you should strive to be a good representation.
A lot of people are always shocked when they see food items individually wrapped in plastic, but at least from what I've seen in my country it's generally bioplastics. I'd imagine it's the same for Japan. I don't know how good it's for the nature anyway, but it's unlikely it's people wrapping things into proper plastic out of ignorance or hate of the earth.
In the U.S., I specifically bought a bell for my bike because I think that most people find the pleasant chime of the bell (from further away) to be less scary than the sudden sound of a bike rolling up right behind them. And easier to hear than a verbal alert. But yes, a lot of people do assume it means "get out of my way!" instead of "Hello! Coming up behind you, FYI". Honestly, in the U.S., a lot of people are jumpy and scared of strangers in general. It could be broad daylight on a busy street in a "safe" part of town (whatever that means lol), and some people will still react to the sound of footsteps like they're expecting to be mugged. So I'd rather confuse them than scare them.
@@GaijinGoombah It's okay. It's still very informative. Especially visiting the shrines. Because if I ever get around to actually leaving the US, I want to at least be mindful of the cultural difference.
Hats at shrines- This one I hear so many non-Japanese make a big deal out of but I have *never* seen it practiced by Japanese themselves. If anything I only ever see foreigners remove their hats, while Japanese just leave them on. It feels more or less like a projection of Christian teaching when I hear people say wearing hats is forbidden. On that, the foot washing thing- Hindu or Muslim tourists maybe? Washing your feet is required when entering places of worship in those religions. That said the amount of people I saw treating Meiji Jingu like an offshoot of Takeshita Street with all the Wai Wai was infuriating. And most of them were Japanese youths.
I'm ashamed to admit that I kept leaving my ticket behind whenever I was on the railway. I've rarely been to a major city like Tokyo, so I wasn't familiar with how those work. I'd buy a ticket, put it in the turnstile, and not take it from th other side because I didn't know you were supposed to until almost the end of my trip (circa 2012). On top of that, my mom and gotten me a $300 rail pass, and I lost it on my first day!
Only past the cyclist rant and euhm that's 100% normal. Go visit the Netherlands and you'll see the same thing. America is the odd one out here (at least for me)
I had a similar problem with my suica card. Bsically I was headded to Osaka for a couple of days and wasn't aware that there was aplace to scan my suica card. Managed to sort it out in osaka, second time I had lost my waller, found it again, and whent to Kure. Both times the saff were 100% helpful.
I really want you, and Let's Ask Shogo to do a video about this. Also, that the listener is responsible for understanding in Japan explains a lot of why the line between Asocial and Anti-Social personalities in Japn are so blurry. An Asocial person can listen and understand very well, but can't articulate back information, but if the listener is hearing it, it could sound no different from someone who's Anti-Social.
I spent 3 years in Japan. Just a few things he missed. (maybe he's talked about them in the past. 1. If your not a native Japanese person. DONT NOT DRIVE. He did touch on it a little when talking about bikes, but its not just always your fault if you hit a bike. ITS ALWAYS YOUR FAULT IF YOUR NOT JAPANESE AND YOU HIT SOMEONE WHO IS! The cops will show up take one look at you and tell you its your fault. I dont care if the other person jumped a curb, broke a fence and slammed into the parked car you were in. It'll be your fault for being parked there. 2. Places might kick you out the second you walk in the door. In the US we call baring someone from entry into a store/place of business based only on what they look like as racism. But in Japan if 10 years ago a foreigner from England had a dispute with the restaurant manager about the bill, and things got a little heated. He can decide all white people are that same person he had to deal with that one day. So he will start shouting at you with his arms in a cross X thing until you leave his store front. This is very normal in Japan. 3. Uh dont want to go into too much detail on this one. But you will see crazy stuff in adult video places. Not the "Oh ya look at all this" kinda stuff. More like the "Is that lady really into what's happening here........." and "Oh ...... ok..... im not sure about the legality of some of these videos".
As someone who is living in Japan from abroad, I really want to thank you, Gaijin Goombah, for making this video. It is IMPARATIVE that you realize that Japan is not perfect. The rose colored glasses need to come off VERY early, even if you are coming here for a trip. I really, really cannot stress this enough. Even more so if you are thinking about living here. Every country has its problems, as Goombah said. You might think America, or Britain, or Germany or whatever has too many problems and you'd rather come here. Then you are greeted with certain rude people, no flying robots and not hadoukens. I am joking with the last two, but living here is just like living somewhere else in many ways. To be frank, you move here because you want to speak the language, and want to get to know the people and the places here. You don't move here to just live out a dream of living in a place where anime was created. So yeah, even if you are visiting, be careful. It can happen to anyone; Japan can be not what you expected, and you can fall out of love with it. No one wants that. We just want to you enjoy Japan for what it is: A beautiful country with a rich and wonderful history, nice people, and yes, great geek culture. But also, its still a country. And it still has humans living in it. And even with many Japanese people being polite... they are not perfect. Neither are the laws and the rules. Hope this helps someone out there!
I still want to go to Japan, despite what you said in this video. I just need to brush up on my Japanese lingo and knowledge of the country. Speaking of Japan, there's something that I've been wondering for quite a while. I wanted to know what Japan's view is on autism? As someone with autism myself, I've always wanted to know what other people in other countries thought about people with autism and other disabilities. Do you think you can do a video on that subject? Please? Thank you in advance!
From my own personal experience, autism is fine as long as it doesn't bother anyone. Basically they expect the same from you as they would any other normal person. If you are loud on a public transport because of your autism, they are not disliking your autism, they are disliking that you are loud. But I guess to put it in other terms, Japan isn't very accommodating to people with needs. Where in some other places, people may put up with the antics, in Japan you may be reprimanded regardless of your condition. As for disabilities, I can't say they are very accommodating for that either, at least last time I visited. Close friends or family members are expected to support you rather than the society and infrastructure itself.
Also, pet stores like the ones that have the little puppies and kittens. They're literally selling these pads for $4,5000 6,000 because they're purebreds. They're not always and then you have the people who pretend to have them on craigslist. It's insane if you go down the rabbit hole, the US is justice bad just in a different way
That last point with the pets really tore at my heartstrings as an animal lover, who's had pets all my life. I was curious to visit Japan once, but now I'm not so sure.
i work retail and a i can say the mumbling is two way street. i swear people have the mindset of "if i can hear them they can hear me." mind you, i have to talk over a lot things at times. and i can make myself heard. but i also have to hear over all the same things. top that off. because of how long i've been at this job i have to keep trake of my coworkers if they need help. because i know most of the loophole and what not, to make things work. so i know what you're talking about. also. "sometimes you just feel like donuts" all levels of truth.
I have never seen that style of signaling before, and we have "how to safely drive in roads" bicycling classes in luxembourg. We were always told to signal out a hand in the direction you are going, nothing about coming to a halt.
The thing he said about bikes is the same in NYC They just kinda go when they feel like it,always run reds,and fly through the lanes even though construction sometimes runs sidewalk traffic through the lanes. Its why I have no patience to bikers and when I saw 2 crash into each other I actually laughed
Because NYC has no bike infrastructure, so cyclists have to do wild things to move in that traffic. Cant stress enough what dedicated separate cycling lanes do to lower insane cycling situations in car traffic.
@@Bionickpunk .....sir i lived in NYC There's bike lanes literally everywhere,and ample bike parking. Dont talk to me about them not having damn infastructure
@@clashingswordsproductions (Looks at a car road in NYC with just paint separating cars and bikes). Yeah no thats not great, Im talking about continuous separate roads for cyclists, not painted paths on car roads. You are still dealing with car traffic with those painted paths. At best thats a transitional solutions before roads are upgraded to have elevated separate bike paths from car roads.
@@Bionickpunk girl what you're asking for is unrealistic. They will barely put money into fixing roads for CARS do you honestly fuckin think they're gonna do all that? Maybe you require bikers to have licenses,require them to follow the damn law and actually give them consequences for when they act like dumbasses and then we can try that whole elevated lane bullshit when they give us the money to do so
@@clashingswordsproductions Cyclists also pay taxes (and drive cars, gasp), which includes the funding for car road infrastructure. So no, dont give me that nonsense that they dont contribute anything when they absolutely do. At least you could do is make separate lanes for bikes and not just lazy road paint and call it a day, thats not a done solution and anyone with common sense would know that. To change the behavior in traffic, better road solutions need to be implemented, and US is horribly lacking in that department, behind even third world countries. You saying its "unrealistic" is not helpful, you just come off whiny, filled with excuses just not to tackle the actual problems.
Not bowing when passing a tori gate I don't really fault people for, especially when alot of japanese natives also don't do it. Overall I do agree that people should do research on places they visit so that they know how to fit in and not offend locals. But they can never know it all, and not everyone is super invested in the countries they visit. This is true for all countries. To some, it's just a quick getaway from life. People tend to go with what they see or hear the most in a location. This often makes it hard to spot and focus on what locals are doing if it's a big tourist area.
well, Goombah, this was quite educational. i do plan to visit Japan someday, and my japanese is terrible, even though i've learned basic words. more people should watch these kinds of "do's and don'ts" when visiting ANY country, not just Japan. but it's a great video nonetheless. also, as someone who has visited Iraq, which is my homeland, i've visited many mosques and before you even enter the building, there are footlockers, no pun intended, to leave your shoes. i don't remember if you can be barefooted, but *please* take your shoes off. and then you enter and there's these checkpoints with security. either way, mosques are too a holy place to visit and has rules. they too have those basins where you wash your hands, feet and, sometimes, rinse your mouth. you must be clean before you enter.
Thank you for explaining these things. These things happen and Japanese will try to be polite about it. Mind you, politness isn't the same as kindness. You are correct. Keigo isn't expected from foreigners. Keeping your explaination clear and simple is best. THEN at the end bow low and thank them many times. They are human and understand intent and context. I am an expat living in Japanese for 22 years.
I thought Keigo would be something I would only encounter in a buisness context. Good to know that I still a huge mountain to learn, which is basically a 2nd type of Japanese.
It really isn't a second language just a few extra words and verb/noun modification. If you don't practice then you going to have problems same with any other language. If you don't how to speak Japanese or your skills are rusty just speak English and hope for the best.
I got a little chuckle from the part when Mr. Goombah was mad about people not talking loud enough, it reminded me about the stereotypical old person frustrated that young people don't talk loud enough for them to hear.
Mental image of making the suggestion to the clerks "Hey. I don't understand politeness. Disrespect me! I work better when I'm disrespected!" lol Love it. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
I love your reminders for when I finally get to go to the mainland (was an exchange student in Okinawa) I really wanted to say your skin looks fantastic!
The only shrine I was at was the one in Hawaii, and there was nobody manning it. We had a place to ourselves. My husband wasn’t much into it and I can’t remember if he took off his hat or not I’m assuming he didn’t. But I did enjoy participating in the rituals as best I could. Luckily, there was some signs that told me what to do.
I really feel like it is correct for them to start off using Keigo as that is just them trying to be respectful. If you are having a difficult time understanding them then you should have asked them to not use it, I find it very unlikely that they wouldn’t stop. Another thing, you say foreigners don’t care but some might and it’s not ridiculous for them to care as it is the standard.
Now that I know about it, when I head back to the shrine again (fingers crossed we got time) we’ll make sure to bow before we enter the gates. Any notes about cameras? I know it’s a no go up at the gift place, but how is the rules around the rest of it?
talking about plastic-covered fruit, here in Canada (well my province of Saskatchewan anyways) we have some like that too, Grapples, Grape flavoured apples are sold in packs of four that are covered in a plastic snap pack, not a bag, a bag would be appropriate like anything else, but a hard plastic snap pack that you are not sure what to do with.
Its one thing being worried about making a cultural mistake. But its another knowing your accompaning family members WILL make those mistakes and they don't listen to you when you try to help.
Take a shot every time I touch my forehead in dismay. You'll be dead by the 10 minute mark. Seriously though, I hope this video helps some of you with your future trips to Japan. Things to watch out for, things to expect, and things to avoid as a foreigner. Also CHECK OUT VICTORY BELLES if you enjoy pretty ladies, WWII history, and high management games! victorybellesgame.com
no
Gaijin the last video is sitting pretty because you were happy and we were happy you were happy
I would but I don't wanna die
Great video, gaijin goomba, and i especially think it's terrible to put down animals unless ABSOLUTELY necessary, such as when they are at the end of their life, and not able to get better, and suffering a lot, and unable to regain quality of life. I think Japan is an amazing country, but the fact that some people would rather kill a healthy animal just because they aren't a baby animal is pure evil. We adopted a 12 or 13 year old pitbull a few years ago, and he was one of the most adorable, sweet puppies EVER! we only had Loki for a few years, but he was so friendly and kind. Even older animals can be wonderful pets, even if they don't have as long. EVERY pet deserves a loving and caring home and family.
If your talking about Tears of the Kingdom I have to ask Do you have a Truck Auto-Build in the game yet Gaijin?
I've long held the belief that if you love something, you have to acknowledge the flaws or you don't love it, you love the idealized version of it. Gaijin, I tip my hat to you! 👒
That's what I've been telling my ex.
If you love something, just leave it alone. If it loves you too, it will come to you. I have no desire to travel. I get enough culture through the internet. I'd rather just learn from it and improve my own environment, rather than invade someone else's environment for my own indulgences. That being said, I'd probably be a hell of a lot happier living in a different country.
@@vashdesperado1232that's a weird take ngl. You aren't invading if you are respectfully visiting.
America: Car-based transit works, everything else is broken
Japan: Every other form of transit works, but car-based transit is broken.
Car-based transit and other forms of transit are like two desperados in the old far West. No town's big enough for the both of them.
@@antonioscendrategattico2302 well one towns vastly bigger than the other sooo
I love trains and busses we need more of them
accept car is almost mandatory in japan if you live outside of large cities
@@nightcollapse Trams, buses ,metro and trains. More of this good stuff, make it reliable, convenient and affordable enough for people to use it.
As a Dutch person, I'm surprised to hear cyclists A) Don't signal where they're going. B) Exclusively use their right/dominant hand. If I go right, I'll point using my right hand. If I go left, I'll point using my left hand.
At least the "In an accident the cyclist is always innocent" rule is the same lol
I hate that rule. Cyclists can be the most mentally challenged group of people at some points, like willfully disobeying traffic laws.
Go to Portland, Oregon and see how brain dead cyclists can be.
@@drascalicus5187 agree. The person who is the cause of the accident should always be the one responsible.
Yea but you in a car get a small dent, the cyclist might lose their life
So should all the honest people have a worse chance at defending themselves because of a few rotten apples?
You as the car driver are trained to look out for cyclist and correctly regulate your speed to not get them in danger. Cyclist didnt learn much past "red is stop and green is go" and sometimes the "signal your path" stuff.
@@Runei-Crystal Yes and no. I don't know where you live but US architecture for roads is dogshit and SUPER dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. Even the 'dedicated lanes' are literally just...slivers next to speeding traffic - zero protection.
The people driving the metal missiles down the road (typically speeding) should be the ones assuming the responsibilities. Roads were originally for people - not cars.
I have a massive fear of going to japan solely because I'm afraid I will inevitably do something I shouldn't, even innocently. My memory sucks under pressure so I'm not sure I'll even remember a lot of DO NOTs mentioned here. Still, in the remote case that I do go there, I'll be sure to keep most of this video in my memory, thanks a lot Goombah!
I’m the same way but I can tell you I was just there and didn’t have any major screw ups. Just remember to be vigilant about what you’re doing (i.e before going into a shrine watch how others go in and mimic it etc.) It’s all about doing as the Romans do and if you genuinely don’t know, don’t be afraid to look it up or ask for help (English should be fine for most major areas but be prepared with at least some Japanese if you decide to go this route.)
Social anxiety, I've been there! If it makes you feel better, I think you have quite a bit of wiggle-room as a foreigner, they'll be more forgiving. I'm sure you'd be able to "sumimasen" your way out of most situations :3
Don't worry too much about it! Japan tends to give foreigners a bit of a free-pass, they know that Japan's culture is pretty unique in the world and a lot of people won't understand. To the point that we often call committing a faux pas but getting away with it 'cuz we're not Japanese a "gaijin smash". But if you can try your best to avoid what you can, it will make things a lot smoother!
from what i've heard, they're pretty chill with minor things. They understand that foreigners aren't going to know every detail of their culture. Just don't be a complete douch nozzle, which applies anywhere, and you should be fine. Still good to be aware of some cultural taboos to avoid.
@@freakishuproar1168 This overpoliteness went a long way for me while there a month ago
As someone who is slowly doing his research this country, hearing the bad marks is exactly what I want to hear. It helps make my expectations more real, and able to give respect properly when I do plan to visit myself. Thank you for bringing these out for us. Sidenote: I was just as livid as you were when mentioning the disrespect in a place of worship. As someone who's not very religious myself, I still give as much respect that I can.
I don't actually think the Japanese themselves have much use for the religious shrines other than tourism... I understand exactly how this sounds... But seriously I haven't seen a single anime mention really anything about the Shinto religion or gods... Oh no the monks and things are always mentioned of course... But they are only ever used for a quick access to a needed spell or something... I literally cannot name a single Shinto God or Goddess and yet I know Shinto is Polytheistic...
Basically what I'm saying is I think an Atheist could be more right about Christianity in casual passing than a Japanese Person would be about their own cultural religion...
@@AnthonyGladbach By that notion, it makes it confusing why they demand respect and strict ritual behavior from tourists when they themselves dont know their own religion and rituals.
There are many issues in Japan, like any country. Discussing them is just considered impolite or boorish. Police have little funds and will turn away cases for: not being severe enough to warrant their resources, the culprit not being immediately obvious, or the evidence not being immediately apparent. The jails will force you to confess by holding you indefinitely. The courts are a formality and have a near 100 percent conviction rate.
Not to mention, despite what everyone will tell you, gaijin are still mistrusted in Japan. Many businesses will deny you service, and many police refuse to assist gaijins when they are the victim of a crime.
@@Bionickpunk Probably some delusional sense of national pride. Or some just simply don't like foreigners and just want to find an excuse to talk down to them.
@@AnthonyGladbachongratulations, you missed the point and have outed yourself as a complete douche. Don't be disrespectful of foreign religions and do your research, period. That was end of story, is the end of story, but no, let's try justifying not bothering to known anything and be distrepectful. Hell, back in the 80's, nobody was allowed to put holy symbols in video games or comics or movies, are you saying it was appropriate for someone in the 80's to trash a Christian church because of that? Because that's the thesis of what you said.
Hey Goombah, I've been watching you since I was about 13 and I'm finally going to Japan this year. So I just want to thank you for being the reason I actually took off the rose colored glasses and started learning about the culture. I was planning to get a goshuincho and go to as many shrines as I could so thanks twice for the warning.
Hey, congrats man! Ganbatte with your trip!
as someone with terrible memory under pressure...notes on my phone to myself help quite a bit
From my 3 years living in Japan and studying Japanese, the first thing that I say when I need to do something important is "please don't use keigo, it's difficult to understand." Especially so on phone calls where it's already hard enough to understand what they're saying.
On the topic of plastic, when I saw bananas individually wrapped in plastic, I was very confused. Like "Uh, it has an evolutionary thing that literally makes putting it inside a plastic bag irrelevant."
Right ?? Bananas are ALREADY WRAPPED
I feel like the "Cool Japan" initiative has been almost too effective and as a result your videos are invaluable. We're going to Japan on our honeymoon and having more realistic expectations and cultural know-how will help me avoid the Paris Syndrome of it all
What is paris syndrome?
@joaoballan2080 It's like a severe form of culture shock some people get when visiting Paris. The city is so different in person to how it's portrayed in media that it has caused issues for international visitors
Especially for Japanese, not being rude here the wiki article was where I first heard of Paris Syndrome. Japan is very hands off in affection, what is a common thing you see in France not just media? The double kiss on the cheek, you don't do that in Japan ever unless it is a truly personal experience and it is absolutely not public.
Even American feels put off by that but we get it. Japanese people don't do that even to family. The romanticism of Paris is painted in a way that makes it seem perfect to visit. Heheh you gotta know what you're going.
To be fair i have heard more times than not that people will revisit japan over taking a trip somewhere else.
Thank you for showing our precious baby Suzu to the world and sharing her story
Yeeeeeeeeeeee
3:23 so, basically what you're saying is, people in Japan _use their horn for its intended purpose._
Yep.
XD they aren't a hostile act like in the states
my main rule when traveling anywhere on vacations is to never drive yourself, it will just make you annoyed and stressed out… yea it means a bit more planning but you get to relax much more… the hand gesture thing would so mess me up as we use our left arm to signal to go left and our right arm to signal to go right while cycling and not some right handed motion as a car driver might not see the motion you did in time and almost crash into you.
@@TheFatalcrest To be fair, US is hostile to everyone who isnt in a car, and even then car drivers dont have it any better since poor land use and massive sprawl makes car commute time inhumane during rush hours.
@@Bionickpunk I can tell you don't drive because no, drivers, for the most part, aren't like that. What irritates us is when pedestrians and cyclists do stupid things like not use a crosswalk because god forbid they not walk the extra 100 feet to get to the crosswalk or use the crosswalk as if being on a bike still makes you a pedestrian just because you don't have an engine.
I live in the english countryside, I see no difference between British bicycle problems and japan bicycle problems.
To be fair British cyclists are way more considerate than Japanese cyclists, its just that there’s terrible cycling infrastructure in the UK and the country is full of terrible drivers. In japan the drivers are extremely considerate, but those cyclists certainly are not 😂
@@fakhribintang Because Japan has an even worse cycling infrastructure than the UK, along with car infrastructure. Just look at those narrow streets in Japan, they are for nothing but pedestrian traffic and yet they use it for cars, bikes, motors, trucks and what have you.
Sounds like the US too...
Honestly, we have the same problem in the US too. Though, thankfully, most of the streets are wider. Doesn't help when cyclists ride side-by-side and do not give a heck.
@@NightmareShadows13 No, in the US you have the opposite extreme problem of having too much car dependency and no care for public transport or alternative forms of transit, along with deliberate bulldozing of historic city centers for parking lots. The fact that you blame cyclists when the system is so heavily against anyone who isnt in a car is laughable.
Oh man the petshop talk got me. Sadly similar set ups are quite common across the world. My region of Canada has stopped having cats and dogs for sale due to laws against puppy/kitten mills which was a major issue in this area. Its the first step towards a better pet ecosystem, there are plenty of legit breeders, adoption places and all sorts of free pets to pick up from people that cannot take care of theirs any further.
Better off not having pets in the first place and just having children also do yourself and favor and never go to China because the things that happen in Japan are a paradise compared to what I saw there.
@@southcoastinventors6583
Sheiße, what's wrong with you thinking that children are a good alternative to pets!?
@@mastermarkus5307 Because there are somethings even pets will not do
@@southcoastinventors6583 Yes, like talk back and sneak out of the house to go to parties.
I went to Japanese University and what my Japanese teacher told me was that if Keigo is not understandable you should ask the other person to talk in ます形 (masukei, so masu-form)... not sure if everyone would agree to be less respectfull but it's worth a try. Then again, she tried really hard to make us understand Keigo because it's that important...
God, I get you so hard, when you were talking about that cultural deafness of the tourists!
I live in Germany. And in one of the most tourist heavy areas of the country. Whenever it is summer, we're overflowing with tourists from everywhere. And I - for the life of me - cannot get it how people are being so ignorant, when they come into another country!
Like, I had people from Switzerland going to our local Hardware Store for Propane Gas for their stupid Van. And they just unplug that thing from their vehicle, don't even close the valves properly or put the red safety cap on top of it and roll that thing across a FULL parking lot! With children's in tow!
I've had some American tourists come to our store, trying to haggle prices for car prints with me, too. And when they didn't get it, they stood outside our store and yelled something about us being KKK members, pointing and doing very "X's power" emotes, till we called the police for them harassing us. And then they just tried to do a fist fight and (as far as one of our customers told us (who works for the police)), they got evicted out of Germany for illegally running around with a gun in their car among other felonies...
What the hell is wrong with people not informing themselves on the situations in other countries?!
Do they just THINK their actions are excusable, because they come from somewhere else???
Not trying to devalue your experience, but the Americans you came across seem more like an exception and not the rule. Like, it seems to me like they came to the country LOOKING for trouble, considering they brought a gun and everything. They most likely were up to something illegal in the first place, and as much as Americans CAN be rude, most of them don’t travel for the sole purpose of committing crimes. A lot of them just don’t inform themselves on cultural norms and just cause misunderstandings by accident.
Problem of British and American tourists, they are the worst, no matter where it is.
As an American, I SINCERELY apologize for their bad behavior. Those Americans fall under the category of “people who should not travel internationally.” When I travel to other countries (and other states,) I try to be as respectful of other countries’ cultures as I can (and if I do something wrong (by accident,) I apologize constantly.) I know my country doesn’t have the best reputation worldwide, but I just want to say that not all Americans are like that.
They have money to travel, yet can’t seem to afford car prints they don’t need. Suspicious behavior indeed.
Mans really just called gestures "emotes"
Bruh go touch a fucking tree
I'm reminded of when my friends came to visit me while I was living in Japan, and we were in Akiba, and one of my friends left her camera in the bathroom of the Yodobashi. We ran back in (this was like 5/10 minutes before closing too), and I went to the closest counter to the bathroom and explained in my broken Japanese about my friend's forgotten camera. The clerk responded in Japanese to me. Then when my friend caught up with me, I explained to her (in English) what the clerk had told me. When the clerk got off the phone with the store security, she turned to my friend and told her "They're bringing your camera here now." in English. I really appreciated that she matched the language presented. I'd been in Sendai for almost a year at that point, so I'd gotten so used to people not speaking English that visiting Tokyo was a bit of culture shock.
Lol, reminds me when a friend in our exchange group left her phone in the toilets of a bowling alley. We went back the next day and it was exactly where she left it.
I also remember when I went to check my watch when I was shopping, I looked at my arm and saw that I left my watch at the hotel. A random Japanese guy came up to me and told me the time. He gestured by looking at his arm, communicating that because of what I was doing, he knew I was trying to check the time.
I admire yours (and many other youtuber's) frankness when discussing Japan. Growing up, Japan was one of those nations that was presented to my generation as this exoticized utopia, in a similar vein to Canada, New Zealand, Iceland, etc. These were places that seemed so distant and so uncomplicatedly admirable that I couldn't help comparing what I imagined they were like, to the often miserable and self-loathing impression my own country - that being England - often left me with. I pretty much hated everything about my home country because I was infatuated with the idealized versions of the aforementioned "good examples".
Whilst I still have pretty complicated feelings towards England these days (I still detest many aspects of our culture, but I'm also mature enough to understand that I'm rather fortunate to have been born in the UK) I'm also glad to say that I no longer have this star-struck self-deluding image of Japan in my mind. Japan has many cultural exports and social mores I find appealing, but I'm also pretty clear-eyed about the certain values Japanese people _very broadly_ possess that I disagree with, as well as the endemic challenges Japan faces. I owe a lot of that understanding to folk's like you Gaijin Goombah, so I reckon I ought to thank you for that! :3
People disrespecting sacred ground... it might not be sacred _to you,_ but that doesn't excuse insulting the people it's important to!
Regarding keigo, English doesn't have the rigid social registers Japanese has. Relatively, it's like trying to hold a conversation in perfect Shakespearean English.
Why do people even go to religious sites and do the rituals if they are not part of that religion or even know the basics of the religious rituals? Its like going to a mosque as a tourist and pretending you are Muslim while messing up all the rituals. You dont do that, so why do it in Shinto shrines?
I would bet money that a lot of them loud, disrespectful tourists are part of some sect of christianity. Be it southern baptist, catholic, methodist, whatever.
I come from the south and there's this attitude that other faiths are just not real or play acting or something to that degree. And cause of that they don't have to show reverence or respect.
I've also seen people who hold am idea that if you give respect and reverence to another faith you're somehow betraying your church.
Back in the early 00's i got curious about the muslim faith, cause it was kinda all over the news at the time.
When i next went to church our bible study group leader was saying a lot of islamophobic things like they hate jesus and god and crap. When i started correcting him he asked how I knew and I told him that i had been studying Islam and Quran on the internet.
...the _look_ on his face and the faces around me. You would almost think that i had somehow recrucified jesus in front of them.
My point is that I'm 95% certain that them people who are disrespectful of the temples and their rituals is cause they just feel like they can because they have one true faith and everything else is beneath them. It's okay to act out some of the rituals as long as you're not serious about it because God needs to know you're just having fun.
@@Bionickpunk people absolutely go to mosques as tourists because they're beautiful. the blue mosque in istanbul gets millions of tourists who come to visit. same as japanese shrines. they're beautiful cultural landmarks so tourists come.
@@memelord4639 Yeah but they dont go in and start praying like Muslims...so why do people do that in Shinto shrines? Big difference between visiting as a tourist and doing religious rituals for a religion you aint part of.
Yeah speaking super formal or shakespearan indicates some level of almost arrogant pride and/or snobbery.
On the flip side, being polite to strangers, especially if in a service job, is normal here in US too. I say this as working in retail.
Hey Goomba, I got to travel to Japan for my first time in March and was super excited to see Gundam Base Tokyo. I'm a new Gundam fan who got into gunpla this year and was disappointed by the selection there. I've been watching your videos for about 7 or 8 years now and you helped me find a lot excitement and beauty in the world through Japan. Before my trip I felt like I was connected to other people through the internet, but I traveling there humbled me. It was vastly different experiencing the culture rather than watching it. I was lucky enough to eat lots of delicious food, see the cherry blossoms, and visit the Tokyo Art museum. Being in Tokyo and having Kindergarten level Japanese was surprisingly easy and I didn't have anyone throw difficult language at me. I did accidentally confuse a chinese restaurant order by ordering in Japanese, but using the chinese word for what I was ordering. He was very confused about what language I spoke. That was my experience with language there. I do think the woman you spoke to was surprised at your level of fluency and may have reflexively spoke in keigo to a customer. You know Japan better than me though. Great video! Thanks for reading.
I have to admit that while I do bow before entering a shrine, I often forget to take my hat off (especially at smaller shrines).
I take 'do as the natives do' quite seriously, which makes it more confusing as I often see Japanese people passing through Torii with their hats on.
The most annoying thing about tourist groups is that they never seem to shut up when riding trains. Completely silent at the platform but non-stop chattering on the train.
That and they never seem to mind their surroundings.
A reminder to any tourist: Check your surroundings before you take a picture, don't suddenly stop in the middle of the road/sidewalk, shut the hell up when you are using public transportation.
As someone currently living in Japan, the Keigo bit hit HARD. There are SO many conversations I would be able to completely understand... in regular Japanese. But Keigo is a nightmare!! DX
Thanks Gaijin Gombah for this video just to let you know I saved an abandoned German Shepherd that was 4 years at the time.He was about to be put down ,but I got him in the nick of time. He is now the greatest treasure & I also saw many dogs abandoned during my travels in Mongolia it was a severe heart breaker for me.😢
I think English is considered one of the hardest languages to learn, even people who live in america have have their whole life still occasionally have difficulties with it.
That being said it's even stupider to go to another country and expect them to just know english.
Through manga, I remember reading a series called Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs. It kind of addresses issues of treating dogs as simply accessories, especially if they're pure-bred, but it also takes place in a pet shop. Now the dogs are treated fairly well, but what it doesn't talk about is euthanasia if an animal doesn't sell. Normally, it's supposed to be slice of life content (with slight fan-service), but I feel like not addressing that, especially when its based in a pet shop, kind of overshadows the overlying problem. Its a dark topic, and I can't really say if the mangaka wanted to address that or not, but it did shed some highlights of the treatment of pets in Japan. For example: one chapter talked about how a dog was abandoned because a couple had a baby and didn't want the dog anymore. There are even some instances where background characters talk about adopting a dog as a placeholder until they have a baby.
This series ran from 2004-2010, but it is concerning that these issues are still recurring in 2023. When you addressed this topic it reminded me of that series.
Sorry this comment was a little long. Overall, your video was really informative. Thanks for all your hard work in making this!
I loved your prior video, but I also really loved this video because sometimes you have to air out the bad to appreciate the good. It's important to address all sides of that which you love, especially if your intent is to educate others about it in the hopes that they, too, will love or at least appreciate it.
I'd love to see more stuff like this occasionally mixed in with your usual content.
Gaijin Goombah, words can not express how thankful I am to you and you're videos, I re-watched a bunch of them before I went on my trip to Japan a few years ago and now here I am planning on another Japan trip and I'm looking forward to watching them again. ^_^ *bows*
The 3 Ws are essential for traveling even in your home country! I live in a very small area and I've been to New York City several times now and the 3 Ws were incredibly important important for navigating the subway system. So honestly just always apply the 3 Ws when you're traveling period! Thanks for all the helpful tips for Japan! I hope to travel to Japan someday and your content is very helpful to know what to do and to avoid to NOT do!
Or use apps so you don't need to bother in the first place.
Honestly, I've thought about going to Japan for some time, but I'm still trying to grab a foothold of the japanese language. I told myself that I would not go until I at least understood enough to actually not be a problem. (Everybody that wants to go to Japan TRULY OUGHT TO VIEW THIS VIDEO ALL THE WAY THROUGH.)
I have a foothold of the language. Those mumblers are still the bane of my existence .
I tried that when I went almost 10 years ago. What I learned is how little I knew.
I went to Japan a few months ago. I had google translate on me and I would write down if I can before hand a question or something along those lines. I even asked them to speak in my phone to translate what they're saying. Annoying yes although it helped out greatly. I also tried to make their job as easy as possible as I don't want to be one of those bad apples like I asked if I could eat here and I thanked them for the food. There was so many that also helped me out as well while in Japan. When I got lost or tried to understand google maps, the staff or someone helped me out. There was a time where I was crossing the railroad track after a few cars went through plus some on a bikes and I was cut off by the guard rails at the last second (don't think those are what they are called) and some couple came running and helped me out with my luggage and I got off the track in time. So many kind people I saw over there. Over here I bet people would take out their phones and post it up on TikTok. I had a great time over there and I plan to go next year. I just wish some people have some common sense and stop making us look bad.
It’s good that you came across some nice people, but there are kind and mean people everywhere, even Japan.
Ps. I’ve lived in Japan and looking forward to visiting again this month! 😊
Regarding the fault hitting cyclists, that's not a Japan thing, that's a non-American thing. That's true in Canada as well, pedestrians and other non-motorized vehicles (bicycles, scouters, etc.) always have right of way. Mind, we (in Canada at the very least) have "publicly" owned (it's complicated, technically it's state-owned and for profit monopoly, don't ask) auto-insurance that will just charge a simple premium to the driver and cover all the charges.
In America, pedestrians are supposed to have the right of way, but automakers ( and the oil industry) have influenced our government (with $$) and culture (with propaganda) for the last century for the sake of profit. American culture = MONEY OVER EVERYTHING.
They can have the right of way without jumping out in front of a car with no warning or not signaling that they are suddenly stopping/changing directions when there is a car around.
There’s something to be said for speaking plainly. It’s enough of a problem when you understand what someone is saying because you share a common language, never mind crossing a language barrier. I’m a therapist by trade, and specialise in working with people that don’t speak English as their first language. I do however speak a second language fairly fluently and have crossed that language barrier as a matter of daily life living in another country. Being met on the level by someone, it goes a long way. In the English speaking world, we could live out our lives never having to speak another language. The Japanese are the same. I’d like to think that younger Japanese are changing this but it’s also down to individuals who want to approach the world with openness and tear down these barriers. Like your Warhammer employee. Also helps when you work for a company that is English as all hell 😂
I like when people take the good with the bad, it is needed, not this whole hearted praising it, not tearing it down to be toxic, playing the middle ground in well... just about anything is important, nothing is without flaws and perfect, just as much as nothing isn't without its positives.
Edit: then later... yeah us as visitors need to be more respectable, anybody else remember Logan Paul and the trouble that caused? Don't be like him, educate yourself. Like even comparing it to as simple as walking into your neighbors house, you going to wash your feet in their sink? Their hot tub? Even washing in their tub, you still ask if it's ok at the very least because it's not your tub, DESPITE BEING A PLACE MENAT FOR CLEANING YOURSELF, respect people, 2 way street. Even if you're an Aestheist, you still know respect right? How to properly ask for permission, know when to back off, and when or where is the right place and time? It's not hard to do. Especially with the children, now I get why my grandpa stopped eating out many years back, and stopped going to theaters even before I was born, here I am sitting in a theater and the kids are running up and down the lanes, kicking back of my seat, like you tell the kids sit down, be quiet, or you're leaving. I know some parents are sensitive about punishment nowadays for kids, but even saying that in a calm voice, telling them they can't watch the movie, then you leave. Same is true for restaurants, you're there to eat, if you're good and control yourself maybe we go to the park after, if you can't sit still then we won't eat here at all and leave. Then that family in your story has the GALL TO ASK WHY YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND?!... like.. wha... how... WHY ARE YOU THERE AT ALL?! HOW DID YOU GET THESE CHILDREN 8 AND YOUNGER ON A PLANE AND WHY ARE YOU THERE IN A COUNTRY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD WITH A LANGUAGE SO FAR REMOVED FROM ENGLISH, YET ARE BEING... I... UM... oooof, I'm just listening to you, I've never been to Japan, and DEAR GODS, old new japanese english etc by the gods just... how? How can people be this stupid and insensitive? They don't understand the language, not saying you have to learn Japanese, but patience is a virtue, be respectful and patient, doesn't matter how hungry or tired you are, be appropriate and polite... like again how do you not learn this stuff EVEN FROM YOUR OWN COUNTRY?! People hate America, and frankly despite being one, it's these horror stories, where I feel hurt... *BUT I CAN'T BLAME THEM!!!* I might be respectful, I might not act like this, but yeah a lot of Americans kind of suck and give some of us a bad name. There's a reason stereotypes and stigmas exist, when it becomes the majority, when the world sees us as that it's because it's the majority...
That being said and, wow didn't expect to get into an essay of ranting lol, yeah sometimes it can't be helped, we're only human, we make mistakes, even if it's something that seems obvious. Which is why words of politeness should come into play, thank you, your welcomes, the I'm sorry or apologies. Going to my movie example, I can't deny I've been loud myself, or I've talked during movies, you just get so excited and forget, especially if it's something you're passionate about, you know super well. Like say the Mario movie, I'd convinced my mom to go, and I'm trying to explain some stuff to her, but I am also trying to keep as quiet and brief as possible, because I'm trying to help her understand some things about Mario. Did the same with the Sonic movie 2, convinced her to get a go and get a glimpse at my world of games, because we both like movies, still a fun thing to get together and do when we have the time to hang out. No one told me to ever be quiet, but if they did I was ready to apologize and shut myself up, because that's the appropriate thing to do, even if they're angry about it and don't deserve respect, you be the bigger person in that situation and still listen.
Going to Japan is on my bucket list for sure. I do appreciate the insight into the culture from you because you have lived there before. I can appreciate the honesty because every country has their flaws as stated in this video. I also am a history nerd and studied it for my undergraduate and would do the upmost to ensure I know of the traditions before I head over. I also am familiar with phenomena of culture shock.
speaking of the plastic waste in Japan they are trying to switch to using bio-degradable plastics as in plastic made out of organic compounds that they decompose much like a plant, several of my Japanese snacks used them and they make good fertilizer in my garden.
As long the incinerate everything it won't be a problem but they still pretend to recycle and the money would be better spent on better bio-degradable packages. Wish we had good incinerators like the Japanese do.
And it's plastic, whose importance is insanely blown out of proportion, so the ACTUAL disproportional waste production - US municipal waste - would fly by the wayside. This is the ABSOLUTE TOP by a huge margin of producing ALL WASTE IN THE WORLD. Tokyo has a single landfill that is estimated to suffice for 50 years. You can't laminate your plastics hard enough to make supermassive layercakes out of them and fill up your landfills. Japan simply has TACKLED the opportunity in reducing plastic waste, because there's so much APPARENT progress to be made there, especailly with grifters honking on about plastics they SEE right there on store shelves.
US population is 3x the Japanese, guess how much more MSW they produce than Japan? 6.5x times, 260 million tons next to Japan's 40, which is a lot adn japan culd still reduce it to at least 1/3, as could EVERY large-living opulent western nation from Germany to Turkey. But USA has absolutely no excuse, it even exceeds 1 Billion Chinese, not per capita but the raw number. USA is also a large scale EPOTER of their waste, not into single landfill in Tokyo but INTO their subservient client nations and throttling theri economic subsistence as USA essentailly saves money by not adding the real cost of waste management into the product.
The biking problem in Japan is similiar to that of the Netherlands... though only in Cities like Amsterdam where you as a car are a guest and the scooters and bikes are.. insane..
And with the dawn of e-bikes.. IT ONLY GOT WORST SINCE THEY GOT FASTER!
To the point of when Gajin says "if you hit em it's your fault".. even if you prove it wasn't your fault.. cause courts tend to defend the weaker traffic. And you as a car? Weaker.. and as a pedastrian you stand a chance!
God it’s what Toronto is trying to do.
I think, this is going to help me in the trip to Osaka in the next hour, thank you so much for making this video
Good to know these things we have to look out for as tourists.
@_@ Oh gez thank you!
There is one thing, a theory I have, but you need to glitch a unbreakable master sword, to send a rock hammer back in time to the beginning of TOTK, and such a glitch does currently exist. If what is under those rocks, is the same as what is found later in the game... then possibility A is possible, if it is something different, then we got Possibility B... which leads into A.
A. Zelda was always going to go back in time, and there is no 'downfall timeline' we are missing out on.
B. Zelda getting the stone, was the start of the cycle, in the original timeline a downfall timeline, YES, Raru seals Ganondorph, however Ganondorph has 6 stones instead of 1, and then Zelda gets the stone, erasing the first timeline... thus Link does not have to fight a 6 stone empowered Ganondorph.... Thank the Goddess.
Thanks for this video Gaijin, great work as always!
Wherever you go, there will be people who just do stupid things, but thanks to people like you, those who actually think about how their behavior affects other will have a starting point for learning how to act in different places
I spoke with "that guy" on the phone at my job the other day so you know if it happens between people from the same country, it sure as hell is going to happen between them and someone foreign, especially when there's already a lack of respect from tourists.
6:37 - These hand signs are actually not even the same everywhere. Not talking about Japan here, but in Denmark, for example, left hand out means going to the left. Right hand out means going right. Left hand up means stopping (usually to turn left). These are generally taught.
This was very informative, definitely brings to light the issues people will face and should avoid doing...like MUMBLING!!! 27:37 I learned to never mumble in front of Gaijin because I'm certain he would eviscerate me.😅😅
I mean he mention in the video that he never calls anyone out so he would say anything to you regardless just give you the gaze of frustration.
Thanks for the video Goombah! I hope to go to Japan one day and I’m slowly but surely trying to learn Japanese as well. This video was very informative on what to do and not do if I ever get the chance to go. And a fair warning on what communication struggles I might experience while there. Look forward to more folklore videos. Those are my personal favorites. Have a blessed week
That thing about the use of bells on bikes is the same here in the UK (at the very least on paper). The use of a horn or bell is to warn pedestrians that they are there or coming.
10:56 Right on, the problem with tourists isn't just Existing, so tourists can complain of each other plenty!
It's seams Horrible how everyone labels the Manji and the hock cross in Japan and India in temples and shrines with 1930s Germany and how everyone thinks the Manji and hock cross is not a peace symbol and others are trying to revive it back to it's former glory before western nations and Germany ruined it for Asians and Indians for eternity
Hate to say it. But you can't blame mostly Europeans if they have to do a double take when they see a Manji.
Pretty sure that thing about Cyclists being given the benefit of the doubt over car drivers if they get hit is not just a thing in Japan. Afaik the same (or something similar) is also true in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, in the US, I was taught from a young age that it doesn't matter if you have the right-of-way over the car. The car will win the fight, and that's all that's really going to matter. The several thousand pound weight difference means you don't take the risk.
@@ImminDragon Well seeing how the US was bulldozed to be hostile for bikes and pedestrians due to automotive and oil lobbying, its no wonder why car first culture sprung up. Good example are stroads, they are everywhere in the US and Canada, and they are horrible for cyclists and pedestrians.
@@ImminDragon Lol, that's like how we treat trucks in Australia. You DO NOT mess with trucks in Australia. Right or wrong, the only thing that will matter is who is alive, and who is lubricant.
Barely anyone here in America seems to remember the bike hand signals I feel. It might be because of the area I live in but this feels like the thing that is not just Japan. Doesn't make it any better, we still need to do the hand signals especially on busy roads.
The animal problem hurts my very soul because I truly love my cat and I can't understand why people would want to do that to perfectly healthy animals just because they got a little old. Sometimes the older animals are the ones that are easier to take care of because they know how to use the litterbox and to just be. I hope that something can be done about that and they can have good lives.
Unfortunately this practice doesn't sound limited to just the Japan but the US as well. So if you work in the veterinarian industry you will see these pets come in. If your company has, I'll deal with the air lines and they're basically from breeders and you're just allowed to fix them up just enough so they can fly to wherever they're supposed to go. You can't cure them. Just got to make them look good and it's heartbreaking
When I went to Japan, we went to a few shrines the first day. We were so afraid that we were going to accidentally be distespectful, so that night back at the hotel we studied shrine etiquette online. We made sure that we wouldn't be disrespectful and I wish more people would do that.
I've been writing a book, and, the parts that are supposed to be primarily in Japanese, I instead wrote in English, because I don't know Japanese. For most of it, it's supposed to be assumed that everyone (except the main character) is addressing everyone else how they're supposed to. But I specifically referenced the system in a recent chapter, wherein a the main character, who's pretending to be a student, is not being addressed like a student by a teacher, who knows she's not a student, because he regards her as a kami, but it's also hypocritical of her, because she's not talking to him how a student should be talking to a teacher, because she addresses everyone as if they're equals, especially when they're not. The only reason the system is referenced at that point, is because it's told from a 1st person perspective, and it's annoying her that he's not automatically playing along with her ruse.
I have always felt the opposite when it comes to expecting them to know English, From what I'm told you're right, the right areas they make it English friendly.
I wish I could learn to speak Japanese, I might be able to learn to understand it, but due to nerve damage in my face from a very bad infection in my noggin I have a lot of trouble with the tongue gymnastics. I've always been curious as to how that might be seen over there. One day I really do pray I can go visit.
Liminality in Japan sounds like such an interesting topic! I'm already excited to hear what you have to say
The tori gate/shrine stuff is good advice cuz I didn't know that and now I'm just hoping I didn't do that stupid stuff whenever I came by one, aaaah. Also I was a biker who traveled mostly that way aaaa. I hope I wasn't one of those rude bikers. I think I also used my bell sometimes, gently just to signal "Biker coming up, don't wanna spook you suddenly".
Bells are supposed to be "Hey, I'm coming" in every country. They're just poorly utilized. I use my bell well away from pedestrians here in the US so it's less scary, but it lets people know to not walk in the middle of the path and to not be scared I'm coming.
Gaijin tells you the do's and don'ts and slams desk for emphasis.
Yes. Yes I do. 😅
15:20 was the *exact* analogy I thought of. I'm a Baptist, and if some guy came in and started swishing his feet in the tub like a kid at the city pool, I'd be pretty angry. People need to find some empathy before going to sacred spaces...
It reminds me of a time when my family toured a Catholic cathedral in Savannah, GA and I stuck my finger in the little basin of water. I didn't know better because I was a little kid, and none of my family are Catholic, but I was scolded and taught respect right then and there.
this video was incredibly refreshing, thank you for your honesty, sometimes in the gaijin word i feel like its... not okay to express criticism
but hearing your well informed takes, helps me be realistic and prepare for when i someday get to
In Germany it’s the same: you honk to tell passengers by foot not to jump in front of your bicycle
Honestly, I feel like if I can ever get to Japan for a trip, I'll be more prepared thanks to you.
Learning what NOT to do, is just as important at what to do. Information wrapped in glorious frustration, well done mate!
Now go get some nice tea, you deserve it.
Had a JSDF group visit us here on JBER in Anchorage, AK and they were extremely respectful and excited to work with us. The only problem we had was the language barrier, Google translate was well used on both sides.
A little clarification: in the US hand signals are supposed to be done with the left hand so that they can more easily be seen by oncoming traffic and any driver behind you (because that is the side of the vehicle the driver is on). Im assuming Japan uses the right hand for the same reasons.
"the way they sell pets"
My brain: *INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED*
I hate it when people just choose to go somewhere and not understand that the culture is different there and there are things that are expected of you, somethings that are LEGALLY expected of you. Its infuriating if you don't want to learn a whole language then like a grab a translation book at least! Gah if I go to a place I just want to know what's expected of me behavior wise, it's literally not that hard
It seems that the saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" is unknown to some apparently.
Yeah people should be required to learn the language before travailing to the country that a great way to stop all these problems because then most countries wouldn't have to worry about tourism as there would be hardly any also the whole jobs thing.
@@southcoastinventors6583 You're overestimating people's ability to effectively pick up a new language. What, you're expecting folks with globe hopping jobs to speak every single language for each country they visit? The best compromise is having a translation booklet on hand.
@@acedias12 Actually I am not because most people could easily learn a second language but they won't since I have talked with several different people teaching Japaneses and it almost always the same most people tend to fizzle out in a couple of months, because realize subconsciously how much time it takes to learn and just default to English the whole world will eventually speak it anyways or just use there smartphone.
I mean just look at Japanese it takes years of dedicated practice and even easy one to learn like Spanish generally people are pretty bad at. It just not going to happen, people want to travel to have fun or see new things.
A lot of people treat foreign countries like they're theme parks, and the people living there are employees of the park. As a guest, you're representing your country, so you should strive to be a good representation.
11:48 Can it be whoosh?
Also, if we have no hat, is there a replacement thing we do? Should we just only go there if we have a hat for taking off?
A lot of people are always shocked when they see food items individually wrapped in plastic, but at least from what I've seen in my country it's generally bioplastics. I'd imagine it's the same for Japan. I don't know how good it's for the nature anyway, but it's unlikely it's people wrapping things into proper plastic out of ignorance or hate of the earth.
In the U.S., I specifically bought a bell for my bike because I think that most people find the pleasant chime of the bell (from further away) to be less scary than the sudden sound of a bike rolling up right behind them. And easier to hear than a verbal alert.
But yes, a lot of people do assume it means "get out of my way!" instead of "Hello! Coming up behind you, FYI".
Honestly, in the U.S., a lot of people are jumpy and scared of strangers in general. It could be broad daylight on a busy street in a "safe" part of town (whatever that means lol), and some people will still react to the sound of footsteps like they're expecting to be mugged. So I'd rather confuse them than scare them.
Despite being a rant, this is VERY informative. Thank you.
I tried not to rant too hard and more just explain my experience. ^-^;;
@@GaijinGoombah It's okay. It's still very informative. Especially visiting the shrines. Because if I ever get around to actually leaving the US, I want to at least be mindful of the cultural difference.
@@GaijinGoombah As for their INEXCUSABLE treatment of pets, THEY MIGHT AS WELL KILL 5 YEAR OLD CHILDREN WHILE THEIR @ IT!!!!!
Hats at shrines- This one I hear so many non-Japanese make a big deal out of but I have *never* seen it practiced by Japanese themselves. If anything I only ever see foreigners remove their hats, while Japanese just leave them on. It feels more or less like a projection of Christian teaching when I hear people say wearing hats is forbidden.
On that, the foot washing thing- Hindu or Muslim tourists maybe? Washing your feet is required when entering places of worship in those religions.
That said the amount of people I saw treating Meiji Jingu like an offshoot of Takeshita Street with all the Wai Wai was infuriating. And most of them were Japanese youths.
Cyclists even have a death wish here in the states...
That was my first thought.
In the us cars love to break the law and drive in the bicycle lane.
I'm ashamed to admit that I kept leaving my ticket behind whenever I was on the railway.
I've rarely been to a major city like Tokyo, so I wasn't familiar with how those work.
I'd buy a ticket, put it in the turnstile, and not take it from th other side because I didn't know you were supposed to until almost the end of my trip (circa 2012).
On top of that, my mom and gotten me a $300 rail pass, and I lost it on my first day!
Only past the cyclist rant and euhm that's 100% normal. Go visit the Netherlands and you'll see the same thing. America is the odd one out here (at least for me)
I had a similar problem with my suica card. Bsically I was headded to Osaka for a couple of days and wasn't aware that there was aplace to scan my suica card. Managed to sort it out in osaka, second time I had lost my waller, found it again, and whent to Kure. Both times the saff were 100% helpful.
I really want you, and Let's Ask Shogo to do a video about this.
Also, that the listener is responsible for understanding in Japan explains a lot of why the line between Asocial and Anti-Social personalities in Japn are so blurry. An Asocial person can listen and understand very well, but can't articulate back information, but if the listener is hearing it, it could sound no different from someone who's Anti-Social.
34:56
I'm reminded of the Futurama joke of unwrapping every single part of the Oreo.
I spent 3 years in Japan. Just a few things he missed. (maybe he's talked about them in the past.
1. If your not a native Japanese person. DONT NOT DRIVE. He did touch on it a little when talking about bikes, but its not just always your fault if you hit a bike. ITS ALWAYS YOUR FAULT IF YOUR NOT JAPANESE AND YOU HIT SOMEONE WHO IS! The cops will show up take one look at you and tell you its your fault. I dont care if the other person jumped a curb, broke a fence and slammed into the parked car you were in. It'll be your fault for being parked there.
2. Places might kick you out the second you walk in the door. In the US we call baring someone from entry into a store/place of business based only on what they look like as racism. But in Japan if 10 years ago a foreigner from England had a dispute with the restaurant manager about the bill, and things got a little heated. He can decide all white people are that same person he had to deal with that one day. So he will start shouting at you with his arms in a cross X thing until you leave his store front. This is very normal in Japan.
3. Uh dont want to go into too much detail on this one. But you will see crazy stuff in adult video places. Not the "Oh ya look at all this" kinda stuff. More like the "Is that lady really into what's happening here........." and "Oh ...... ok..... im not sure about the legality of some of these videos".
Guijin sama, thanks for these two videos.
As someone who is living in Japan from abroad, I really want to thank you, Gaijin Goombah, for making this video.
It is IMPARATIVE that you realize that Japan is not perfect. The rose colored glasses need to come off VERY early, even if you are coming here for a trip.
I really, really cannot stress this enough. Even more so if you are thinking about living here. Every country has its problems, as Goombah said. You might think America, or Britain, or Germany or whatever has too many problems and you'd rather come here. Then you are greeted with certain rude people, no flying robots and not hadoukens. I am joking with the last two, but living here is just like living somewhere else in many ways. To be frank, you move here because you want to speak the language, and want to get to know the people and the places here. You don't move here to just live out a dream of living in a place where anime was created.
So yeah, even if you are visiting, be careful. It can happen to anyone; Japan can be not what you expected, and you can fall out of love with it. No one wants that. We just want to you enjoy Japan for what it is: A beautiful country with a rich and wonderful history, nice people, and yes, great geek culture. But also, its still a country. And it still has humans living in it. And even with many Japanese people being polite... they are not perfect. Neither are the laws and the rules.
Hope this helps someone out there!
I still want to go to Japan, despite what you said in this video. I just need to brush up on my Japanese lingo and knowledge of the country.
Speaking of Japan, there's something that I've been wondering for quite a while. I wanted to know what Japan's view is on autism? As someone with autism myself, I've always wanted to know what other people in other countries thought about people with autism and other disabilities. Do you think you can do a video on that subject? Please? Thank you in advance!
From my own personal experience, autism is fine as long as it doesn't bother anyone. Basically they expect the same from you as they would any other normal person. If you are loud on a public transport because of your autism, they are not disliking your autism, they are disliking that you are loud.
But I guess to put it in other terms, Japan isn't very accommodating to people with needs. Where in some other places, people may put up with the antics, in Japan you may be reprimanded regardless of your condition.
As for disabilities, I can't say they are very accommodating for that either, at least last time I visited. Close friends or family members are expected to support you rather than the society and infrastructure itself.
Also, pet stores like the ones that have the little puppies and kittens. They're literally selling these pads for $4,5000 6,000 because they're purebreds. They're not always and then you have the people who pretend to have them on craigslist. It's insane if you go down the rabbit hole, the US is justice bad just in a different way
That last point with the pets really tore at my heartstrings as an animal lover, who's had pets all my life. I was curious to visit Japan once, but now I'm not so sure.
i work retail and a i can say the mumbling is two way street. i swear people have the mindset of "if i can hear them they can hear me." mind you, i have to talk over a lot things at times. and i can make myself heard. but i also have to hear over all the same things. top that off. because of how long i've been at this job i have to keep trake of my coworkers if they need help. because i know most of the loophole and what not, to make things work. so i know what you're talking about. also. "sometimes you just feel like donuts" all levels of truth.
I have never seen that style of signaling before, and we have "how to safely drive in roads" bicycling classes in luxembourg. We were always told to signal out a hand in the direction you are going, nothing about coming to a halt.
The thing he said about bikes is the same in NYC
They just kinda go when they feel like it,always run reds,and fly through the lanes even though construction sometimes runs sidewalk traffic through the lanes.
Its why I have no patience to bikers and when I saw 2 crash into each other I actually laughed
Because NYC has no bike infrastructure, so cyclists have to do wild things to move in that traffic. Cant stress enough what dedicated separate cycling lanes do to lower insane cycling situations in car traffic.
@@Bionickpunk .....sir i lived in NYC
There's bike lanes literally everywhere,and ample bike parking.
Dont talk to me about them not having damn infastructure
@@clashingswordsproductions (Looks at a car road in NYC with just paint separating cars and bikes). Yeah no thats not great, Im talking about continuous separate roads for cyclists, not painted paths on car roads. You are still dealing with car traffic with those painted paths. At best thats a transitional solutions before roads are upgraded to have elevated separate bike paths from car roads.
@@Bionickpunk girl what you're asking for is unrealistic. They will barely put money into fixing roads for CARS do you honestly fuckin think they're gonna do all that?
Maybe you require bikers to have licenses,require them to follow the damn law and actually give them consequences for when they act like dumbasses and then we can try that whole elevated lane bullshit when they give us the money to do so
@@clashingswordsproductions Cyclists also pay taxes (and drive cars, gasp), which includes the funding for car road infrastructure. So no, dont give me that nonsense that they dont contribute anything when they absolutely do. At least you could do is make separate lanes for bikes and not just lazy road paint and call it a day, thats not a done solution and anyone with common sense would know that. To change the behavior in traffic, better road solutions need to be implemented, and US is horribly lacking in that department, behind even third world countries. You saying its "unrealistic" is not helpful, you just come off whiny, filled with excuses just not to tackle the actual problems.
Not bowing when passing a tori gate I don't really fault people for, especially when alot of japanese natives also don't do it. Overall I do agree that people should do research on places they visit so that they know how to fit in and not offend locals. But they can never know it all, and not everyone is super invested in the countries they visit. This is true for all countries. To some, it's just a quick getaway from life. People tend to go with what they see or hear the most in a location. This often makes it hard to spot and focus on what locals are doing if it's a big tourist area.
On your note about Scalping being an issue, it's not just Gunpla.
Warhammer 40k has hit the same issue of small supply and organized scalping.
well, Goombah, this was quite educational. i do plan to visit Japan someday, and my japanese is terrible, even though i've learned basic words. more people should watch these kinds of "do's and don'ts" when visiting ANY country, not just Japan. but it's a great video nonetheless. also, as someone who has visited Iraq, which is my homeland, i've visited many mosques and before you even enter the building, there are footlockers, no pun intended, to leave your shoes. i don't remember if you can be barefooted, but *please* take your shoes off. and then you enter and there's these checkpoints with security. either way, mosques are too a holy place to visit and has rules. they too have those basins where you wash your hands, feet and, sometimes, rinse your mouth. you must be clean before you enter.
Thank you for explaining these things. These things happen and Japanese will try to be polite about it. Mind you, politness isn't the same as kindness.
You are correct. Keigo isn't expected from foreigners. Keeping your explaination clear and simple is best. THEN at the end bow low and thank them many times.
They are human and understand intent and context. I am an expat living in Japanese for 22 years.
I thought Keigo would be something I would only encounter in a buisness context.
Good to know that I still a huge mountain to learn, which is basically a 2nd type of Japanese.
Customers are considered gods and are spoken to as if you’re royalty and they’re peasants.
It really isn't a second language just a few extra words and verb/noun modification. If you don't practice then you going to have problems same with any other language. If you don't how to speak Japanese or your skills are rusty just speak English and hope for the best.
I got a little chuckle from the part when Mr. Goombah was mad about people not talking loud enough, it reminded me about the stereotypical old person frustrated that young people don't talk loud enough for them to hear.
Mental image of making the suggestion to the clerks "Hey. I don't understand politeness. Disrespect me! I work better when I'm disrespected!" lol Love it. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
I love your reminders for when I finally get to go to the mainland (was an exchange student in Okinawa)
I really wanted to say your skin looks fantastic!
The only shrine I was at was the one in Hawaii, and there was nobody manning it. We had a place to ourselves. My husband wasn’t much into it and I can’t remember if he took off his hat or not I’m assuming he didn’t. But I did enjoy participating in the rituals as best I could. Luckily, there was some signs that told me what to do.
Dude! Is that a katana based on your Pixel Cutter on the back there? I noticed that Famicom-themed handle, and that's awesome!
As someone who really wants to go but likely never will I appreciate these videos
I really feel like it is correct for them to start off using Keigo as that is just them trying to be respectful. If you are having a difficult time understanding them then you should have asked them to not use it, I find it very unlikely that they wouldn’t stop. Another thing, you say foreigners don’t care but some might and it’s not ridiculous for them to care as it is the standard.
Now that I know about it, when I head back to the shrine again (fingers crossed we got time) we’ll make sure to bow before we enter the gates.
Any notes about cameras? I know it’s a no go up at the gift place, but how is the rules around the rest of it?
talking about plastic-covered fruit, here in Canada (well my province of Saskatchewan anyways) we have some like that too, Grapples, Grape flavoured apples are sold in packs of four that are covered in a plastic snap pack, not a bag, a bag would be appropriate like anything else, but a hard plastic snap pack that you are not sure what to do with.
Its one thing being worried about making a cultural mistake. But its another knowing your accompaning family members WILL make those mistakes and they don't listen to you when you try to help.