Cultural Differences in Life Between Japan And the U'S'

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Cultural Differences in Life Between Japan And
the U.S.
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Bathrooms in Japan

• Toilet and bathtub are separate.
• Most Japanese people take a bath, not only take a
  shower.
• Many Japanese baths have re-heating systems.
• There are also public baths.
• We also have filters for showerheads, not only
  for faucet in the kitchen for drinking water.

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Bathroom Images
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Newspaper

• There is a separate section for the TV program
  guide.
• We have both morning and evening editions. So
  once it is subscribed, evening edition will also
  be delivered around 4 p.m.

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Kitchen

• Majority of Japanese heating for cooking is gas.
• Cooking grill includes grill only for baking
  fish!
• Japanese toaster is very different from the one
  in the U.S. because we bake other things, such as
  ricecakes.

6
Bread

• For some reason, Japanese bread is much bigger
  than the bread in the U.S. The Japanese size is
  12.5 cm X 11.5 cm (4 inch by 3.5 inch)

7
Milk

• We dont use unit, Gallon, we dont have Gallon
  jar. Of course, we dont have a half-gallon jar,
  either. We only have 1 liter paper package.
• Skim milk is not common in Japan. Most people
  drink whole milk.

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Cucumber and Eggplant

• Are Americans too obese?

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Under the Kitchen

• In Japan, garbage disposals are not common

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Laundry

• Many Japanese do their laundry every morning.
  Instead of using a dryer, many hang their clothes
  to dry outside.

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Water

• The hardness of Japanese water, in general, is
  softer than water in Europe.
• Japanese water doesnt include fluoride.

12
Phone

• In Japan, local calls are NOT free.
• Toll free numbers start with 0120-, instead of
  1-800.
• Phone cards are not rechargeable and users insert
  the card in the public phone, instead of punching
  in their card number. (You, obviously cant use
  it from home)
• Unlike in the U.S., we have to pay more when we
  call a place that is farther away.

13
In a restaurant

• In a restaurant, waiters/waitresses usually serve
  wet towels before starting a meal.
• We do not have a custom to pay/leave tips on the
  table.

14
At a gas station

• Majority of gas stations only provide
  full-service, instead of self-service (but of
  course, you dont have to pay tip!)
• Gas is very expensive in Japan comparing one in
  the U.S. 1 Gallon of gas can cost 3.50 in Japan.

15
Traffic lights

• In Japan, we dont say green light, but we say
  blue light.
• Most traffic lights for automobiles are
  horizontal, instead of vertical, like in the U.S.

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School

• Most elementary and middle schools have their own
  pool.
• Students clean their classrooms and hallways by
  themselves.
• A new academic year starts in the spring, April,
  instead of Fall.
• Students wear special indoor shoes once they
  arrive at school.

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Hospital / Shopping

• Unlike in the U.S., we usually dont make
  appointment to see the doctor. Instead,
  appointments are made on a first come, first
  serve basis.
• We dont normally use checkbook, unless business
  situation. We mostly use cash, sometimes credit
  card, but not as much. You cant buy train ticket
  or make payment to hospital by credit card.
• In many cases, when dealing with utilities, we
  can set up automatic-payment from bank account,
  so we do not send check to individual companies.
  (most people dont even have checkbook.)

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Miscellaneous things

• In Japan, we are NOT allowed to possess guns and
  swords. You cant even bring a knife over 2
  inches without proper reasoning.
• Japan doesnt have summer time.
• The speed limit of normal roads is 60kmph (about
  40 MPH) and highway is 80kmph (about 50 MPH)