1. Masks
A few minutes after getting off
the plane, you are sure to run into an individual wearing a paper mask/mouth
covering. To be honest, the first
thought that crossed my mind was, “Oh my God!
What kind of horrible condition would cause a person to have to walk
around all day with a covering over their mouth? Maybe if I look like I’m interested in that
thing over there, this poor person won’t feel like I’m avoiding them like the
plague. Dear God, it could be the
plague….run!”
The reality is that in Japanese
culture it is a norm to wear a mask such as this when you are feeling under the
weather.
As a culture that is heavily
based on the greater good and a collective, team mentality, it makes total
sense to protect others around you from illness.
2. Picture-in-Picture Television/Audience
Participation
When I first turned on the
television here in Japan the first image that I saw was that of a special
interest show. The odd thing to my eye
was the small picture-in-picture box in the corner of the screen that featured
the close-up faces of members of the audience.
This small box would get a few seconds of facial reactions from an
audience member and would then switch off to a new audience member. I have no idea what the show was talking
about but I’m pretty sure that these reactions were a little over-the-top for
the material being discussed. But then,
if I was an audience member and was a featured part of a show for a few
seconds, I suppose I would give them my most compelling reactions possible as
well.
I thought this might simply be a
feature of this one program on this singular network. However, I turned the channel and there it
was again. It seems that television is a
community thing as well here in Japan.
The show is not just about the host, guest and material being covered,
it is also about the people who are there supporting the show by being a member
of the audience.
3.
Helpfulness/Tipping
When we arrived at Narita Airport,
my traveling companion asked a gentleman working there if he could point him in
the direction of the nearest ATM. In
America, I have grown used to a person in that kind of situation half-heartedly
pointing in a direction and giving sometimes general directions that may or may
not be accurate or detailed in nature.
This kind man, however, bowed and seemed grateful for the opportunity to
help. Not only did he give accurate,
detailed directions to get to this ATM, he walked us there. Mind you, it was not a short walk. I’d estimate it was somewhere in the
neighborhood of two or three football fields away.
When I commented to my traveling
companion, a Japanese citizen, about how impressed I was by this, he said,
“This is the Japanese way. We are
fulfilled by the opportunity to help others”.
He also said, “Japan is a non-tipping society. All that Japanese people ask for is authentic
appreciation for their helpfulness.”
4.
Quiet Amid
Throngs of People
Despite the huge amount of people
and bustle to the city of Tokyo, there is an amazing amount of quiet and order
to all the movements of this throng of people.
For example, we are staying in a rather large collection of apartment
buildings that are arranged in a circular pattern around a park. In the evenings there is a light, lilting
sound of children playing, the faint murmur of a breeze and not much else. With thousands of people occupying such a
small space, I anticipate the sound of radios blaring, horns honking and people
talking loudly and late into the evening.
Instead, it generally sounds like a country get-away spot in the middle
of millions of people. The quiet is
refreshing, rejuvenating and calming to the soul.
5.
Smaller
Portions
My traveling companion, a regular
at the golf course I teach at in Colorado, is known for ordering a “half
beer”. I always found this a little
peculiar and I wrote it off as a unique quality of this one individual. After all, who orders a half beer when you
can supersize your order for only a dollar more? However, now that I am here in Japan, I am
beginning to appreciate the cultural value of smaller portions. Sake, a rice wine, is enjoyed in very small
glasses and is sipped slowly. In
general, everything is done slowly, taking great pleasure in the taste and
overall experience of whatever you are doing.
I’m sure it also has something to
do with the size of people as well. I
stand out like an American in Tokyo with my 6’2” body. I constantly feel like I have to lower myself
to everyone else’s level. The bowing
helps. I can never really get full from
a meal here though. I think I’ll have to
place a double order from now on…or maybe I can get used to not stuffing myself
full every time I eat. Food for thought.
6.
No Dryers
My friend estimates that only
approximately 1-2% of people in Japan have a clothes dryer, and most of those
are probably from foreigners living in the country. Instead, the balcony or porch of a Japanese
home is equipped with hanging poles and lines.
Every day as you look around the apartment complex here there are
clothes and linens hanging on all the balconies. The daily ritual includes a shower, clothes
washing and then hanging the clothes up to dry.
There really is no such thing as a laundry basket. Clothes don’t stay dirty that long.
7.
Bike
Garages
When we first arrived, we passed a
line of people with bikes. As we passed
I noticed that they were in line in a bike parking garage. They would give their money to the attendant,
get a ticket, and then they would put their front tire of the bike in a metal
rail system like you drive into at the car wash. The attendant would then push a button and
the bike would be pulled in and up two stories on a mechanical hanging system
like you would find at a dry cleaners.
8.
The Train
Anyone with claustrophobia issues
should probably avoid the busiest trains in downtown Tokyo. To say that you get packed in like sardines
would be an understatement. An American
teaching here told me that one time he got so squeezed in that he cracked a rib….from
riding the train! He reassures me that
they run more trains now after Japanese woman began complaining about being
groped in these packed in situations.
My friend tells me that they used
to employ “pushers” on the train station platforms to push everyone possible
into the trains. Again, he reassures me
that he hasn’t seen this happen in a while.
I get short of breath just thinking about the sinking feeling you must
have when a sea of humanity is pushing in on you from all directions. Anyone feel like taking a walk?
9.
Sleeping on Futons
I am not really talking about
futons in the usual American understanding of the term. Basically, take the frame away and you are
left with a 1-2 inch thick mat. The
Japanese fold this mat up as part of the daily routine, opening the room up to
additional uses during the day. At
night, the fresh linens, which you have washed earlier that morning, are laid
back out on the floor on top of this futon.
Things are always fresh, clean and in order.
10.
Cleanliness of the Streets
With all the people and traffic in
this huge city, I am amazed by how clean everything is. I find myself imagining similar places in New
York City or Chicago and finding no trace of the usual trash and urine smells I
would generally associate with such places.
A single piece of trash stands out in this place and it is my sense that
this piece of trash doesn’t hang out there for long.
11.
Morning Greeting to Ancestors
In the mornings we rise and kneel
before a shrine dedicated to the ancestors of my friend. Sticks of incense are lit for the loved ones
in our life that are still alive and we say “good morning” to all of those who
have passed on before us. In our minds,
we tell them about the day gone by and our hopes and dreams for the day ahead. We ask for their blessings and protection as
we move into the day.
More to come....
