DISQUS

Fredy · 5 months ago

Hahaha. These are intense.
Man, those bees freak me out. I can't stand our lame small bees. I would have probably left Japan if I had seen one of those.
The shower thing is funny! I normally shower in the morning, and my host family thought it was strange. I decided to just shower at night cause I didn't want to slow anyone down in the morning. I just thought there reaction when I said "No I'll shower in the morning" was funny. They were basically like "huh? why?" But it makes sense. If it weren't for high water bills I'd shower both morning and night. Night to clean, morning to just wake up.
The funniest Japanese commercial I saw in Japan was a whole 2 seconds. It was just a man and a woman in a suit and they both yelled something and words appeared. It was completely serious and reminded me of some type of law office type commercial. I had no clue but I just laughed. Just random...

Facebook User · 5 months ago

ahahaha, Japanese commercials!
showering at night makes total sense! but i only do so during fall semesters, after....marching band rehearsals. no one wants to stink up their bed, right??

the first crazy thing about Japan that comes to me is the obsession with bigger eyes. whenever i visit my relatives in Japan, i usually can't go several days without seeing some sort of ad, be it in a magazine or a poster, for surgically changing your eye shape. but what's weirder to me is that even purikura machines do it now! last summer, i visited some friends in Okinawa & Osaka...and dayum, do we look strange in some of the purikura. it does depend on the machine, but i didn't realize we were going into a "LET'S MAKE YOUR EYES LOOK BIGGER AND CUTER!!!" machine. we look like aliens. wtf.

ah, and sushi. sushi is crazy to me. all of my relatives on my mom's side (primarily from Okinawa) make fun of me for being a halvsie who cannot eat raw fish, with a white father who loves it.

sandra1 · 5 months ago

I love most Japanese commercials. They are so unique. By the way, I enjoyed your video posted at Metacafe☺ ~ most entertaining.Gotta go!

ierict · 5 months ago

LOL, number 7 for sure!!!!!!! If you think it's cheese....99% of the time you will be suprised by mayonnaise!!

elisabel · 5 months ago

Lol! Great stuff!

I don't really know if back in my old country the people always bathed at night, but in my family that's how we do it. I never got down with the bathing in the morning business, I can't get into bed dirty either.

masterman300 · 5 months ago

koichi 1 question you answered of mine earlier i still don't get what is wordpress and how do you host on a private server email me this information please at ulgyman337@hotmail.com i know weird name but i just did it off the top of my head

koichi · 5 months ago

That's why I occasionally teach 10+ hour classes on this subject :)

Quick answer 1:
1. Get hosting (Dreamhost, bluehost, doreo, etc)
2. Install wordpress (they usually have directions or an installer).

Quick answer 2:
1. Don't get hosting
2. Host on http://wordpress.com (and follow their directions, though it's super easy)

masterman300 · 5 months ago

tanks but i'm 12 and i set it up but am having a little trouble posting stuff

masterman300 · 4 months ago

never mind i got it

masterman300 · 4 months ago

thanks koichi

No78 · 5 months ago

I also bathe at night, am I cool now?

koichi · 5 months ago

Very. Hoopy Frood Cool.

sleepytako · 5 months ago

I LOLed about this one: "There are #$#$%ing Gigantic Hornets"

Seriously. Those things can KILL you. I can understand how like the 1st level enemies in RPGs are steroid ridden bugs like that now.

Gakuranman · 5 months ago

Cheers for all the link heat Mr. Fugu! Here in Britain we have 3 1/2 seasons, or thereabouts.

P.S You night-bathers should be bound up in clingfilm and slapped with a wet fish!

nadiya_01 · 5 months ago

i heard that in japan its ok for girls to grab other girls breasts... but guys cant do that to girls, and girls cant do it to guys.... is that really true? o.o

Sougen02 · 4 months ago

Sounds like it's pretty much the same in the USA. I See that happening. Usually friend though, mind you xD.

Tony Kessler · 5 months ago

Those bees are called "tsubame bachi" or literally Sparrow Bees. One came in my house, I didn't want to kill it, but I couldn't get near it. I vacuumed it up, then released it. You gotta respect something that big. I lived in Kyushu and I saw my cat playing in the corner. I thought it was a mouse. It was a 7 inch centipede that could jump about 2 feet straight up! (that was creepy) For easy posting, check out Squido.com and Blogspot at Google. Wordpress is cool, but it intimidates me. I don't feel good enough. Squido really makes it easy.

Sougen02 · 4 months ago

Hm, I was raised to bathe at night too. I find it odd that some people only take a shower in the morning. But hey, cultural differences xD
And the vending machines sounds GREAT! That needs to come over the the USA!
(besides the nasty stuff).

Galerius · 4 months ago

What about the TV shows in Japan? It's completely different than any other show you have seen in any other country.

Anonymous · 4 months ago

This is hilarious. There are other "Ten Things About Japan" around the nets but this is one of the funniest. Having lived in Touhoku Japan for the past year, I know exactly what you're talking about. However, the four seasons thing isn't exclusively Japan. I lived in Northeasten US where there are 4 seasons too. 5 if you count mud season. I think one of the craziest things about Japan is their fashion sense. Boys looking like girls ('gyaru-o') and girls wearing the weirdest outfits (cosplay, lolita).

FriedToast · 4 months ago

The 4 seasons post is tongue-in-cheek. Of course there are four seasons elsewhere. It's just that the Japanese people (for some unfathomable reason) seem to think that ONLY Japan is capable of having 4 distinct seasons. No, not everyone's that dense over here, but you would seriously be surprised at how many adults *believe* that.

Japanese Words · 4 months ago

Great article. I am still shocked when friends are shocked that other places have 4 seasons.

joe99987 · 4 months ago

The author is annoying

Skippy · 4 months ago

Number 11 an ancient and bizarre tradition in Japan. Bukkake! Gotta love their creativity.

Onos T'oolan · 4 months ago

From text:"Japan is the only place with four distinct seasons".Man you are complete idiot:)Check your info before you post something.What about Serbia, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria....I'm bulgarian so i know .Perhaps you should go back to school :)We steady this in third grade:))

Rich T. · 4 months ago

I think, since that Nihonjinron article was linked, that that wasn't meant to be taken literally. Rather, it could have been meant to show the impact of the Nihonjinron on Japanese culture.

... or, at least I hope that wasn't serious...

koichi · 4 months ago

Japan is also a country that tends to lack the ability to detect sarcasm - perhaps you're in a country like that too?

Ria · 4 months ago

Bwahahaha!!! What an awesome read. Made my day =D

kimiko_Chan · 4 months ago

I love Japanese commercials! I always though they funny!
And they are also cute!!

I agree with you with the showers at night, I think it's better because you get to go to bed clean!

And the bending machines, omg that is one reason why I always wanted to go to Japan! xD

Jennifer Walker · 4 months ago

Well I thought England had four seasons... I must be mistaken! I also have been raised to bathe at night rather than in the morning (mainly... for time reasons.)

I always thought how crazy... ahem... I mean different it is that Japan eat KFC for Christmas. XD

I also think I want to go to Japan JUST for those vending machines. omgtheyareawesome.

I love Japanese adverts... I'm glad for some reason England are getting a few... like the "Pocky" one, but that's used for the English version "Mikado". It's good to see cultures coming together. :)

Urgh · 3 months ago

Mikado is freaking addictive. I actually prefer it to Pocky o//o

Jessie · 4 months ago

HAHAHAHA, lol, all of this is so true, it made me laugh to realise the craziness when it's laid out like that! Great post, I love this site, keep up the good work!

Name · 4 months ago

You've got your facts wrong. Korea is the country with four distinct seasons - even more distinct than Japan.
Hence one of the reasons they invaded the country.

Mah · 4 months ago

That "crazy thing" was actually about Nihonjinron and not the fours seasons. Imagine that the first sentence isn't bolded and read it again. :3

gray · 4 months ago

Well this article was posted on a Japanese news website and they interpreted it as "foreigners amazed that Japan is the only country with four seasons." Talk about misinterpretation to their favor...

Name · 4 months ago

"5. Japanese novels remind me of LSD: Enough said?"

Uh, no. "Nuff said" only works when the audience already understands the reference from personal experience. Could we get a little more info?

Jessie · 4 months ago

Is Koichi referring to Haruki Murakami novels by any chance? ;)

so · 4 months ago

you forget to tell that most restaurants have a plastic version of the meals....so...you can see form the street what kind of disehes they serve....weeeird!!

mikimiki · 3 months ago

Actually, they are made of wax!

Felicia · 4 months ago

Japan is the best place to visit! The baths at night are wonderful and I second the comment about the books. I think everyone should plan a trip there:
http://www.ranker.com/list/places-to-see-before...

Name · 4 months ago

ahhh yes KANCHO!!! although back in my day it was punching each other in the balls times have changed.

koichi · 4 months ago

I'm pretty sure that's still around, though I think you're right, kancho is now the more "popular" way of doing it, haha.

m foster · 4 months ago

About the baths,we in Jamaica raised have two baths per day,sometimes three ! Also a bath,just before bed is wonderful.

koichi · 4 months ago

That's sweet! I'm all for 2-3 baths a day.

Anupama Ramana · 4 months ago

hmmm interesting

Julio Rodriguez · 4 months ago

The video on the bees is narrated by Solid Snake....classic.

koichi · 4 months ago

Seriously? That's pretty sweet.

fudgie · 4 months ago

We call those "fudgies" down this end of the world (South Africa)

koichi · 4 months ago

Grosss! haha.

WordsnCollision · 4 months ago

Congrats, this post made the front page of Digg earlier today - the traffic boost might have knocked your server out temporarily :o)

koichi · 4 months ago

Thanks WordsnCollision! I saw that you posted it and got a screenshot much appreciated! You rule!

It was down for around 45 minutes and then I upped my server resources which thankfully did the trick. Whew, and here I thought I had made the blog "digg-proof," which failed miserably, haha.

Thanks again!

WordsnCollision · 4 months ago

Hey no problem Koichi, i'm often checking out Tofugu for topic sources
anyway and when i saw the "10 Best" post had a link to my Mayonnaise
Kitchen article, well, the little light-bulb went off. Tofugu is my
leading traffic source today, woo-hoo!

So, just returning the favor and it's my pleasure to do so. Could happen
again some time, ya never know ;o)

..Steve

japaninmotion · 4 months ago

ah yes the four seasons....wow you're from Chicago? does Chicago has four seasons like Japan? well if you're going to compare a whole country to a city I guess yes....but I live in tokyo and in the winter things grow. . You have winter flowers and vegis....in Chicago...hell i try not to go cuz of the ball shattering cold. I think it snowed once last winter and the snow never stuck. They are f...ing retarded bout this shitty question

Zhana :] · 4 months ago

What exactly are you talking about? o.O
Where are you getting this Chicago business? If you're talking about Koichi, as far as I know, I don't think he's even from Chicago. Not that I would know. Cuz im not a stalker or anything >_>

koichi · 3 months ago

Yeah, the Chicago thing confuses me too, haha.

aarond10ster · 3 months ago

Just stumbled across this and it made me laugh and think back a bit..

Theres a really cool monkey park in Arashiyama, Kyoto if anyone's interested. No hot springs there but they do a feeding session at lunch time and there are literally hundreds of the little critters running around.

Excuse the shameless self promotion but I also just uploaded my first "taste of japan" story as well that has a few interesting, yet annoying things I'm guessing others will either relate to or be interested in: http://www.aarondrew.com/blog/2009/08/28/ineffi...

ren · 3 months ago

I'm a U.S. ex-pat in Tokyo and these are my observations of things I find strange about Tokyo, Japan.

) Tokyo doesn't have sidewalks on every street. It is very dangerous as the police in no way enforces traffic safety. I'm talking about drivers running red lights, speeding around young people walking or riding a bike, and other dangerous activity. There was just an election and nobody seemed to think this was a problem -- though 3 children were killed by speeding cars just last month. In some areas, to atone for the death of a pedestrian there are large sidewalks on both sides of the street with barriers. Tokyo seriously needs standardization of sidewalks. Nothing fancy, just a white line wide enough for a single bike or walker to get through and a cheap green bar every 2 meters to discourage speeders. This is an affordable solution and will actually create more driving space in many areas while keeping kids safe.

) Tokyo is great because of its ban of firearms. However, some very bitter salary men and older women are openly hostile to everyone because they know they are not likely to be shot. Constant drunkenness here is considered to be a part of the culture. And people often ignore the harassment of people just trying to get home from work by seriously inebriated assholes who secretly want to die because they have no dreams.

) Many people in Tokyo just shower. But they shower at night. It just doesn't make sense if you're sweating in the heat of summer while having sex. You can distinctly smell this on the train every morning.

) People in Tokyo don't believe in vegetables. Unless you are eating Wa-Fu, a Japanese traditional meal, then you get maybe 5 pieces of a vegetable on your plate.

) Chicken breast meat isn't popular in Tokyo. Chicken just isn't very popular unless it is fatty and on a stick.

) Many Japanese people, especially older people like poor food. Lots of rotten mayonnaise, rotten eggs, baloney, fatty bacon, or deep fried "tonkatsu" crap.

) Actually Manga and Anime is not popular at all with mainstream Tokyo. The opinion is that people who like these things are still immature. Adult Manga and Anime is Akiba-Ke. Akihabara, Tokyo Style -- not cool.

) Onsen or Hot Springs would be better if everyone could wear a bathing suit and both men and women could sit together in the hot bath. I don't know about you but I don't like to sit around and watch naked men get in and out. I enjoy the healing volcanic water though.

All in all, I am quite happy living in Tokyo. These are mostly silly complaints. I've got National Medical Insurance even though I am a foreign national. I don't have to worry about guns. Families are happy and thriving here. Employees are still being paid survivable wages. There is still respect between executives and operations workers. The good list goes on and on.

mikimiki · 3 months ago

Sadly, not so many Hot Spring places allow their customers wear swimming suits. I think why not. My friends did not want to go to hot springs only for that reason. I really wanted to enjoy Japanese-style hotel with hot springs with them.

In most hot springs, there are women only and men only bathrooms, so don't worry if you do not want to see naked men; you won't see them. However, you need to be careful: some hot spring hotels switch bathrooms for women to for men and vice versa because they think the customers should enjoy the hot springs in different settings. For example, only one room has the window with water-fall view, only one room has the connection to the outside hot springs, and so on.

Tokyo has hot springs, but I recommend the ones in Tochigi and Gunma prefecture. They have hundreds of hot springs. Hope you can enjoy it!

Oh! I forgot to mention about sex and shower. Of course, Japanese people that I know of at least take shower after having sex. If not, I need to emigrate to another country. Having sex and going to work without shower sounds totally disgusting, really.

Anyways, a bath tub is not the place to clean your body in Japan. You need to wash your body with soap and rinse off the soap throughly before you can get into the bath tub. Bath tub is the place to relax. You cannot move a lot inside the tub anyway, because the water temperature is usually above the body temperature. (So, there will be no grown-ups swimming in hot springs, though many children try.)

mikimiki · 3 months ago

There are vending machines for eggs and flowers. I found both of them in my rural town.

canvas prints · 3 months ago

This made me laugh when i read this post, great article, great site, keep it up

JDillon911 · 3 months ago

I don't think many people have commented on the picture at the top "Japan: enough said"
tbh I think it looks liek the guy (o.O) is trying to explain the birth of teletubbies?? :O!

desing · 3 months ago

australia has 4 seasons:
-bloody hot
-not so hot
-too cold
-getting too warm again

JackiJinx · 1 month ago

So those, um, hornets. Are they a common site? Because I have a very strong fear of bees, especially wasps. I'm not allergic, but those suckers really scare me.

tetsusnipple · 1 month ago

Haha the picture is from Naisu no Mori, right? That is totally the weirdest movie ever.

Joshua Zimmerman · 1 month ago

A country that has amazing bullet trains has yet to invent smoke detectors.

Brayden · 2 weeks ago

You've decided to fill your jungle with a whole array of Mod Monkeys. And, just like their little hero, your birthday guests will be ready for a fun time. Make sure you supply it, and don't drive yourself bananas in the process, with some Mod Monkey birthday party supplies.