"5 Things" Japanese Actually DISLIKE! Japanese Reacts to “12 Things NOT to do in Japan”

[@AleASanti-mw5wv]

i mean pointing at someone with knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks, etc. is rude in any culture

[@리주민]

In texas, its rude to have a gun barrel pointing at your guest (im assuming its laying on the table and not being held to ones head). 🤠

[@Ber-1972]

@@리주민 I might be moving to Texas someday so that's good to know lol

[@buckarooben7635]

@리주민 As a Texan I can confirm this is accurate.

[@awkwardsilence4427]

@@리주민 Indeed. More specifically, gun etiquette/proper gun handling is basically handling all guns as though they’re loaded (even if they aren’t), and so you _never_ point a gun directly at someone unless you’re intending to shoot them.

[@pizuka2]

pointing to someone directly in general can usually be attributed to being rude, so you'd usually just refer to them by words

[@thegoodlydragon7452]

It's interesting to me that it's possible to accidentally swear in Japanese. As an English speaker that concept is difficult to grasp because using a rude word is always a deliberate addition to the sentence.

[@mericchan925]

Here’s a typical example: If you meet an ESL/EFL speaker who says “fox” or “fax” in English, the pronunciation can sometimes come across as very similar to “f**ks.” Vowel differences between languages can be problematic. Another example involving consonant sounds, although not swear words, is the soft, voiceless ‘th’ versus the voiceless ‘s.’ I’ve taught hundreds of Japanese people over the years (ranging from 8 to 80 years old), and two simple and distinct words in American English - “bus” and “bath” - are two pronunciation troublemakers. There are two main reasons: Neither vowel’s pronunciation exists in Japanese, and the ‘th’ sound is also nonexistent. It can take months if not years to master not only how to speak these words clearly but also how to distinguish between the two when hearing them in conversation.

[@Aestareth_]

With the way things are going, It isn't hard to accidentaly say something "rude" now.

[@neohelios77]

@@Aestareth_ - too right, especially since some subcultures seem to be inventing new words by the week these days. Or in the very least attempting to take a HIGHLY academic phrase out of context and clumsily jamming it into a common everyday internet argument.

[@devlinmorin7615]

Ok ok I get it. You can't accidentally sound rude in english. Whatever.

[@danielantony1882]

Swear words aren't common in Japanese, as far as I know.

[@grimmdul9808]

Rude Japanese: When you want to wish someone a great day but curse his whole family tree instead 😂

[@laurajaeger6439]

*Finally gets enough courage to speak Japanese to natives and does exactly that* 😂

[@abyafifah9713]

I cant stop laughing lol ~ i can imagine myself accidently do tht .. 😅😅

[@emishani3469]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Fayleafowl]

🤣 am sorry I probably would to.

[@KosstAmojan]

Slips of pronunciation in Japanese can be brutal. Tim Ferriss tells the story of staying in Japan and saying to his host mother "Hachiji ni okashite kudasai" when he meant to say "okoshite." In other words instead of asking her to wake him up, he asked her to r*** him.

[@AlvorReal]

Number five makes me chuckle. When I lived in Japan, none of the Japanese parents cared if their kids said rude things in English to me - whether they understood it or not.

[@wadewilson8011]

Hypothetical isn't it.

[@kathryncampbell4432]

I think you mean “hypocritical”.

[@danjackson1016]

@@wadewilson8011 no they were talking about a real event.

[@enricofr7079]

after watching this i think because japanese dont care about other, only themself... 🤔

[@nahbruh419]

​@@enricofr7079my guy you're clearly generalizing a minority into a majority

[@LittleMissV]

I’m an Asian American, and I have tattoos from my time in the military-tattoos are very common among US military members. My now-husband is a tall Caucasian service member who was stationed in Japan at the time. While I was visiting him in Japan, we decided to try an onsen. Our experiences were very different. Even though he has as many tattoos as me, he was assisted by Japanese, helping him figure out the onsen… while I was just glared at.

[@son_guhun]

Maybe they would've been more accepting if you were also Caucasian? It might look weird to them for a woman they could see as being Japanese to have tattoos, when compared to someone foreign whose customs they can't be sure of. Either way, that really sucks, some aspects of Japanese culture a very unfortunate, but I guess that's the case with any culture; nobody's perfect no matter what facade they choose to display. I'm sure it's not the only place you'd get bad looks for having visible tattoos, we humans are generally pretty good at making people who don't look normal feel out of place, even if some cultures are more "aggressive" about it than others.

[@kharnifex]

The Baishun effect

[@lactobacillusprobiotic7029]

@@kharnifex What’s that?

[@MediHusky]

@@lactobacillusprobiotic7029 The Baishun effect

[@lemon4087]

@@MediHusky What's that?

[@VeRT-SBNS]

If everyone in Japan remains quiet on public transportation, louder sounds would probably be unpleasant because your ears are more sensitive in the quiet. I like to read books, but in places like a waiting room I don't like to do it because it gets so quiet that turning the page sounds really loud.

[@momosaku16]

yeah, talking on the train in Japan is like talking in the library. exept for evening trains when everybody`s hammered lol

[@schadenfreude5341]

@@otakuparadise3585 hahaha samee.. during yearly check up for workers like me. Japanese are normally quiet but if you initiate a conversation theyd gladly reply because hey A foreigner that can actually speak japanese is still a shock for them specially the old ones. Haha

[@avocado3-in-182]

Quiet areas makes me wanna wear my earbuds and listen to music so I could avoid small talk and deafening silence.

[@robertsantiago953]

I would really get in troubles because when i release gasses i like to do it loud 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Macabresque]

Maybe get an e-reader instead!! They are very quiet. 😁

[@shineeis5657]

I remember being taught to keep an inside voice growing up in America, but so many people here still speak loudly indoors.

[@ikiyou_]

Quiet/introverted people like myself have no problem here B)

[@caiusmadison2996]

Me too. Loud talking is for when you're on a jobsite, or in a kitchen with all the increased noise, you need to be heard anywhere you are in a kitchen.

[@BosunM8James]

Some people were raised up in a manner that is respectful. Others were simply dragged up covered in filth.

[@phantomgrape]

i feel bad because i don't mean to be loud but sometimes i just start speaking really loudly and people tell me to shut up :(

[@TheMalfean]

While I was in Japan with my son last year, there was an instance where the light was red and there were no cars. I told me son that in Japan, it is proper to do - to the best of our abilities and knowledge - what Japanese do. So we waited for the light to change. There was an older lady standing there, and she knew English, and heard me. I saw her smile very widely and nod approvingly. That meant more to me than anything, because it meant I was doing the right thing by the people of the country, and as a guest of that country it is important to be respectful and mindful of their rules and laws.

[@Pepechunya]

Isn't it illegal to walk when light is red, in all countries though? xD I always stand for red even when some Japanese people cross..

[@oobee123]

@@Pepechunya I'm sure jaywalking is illegal in most countries but there's no way in hell I'm gonna wait for the lights to turn green if it's obvious that there's no incoming cars. 😅

[@Pepechunya]

@@oobee123 smh xD I would stay waiting as a good citizen, even in my own country

[@fettel1988]

@@Pepechunya Sure. But, it's pretty good basics to at least do what the locals do. To the extent you are comfortable with.

[@ASHERUISE]

Japan or my home country I just wait until somebody else jaywalks first. 😏

[@rolo_swirl1440]

I feel like manga/anime can be a great resource to understand the various forms of Japanese, as long as you don't rely entirely on it as your source of education. That would be like learning English from watching "The Boondocks".

[@bamban_garcia5562]

Yo tratando aprender Boomcocks englisg si!

[@LDRtheRaptorJesus]

I had a high school friend who took Japanese in college along with a roomie at the time. My roommate told me how that friend of mine got into an argument with the professor over "car(kuruma)" v "bear(kuma)" and he said he had "heard it different from anime so she must be mistaken".

[@95JakX]

That's a great observation

[@nazninsultana9248]

Oml i love the boondocks im happy it hasnt been forgotten

[@nltoriola89]

😂😂😂 The Boondocks was a great show but probably not the best source of material for learning polite English.

[@lreppy10]

I love the additional recommendation of not wearing strong perfume. I wish more people in the U.S. would avoid this. Strong smells trigger migraines for me. They can trigger people’s allergies and asthma too.

[@muurrarium9460]

WORD!

[@hyperboles6563]

Yeah, and for me I'm allergic to a lot of the chemicals or whatever is in those air fresheners/perfume. It makes me really dizzy, nauseous, and I end up with a headache later, but people never seem to care after I tell them that it triggers my allergy.

[@randomguyontheinternet5030]

agreed, like yea, your perfume smells nice, but come on, one or two pumps is all you need, you dont need to coat yourself in it. I am personally prone to coughing a bit, and shortness of breath when i smell super strong perfumes, it's not really asthma, but similar. it goes away when i move away from them. i assume im just a bit sensitive to smell

[@lisaspikes4291]

You reminded me of an office manager I used to have back in the 80s. She reeked of perfume every day. Unfortunately the perfume she wore smelled like RAID ant and roach killer! It was awful! 😩

[@muurrarium9460]

@@lisaspikes4291 The Horror! There is no hiding/getting away from all that smelly stuff. It gets in your hair, clothes, and you can still taste it for hours in the back of your throat. Glad to hear you using past tense, you may still have the memories, but at least you got away from the stench! :)

[@LetsaskShogo]

Thank you so much everyone for your advice about the “too many sound effects & cuts”. I have fixed these problems as much as possible, in the videos I have made after this one. *interfere → interact *"Sitting on the floor" does not include inside indoors I apologize for the trouble, but I’ll promise you I’ll keep on doing my best to make better content. Thank you so much for your support!

[@moniquep1141]

In my opinion , the cuts aren’t a problem. They create good visual engagement. The sound effects, on the other hand, are the real culprit. Having so many becomes annoying (not overly so). But occasional use can definitely enhance your statements!

[@HyperLuigi37]

Honestly, I thought it was fine. Sound effects can be too much but I didn’t find them too much here. More like a creative touch.

[@cherry.berry2]

I actually think it's fun and interesting haha.

[@ShaneMaesenko]

Overall I did like the video, but I also really did have trouble with the sound effect on every cut. Leading into a title card or slide is fine, on pop-up images/いらすとや were ok, but every cut of you speaking gets drawn to with each sound effect added in. I look forward to your future videos, though. Here's one more sub to 10k!

[@kumasabi]

I liked the sound effects and cuts , adds character and humour to the video , keep up the good work mate

[@Jordan-inJapan]

Ah, yes. “Don’t try to speak like manga/anime characters” is good advice. On several occasions I’ve heard foreign residents in Japan (in this case “JET program” ALTs) use some pretty shocking Japanese...accidentally I assume! 😆

[@adbreon]

This was one of the weirder things that happened when we moved back to the States. People who only had been exposed to Japanese in cartoons would get mad that I didn’t understand the weird Japanese they used. It was like they spoke entirely in sound effects and screaming child.

[@Jordan-inJapan]

@@adbreon 😂

[@bryanmartinez6600]

@@adbreon Understandable, I personally would like to know Japanese and assert my dominance against the sub watchers.

[@chriskapou3519]

Ecchi shiyou ze!! Ecchi shiyou ze!! xD

[@MsMaybe21]

I’ve seen a few foreigners speak super informal with strangers. Maybe because that’s normal in anime? It always shocks me. What are you doing asking “写真を撮って？” to a stranger obviously at least 10 years older than you?!?!

[@eoagr1780]

Number 2 is the opposite to some parts of Latinamerica, speaking low seems rude like someone who doesn’t want to be part of a conversation or doesn’t like or trust the people around him.

[@yogeshghadge5748]

Different cultures. But most of the Asian countries will prefer quite surroundings .

[@Shephyr19]

@@yogeshghadge5748 Totally agree. I went with a group as an exchange student in Taiwan and to me it was incredibly surprising the silent streets, which in Latin America, being loud is quite normal (wether you are talking, laughing or fighting). As a matter of fact, when we were on the streets and we heard loud talking, we would immediately know that it was someone from our group. (Mainly from Latin America). Loved the silence to be honest, but sometimes we did miss the "vibe" of the loudness we were used to in our countries. Needless to say, everyone kept looking at us. (We quickly caught up on it, and adapted, but when we gathered it was so difficult to keep in check)

[@yadiracamacho499]

In my part of latinamerica whispering is considered rude when you are in a group of people (because it seems you are being secretive or bad-mouthing someone), but just speaking in a low indoor voice is not. Most people are loud (sadly), but I haven't ever heard of someone being criticized for not being loud.

[@Woodsaras]

Loudness is amazing. I couldnt live in such constrains, id like to live without thinking that im 'loud' or 'whispery'... I like when people express themslves freely ::)))

[@rastrisfrustreslosgomez544]

Mexican crashing through! Here I'm screaming from my room's window to the coffe seller running around on his bicycle stand at some good 30 mtrs away just so he doesn't go away before I get my sweet morning coffe

[@georgewang2947]

I like how your videos are so well organized. First you introduce yourself, then you outline the topic, then you present the material, and then you review everything.

[@MGower4465]

I grew up in the US, and we, me and my peer group, were taught "indoor voice" and "outdoor voice" as kids.

[@PersephoneDaSilva]

Me too.

[@sambros2]

my peer group and I*

[@thelostsock6139]

Same, we had a chart of different colours for different volumes, it didn’t work though, we would all start laughing for no reason eventually

[@bobmcguffin5706]

Thank you Barney

[@rafaelrafaelrafael]

I grew up in Brazil and I was only taught outdoors voice 😢

[@SkiftyKitty]

"Number 3: sitting on the ground or floor" damn but thats how Indonesians eat their street foods XDD

[@axlx.66_96]

Malaysia too,like we just buy and sit at the side of the road if we can't find any seat 😭🤝

[@Agilku117]

Yeah it's somehow a like a traditions in Indonesia.

[@boiboi1601]

Somehow malay indo is the polar opposite of Japan when it comes to cultural do's and donts

[@gavinattalahadiyan325]

We South East Asians like squatting too lol

[@hilaholo6822]

And pointing someone with either chopstick, spoon or forks 😅 also a few dialect in our country talks louder than how people usually talk in bahasa

[@moominpic]

Good advice on anime language. I find the same with many students of English watching movies or listening to rap It's amazing how many people who learn English think it's ok to use F*** to someone they've only just met.

[@ewanherbert3402]

If someone started swearing in a first conversation, I'd feel way more comfortable. So often when I talk to Japanese people in English and they talk so politely, I feel like they're scared or angry at me…

[@zakazany1945]

That, or using the n-word

[@GoodwillWright]

In Australia, you know you pissed someone off when they start speaking polite, proper english to you.

[@He_who_rides_many_winds]

@@GoodwillWright Isn’t that the same in the UK?

[@EienOfDark]

That's not universal, it depends on who you're speaking to. If f*ck happens to be in their everyday lexicon, a native English speaker will say f*ck to someone they just met too, sometimes even on accident. Usually only people that don't curse themselves are sensitive to others doing it. The difference is learning if the person you're speaking to is the type to curse or not.

[@caiusmadison2996]

It just dawned on me, I now know why Japanese love rock music, it's ok to be rough and loud when you play it, in a society that never let's you vent. To clarify, I find the culture to, perhaps, be the most polite society with regard to the amount of consideration this culture places on being decent at all times.

[@falconsolo7502]

100% you got it

[@Zapporah85]

You basically just summed up Agretsuko as well 🤣 And yeah definitely. That's also part of why drinking after work is so important in Japan. It's expected to let loose when you're drunk! Though my Japanese boss never let me have more than 2 glasses of beer 😒

[@whiteboyproductions5044]

Explains why they like rap too

[@jwhatfield2714]

Take a ride on a Japanese train. See how the women are treated. I wouldn’t say they are decent all of the time. You have “typical” trash in every culture.

[@johns9652]

I spent 2 years in Okinawa while in the USMC. I knew about the chopsticks and how it meant bridge, and the Shinto religion. What I did NOT know was that the word for 4 is considered rude to say, or carries a certain stigma or phobia, like 13 in English speaking countries, but worse. The word for 4 is related to or the same as the word for death, so my Japanese friends and girlfriend told me to say yon instead. Being perfectly honest, I have at times in life had bouts of having stinky feet. I care for them, use powder, wash, etc, but every few years I have a phase where I feel sorry for anybody who has to smell them. I found that especially problematic in Japan, when friends would have me to their house, and I knew taking off my shoes was required. There was a period of a few months where I had one of those times, and I avoided going to people's houses during that time. As for speaking rude Japanese... most of my friendships and relations with Japanese people were with women. I was even told sometimes that I talked like a woman because I learned from them. Saying ne, not na, etc. While on mainland Japan I was also told I spoke like an Okinawan, which I was proud to hear. Anyway, they found it amusing to teach me rude things, and have me repeat them until I got it right. One night in a bar, I overheard a table of Japanese men just swapping what in America would be called "locker room talk". Dirty stories. Well, I tried to ignore what was going on, and honestly I was only proficient enough to catch about half of what they were saying. I didn't want to appear to be rude and listen in intentionally, but during a lull in the general noise in the bar, and karaoke being between songs, one of them finished his story about a woman by describing her voice... "Iku iku!". I couldn't help it, I absolutely lost it, and started laughing. They thought it was hilarious that a foreigner had caught them out telling dirty stories, and bought me drinks the rest of the night. In fact, they ended up joining our tables together, and my money was no more good, they refused to let me buy a round the rest of the night. My memory is a bit fuzzy (it was the 90s), but I think that night might be when I was introduced to the toast "kampai, ippai, oppai!" Which basically means, cheers, (or bottoms up), a lot of, breasts! Fun times, Japanese people are awesome.

[@thegatorhator6822]

I feel for you. I've never had a problem with stinking feet in my life. But I also only wear shoes to work and in my spare time going on walks I never wear them. However I have POTENT armpit stank that usually means I need to reapply deodorant up to 4 times a day. I think most foot odour issues are caused by feet being in shoes constantly and sweating and soaking in it so much so maybe if I lived in a place people called me up for not wearing shoes it might become a problem. (I can go to stores and most places, not restaurants though, shoeless)

[@mdencler]

You're an amazing natural teacher with these videos. You talk about what you are going to present upfront, elaborate on each topic and provide an amazing recap at the conclusion. What a thoughtful and disciplined approach. Thank you for making these; I love learning about other cultures from excellent communicators like you.

[@danielgoodrich264]

Many Americans find loud voices in enclosed area rude too.

[@LetsaskShogo]

Thank you so much for leaving another comment! I guess most people will find it unpleasant... thank you for sharing!

[@PaperParade]

I wish more of us did, tbh lol

[@paynevess8822]

WHAT DID YOU SAAAY???

[@MyMelody5]

Lols! But it doesn’t stop many of us from being loud. 😂 I only realized how loud we are when I spot another American in another country.

[@danielgoodrich264]

@@MyMelody5 I have a pair of high quality noise reduction headphones and yet the average person STILL drowns em out.

[@alvegutt42]

in norway we have something called "inside voice", which is same as japan. because we think loud voice is more annoying inside, creates an ecco, and is diaturbing for others. people from other countries in europe get shocked when i tell them about this. ive been to japan and think its similar to scandinavia in some ways

[@LetsaskShogo]

Thank you very much for leaving a comment! And that’s very interesting, thank you for sharing!

[@sacrabalicVODS]

We have the concept of inside and outside voices in America as well, we just don't adhere as closely to the rules as other cultures with similar principles might.

[@michix399]

hello fellow Norwegian. Inside voice is very important yes

[@DA-nk6gx]

@@sacrabalicVODS I'm pretty sure the phrase "use your inside voice" is told to children all across the USA by very annoyed parents and elementary school teachers. I remember hearing it all the time as a kid. It never failed to be funny when the teacher would use her "outside voice" to tell us to use our "inside voices".

[@sacrabalicVODS]

@@DA-nk6gx Yeah I mostly heard about them in kindergarten. When I got older the teachers just yelled, "Shut up," at everyone.

[@anon9430]

I’m starting to feel like germans and Japanese are more similar than I would have thought. A lot of things regarding manors are quite the same over here. Even the last point Shogo talked about is a thing here in Germany too (even if it is slowly disappearing these days). I’m very thankful for your videos Shogo. They are entertaining and educational at the same time and they hopefully be helpful to me when I visit Japan next year🇯🇵. ありがとうございます☺️

[@muurrarium9460]

The same here (your neighbours) in the Netherlands. Being quiet and not bother anyone is just good manners. But also: 'yelling' has become more and more commonplace, esp. with the huge influx of other cultures. (About 1 million were added the past 10 years to our 16,5 million... so it really makes a big difference in noiselevel outside, in buildings etc.etc.)

[@lucebruno644]

Oh yes Germany and Japan do indeed have historical connection....

[@keffkeff160]

@@lucebruno644 autsch:)

[@branonlamphere9624]

Both countries have a knack for brutality and losing wars.

[@siege824s8]

They were axis allies

[@scytaleghola5969]

On my first trip to Japan, I traveled to my destination alone. I marveled at how everyone seemed to be sleeping on the trains. After I reached my destination, I went with local colleagues to a restaurant. Once again, everyone on the train seemed to be sleeping... Except one very old man in the seat across from me. He smiled and I smiled and gave a slight bow. Then I felt an elbow in my side. One of my Japanese friends explained to me that it is customary and respectful to keep your eyes lowered in the presence of your elders. I gave the man one last smile and lowered my eyes so I looked like every other sleepy person on the train...

[@RJay12291]

I went to Hiroshima in Spring 2018 and was buying some water and snacks at a Lawson's. After the cashier rang up my items, I thanked him with "arigato." The cashier responded very sternly with "arigato gozaimasu." I assume he was attempting to correct my improper Japanese. rofl

[@bocahdongo7769]

Just matter of "Thanks" and "Thank you". Especially when they usually trained to be bit more manner

[@jkid4855]

No he’s not. He’s just doing what he’s always done. Correcting strangers is rude. Don’t overthink.

[@DGneoseeker1]

The correct form is Domo arigato Mr Roboto. Baka.

[@avlinrbdig5715]

@@DGneoseeker1 demo aggregate do say mazda

[@BidwellRunner]

"It'd be very weird to eat the bun and burger separately" **sweats in Gordon Ramsey**

[@OmniscientWarrior]

Also, that is how a hamburg steak was made to be eaten, before someone put the hamburger into a bun.

[@SmallPaleThing]

I remember how overwhelmed I was by the noises on public transport after I came back from living in Japan for a year. It felt like reverse culture shock. I still find it very rude for people to talk loud in closed public spaces. Especially when they're on the phone. I discovered your channel today and already watched a few videos. I love the recaps/conclusions that you do at the end. Keep up your good work. Greetings from Germany!

[@TheGosgosh]

Ach was, der Öffentliche Nahverkehr ist doch nicht laut xD Man ist halt nur quasi im Zirkus, je nachdem zu welcher Uhrzeit man fährt xD

[@2WheelsGood.01]

This should be played on repeat, on screens all over Japan during the Olympics.

[@echirag]

@GinoBikes 😂😂😂 Ditto!

[@kranzonguam]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@soursweet45]

If they happen lol

[@pbac9570]

the real reason they didn't want foreign crowds

[@oldkid820]

"Welcome. Welcome to City 17."

[@Thundermikeee]

"I think its mostly Europeans that wear strong perfume.." As a european, yes, some people have perfume that is so strong you physically feel it. I have walked past people and got hit with an almost solid wall of flower scent. It was uncomfortable even outside, so i can see how in a culture that seems to be rather attentive to others around themselves it would be considered rude to subject someone else to that

[@pepita2437]

@cerobalam4602 Let me tell you something. It's even worse in the Middle East. Even the men wear a lots of perfume there, and the sweeter the smell the better. Some of their most popular choices makes me nauseous.

[@saintejeannedarc9460]

In N. America fragrance allergies are getting pretty common. i know in Canada, they've switched to unscented cleaners just everywhere and signs are in govt. places and schools about perfumes. Immigrants from non western countries don't generally comply though. If you go into a govt. place that's full of immigrants, the smell will knock you over.

[@typo1345]

​@@pepita2437 honestly not too surprised. The region has a history for aromatics trading

[@pepita2437]

@@typo1345 So true. :)

[@typo1345]

@@pepita2437 not to mention, I have a feeling you'd be sweating a lot in the desert, you'd want to smell nice

[@mikcon63]

In Australia we have something similar about keeping the noise down to an acceptable level, if you're too loud someone will politely tell you "Oi ya farken drongo shut ya trap before I put my boot in it." such a beautiful language.

[@andreakoroknai1071]

dying 🤣🤣

[@heatherwoodley8244]

😂😂😂

[@regnbuetorsk]

In Italy we use almost only loud voice, LOL

[@rashoietolan3047]

Baddada boppi?!?!

[@canelnr5489]

Haha same with my mom. She's Turkish and talks very loud too 😂😁.

[@ThisIsKiki1]

In Latin America, too xD

[@Anonymous-ld7je]

You Italians are quite wonderful to be around though

[@moxygirlhey]

Sounds more relaxing to me

[@doger944]

It's funny how you describe accidentally being rude in Japanese; my wife is from Vietnam, and there is the same problem the other way around. When, in England, you might say "could I have a cheeseburger please? " in Vietnamese you'd say "Oi, kid! Sell me a cheeseburger." which is super rude in any English speaking country🤣 For the first nine years that my wife was in the UK, she didn't know that saying "whatever" to people is rude, and honestly pretty mean, so until I told her she had been going around basically saying "I don't care" to people as a way to change the subject. She didn't know until she said it to me once and I was like "why are you mad at me?"

[@RexOedipus.]

Idk about you but I went "Cheers bossman, I'll have the cheeseburger and large fries"

[@LukeJLB]

I'm from the US and my roommate is from Serbia. She has a Ph.D. in English literature which she got here in the US and is perfectly fluent, but we've still had some funny interactions with language. Like, I'd say "howdy" to her, and she'd say "I'm fine, how are you?" It took me almost half a year to realize that "howdy" is an abbreviation of the phrase "how do you do," and her response was perfectly correct for a really antiquated version of English. Or, sometimes when she intends to ask me for something, she'll say "you will help me with x" when obviously she meant it as a question instead of a command. I don't know anything about the Serbian language and whether that's something specific to L1 Serbian speakers or if it's just an occasional slip-up placing "will" after "you," or what. But I suspect she's probably been perceived as rude before due to that particular quirk. Languages ain't easy. Incredible respect to anyone who speaks more than one. Criticizing minor language goofs when somebody's speaking a language other than the one they were raised with is a bit like criticizing an Olympic athlete for not earning a medal in my view.

[@ninaniles3184]

@@LukeJLB idk down here in the south we say “will you do this for me” but it’s not a question or request, we expect it to get done

[@mirathy5836]

@@LukeJLB i speak a bit of Russian and in the Russian language when you ask someone to do something the question goes literally "will you do this?" At the same time in these kind of questions the noun is always put before the verb If you translate word for word you end up with "you will do this"

[@katarzynazak9638]

@@LukeJLB in spoken Polish the "will you do this for me?" and "you will do this for me" sentences are built exactly the same - the only difference is in the intonation. "We will go to cinema together" and "shall we go to the cinema together?" - the same :) We use the question word "Czy" at the beginning of the sentence to make into a question, but we often omit it in spoken Polish, because the intonation makes the intention clear. It maybe the case in Serbian as well, I don't know.

[@terebiomimasu]

Very nice lesson, but something that also stood out to me was how well structured and presented your thoughts were. Thank you for the video.

[@MrThewhorishnun]

i really appreciate the way you speak english. you take time to pronounce each work correctly, with proper diction. You speak better English than most Americans.

[@haibiki]

I love the cartoon illustrations you use for reference and emphasis😂💗 I used to see them everywhere in Japan, and my coworkers used them in every PowerPoint presentation😂

[@StefanAntonikSeidler]

I must say (as an Austrian), that I really understand why it feels as impolite when people are talking loud (in closed, public areas) or use too much parfume. There are no morally rules against in my country, but I know a lot of people who are as much annoyed as I am.

[@lebury3175]

Yo you are a Hitler lover i See.

[@avlinrbdig5715]

@Cero Balam it is as they say.. these asmatics should focus more on all the air in the sky instead of complaining.. once i was burning wood in fireplace, this astma-kid says to me.. " i can't breathe".. im like yo.. plenty air outside in the wintercold bro... jk this is a joke lmfao

[@danteb1926]

(As an Australian) I don't really care about loud talking that much, but the perfume, oh man. Some people like to take it to the levels of chemical warfare.

[@chozer1]

tell that to austrian painter guy that always yells

[@KyokujiFGC]

I think it should be mentioned that many Japanese are well aware that foreigners won't understand a lot of these things, so they probably won't judge you too harshly for it. Also, depends on the people you hang out with, as some younger Japanese don't necessarily care as much about certain things.

[@Lemieux_channel]

Foreigner: (sticks chopsticks in rice) Japanese citizen: *You got a death wish, bro?*

[@aritomedz]

Ha

[@jonazo1]

Who’s number is up? Who gotta die?

[@beeragainsthumanity1420]

How are you supposed to eat it?

[@Lemieux_channel]

@@beeragainsthumanity1420 Sorry for the confusion; I meant when they aren’t eating the rice and stick the chopsticks upright in the bowl, as discussed in this video

[@beeragainsthumanity1420]

@@Lemieux_channel Ok, I get it now... Just my own confusion. Thank you

[@sudalie7914]

I'm so grateful you put the effort to have subtitles in your videos🙏💕

[@gamergirl33193]

THANK YOU not only for explaining the more important things to not do, but also explaining them in depth! I've seen many videos and articles about these kinds of things, but most of them give very little explanation on why it's such a bad thing to do.

[@chrisd2536]

It's funny, when you talked about sitting on the floor/ground, it reminded me of the tourists I saw when I was traveling in Japan ( mostly Tokyo). Not really on the streets, but in the Tokyo Skytree, some of them were sitting on the ground to keep the "best views" for themselves, making it hard for other to take nice pictures. It was kind of annoying, but again, I was also a tourist so I couldn't really say anything to them.

[@welikewatchingbirds]

Great video! Accidentally sounding rude is one of my biggest fears when studying Japanese. Do you have any tips or maybe examples of mistakes non-native speakers commonly make when talking to Japanese people?

[@hemandy94]

If you study japanese then one of the first things that you learn is how to speak in keigo.

[@EienOfDark]

@@hemandy94 Unfortunately that's only true if you learn in a constructed manner, like a classroom, or with a tutor, or out of a textbook. Which, is true for most people these days, but personally I learned in an unconventional way, so now I struggle with keigo. It's like if you learn to write in cursive before learning printing.

[@OmniscientWarrior]

A mostly correct rule to go by, if you know the base form of the word, the version of it with more syllables is the polite version, and if there is another form with even more syllables, that may be an even more polite version, refrain from using that unless talking to someone with a very high status. Also, don't use slang phrases with people you don't know. Granted, this doesn't fully apply, but at the very least, it will be easier for the Japanese that you aren't trying to be offensive.

[@muurrarium9460]

That is why I gave up on Japanese all together: there is just no way I can avoid insulting anyone, the very last thing I want to do by accident.

[@295Phoenix]

Just use desu and masu. It's not like you'll be talking to the Emperor or be a CEO in super-formal situations.

[@mrskye08]

Japanese: sitting on ground is filthy. Also Japanese: im too drunk so im gonna sleep here in the sidewalk 😂😂😂

[@johannah4770]

Drunk people do filthy things and they should wash their pants (trousers/skirt) after they get home, preferably without sitting on any kind of seat before doing so.

[@jonazo1]

Alcohol is an accepted excuse for breaking all the rules

[@somethinghandlesomething]

that isnt about japan, it's about drunk people

[@MediHusky]

@@jonazo1 In my city if you're inebriated you get to ride the bus free because the bus driver no longer speaks your language.

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

Yep, seen that in Tokyo on a Saturday night

[@jonh4872]

I love and appreciate when you leave your little mistakes in your video and make them opportunities for comedy. It's very humble and endearing. Most people would edit them out but I'm truly glad you left them in.

[@theaussieflame]

I LOVE that you've reacted to Chris' video (I am a massive fan of you both 😊). Thank you also for the extra information, it's very much appreciated 😊

[@stevensiegert]

Question(s) I have: - How traditional is Japan nowadays (with a historical perspective perhaps) and how big is the foreign influence? - How much of the traditions are alive these days? - Can you talk about the Japanese youth? - Can you talk about changes that tourism brought? - Can you talk (more) about your experiences in foreign countries? - Can you talk about Japan having a pretty much homogeneous society? - Can you give your words on Hāfu people? - Can you name your favourite regional dishes? - etc..., can't think of anything, my brain is on fire right now. I want to hear all that from you.

[@user-un-known]

You got a plethora of quite broad questions there... I ain't Shogo so I won't start answering in his place, but would like to clarify a thing. What do you mean by "your thoughts on hafu"? What are you expecting here? That all hafu are regarded as some different caste? Perhaps you want to hear about specific mixes? Korean/Japanese hafu won't really stand out and be noticed, for example. You include that too? Or Ryukyu/Yamato hafu. Or Ainu/Yamato hafu. Like, what's the exact definition you wanna use? What is it you're expecting to hear?

[@stevensiegert]

@@user-un-known I've watched a good amount of videos about Hafūs. From discussions to informative stuff. I just want to hear more thoughts/opinions/different perspectives (from each side). I'm not Asian or a Halfling, just interested what people have to say to this topic. From what I've seen it's like two sides of a coin. There's praising and contempt. I'm on the Humantarian side, maybe that's why I'm interested in human related topics.

[@DeezNutz-yg8io]

@@stevensiegert Halfling is a Dungeons and Dragons race. Presuming you were throwing some cuteness into your message but it is literally dehumanizing. I like your questions though! Might be a year before half of them get answered but c'est la vie eh?

[@stevensiegert]

@@DeezNutz-yg8io Yes, so ist das Leben (C'est la vie).

[@DeezNutz-yg8io]

das leban ist ein hund is a great "Wizo" song if you haven't heard it already!

[@mreeeeee9112]

For Sitting on the ground, does it include sitting on the floor of someone else's home? Because sitting on the floor in a house in my culture is considered as good manners and polite compare to sitting on a chair. Normally, we give chairs for elder people to sit and the young sits on the floor if there is no chair left.

[@OmniscientWarrior]

Floor and ground are considered dirty. If you were to order some food to your room or house, they will place on something that isn't on the floor or attach it to the door handle just to keep it off the floor.

[@Bakotcha]

@@OmniscientWarrior I think I came from the same country as 911, because we also eat while sitting on the ground, and sometimes we also put our food on the ground.

[@danielantony1882]

@@OmniscientWarrior That contradicts the existence of Kotatsu though.

[@OmniscientWarrior]

@@danielantony1882 It doesn't at all. As you see, the food stays above the floor.

[@danielantony1882]

@@OmniscientWarrior I'm not talking about food.

[@alvin9799]

Things that you should never do when you visit Japan: Don't act like Logan Paul and be a total nutcase.

[@ssakcajaru236]

Moral of the Story: Do not high five Logan Paul or he'll leave you hanging

[@SpindlyJohnny]

@@ssakcajaru236 (Ba dum tss)

[@dragodx8238]

@@ssakcajaru236 good play.

[@kakyoindonut3213]

@@ssakcajaru236 dark joke

[@Ruffy112]

I've noticed over the past 2 years, that in Tokyo the speaking on the train rule has not been so strict. Many many japanese people talk, but in an "acceptable" volume I suppose. So usually, I also talk if I want to, but I also become very uncomfortable when I realize we're getting very loud.. But I want to ask something. I understand this to be out of respect for other people as to not disturb them and essentially I guess to keep the harmony? How is it though, that these hugely invasive and loud announcements on Shinkansen, local trains and sometimes busses are just accepted? They go on and on for minutes and everytime you'd hope they finally shut up they go for another round.. It deeply disturbs my comfort and feels quite hypocritical to be honest.

[@pewpewdestroyerofworlds8349]

I wish that your videos were available when I lived in Japan (2007-2010). I had many misadventures with my Japanese friends and coworkers, many of which you've covered on your channel. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge!

[@kliudrsfhlih]

I'm from Mexico. I'm working to get my JLPT N2, I work as a Japanese language teacher and I still have a really hard time with what to say and what not to say to my principal... I think teachers have to do a lot more to develop japanese style social awareness in students. Also input alone from books and films is not enough, students need training in basic japanese social sensibilities, specially latin-american students; we're from different planets. The cultural gap is just... as big as it can be.

[@markvalenz]

I currently have been living in Japan for almost a year and I still learn things every day. Thank you for teaching me more things!

[@zeroxlulu]

All the little, constant sound effects reminds so much of Japanese TV lol

[@BidwellRunner]

Or every Japanese KZbinr.

[@bobbywhite5319]

Japanese media in a nutshell

[@yunaneomi]

Basically all east Asian media.

[@ViridianFlow]

Needs to have someone in the corner of the video making over exaggerated reaction faces for it to be Japanese tv.

[@stevenkunkel7283]

Culture learning is very important. Thanks for teaching us and have a great day always!!!

[@VarnasBaltas]

Yes it is you!! You were working in the samurai experience when we went for our trip to Japan! That was one of the coolest experiences I've had there, I remember you served us tea. Best of luck!

[@kretzschi5000]

yeah i mean the thing about speech is that before you say something you have to be aware of what you say, to whom you say it and what it means. so be aware of who you talk to and if, use the apropriate words. The big difference between you and anime characters is that they are either very close with their mates or they want to be really disrespectful. but you are neither of them. so, the way foes talk to each other and the way friends talk to each other both are OUT of question.

[@Aritenshi]

Man really went to town with that bamboo sound effect

[@ewwmorons]

Your accentless English is very satisfying to listen to.

[@tonnberry9279]

There's definitely an American accent? Amazing american accented english!

[@phoenixwright7802]

it's an american accent wth are you talking about??

[@davidtomkins4242]

He sounds very american, although it is well spoken american

[@MeowMeow202]

No such thing as accent less. Every single person has an accent. Even robots have accent.

[@lolmanboss]

Yeah he sounds so natural. (well for english which has two accents which are considered normal)

[@MrCraigster0]

Thanks!

[@SmellyBodega]

I think dude was giving his perspective as a foreigner in Japan. Not that it is fact or law but from experience. Always a beautiful thing to get true perspective from someone whose born and raised. Very insightful and more detailed. Thank you. But his video also carries great perspective from those who come from obnoxious and direct cultures such a UK / The states

[@Starkangelus44]

The main thing I have gotten use to doing while learning Japanese and speaking to friends on HelloTalk is to speak in polite form until they say decide that they would prefer to speak more casually. It’s just good manners I think

[@ken2000X]

In only six years you developed an American accent? How old were you when you arrived in Michigan?

[@LetsaskShogo]

5 years old!

[@ken2000X]

@@LetsaskShogo ah, OK. That makes sense. And you kept up with your English when you returned to Japan? Was it through private school or through private lessons through programs like ECC jr, Kumon or Nova?

[@presidentsquidward1525]

Laughed hard when he said that his mom was turned into super saiyan mode. I mean, that's the special skill for moms, especially Asian

[@ThanatosZero]

One other video had a old lady turning into a force of nature, when the foreigner forgot to remove their shoes.

[@razkafly]

I've seen that a lot in Crayon Shin-Chan manga :D :D

[@kosar98]

When shogo explained and speak, i really listened very well. Thank you for sharing you're culture to everyone. I love you're culture so much, i think in my past life im a Japanese.

[@M335h1]

Youre such a thorough teacher! I appreciate you.

[@Klotrik]

Interesting! I also picked up that "I feel little bit unplesant" actually means "I am very offended and upset".

[@carlolestani9810]

There’s another exception about tatami. When you play judo you’re allowed to walk on the mat barefooted

[@lolmanboss]

You do that on tatami? i didnt know that!

[@timclark428]

Good video. I see many videos always praising the Japanese peoples’ manners but I think many people don’t know that there are some things Japanese do that are not good: - tend not to help people (many times I see women struggling to carry their bags and Japanese guys never ever help) . So I always help :D . Or I see old man falling and no one helps. Or disabled man being attacked and no one helped (I stepped in and helped ) . - tend to only be nice to foreigners (thus the good reputation from us) but in reality it’s the least helpful country. People respond in a rude way when you need help - tend to dislike foreigners and so will avoid them incl not sitting next to us on trains (makes me sad as I try so hard to learn the language and do when in rome) Beautiful country but i feel Japanese are too patriotic and should also be honest of their faults

[@ta_nya5240]

I agree with this. Being kind to individuals you don't know is not a widely spread concept in Japan. It's basically "keep your head down and don't look left or right" for the main part. My friend told me that when he was on the train he gave up his seat to an elderly lady and the guy he was travelling with was like "what are you doing?", like he was embarrassed. I once helped a lady carrying a pretty heavy bag down a set of stairs. Once we'd made it, she thanked me profusely, bowed repeatedly - it kind of made me feel awkward. It seemed like a very out of the ordinary thing for her when I was just thinking "she's struggling, better go and help". Like, that's just what you do. 🤷‍♀️

[@subg8858]

If a westerner in the west acted like Japanese, they’d be a pariah to mainstream culture. Basically consired something akin to neo nazi

[@brandonward3551]

Useful information once again. Glad I stayed away from learning any of the language from anime. Thanks

[@marcooliveira9335]

Thanks, I am learning many things with your presentations. Be well and healthy in these trouble times.

[@chucarnaj21]

arigatou gozaimasu, i was sure about some of the topics but i trully didnt knew about the tatami or the sitting on the floor. i think i might have upseted someone in the past

[@LetsaskShogo]

Thank you very much for leaving a comment! I’m glad if my video was informative!

[@inisipisTV]

I understand it’s also bad to step on the sliding door sill (to prevent in damaging the wooden grove) also it’s not good to step on the borders of the tatami mat.

[@marinel5263]

Me walking barefeet in my flat for the past year... 💀 where do I hide?

[@Pekylla]

4:05 this is the most difficult rule to follow for spaniards

[@thegamingfool524]

Jesus christ yes I'm Puerto rican its literally me... i can't even help it...

[@ZeriAi]

I agree, I can't help it

[@HyenaXS]

JODER!

[@Sean-yk3yk]

Thanks for this video, informative as always!! Also by any chance, could you make videos about Japan's not well known dark sides please (like bad things in Japan that people usually don't know about)? (I'm not by any way trying to be rude) I think it would be important to know them too!

[@LetsaskShogo]

Thank you so much for always watching my videos and leaving comments! Yes I have a lot of those topics in mind as well, I hope you can look forward to them!

[@biri_o]

Thank you. I'm currently watching your videos and I understand more about Japanese culture. I appreciate you doing these type of videos.

[@casarioja7314]

very useful advice, I also appreciate very much the way you approached the subject.

[@namelessnpc6689]

I learned a lot of vocabulary from anime before I started seriously studying japanese at a university, so when I speak japanese to my senseis, not only is it hard because I haven't had nearly as much oral practice as I should, but it's hard for me to not say something in a way I shouldn't.

[@kyriepark5581]

When I was in Japan last time, me and my friend tried so much not to cause any loud noises esp. When inside the train. One time, we boarded a local train as these Japanese youngsters and they were so noisy the whole time they were inside the train. It was kind of crowded as it was peak hours but you could clearly hear them talking out loud. A lot of people were already giving them 'the glance'. It just got quiet when they left the train at Shinsaibashi station. Honestly, it was at that time I realized that the the noise is really vexing. And the best thing you can do to other people is to not be noisy esp in an enclosed space where a small noise would be heard throughout.

[@Jabroniville]

Cool video! I avoided doing most of these (I studied chopstick rules a bit before I went). I did occasionally say things out loud on trains or buses, mostly to offer old people my seat- but only for a sentence or two, haha. Also no old people ever accepted my offer. My one big mistake was I ALWAYS walked while eating, which I didn't realize was taboo. For some reason none of the websites I read about cultural practices in Japan mentioned that- it wasn't until I got home that I realized nobody did that.

[@magicalhats]

Very informative. I just wish Japan didn't have so many idiosyncratic issues that extended to foreigners, so much so that a slight mistake is considered terribly rude. I heard stories of small restaurants kicking out foreigners just cause they added salt to food without tasting it first. I'd love to visit Japan someday and of course I'll be incredibly polite and respectful, but its very daunting that a slight mistake on my part can potentially ruin a whole trip. As an asian american, if I saw someone eating a steak without a knife or a hamburger with bread first, I would think its funny, and smile, but its none of my business and to each his own. But I'm with you in talking loud in public with the intention of being rude and refraining from things that are obviously rude to anyone in the world.

[@biserrizov6863]

"eating a steak without a knife" - I will definitely notice, but sure why not, it might be easier that way even if a little strange "Eating the bun first from a hamburger" - guilty of charge, I've done it before and I might do it again! :D

[@jadedparanormality564]

When I was lucky enough to have a chance to spend a year at Kansas Gaidai University, I had the absolute honor of spending that whole year living with the most wonderful family I have ever met. Since I had only studied Japanese for two years, I made a lot of mistakes. My host family was so nice helping me. But I knew when I had made a big mistake in the words I chose. Once, I referred to my sister as “nigiyaka” instead of “genki” because I didn’t understand the negative connotation. Another time, I asked my host mother if there was more rice but used “aru” instead of “arimasu” because I knew that when people got close, they’d use casual language and that being overly formal with a person could come off as cold. However, that was probably a bit too early into knowing each other. Thankfully, my host father explained both situations and no one was mad. I also learned important stuff from any of those mistakes.

[@GHDpro]

I guess #3 depends on the situation? I mean if you're out on a hike and want to take a rest but all benches are full. I've even been to an event (opening of the 2015 World Scout Jamboree) where thousands of people sat on the ground in front of (former) prime minister Abe and (then crown prince) emperor Naruhito. I also think it is a bit universal - there are definitely moments where sitting on the floor is not okay in other countries/cultures too. As for #5, yeah I’m afraid I’m probably guilty of that. I know I shouldn’t copy anime/manga characters style of talking, but it is all too easy to forget to use keigo with strangers and use tameguchi instead. I also occasionally forget that omitting "-san” in Japanese is bad, which results in strange pauses sometimes “Hello Tanaka…. …. … -san!” (or something like that). Continuing with #5: one funny mistake I’ve heard someone make was to refer to their dorm lady with “kore wa”… she didn’t like that.

[@danielgoodrich264]

I suspected it would be impolite to point with chopsticks. I know I find it rude not to mention unsanitary when people here point with a fork.

[@LetsaskShogo]

Thank you so much for leaving a comment! Yes that's true, a fork would be rude too!

[@lolmanboss]

in some countries its even considered sexual harassment. A buddy of mine (Bulgarian) said that pointing with a spoon at somebody means you want to... you know... do that.

[@EienOfDark]

Pointing at someone at all, is supposed to be rude. But it's one of those things like "elbows on the table" that a lot of people don't adhere to and I bet some young people aren't even aware of.

[@akoalawithinternetaccess2152]

Thank you Shogo, this was very helpful and I will make sure to keep this points in mind when traveling to Japan in the future so that I do not make these mistakes myself. 😊

[@whoahanant]

I have gotten myself my own pair of of chopsticks and have been learning the etiquette for them from Japanese youtubers. There may be many rules for it but I highly reccomend learning how to use them! It's been fun to learn.

[@fairycronegaming4480]

Since im living in Japan and studying here...i really want to adapt their culture just a little. But after of maybe 2 to 4 years of staying in Japan it made me feel different when i go back to Philippines. When i go back to Philippines and ride the train in Philippines and its so crowded i feel like im lost. Seeing Filipino people again is somehow made me feel a little fear...thats why i promise myself that i will spend balance time in Philippines and Japan. Thats why i can adjust to both country now. And since im not using chopsticks that much when im in Japan i really get confused at first...but thank you..now i can avoid it.

[@knusperkeks2748]

In Germany, the train cars are usually quiet. Sometimes, they do get a bit louder due to the track being not perfectly linear. It takes only a single person to pollute half a train with noise. I never got used to it. Often times it's the young people's lack of care. I like to think it's not just the typical stereotypes of foreigners who do this, but all people participate in it equally, German or not. I think your rules make sense and are well thought-out.

[@mareikesander4420]

Wo ich wohne sind es meistens ältere Menschen die laut sind. Kegelvereine und betrunkene Fußballfans. Die meisten jungen Leute hier sind an ihrem Handy oder lesen, aber das ist auch nur was ich so sehe.

[@E1N101]

Oder sich keine Kopfhörer besorgen können. Absolut unterirdisch..

[@sambros2]

In Australia trains and buses are normally quiet with a few conversations. The only people yelling are normally eshays or aboriginals

[@Allthebest1010]

Thank you for uploading - just general feedback, I had a little bit of hard time no being able to feel tranquil while listening because of the constant cuts/editing transitions , the horn noise. It's a real distraction both of them - just some feedback

[@purevault]

Agreed. Great video, just the sound effects and cuts can be toned down.

[@jakelecroy5553]

I really enjoy your channel. Thank you so much!

[@zontzooit2415]

the languge part will be the most hardest to remember reminds me of spanish we have two ways of saying "you" theres a informal one around those who youre close with like friends, or casuals which is "tu" and a formal one for like grandparents, teachers, or someone you look up to which is "usted"

[@LetsaskShogo]

Do you have anything you're worried about before coming to Japan?

[@chucarnaj21]

right now, my japanese level

[@toericabaker]

I visited Japan 10 years ago when I was 16. If I could do it again, I would do more research, so I could appreciate what i was seeing. There were times when I would just exit my hotel and stand on the sidewalk, basically with my mouth open, because I couldnt get enough. I would love to move to Japan because in America I can't afford the medical bills associated with having children. it would be cool to live in a country that incentivises family. I'm also harassed on the sidewalk daily because I live downtown in a crumbling American city. I would love to live in a city where I can walk around without a knife.

[@Anonymous551656]

I have something I wondered about while *in* Japan. Many places with escalators have rules asking people not to walk up or down on them. However in Osaka and Tokyo I saw many, many Japanese people still doing this, walking up and down on the moving escalators. In fact the people who stood still on the escalators were the minority, almost all of the native Japanese were still walking on the escalators. If I as a visiting foreigner just do the same thing do you think that other Japanese people might perceive me as being rude even though most of the Japanese around me are doing the same thing?

[@arinrumi]

My saving I guess. I mean I heard Japan is quite expensive for a week trip.

[@Anonymous551656]

@@arinrumi It depends what you're comparing it against. As an Australian I'd always heard that Japan was expensive - but I actually found the prices over there quite comparable to prices here. On the other hand if you're comparing it to somewhere like Thailand then Japan will be comparatively much more expensive. It also depends on the currency exchange rate.

[@bobmcguffin5706]

"Eating the burger and the bun separately, wouldn't that bother you a bit?" Kitchen workers who seem to have every other burger plate served come back with the bun uneaten because people keep eating only the burger: "Honestly, I'm numb to it at this point"

[@sicarrii8754]

I have been using Duolingo to learn Japanese After I finish it I was gonna move on to stuff like “respectful Japanese” or “traditional Japanese” Like get to a level where I can grasp stuff and read basic kanji and kana But the stuff I knew before starting was very basic (really basic) respectful vs casual stuff Like 私 and 僕 And they where teaching 僕 is what to say when you get there When from what I understand it is very casual and disrespectful It has taught me 私 but still Idk if I just missed the “casual vs respectful” thing or whatever But I am learning on Duolingo

[@soos4446]

I’d love to see another video like this that goes into more detail on educate and social rules in Japan that are different to foreign places as I would love to go there one day but would be really upset to find that something I could’ve done may have upset or made someone who lived their feel uncomfortable. I’ll be sure to keep all this in mind when I eventually visit 😄.

[@EX-JW-SJD]

I love your videos, I have learned more from you in the past few weeks than I did in the past 13+ years of me living here. I live in Kumamoto and work on a dairy farm. There are so many things Im oblivious to. Thank you for your insight so far.

[@notoriousresearcher]

Thank you, this was super helpful! I didn't realize the bit about tatami and socks. 😩 One question about sitting on the floor: a hostel/ryokan I stayed at had a central gathering area that was half tatami and half wood floor with a traditional sunken fireplace, and the hosts and guests both sat on the wooden floor while talking or having snacks (like kakigori). Is this unusual, or okay for that kind of room?

[@juanar4305]

"We eat and drink while walking, and cross streets when the light is still red" I guess so. If there are explicit rules, it is because there are violations of them. If people naturally did not commit conduct X there would be no rules preventing it.

[@gruu]

I really appriciate your videos man! But can you do it with less soundeffects? I counted, and not even 3 seconds pass without some weird loud soundeffect and it's hard to concentrate on what you're saying

[@LetsaskShogo]

Thank you very much for leaving a comment, and your advise! I will be sure to revise this from my next video!

[@MichelleLM88]

I feel a lot of people need to learn that 6th thing. Not necessary no strong perfume/cologne but learning to apply it sparingly (spritz the air 1 to 2 times and walk through). One it won't make people allergic to you or collapse around you. Also two it'll save you money by extending your perfume/cologne longer

[@DonCarlos590]

people in japan are really nice to each other. i hear loud car stereo music all the time. sometimes i smoke in public. i heard in some europe contries , many of the residents smoke in city streets.