Tofugu Comments - Latest Comments in General

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

Wafukari — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:45:11 -0000

Yeah, European countries are the same way. I also found out the hard way, only I was paying for my own. I had about 5 carbonated drinks before the nice British lady that I was stying with leaned over and said "You know, those aren't free." then she laughed at me. HA HA

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

David — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:55:51 -0000

Well there are some places, like bars in Japan, that don't let gaijin in because the bars in Japan give you a snack and charge for it. Most gaijin get pissy about this when they see their bill, which is why bar owners will put No Gaijin sometimes. At least that's what I heard >.>

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

brian — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:04:01 -0000

hm, well I'm going to try to look into that because I tried to do a host family stay in japan this summer but I didn't receive a scholarship so [sadly] could not go.
ありがとう！

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

D.A.K. — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:40:37 -0000

When I was in Japan during last winter break, a kind old Japanese colleague of my father's took our family out to dinner at a tempura-bar kind of place. I ordered orange juice, and, of course, the glasses were so tiny that I kept asking for refills. After unwittingly getting about 6 refills of orange juice, the host-waitress lady kind of suggested to me that they had completely ran out.

Only later, in JAPN102, would I find out that refills on any drink besides water are almost always *not* free in Japan. I probably costed that poor guy a fortune in orange juice! >_<

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

koichi — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:50:15 -0000

Went through the Japanese government. I think it was foreign ministry.
They were even nice enough to pay for it, too, and pay my host family
for things like bikes and food. mmm.

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

Brian M. — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:46:47 -0000

hey. hm...
very interesting. lol

I guess I learned something new. lol. okay, I lied, i learned more than just one thing. ha

um, you said you went to japan in highschool and stayed with a host family. do you mind me asking what program you went through to go to japan

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

loco for japan — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:18:54 -0000

they actually yell???? that's crazy to me, i thought japanese people were really quite everywhere, oh well, i learned something new today!!!

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

non — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:03:23 -0000

Hi　SMALL　　glass　is　good　for　me．
Because　Ｉ　can　drink　　cold　water　soon.
Okawari　is　better！　Don't　you　think　so？
this　picture　is　nice！　Ｉ　sometimes　ＤＩＤ！

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

djarno — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:55:16 -0000

The water to tip ratio thing must be fairly common and I'm pretty sure waiters are aware of it. Often at restaurants I have my water refilled even if it's more than half full (or empty for all the pessimists).

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

Viet — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:16:50 -0000

It is circumstantial.

Why would you even want to eat at a restaurant that doesn't even want your patronage?

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:06:36 -0000

I agree on the water thing, I always need plenty to drink with my food :]

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

andy — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:44:20 -0000

would the "no gaijin" signs, technically, apply to japanese (and possible chinese) americans, like yourself? that's pretty scary..what are the consequences if you are a gaijin and attempt to eat there?

Re: Lang-8 Review: Quite Possibly the Best Way to Practice Your Japanese Writing

Sukotto — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:09:19 -0000

I can't wait to use this site! I hope I can write in Japanese real soon! If it wasn't for my horrible memory...

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

Sukotto — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:40:21 -0000

I love tipping people! It makes me feel good inside. :D

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

Zaywex — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:18:57 -0000

Ahah. This happened to me w/ my homestay. We were at the zoo and she insisted on paying for lunch. I tried paying for her, and then for split, but she was really insistant. Maybe because she's in college while I'm in middle school..?

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

Pachi_PMT — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:27:05 -0000

Um... Who the heck is 'adverb police'? LOL

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

Tofugu_Erin — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:03:30 -0000

He's leaving in a few days, though D:

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

fallenangelessence — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:55:36 -0000

dude we should meet up if you still here in hawaii.

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Mohamed — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:08:41 -0000

I know what you mean! Ever since my exams back in April, I haven't opened a single textbook. I've been reading alot on mixi and sending messages in Japanese. But because I haven't practiced my Japanese, I forgot how to write over 20 Kanjis, but i can still read 90% of the 310Kanjis I've learned in the past 2 years.....SO no more breaks for, a 30min study session is an awesome idea!

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

Viet — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:23:47 -0000

It is the same deal in Seattle. I just call it Korean food. Most of these establishments also serve Korean food and they tend to taste much better. At least in my area they should have more pride (as if they don't have enough of it already) in their nation's food and just open Korean food restaurant instead of some generic "Japanese" teriyaki place. I love kimchi, bulgogi, kalbi, bi bim bap... I'm starting to get hungry.

Re: How to Study Japanese Over the Summer

Dark — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:31:14 -0000

I have been putting off learning Japanese again since I took my final exams this year. Just starting to get into the books again. Lang-8 looks like an excellent site, thanks for that.

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

Chirimotsumoreba — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:22:40 -0000

Most of the Japanese restaurants near me are pretty run of the mill eateries. However, a few in particular display distinctly Japanese characteristics. The water refilling issue is smack dab at number one on my list. They never refill your glass unless you ask. Its nerve racking to have that happen in a city were you can barely finish your first drink by the time the second is placed in front of you. Perhaps, I should learn to just not drink period. Ha.

Every place is different though, one time I ate a place called Mt. Fuji and asked for a couple orders of ika, the all Chinese staff didn't really know what I wanted at first so I had to explain to them I wanted to orders (four pieces total) of squid sushi or whatever. They brought 2 pieces out on a dinner plate. It was one of those "Ok... wtf just happened" kind of moments.

Great post!

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

aliene — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:01:46 -0000

Don't know about the Japanese, but generally it is not too hard to break things apart, (like karaage) with 1 hand, as long as you're holding the chopsticks the right way (not with the tops crossed). You can poke the middle of the food with the chopsticks together at 1 point, then pull the chopsticks apart in different directions. Like I said, not sure about Japanese way, but seen many Chinese (myself included) do it.

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

aliene — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:54:26 -0000

Calling out for service

Oh this is so true now that you mentioned it. I was out with a Japanese friend who had just arrived here for work a week ago and the same thing happened. Here, the most we'd do is to call softly, or raise our hand to wave at the waiters

Re: Some Japanese Restaurant Culture

Fujiko — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:03:38 -0000

Don't know if you guys long for the delicious japanese food. I found this great site- yeah, I know I am a bit offtopic- but hey, I don't live in US and here where I live we don't have japanese restaurants....-Oh, God, I miss that food.
Mai, you so right, I hate fake japanese restaurants, went to Wien, they were ran by chinese, omg awfull, nothing was the same.
Here's a recipe for the delicious japanese potato salad :)
The one you buy in Familly Marto :)
Enjoy!
http://www.justhungry.com/2006/05/japanese_pota...