10 Signs you've been in Japan for too long...

[@VampireKittenofWaffles]

I live in Sapporo, and it amazes me how every time I fall asleep on the train, I wake up just before I get to my stop. It’s some crazy voodoo magic

[@bryancastillo3312]

I think that that is something that anyone that rides the train long enough starts doing. I used to take the train or bus to school in California and eventually I could fall asleep and wake up before my stop. Although there was a couple times when I woke up early and my brain didn't process that it wasn't my stop and almost just got off at the wrong station.

[@fitriaahsani1286]

I thought i had that superpower but i overestimated myself 😭

[@niino4329]

Been in japan only once and just for a week and mostly just to accompany my father on a business trip, but after just 3 days, bowing had already become an automatic and natural thing for me to do so much that I automatically did it even to another german over there at the university without thinking about it. My father however noticed it and got a bit angry like "Why are you bowing? She's german, you know." Bowing really is something you get used to ultra quickly.

[@OllamhDrab]

Considering what's going on in the world, maybe we should all be doing that more instead of shaking hands or hugging for a while. :)

[@stevecriddle]

I think the bowing on the phone thing is similar to when you're giving directions over the phone and start making hand motions.

[@mustermann1990]

Number 11: When you say "ん" as a confirmation or when you listen to people.

[@michaelfieser]

On my first couple visits, I thought the train sleepers were a bit odd, but, like you said, you get used to it.

[@dreadogastusf3548]

It's not that surprising to me. USA, St. Louis, Missouri. We have decent public transport. But if you work late, the "cars" are not as frequent. A transfer can add 15-20 minutes of waiting. I and many other riders would doze off to the gentle rocking and huffing of the bus. Rarely slept past my stop. One time I would have but the driver recognized I was asleep and shouted, "Macklind! This stop is Macklind!" Arigato, driver-san.

[@PenitentHollow]

Number 11: When your German/Scottish accent has started to take on just a *hint* of a Japanese accent. : D

[@rattlehead001]

I was drunk and fell asleep on a train in Japan and it still baffles me how I woke up at the perfect time to get off at my stop. I’m also guilty of loading up on omiyage every time I go to Japan.

[@rinkoshirokane8263]

Mark what kind? QWQ I’m interested... Im American and I’ve never been to japan, but I’m not sure what I could bring that’s special 😭

[@saiqakhan4148]

Amazing. My husband spent some time in Japan before our marriage, around 30 years ago. And he still does some of these things- bowing on a phone and sleeping standing in a train! He even has a little chair in the bath!

[@scarletf5580]

The most extra thing I discovered, when I visited Japan is, that you can eat directly at the convenient store. Like you can heat up your instant ramen and eat it there. It blew my mind. Never new that. Also that they heat up the food for you. Nothing I ever experienced in other countries.

[@gemgem_chan]

The taxi door thing is a bit confusing though. We got a taxi in Japan and it auto opened for us to get in. Once we were in though I thought the door would close on its own, but it didnt the driver got out to close it. So was I suppose to close the door?

[@あい-r8o4i]

Gemgem I think it’s because of his kindness. He wanted to close it for you by himself. Every taxi I’ve ever got close by itself.

[@bobbiusshadow6985]

Maybe the closing mechanism was faulty?

[@nico5179]

I’ve been in Japan 3 times, not long term but even in my brief visits the bowing is definitely the thing that sticks to you. I get used to it very quickly and even start doing it when I go back to my country which is weird. For me its a gesture of respect and I really love this aspect about Japanese culture.

[@soyboi2819]

“This is brilliant, why haven’t I thought of that before?” Japan in a nutshell.

[@Figmareviews]

I lived in Japan for a few years with the US Navy in Sasebo, and have visited Tokyo a few times since. one thing you get used to is if you carry a backpack is to take it off and put it in front of you so that you don't hit people behind you with your bag. getting used to the Taxi drivers opening doors took a little bit to get used to also.

[@SailorYuki]

Falling asleep on the train is fun. I used to have like an hour on the train to and from work so I would fall asleep most evenings. But I always kept an ear open for anything unusual. Never missed my stop. It's just like a habit, your brain is so used to it it knows the routine and automatically wakes you up in time.

[@FiveOClockTea]

After my semester abroad, back in Germany I was at a pretty full McDonald's and actually reserved my seat with my phone 🙈 My faith in humanity heightened a lot that day, as it was still there when I came back from the loo 😇

[@stevierv22]

I always bow while on the phone when talking Japanese even though i have never been to Japan. I also engage to a conversation with "un, hai, so-so" which a very Japanese thing but i find it very natural when talking to someone :)

[@RiceLilyMeadows]

Bowing is definitely one of things I brought back with me to America, same goes for all my classmates who went abroad. Also, when I was working in retail; handing out cards/money/items with both hands became habitual.

[@InhumanEnglishman666]

I like the Convenience store. Generally in the UK if you see a logo for the post office that means you will be able to do things like letters, stationary office supplies and groceries in the same place, but somewhere where you can do EVERYTHING, all your bills, getting photocopies and everything else sounds amazing.

[@ropegirlz]

I also always fall asleep on the train and will wake up a station before i have to get of. It's said that, if you travel often with that train/bus youd body will knoe how long it takes from one stop to the other and knows that stop c for example is 80 minutes sleep

[@matiashelios5214]

I'm from NY, it's the same thing in the subway, you take a nap and miraculously wake up at the station you wanna get off at. Except, don't fall asleep on anyone's shoulder.

[@Exp626-Stitch]

I can't wait to be accustomed to these mannerisms, I'm planning on transferring to Kyoto next year so wish me luck on my grades. 😂 いつもありがとうございました。皆、気をつけてくださいねー🤞🏽 。

[@ohratz0963]

Frank Juarez omg same!

[@Arnold_X3]

#4 - Leaving Wallets and Purses around.. only in Japan....overall such an Honest people

[@kunstderfugue]

That was a great hook in the beginning of the video. I liked the 1 second or so of highlight for each of the topics. Props to the editor!

[@mike_v02]

I like the way cathy laugh. Literally.

[@toruzz]

When I was in college and working full time I relied so much on getting some sleep on the train I lived in fear of not getting a seat. The difference was HUGE. Of course, I always fell asleep and magically woke up before arriving to my destination. Never got to sleep standing up, though.

[@karloka1]

Im Croatian Sea Food is preety common here and so is Rakija (an alchocolic fruity drink most commonly 40% ABV) but we dont really have any exlcusive snacks but actual food we have it lots of it

[@brianbuchmeier]

Regarding the convenience stores - I was surprised when I was talking to my host about using a luggage forwarding service for my next destination but wasn't sure how to do it and she said to just take it to 7/11.

[@soomiko]

i reserve seats with valuable items at my school. they just dont care also I sleep in my train all the time in summer. i miss my station like all the time

[@LionKimbro]

The music at the stations are coded, so when you hear the music for your station, your brain recognizes it and wakes up.

[@MartialBachoffner]

Bowing is a sign of respect. When it's a habit for you to respect others, you carry with it all the body language related to it.

[@MeatyLegend]

I go to Japan at least once a year and when I come to Tokyo, I always stay near Ueno station and I can navigate it now without any signs lol. I don't like Shinjuku's layout, as you have said construction there seems to be never-ending. Also the platform there to NEX sucks, it is the farthest platform and you need to give around 10 minutes to transfer.

[@k0248]

I think the printing thing is extremely helpful

[@IERServer]

That does happen in other places, though. I mean, in my country at least. Everything she said except for the theater and flight tickets are common in most "maxi-kiosks" or drugstores. Now the taxi driver opening the door? That sounds very strange.

[@k0248]

@@IERServer the taxi thing gives me major anxiety because I wouldn't know if I was being annoying waiting for it to open or was supposed to do it myself

[@IERServer]

@@k0248 I believe the driver would make gestures/get out of the car as soon as they stop. I believe it's probably more likely if they notice you're a foreigner (for your eyes)

[@NonkelGans]

Haven't been to Japan yet (was planned to get there coming Saturday but Corona shafted me in that regard 😿). But as soon as I able to come to Japan I already planned to travel light so I can take a crapload of stuff back to Belgium, amongst it many gifts of course.

[@IERServer]

The driver opening the door for you will come in very handy. I already do some of this just from leaving in my small town in Argentina, (like printing in a drugstore or falling asleep in the bus and waking up at the right moment) but that one is weird. The seat for having a bath sounds very interesting too, I might get one online lol

[@quintrankid8045]

I've never been to Japan, but I fall asleep on the train where I am. I always wonder if it's the rocking motion and the repetitive sounds the train makes. But it's not usually a deep sleep and I think the station stops and announcements work to wake me when I have to get off.

[@kevinmoppett4760]

I've never been to Japan but I'm learning Japanese. A few weeks ago I was explaining to my sister on the phone some of the Japanese I've learned and I started bowing!!!! Guess I've watched too many vids on KZbin!!😁

[@steveleadbeater]

I usually buy another small suitcase for Omiyage...My first trip I returned to Australia with 15 kilos of Omiyage for friends.

[@edamameme1789]

Funny. I semi sleep while standing up on the metro and have a tiny chair in the shower. Have to say, in my month long trip in Japan, i felt super “at home” and I never visited before. 👍

[@spiderliliez]

The toothbrush is true. I get new toothbrushes everyday, and new shaves everyday. It's crazy. Haha.

[@Rationalific]

Unfortunately, the dark side of traveling in Japan is that at regular hotels, they charge per person and not per room, so unless you're alone, it ends up costing a lot more money (well, of course, depending on the style of hotel you are at).

[@1972Sylvester]

sleeping in public transportation and waking up on time. Did that all the time in the Netherlands

[@ghlscitel6714]

Tiroler Speck, Dosenweisswürste, Kaffee, Riesling, Mozartkugeln, Milchmädchen, Maggi-Knödel kommen auch gut an als "omiage".

[@N0va07]

Never been to Japan, but I do the thing with sleeping on the train and public transport and waking up on around when it gets to my station. (When you are extreemly tired in the morning or is catching up to you in the evening I do this as a natural thing. And this is why I like the window seat. But I'm guilty of falling asleep sitting on random places when waiting in rare cases or in breaks during a day in uni)

[@Dani_Reasor]

I'm guilty of talking with my hands on the phone. And waving to babies. And dogs.

[@svennoren9047]

When mobile phones started getting cameras it was a huge boon to deaf people, who literally talk with their hands. Now that could use a phone, too! Waving to babies and dogs is only right and proper. As is greeting cats politely.

[@justinhokuanwhye905]

Hi Cathy Cat, stay safe when having video recording during current situation. I like your programs and topics which you interviewed Japanese. There is another point ! Which is you have to find a way to squeeze yourself into a rush hour train hahah ^^

[@Buzzramjet]

Made one mistake, opening the taxi door. Never did it again. Learned to let them do it. And as far as bowing on the phone we all do something like that. I find myself using my hands and nodding my head while on the phone and I sometimes tell the person I am talking to that it is kind of silly because I am using my arms and hands like they can see what I am doing. Never fell asleep on the train. But then again I wasn't working in the two years I lived there. I just traveled.

[@Zielke1232]

You wake up at the right stop, cause every station has it`s own unique music playing. Is that just a JR thing or does Metro/Toei that to?

[@Mwoods2272]

You can't hear the music on the train, the music plays on the platform.

[@HappiAcrossCultures]

So truuuuuue!! You just explained my everything in one video 😂living in Tokyo also changed my fashions style, my mannerisms, the way I did my makeup, my food proportions, my sense of humility and respect, and so many other things 😂😂😂 I really am thankful to Tokyo for everything it taught me!

[@IERServer]

I've been waiting for an interesting title to me for a while now. Good video, although a couple of the habits happen to most people when they stay for long in any other country...

[@febrianadji5758]

A pajamas on most hotel? That's a nice thing Most hotel here that can be booked via app normally give toiletries and towel but no pajamas

[@raistormrs]

And here i was always wondering why guests from japan keep asking for a toothbrush at the reception desk, i work in a german hotel and we don't have any so its always a weird situation especially on a Sunday evening … and on the opposite the japanese used to travelling to Germany even bring their own towels these days, i guess they just assume the worst by now XD also … fish ? what fish ??? ah and we have one guest from Kyoto every December who brings Mocchi for the entire Staff every year, he is very popular, haha :)

[@GaryAa56]

The Taxi door opening and closing was something I never knew before.

[@sasufreqchann]

this happened to me after 1 year of martial arts training and i dont know how to stop ! T.T Anime also doesnt help ... But it cant be replaced by anything XD (ofc i dont mean the local only physical things that happen )

[@richardverrall534]

Cathy, please explain the popularity of Yuri love, not just in anime but also its origin in Japanese culture and literature. Love your channel

[@josephskiles]

I agree you have been in Japan too long Cathy, you need to come live in Indiana for a while to brighten our days!

[@diepeco]

The one of the stations is pretty accurate, I got lost a couple times there, some of them are a complete maze 😂

[@lulylulyanka2676]

haha I am guilty of all of these, except i've never showered before a bath because I dont have a bath, and in japan It was the end of the day usually so I didn't want to bother with a shower before a bath since I was exhausted.

[@AmandaPanda1966]

Love your channel!!

[@candicemannette9589]

Thought a little girl was trying to attack me through my headphones. 5:25

[@ziagrace5317]

I feel so bad about the taxi thing I didn't know you weren't supposed to touch the doors, and I think I did 😓

[@kroo07]

Went to Japan once for three weeks more than 30 years ago and I still bow to people as I leave. It might just be that this could become much more widespread in the post-Covid world.

[@chrislee7222]

Im guilty of 2 of these things. The bowing hit me HARD. I was only there for like a month and I STILL do that shit haha But also the last one, I started to get to know my area and stations pretty well (In Osaka) towards the end. I ended up explaining to a group of other foreigners some directions. Never thought I'd do that lol

[@GregAtlas]

What do you do for the pajama example if you're an odd size? Like I'm super tall for example.

[@bobbiusshadow6985]

Full monty

[@Akab]

i life in Austria and i also sleep in the train very often :P

[@Rationalific]

How about this... You know you've been in Japan too long when you know paper day, metal day, glass day, and plastic day, even when they only come twice a month, and you have fully figured out the moeru gomi vs the moenai gomi categories.

[@kevinsmith9013]

Fun anecdotes for fun times

[@20世紀青年-t3x]

I feel glad but a bit afraid when I imagine if you were to continue to live in Japan for another 20 years, you might look more Japanese than German. You have already got to look like a Japanese in some ways.

[@renecastel3459]

It's better not to be German ! The most of the Germans even don't want to be Germans !

[@julianz.5316]

@@renecastel3459 whats so bad about beeing german?!

[@renecastel3459]

@@Peachelliver ! Yes I live in Germany ! Und du weißt verdammt genau das ich RECHT habe !

[@Mwoods2272]

How does she look Japanese?

[@renecastel3459]

@@Mwoods2272 She looks almoust like I do half Asian and half Caucasian !

[@catherinebond7474]

I left my mobile phone in the toilet a Nijo Castle in Kyoto and after we confirmed it had been found we went the next day to get it with no problem.

[@ageguyera]

I love how much whispering is going on in this video. Everything's a secret!! 😂

[@IERServer]

Respecting the neighbors probably. Another habit you get in Japan since they are quite sensitive to sound... probably?

[@DerNapalus]

Hi Cathy, Mit dem Verbeugen kann ich dir nur recht geben. Meine Frau und ich waren letzten November für 1 Woche in Tokyo. Als wir wieder in Deutschland waren hat es fast 6 Wochen gebraucht bis wir das Verbeugen nicht mehr gemacht haben. Genauso haben wir ewig "Hai", "Arigato" und "Sumimasen" noch gesagt. Was bis heute immer noch fest bei uns drin ist ist "Itadakimasu". Beste Grüße aus Deutschland

[@ItSuuKiii]

3weeks in Tokyo and I was guilty of all of them....even the Baumkuchen XD I miss Tateishi~♡

[@TheTruth-xp2of]

And then there's me, waking up one station before mine, then waking up again one station after mine.

[@franshendrix1404]

Getting the water from fridge in hotel room and buy in vending machine on the corner. Been there one week, Osaka, but not doing any of these listed in the video. And damn I want to go back. One week is way too short.

[@starry3824]

I could never ever fall asleep outside of my own bed, and even there it's a problem. However Japanese trains.... some crazy magic is around. Maybe they cast 'sleep' on all passengers every few minutes cuz even I dozed off from time to time :D

[@jeffreak7968]

Jede Station hat ihre eigene Musik, daher wissen Menschen wie durch ein Wunder wann sie raus müssen. Every Station got there own Jingle, thats why people know when they had to get up and out, like a miracle.

[@PiratePrincessYuki]

I lived there to long because I still bath like I did there and I wash my girls up the same way. My husband didn’t know what to think at first. But got used to it and now he does it. It’s also nice having a huge sunken tub that fits both of us or just me and the girls.

[@leavemealone854]

i put my chair in the bath a couple days before my trip to japan 😂 (summer 2019)

[@echannel6162]

Thank you for your videos!!

[@zealot912]

Do a video on Yakuza 😁

[@lenscythe98]

Number 3: is same here in our country we leave our things, friends, or family 😂 to reserve the table😂

[@npc626]

What about earthquakes? Do you ever get used to those?

[@dyahayu1323]

I think giving things are asian culture because wherever we go, we will buy many gifts for family, family, even colleagues

[@devidchia9405]

bowing on the phone is funny thing to do 😊

[@npcimknot958]

thats so true!!!!! waking up at your station LOL

[@genjii931]

Each train station has its own little tune; maybe your subconscious hears that and knows it's time to wake up.

[@kosmaslemo]

5:58 Soo... I drive, I pay, I can open or close them though but Im not gonna like it what a weird country..

[@emilykoi3111]

After EVERY one of my Japanese lessons online I find myself bowing and saying ee or haiiee to everything 😅😅

[@russellschaeffler]

I know you are from Germany, but have you lived in Scotland or have any family members from there?

[@nephee7359]

well... i kinda do the first thing a lot, even if im not living in japan (i wasnt even there once)... xD

[@blu837]

isnt it just a habit where you wake up on your station because you just ride the train the same amount of time everyday?

[@dapper4459]

A convenience store specializes in convenience. That's the craziest thing I heard in this video.

[@greghawkins1025]

All this time, I thought that you were a charming little British girl, but now I realize that you're a cute little German girl. I'm proud to call you my friendly friend.

[@steffahn]

The taxi thing is not that hard if you did your research up-front. I managed it from the first time and that even while drunk. Getting used to train stations is so true! I remember when I first understood how to find/read the map of the stations’ underground walkways on Google Maps. Also the first time I did successfully navigate through Shinjuku underground for probably 15-20 minutes chasing the right signs (the long time is not because I got lost but because there are incredibly long distances you can cover), that’s quite the experience. Or how you can optimize into what car of the train to go to minimize the time when changing trains. I managed to get sub 1min changing at Shibuya (going to a different platform) which sometimes allowed catching a train earlier than Google Maps anticipated.

[@tommyt2077]

Sehr interessant, gerne mehr unterschiede :D

[@Felix-fj4ib]

What you're German? I didn't notice that at all. But now I definitely hear it. (German is my mother toinge BTW)

[@IdeationGeek]

Putting down one's phone to say -- "It is me here, so don't take my place." :)

[@resaherawan1197]

I want to know condition japan right now .. when we can fly go to japan ..

[@WANDERER0070]

See Only In Japan Go channel Or Japan news network

[@resaherawan1197]

@@WANDERER0070 but I don't know nihon go

[@Mwoods2272]

2021

[@Stuttful]

Number 8 in the intro had me dying I don't know why lol

[@Jimmilito1]

Bowing on the phone, I just can't stop it.

[@agnieszkam3484]

It's funny cause I reserve my seats etc the same way. Everyone I know does it tbh - I'm from Poland and compared to Japan our country gets a bad rep😂😂😂

[@UchihaDestiny09]

I Love You Cathy Cat :D ^_^

[@sasufreqchann]

5:25