Have you ever thought it’s a good idea to take a nap in the middle of the street? Or,
maybe, you cleaned your entire school when you were a teenager? If not, then you’re
probably not Japanese. Here’s a little something for you from the Land of the Rising Sun — I
think we could all learn a thing or two from them!
On average, the Japanese live 4 years longer than Americans. Their life expectancy is the
second longest in the world at 85 years, beat only by Monaco with 89 years. (But they have
more yachts per capita.) By other accounts, though, San Marino also has a higher life
expectancy. On the topic of age, by the way, Japan has
many more elderly people than children. In fact, 21% of Japanese people are over the
age of 65 — this is the largest proportion in the world.
This might be since the quality of life, especially when it concerns the crime rate, is way better
in Japan than in most countries. For example, as per 2018 statistics, there are just 3 robberies
per 100,000 people in Tokyo. A paradise for law-abiding citizens!
The situation with work, especially office jobs, is a whole ‘nother issue. Japan has
a 40-hour work week, but most employees voluntarily work overtime, generally extending it to 60
hours. This is a habit taken from the mid-20th century, when the government encouraged people
to work long hours to restore the country’s economy after the war.
That’s why it’s become normal to take naps right in the workplace or even in the
streets. Strolling around Tokyo in the evening, you’ll notice people dressed in neat suits
just sleeping on the ground like it’s their own cozy bed. There’s even a word for it
in Japanese: inemuri. Falling asleep on the job shows that you’re working hard, so some
people even fake it to get appreciation! Wow, getting a pay raise for napping in your office
chair… Sounds like fun to me! Zzzzzzz. Still, companies and the government alike
are doing their best to make people go home earlier. One IT company, for example, makes
its employees wear purple “capes of shame” on the last Wednesday of a month if they work
too many hours. I wonder how hardworking these people are, then?
Well, they’re like that for a reason, after all. All students are required to tidy up
in their school during the day. The tradition is called o-soji, and it includes mopping
floors and cleaning bathrooms. It teaches the students to help and respect other people,
and they sure take it seriously! High social standards have a downside, though.
There are currently over half a million people in Japan called hikikomori — these are young
adults who seclude themselves at home and won’t go out no matter what. The government
links this phenomenon to the psychological and social pressure, and frankly, I couldn’t
agree more. Anyway, rigorous practice in education makes
the Japanese successful in life most of the time. The literacy is close to 100%, which
is the highest in the world, and the unemployment rate is only about 4%, which is, as you may
guess, pretty low compared to most countries. But don’t think the Japanese don’t know
how to have fun! There are numerous festivals taking place all over Japan, and oh how strange
they are to us westerners. For example, Hadaka Matsuri, or “naked festival,” is where
thousands of men and boys take off their clothes and fight for a sacred object to gain luck
for the year. Well, okay. Whatever makes you happy, guys… Hakuna Matata. (oops sorry,
that’s not Japanese, that’s Disney…) About happiness, there are “cuddle cafes”
in the Land of the Rising Sun, which are made specifically for lonely and miserable people.
There, you can pay to lay next to a person and share a moment of peace and understanding.
For an additional fee, you can also stare at each other for a minute or stroke their
hair. Hmm. I don’t know if that’s sweet or creepy.
One of the reasons for loneliness might be that the Japanese are socially required to
hang out with their colleagues after work. So you don’t just meet up with friends and
forget about work after leaving the office; you go to a bar and drink with your coworkers,
and sometimes even your boss. Now that’s a frightening perspective for some.
Japan is a traditionalist society, so men are commonly breadwinners and seen as heirs
to their families. That’s why an unusual thing has happened: there are more adults
adopted there than children. Most often the adopted are men aged 20 to 30 years; this
is done to have an heir or, for instance, to pass down a business.
Remember I told you about their diligence? Well, it concerns every sphere of life, including
public transport. Japanese trains are almost never late, and if they are, they must issue
official delay certificates for passengers. This way, they have proof they weren’t late
because of their own tardiness. Politeness is one of Japan’s trademarks
known all over the world. There are numerous formalities to be observed in communication
with different people, and they’re all rather strict. They also have about 20 ways to say
“sorry.” Now let that sink in. What is considered polite in Japan may sometimes
surprise foreigners, though. For example, slurping your noodles with gusto is a way
to show your appreciation to the cook. So don’t restrain yourself, slurp! Ahhh!
Avoid walking down the street with your food, however. It’s not exactly rude today, but
still not very classy. Don’t be surprised when you see the Japanese standing right at
the spot where they bought some treat, and eating it — they just don’t want to walk
with it. It’s also considered impolite to talk on
your phone in a confined public space, such as public transport. Great idea. Shall I repeat
that one? There, you’re expected to put your phone in your bag or pocket, turn off
the sound, and only answer it if it’s urgent. And even then, you should keep your voice
down. You don’t want dirty looks from the locals, do you?
You’ll probably find it next to impossible to talk on the phone on a subway train in
Japan anyway. This is especially true for Tokyo, where there are special people called
“pushers” on many stations. They do exactly what their name implies: pushing people into
the train cars. Try pulling out your phone when you’re pinned to the wall!
Back to work issues: if you ever find yourself in a Japanese restaurant, don’t even think
about tipping your waiter. It’s considered rude, and the reason is simple: they do their
job, and they do it well because it’s an honor. If you give them a tip, you offend
them by assuming they do it for extra cash. You sporting tattoos? Then Japanese public
baths are off limits for you, sorry. Tattoos are considered ugly and associated with yakuza
(or organized Japanese criminal gangs), so no one will allow you entry to a public bath
without them at least covered. Recently, though, this has changed in many baths because Japan
is trying to be more open to tourists. Slippers are a real thing in all Japanese
homes and in many establishments. When entering someone’s home, you’ll be offered a pair,
so make sure you always take your shoes off. If no slippers are offered, you should still
leave your shoes outside. Cleanliness is a virtue, you know. Make sure you wear sox without
any holes.
So, what other curious things do you know about Japan? Sound off in the comments below!
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and here are some more cool videos to check out from the Bright Side of life!