NOTIFICATION SQUAD: A lot of effort went into this - special thanks to Natsuki for taking part in the 11 sketches! What did we miss though? What unspoken, unwritten rules did we forget? Let us know below! And thanks to Sakuraco for sponsoring this episode: 🎃🍡 Use Code “ABROAD” to get $5 off your first #Sakuraco box team.sakura.co/abroadinjapan-SC2409 or # TokyoTreat box: team.tokyotreat.com/abroadinjapan-TT2409 and enter to WIN FREE Japanese souvenirs!
Escalators shocked me in Japan, for several reasons: 1) Many of them are incredibly slow. 2) Some have signs saying to only stand on them, not walk, despite them being excruciatingly slow. 3) Despite usually being sticklers for rules, many Japanese people ignore the prohibition against walking on esclators.
You want anarchy in Japan. Ride a bike. There's often strict rules about riding on sidewalks or in roads and people get annoyed about in the west. But in Japan you just ride a bike where ever. In the road, on the sidewalk choose your own adventure.
Japanese people break all the wrttien rules all the time, you are not meant to ride bikes on sidewalks, use your phone, or urbelma, but they all do, but you break an unwrtitten rule that is bad.
I feel many warning signs are calibrated towards the reckless (and eldery, perhaps). But most people are timid enough not to need those extra warning signs. Most people won't die when walking on an escalator. But it probably caused a minor accident 55 years ago and the owner of the property got sued and lost, and now warning signs are there to cover their bottoms from liability.
I knew the "don't touch the taxi doors" thanks to a previous video on this channel. True story, ordered an Uber to Manchester airport to catch my flight to Japan - the car then turned up was an imported Japanese taxi and the driver was very excited about us not having to touch the door. Never had that before or again in the UK, and it was on the way to get my Japan flight 😂
Lots of Japanese imports in Manchester now, had a similar experience on the way home from a wedding and the driver was lamenting about how the infotainment system only had kanji and could not be changed 😂😂
I worked for a Japanese bookstore in the US and I always arrived on time for my shift. A supervisor (who was Japanese) told me to show up 5 minutes early and I couldn't understand why and kind of argued with her that I don't get paid to wait around. Now it makes sense lol
One time at Osaka station on my way to Wakayama, I was eating McD on an empty train awaiting departure. One girl walked in, saw me munch, became disgusted and walked right out. lol.😂
God my British soul would have compelled me to flip her off and ask "what are you looking at?" Terrible impression but I can't stand strangers putting their nose where it doesn't belong
@@livinlicious Yeah, you try not to eat or drink in 5-8 hours sitting in a train or if there ain't enough time in between your two trains. The tables are there for other purposes than just your Iphone or laptop 😉
Ok but they come around with little carts with katsu sandos... am I really not supposed to eat that at my seat? They brought it to me at my seat. And are ekibens not supposed to be eaten on the train either?
I just got back from Japan yesterday. Having noticed all these things, I somehow dodged nearly all of these issues and the previous video's call outs. My Oku-san struggled a bit but she acclimated quickly with some light mentioning of each thing.... I returned and I'm immediately missing quiet public spaces and the infinite little things that made the country feel so clean, quiet, and livable...❤😢
The rice sketch is the best one in this video. Natsuki's reaction is just brilliant. I totally understand that Chris showed it multiple times and kind of broke character while filming. Edit: timestamp 15:40
The American version of this would be to take some nice BBQ and pour ketchup on it. lol. Soy sauce goes on meat or vegetables, typically. Rice is its own thing and almost handled like a bit of a palate cleanser. Some fragrances or spices, sometimes, but basically eaten as-is. The implication of smothering it with sauce ( of any kind ) is that it was made incorrectly - that whole don't critique the chef thing, again. And, yes, good BBQ doesn't need any sauce.
@@kgjung2310 I love putting soy sauce on rice (adding a raw egg was pretty extra) and butter on rice with some salt on it. This was because I was a kid who didn't know how to cook meals for myself, yet.
Japanese business cards: I was told that in Japan, the business card is exchanged because in the Japanese language (with the 3 different types of written characters), it is often impossible to know how a person correctly writes their name without having an example on the card.
It is difficult because the same name can be represented by different kanji characters, which parents choose at birth. When you sign up for something online, they often want the kana version of your name too.
My Japanese clients in Hawaii get super flustered if I don't have a business card on me. It is like you can't do business without one. I always try and have one on me, but heaven forbid...
For #2, I have a personal theory that this is the reason why online reviews for restaurants in Japan are usually rated much lower compared to other parts of the world. People can never complain in public but when it's somewhat anonymous then people can be scathing! You can hardly find a place in Japan with higher than a Google 4.5 star and many places with a 3.something are absolutely amazing (well your Lost Bar seems to be the exception, well done mate!)
It's also to do with being correct with a rating scale. 1-10 makes 5 average. So a pretty woman is a 6, she is above average. By that logic 2.5 would be average and 3 would be above and therefore very good. They just use them correctly.
@@EndyBoye Yup. I used to be a Google Guide but there is significant pressure to always review somewhere as a 5 even when they were mediocre. If I got average service and food quality, they got an average score. However, many other reviewers for the same place would give them top marks even when it was clear they had the same experience as I did. Grade inflation is a real problem with online reviews (which is why I usually don't take them too seriously).
@@TheJohn8765well, you should probably be aware that any online review sites are thoroughly corrupted by large numbers if fake reviews. There are entire businesses who are devoted to doing nothing but this for their clients - at least in the USA.
exactly, it doesnt help that when i see negative reviews for japanese restaurants and the owner comes back with an essay cursign them, their family and their descedents for daring to say that the food wasn't good, makes me not want to visit that place lol
Shorts bit is so true. People do wear them casually around their residential areas though, but when "going out" or being in a more central area, its just seen as unfashionable
Also, shorts are fine for tourists doing a lot of walking but if you live and are working in japan, like chris was working for a japanese client in a business setting, they are best to be avoided.
About eating while walking, a little story of my first trip to Japan might shed some light. When walking in Kyoto to meet a colleague, at some point I felt a large thump on my head, as if someone had hit me with a large object. My instinct was, maybe some kids were playing football, and I got hit by a stray ball. But as I looked right, I saw a large raptor (bird of prey) flying off, which then proceed to loop around, stabilize at the height of my head and then proceed to have another go at me. I started running, which luckily discouraged the beast from its attack, but he kept stalking me across the streets of Kyoto. Strangely, no-one seemed phased by this. Eventually, the bird gave up, but when I met my colleague I told him this story. "Oh, that was a black kite. Were you eating something?" Confused I said "Yes, I was eating an apple. How do you know". "Black kites are very common in Japan, but they are unusual among raptors, because they are scavengers. They are also very bold, so they are not shy of trying to take food from your hands. Thats what hapoened to you, a black kite tried to steal your apple. That's why in Japan, we don't eat while walking in the street." 😮 Of course, in places like central Tokyo, there are no black kites, but get out to more rural areas (like Kamakura), and there are plenty. In fact, several temples in Kamakura have written warnings in English advising to look out for them if you are eating outside.
I've had seagulls attack my family at a beach in Florida over a bologna sandwich. They're like a swat team. You had the ground units that had us fully surrounded and then the air units dive-bombing us. My dad threw the sandwich away, and all their unity was gone in a flash. Every seagull for himself.
In London, the the right-hand side of the escalator is for people who want to stand still, the left-hand side is for people walking up or down. You will get told to move quite quickly by people trying to get past if you're in the way.
Same here in Canada. Right side for standing, left side for walking up. If you are standing on the left, people may ask you to move over so they can get by.
A lot of these things remind me about how I felt right at home while visiting Japan as a Finnish person, when it came to this unspoken big collective mindset of taking other people naturally into consideration. Trying to give others their personal space when possible, keeping an eye out for how people are moving on the street while walking and trying to keep subtly out of anyone's way, not embarrassing others for example by trying to get too close or personal or trying to engage them in a forced conversation (God forbid in English too), trying not to inconvenience anyone in any minor way, not being loud etc., and it really just comes automatically. I loved it!
As a Swedish person I get exactly what you mean! Up here in the Nordic's we traditionally have some similarities with Japan when it comes to respecting people's personal space and not being too intrusive with people whom you don't know well. We also have the exact same rule Chris mentioned of it being rude to point, since it can make people think you're pointing at them and badmouthing them.
Americans suck really badly about considering others when it comes to space. And as an American, it embarrasses me when some American blocks the doorway to a store by just standing there!
Same as a (northern) German. Several points in the video seemed either obvious or at least very similar to our habits: - we rarely complain directly to the restaurant staff about the food, we complain to each other afterwards and don't go there again - we usually arrive several minutes early (except for our public transport) and depending on the job/appointment, you would also call to let them know in advance if you are late - At least in a restaurant, you would normally go outside to make a phone call. On public transport calls are tolerated, but rare, and people definitely hear everything you say. - We like to wear shorts in our free time, but they are informal and can be impolite in some places. - we stay on the right side of the escalator, we even have the saying “stand on the right, walk on the left” and annoyingly not all people stick to it... - pointing your finger at people is rude, there is another saying that translates as “don't point your naked finger at clothed people”.
I’m from the US and I feel more at home in Japan than in the US because of all these unspoken rules. In the US I always felt like I was the only person trying to be a decent human being. In Japan everyone tries.
I think the Germans and Nordics are a *little* more lenient with timekeeping. You can be 5 minutes or so late, but no more than that, and you'd better be sweaty and apologetic to show you made an effort. In Germany you can also blame Deutsche Bahn and generally be forgiven, but of course that doesn't work in Japan.
Many years ago I was an exchange student in Japan (pre-COVID), and was in the middle of all these orientation meetings. At one of them one Japanese professor started the meeting and was explaining a bunch of stuff when suddenly she stopped and in a very stern tone looked at the back and said, "Um, in Japan we are always on time!" We all turned around and we saw these two guys still walking to their seats. It was quite the lesson for all of us to never be late.
I wonder what would happen if you used like a Chinese red envelope too, those are complete different? I also which was the correct one to just give a colleague money as per the example given.
@@johnlillard4305Hongbaos are typically used for New Years or an employee's first paycheck from what I remember. Might be mixing that up with Taiwan, but that's how I've understood it
Maybe I'm just too German but I always try to arrive early. And most people I know agree with that. I think it's just a matter of respect to arrive on time so you're not wasting the other person's time.
I agree with you so much, I currently live in a country where half an hour late with no communication it's acceptable because it's expected both parties will arrive half an hour late and it doesn't matter how I communicate it doesn't work for me and I feel disrespected because I am there on time people keep saying it's no big deal and if I could leave this instant I promise I would
I feel that there's something important to point out. Arriving too early is also considered rude. 5-10 minutes early is a good rule of thumb for most occasions. What the Japanese do is to rule out any chance of delays. So instead of taking the train that would be just in time, you take 1 or 2 earlier and wait until it's proper to arrive.
@@SgtPotShot At least at my time in the German army it was only 5 minutes early. After that I went to study where you learn about the "academic quarter (of an hour)". Being late of course.
For rule number 3, the Japanese comedian Yuriko Kotani and her adventures trying to guide her Mum around the UK are gold, especially when it comes to punctuality. Yuriko with her full fledged embrace of the British culture of "ish" ("I'll be there by 11-ish") and her Mum raging that she's not on time and has no intention of being on time had me in stitches.
I loved the taxi doors in Japan. I wasn't expecting it so it was a nice surprise, plus added to the drivers wearing a chauffeurs hat and white gloves it made the journeys feel a bit fancy.
The driver once parked on the road side, i waited for all the cars to go and quickly opened the door before another car came, to my surprise i got an ear full even considering the circumstances where waiting for a door to open in the middle of the main road would be dangerous. Some of their rules are crazy...
22:25 Nah this is a bit of an unspoken rule too back home in the UK, especially if you ever travel to London, thats how to know you've been away too long brother 😂
as a londoner i would actually disagree with you in the sense that its not an unspoken rule, there's signs and announcements that say to "stand on the right" and "walk on the left", as well as just being encouraged in general
@@johnlowell5905 Sells out quickly? Where are you searching? Lol. I swear every single Family Mart I go into is filled with Fami Chiki. Are you only going at night? Because convenience stores stops making hot food after like 9pm or so.
@@fkoff-c7c I would argue yes and now, it's more a cheap flavour supplement to mimic a quality beef-stock base. But I grew up between Austria and Italy, it's more of a thing in Germany and Austria. Can't remember ever seeing it in other countries to that extend. Also: do you put Maggi on your rice?
Honestly happy you’re still hitting great views on your videos. I used to watch your videos when I was 13, I’m 21 now. I wish you more success in the years ahead
Are they brutal? I remember that they just rated low, not because it was bad but because it takes a lot to be really good. Like 5 stars is for the most memorable delicious Sushi you've ever eaten, not for a McDonalds that gets your order right.
I think I've read that online Japanese people are the most rude and brutal. Since you're more anonymous and bottling up all your true opinions daily gets onto you.
For the Taxi door thing, as I understand, it started in the 70s as a kind of novelty in one particular city, maybe Osaka. It was such a hit that it expanded to the rest of the country and became ingrained in Japanese modern culture.
@@JWpilot But from another comment the driver used to always jump out and open and close the door. The innovation was the remote lever. Helpful hint: not gonna happen in NYC.
OK Chris, what color envelope should I look for? Are there specific envelopes for: "I'm returning the money I borrowed from you."? What color is the: "Happy Birthday! I don't know you well enough to buy a personalized gift, so here's some cash." envelope?
YES THIS! Brings up all the wrong envelopes but fails to provide the right one. Now when im visiting and have to give someone money im just gonna prep one of each and be like "here idk which is right so pick the least offensive".
A regular brown or white envelope with the amount written in smallish numbers is fine for giving money that isn't somewhat ceremonial. For birthdays, nobody really gives money, so there isn't a special birthday money envelope. There are special envelopes for new years money, usually with pictures of anpanman or mickey mouse because only children and students who have yet to graduate are given new years money. You don't write down how much is in new years money envelopes because how much is dependent on how old the child is, and you don't want the younger ones getting jealous. Once you graduate and get a job, it's now your job to give instead of get. Oh, and for funerals, don't forget to wrap your funeral envelope in a special fancy holder that is returned to you (once the funeral envelope has been removed).
@@thany3 It's a complicated subject, but basically so long as you remember that funerals are the strictest, weddings are second, and new years is the least strict, then no problems. If you just borrowed money from a friend or family, no need for an envelope. Equally as important as the envelope is what to wear for funerals and weddings. The good news is that we gaijin have a pass that allows us to make some pretty bad social gaffes, and sorta get away with it temporarily.
20:50 The wearing shorts thing might be regional. Here in the Kansai region, there are plenty of adults wearing shorts, whether going for a walk, to a park with their family, or the konbini. You probably wouldn't wear shorts while on the job, but at least in Kansai, I've never felt out of place wearing shorts outside.
There's apparently one exception to the "no pointing at people" rule: in Osaka, it is tradition that if anyone does fingergun at you and says "bang!", you have to fake that you've been shot. This is hilarious there.
11:28: Ok, so which envelope should you have used? If your options are wedding, anniversary, death, death, wedding, which one do you choose for "paying back what I owe you"?!
Regarding how to criticise a chef. I came across an interview with an experienced food show presenter on Japanese TV. The interviewer asked him "How would you say if the restaurant served you something really bad?" He answered "好きな人にはたまらないでしょうね（it must be a delight for someone whose tastebud matches）"
I also heard a talent once say that if she did not like the food she would say, "This reminds me of a homecooked meal". The implication being that the quality was not up to standard for what you would expect from a professional, but at the same time one could take it as complement.
Omg this is so Japanese thing to say 😂😂 they go around the bush to criticise you. Trust me the chef understood what was said, just nobody needs to be outwardly embarrassed that’s all.
I heard that line in Sir John Gielgud's voice. The English upper class uses similar language when perturbed. He had a great number of subtle insults like that, for which he won a Best Supporting Actor Award for the movie "Arthur" (1981), in which he played the butler Hobson. If you've never seen the movie, I'm sure you can find a "Best of Hobson, Arthur movie" video on YT.
Love this updated version. After living in Okinawa for an extended period (and marrying one of the locals), I continue abiding by these rules whenever I go back to the States, especially #11. I don't think I ever point with my finger anymore.
7 years total in Japan myself, and while I follow most of these, sunglasses and shorts are still my boom. I have sensitive eyes, so pretty much need decent sunnies and I still can't get wearing trousers in summer. Except for work of course. But on my days off? YOU CAN SEE MY DAMNABLE PALE KNEECAPS
In Washington, DC the escalator thing also exists. Instead of teeth sucking and sighing you're liable to get pushed out of the way though lol. During packed times the staff will straight up yell at people standing on the left to get out of the way for others.
Really bad for escalator maintenance though. 1 side taking the strain of the combined weight of everyone riding it is going to require expensive visits and repairs more often than people riding it where they want.
@@Madhattersinjeans yeah, but that's not what we're told to do. It should be signposted that you stand still cos not everyone listens to No Such Thing and Fish to know it's bad for maintenance. Either way, it's not how things are done in London, where I'm pretty sure Chris has been to, so it's odd that he wouldn't stand on the appropriate side.
@@whaky6294 but family mart only has cards for deaths and marriage, how do i apologize!?! -oh, wait, that's envelopes -but i imagine you'd put cards into envelopes before delivering them, -so point still stands!
Hey Chris, I know you believe that shorts are looked down upon all over Japan, and maybe that's true in Tokyo, and other parts of Honshu and Hokkaido. But down in Fukuoka, and other parts of Kyushu, it's not really looked down upon. Especially this summer, when we were hitting over 40 degrees Centigrade with 80% humidity, for days upon end. When people were not at work, many were wearing shorts. Young people, old people, middle aged people... Japanese people of all ages. So I think the taboo aspect of shorts is slowly eroding away in Japanese culture, at least down in Southwest Japan. Maybe it will start changing up north, over time, especially as climate change is impacting this country.
Just came back from my first trip to Japan. Thanks for all the great videos, they were a great inspiration for spots to visit and learning about the culture and manners beforehand.
not being critiziced for your dish isn't taking your work more seriously. It's more like how japanese tend to not say what they really think in public, it's the same thing, you can't tell to someone you aren't acquainted to what you really think if it won't please him.
"I couldn't get my horse to start" - you made an old Englishman chuckle! I totally understand not wanting to buy gifts for your office colleagues. In the UK we'd would buy a card on every member of staffs birthday (and cards aren't cheap). If it was your birthday you'd have to buy cakes for everyone. Ask 'em individually what cake they'd like and got to the cake shop and buy 20 cakes. There was a social pressure, to comply. Souvenirs from a holiday is also popular in China and Thailand (mostly food). Personally, I'd prefer to buy something of value than a (not so cheap) plastic fridge magnet! Bar Humbug.
The shorts rule is not absolute - foreigners generally get a pass on it, and you do see the occasional Japanese person wearing shorts. However, usually only if they are exercising or otherwise would be perceived as a bit 'lower class'. The reality is that as a foreigner you get judged regardless, so being also seen as a bit lower class, isn't really a big deal and isn't really 'rude' or majorly taboo.
@@aephos.overwatch From a western perspective, it makes sense to want to rationalise these types of rules. However, the Japanese psyche does not work that way and rules are accepted 'just because that is just the way it is'. That's the end of the debate.
It gets so hot over there though, lol. It's bad enough I'm the only one sweating on the train, but you're not allowed to try and cool off a little by wearing shorts.
When I was in Japan earlier this year I thankfully managed to avoid all of these taboos...except for the sunglasses one. It was so damn bright out sometimes that I just had to put my sunglasses on, especially when my friend and I were at Lake Ashi. I always wondered why I never saw Japanese people wearing sunglasses when they're so common in the west.
If you have a backpack on crowded trains, it’s best to move said backpack to your front, as to not accidentally bump into somebody without your knowledge. Can also apply to other crowded places like elevators or stores.
That's actually something that you should do anywhere in the world. As a matter of fact, it's way better to take off your backpack and hold it in your hand or place it on the ground between your legs so you don't occupy so much space (it makes it less likely to get robbed in countries where that happens)
I'm not going to lie, I saw the title and rolled my eyes a little bit but this video actually had some really good and new information. Sorry for doubting you Chris lol
5:09 I find it funny when Japanese people would mumble "uma!" as soon as they put the food into their mouth without even biting and we all know it's way too soon or too hot to taste anything
I feel like Japanese people have definitely started wearing shorts more often in Summer. As for the reason why so many don't: it's because shorts are associated with school boys, i.e. wearing shorts is seen as something juvenile kids do. That being said, it's not some taboo lol. Plenty of Japanese people wear shorts in summer and nobody cares if you do.
Makes sense , i think historically you can see that else. Hell there still are people thinking that probably somewhat. But what else to wear in the hot, its not like walking around in a kimono is common, which would have more air.
100%. This summer it seemed to me that half of all Japanese guys were wearing shorts. I'm seeing more people wear sunglasses too, but mostly women wearing them.
Just returned from Japan, I brought shorts for the trip and my friends told me it's a big no-no, so they didn't bring any. Guess what, a lot of Japanese wore shorts.
I heard the rule about eating while walking, and looking around I did notice that I never saw any Japanese people doing it, but... I just really like doing it, so I decided to keep doing it on an experimental basis. I decided to try to be really observant and if even a single time I saw a Japanese person looking at me as if they were bothered by my eating, I would stop doing it. Lived there for 8 months, did it at least once every single day and never spotted a single nihonjin who seemed bothered.
You know… it’s super funny how Aki made a video like 2 days ago talking about some of these same points lolol the clothing thing is something she also mentioned and it seems like she’s had the opposite experience. Saying people don’t care about sunglasses or shorts
I'm from Madrid and we always stay on the rigt side of the subway escalator, as you said, is like a "cultural rule" we have, but mostly is because if you are in a rush, you can go fast on the left side and don't disturb the other people
Still waiting to go to Japan for the first time (I'm only 52, I'll get there!), but, jeepers, it sounds like we Irish have been created to not just break, but to smash and pulverise all these rules.
Right? Every time I see one of these videos I go, “Man, I’d love to see Japan!” and then get about halfway through and realise “This is way too exhausting for a holiday” 😆 I don’t know if it’s the Irish in me or the autistic in me, but I’m out lol
@vercoda9997 be respectful, Japanese really like Irish culture, and there is many Irish music clubs and bars, if you be a dickhead you ruin it for everyone.
Yeah, the public eating and walking one is actually enforced by the food establishment. In Osaka I was told I must eat my strawberry mochi and tanghulu right there (though it was a tiny kiosk like space) and I guess it was because they had the trash bin there too and wanted to keep the streets clean.
Trash bins or rather their absence is something that can really surprise tourists in Japan. If you don't get rid of the packaging of food (and there's often a lot) then be prepared to carry it around with you until you find a konbini or something. Luckily in many cities there's one around every corner. In the countryside OTOH...
Look up Aum Shinrikyo they used public trash cans to hide sarin packages and hurt a lot of people. I think it's the biggest reason why Japan doesn't have many public trash cans
@@thany3 If possible, I recommend going with a native Japanese speaker. This isn’t limited to Japanese, but any language can lead to major misunderstandings when mistranslated or translated too literally. For example, I once saw a young Japanese woman wearing a shirt with the English word 'naked' on it. This is advice from my own experience as a Japanese person.
The wearing shorts one is the one that gets me the most. If I was wearing shorts in Japan in the middle of summer and someone told me to put on long pants just simply because “no one really wears shorts here” I would absolutely not put on long pants.
@3:26 100% understand not criticizing food to peoples face but Japanese people leave THE HARSHEST reviews on social media for EVERYTHING! Any cafe, restaurant, parks etc very seldom had high reviews when I was in Japan!
I know, right?! I'm planning a Japan trip and was looking at hotels... rarely saw a hotel with a rating over 4.2. At first I was like "Man, is the hospitality industry in Japan that bad?" And then after reading the reviews, a lot of it is "The employee didn't smile at me for .02 seconds which was rude". It seems like many Japanese are passive aggressive by nature. It is "rude" to be negative to someone's face, but as soon as their back is turned all bets are off. I have a close friend who is Japanese and while she's very friendly, I've still caught one or two passive aggressive comments.
Yeah, a Canadian-japanese guide I met on a tour explained to me that same thing! It seems that whenever you find anything above 3,5 stars on Google Maps seems to be fairly good, and above 4 stars for something really astounding 😂
@@tbeth To me 4.2 sounds really good (assuming a 1-5 scale, obviously). 3 is an average hotel. 5 would be a place where absolutely everything is the best you could could expect at that price point. 4.2 in practice means that most people have voted it great and some have voted it perfect. Depending, of course, on the culture in the country. In some countries it's impossible to trust even a 4.9 score, because of friend and family (or even click farms) giving upvotes, or because everything thinks that anything short of having to fight with rats is a 5-star stay.
4:35 If a chef takes their job seriously, then they will want reasonable criticism when necessary. A proper chef is always honing their craft. It seems less like theyre "taking their job seriously" and more like they feel like it's rude so they dont say anything. Which is fine too, im usually not one to complain when my food is wrong unless it's inedible myself, but still.
Yes you want people say something, and compensate if its reasonable to do so. I wouldnt complain about wrong food either it waited a bit and i still like it. But still, if ther is wrong its good to say that.
in my experience japanese people do sometimes criticize just in a more indirect way. when they answer something along the lines of "the food was so good! the vegetables were really delicious and there was so much rice!" they might actually be saying the meat tasted bad and there wasn't enough of it (but they could also be genuine, it really depends on the nuance and context. but other natives will pick up on it). this kind of indirect criticism is pretty common and considered polite. also when there's something actually wrong with the food (ie. you know for sure the chef didn't intend the food to come out that way) i don't think it's impolite to point that out directly.
It's not about the actual dish, it's about saving face. So basically you don't embarrass anyone in public, and asking if you enjoyed it is more of a gesture than anything. Like when a retail worker says "Have a nice day."
Another rule I noticed in Tokushima, is if you are walking down the street and you find a wallet/purse that has obviously been dropped by accident, and you see no-one around, pick it up and place it in a prominent place so the owner can find it when retracing their steps -and never open the the wallet/purse!
@@SirProdigle Londoners think they represent England. Every single time. Probably haven't gone more than 10 miles north of the Thames and think they speak for the rest of the country.
22:10 uhmm excuse me, but that is a rude person issue, not a Japan thing. In the Netherlands, UK, France, Hungary, Germany, Spain and Belgium, all of these countries the rule is simply "stand at one side for standing, and the other side is for those walking and running". Even if you walk up and down the stairs there is this rule, although a bit less orderly when it's busy.
Hey Chris, I absolutely love your channel. My wife and I are being stationed in Iwakuni in a few months, your channel has given me a whole bucket list of things I want to do
18:48 I thought people all knew not to use phones on the train too.....until I was there in 2019 with some friends of mine sitting next to a middle-aged British woman who answered her phone with the loudest "HELLLLLLLOOOOOO DARLING, YES I'M IN TOKYO ON THE TUUUUBE." It was the most awkward moment ever. My friends and I still joke about it to this day.
Talking on the phone if you're in someone's company is always rude. Even if it's a good friend, you should apologize for taking the call (if you must take it) and excuse yourself to another room - e.g. "I'm sorry, this is work related. Please excuse me, I'll be right back." Answering a call carries the undertone of "This call is more important than my time with you." I'm fairly sure this is a generational opinion (I'm around 60), as young folks don't seem to follow these "old fashioned" notions.
Even a fancy and a poor version of envelope for marrige. Could be funny to put a large amount of money in the cheap envelope and a small amount in the expensive and clame that you were on a budget 😂
Frankly speaking, the condolence envelopes (black/ yellow ribbons) are dying customs in Japan nowadays. When you receive a ribboned envelope full of cash (including marriage ones), you owe a returning gift called okaeshi (payback) to the donor. The return can't be cash but some goods worth half of the donation and recommended to be personalised to each donor. The cumbersomeness around this putting more and more people off from inviting friends and relatives to a funeral or putting a "We don't accept cash gifts" sign on the site. This trend is quickly rising in urban areas like Tokyo. Prob the remaining case of using these envelopes are when a VIP for your business (your CEO, your most important customer) passed away.
I literally spat my tea out when you talked about escalators in the UK. The rules on the London tube are very real and people will get upset about it if you stand wherever you want. Stand on the right, walk on the left.
Hold up the escalator thing is basically the same for the UK mainly in train stations, in other words Chris is that one prick in the way when you're heading to the tube.
I've literally never seen this anywhere in the north or South East. London is the only place I've ever seen queuing like that. Maybe in the few major cities, but it definitely doesn't exist outside of them
@@SirProdigle It's only really seen in London in the South East because most stations in the South East don't have the kind of foot traffic to require lanes tbh. But it is what people do in London because of the difference in scale.
Here in Vienna the same rule applies: You stand on the right side, and walk on the left side. And if you don't follow that rule, and terrible things happen to you, it is a you problem.
I mean I live in Germany and people probalby wouldnt mind to much if I took a phone call in a lound environment like a bar, but I would simply always go outside just to simply have a decent phone call. Either it's too loud or you have to speak quietly in a restaurant. Makes no sense to take a call inside a public space.
I worked at a five star resort in Arizona and I was taught not to point but to gesture with an open hand. That stuck with me so profoundly that I still do it to this day.
But what if something is actually wrong? Like say you find a finger in your soba broth you are surely not going to say it’s fine? My question is this; I understand being polite if you don’t like the food and being respectful by saying you do. However, what if something is genuinely wrong with the food? Say the chicken is raw? Or something has went rotten?
Only time I have ever complained about food was at my regular izakaya, and it wasn't food, it was the beer. I complained because I got a freshly washed cup, but it wasn't dried properly and some of the washing detergent was left in the bottom of the cup. Had one mouthful and felt like I was going to throw up, so called over the master to tell him what happened. Being one of the regulars, he knew I wasn't just trying to get a free beer and tried it for himself before going pale in the face. He poured me a new beer straight away and I think the part-timer learned a lesson in making sure glasses are completely dried before using them.
I honestly find that rule to be offensive. So you are allowed to fail miserably at the job I paid you to do and I have to compliment you on it, as if you were a blushing bride that burnt a dish and wanted to know if I liked it? Who do you think you are?
omg I was wondering about the sunglasses when I was there in May. I noticed I was usually the only person wearing them! But the sun hurts my eyes so bad idk how Japanese people go without
11:46 On my trip to South Korea from Japan, I stood outside the taxi for like a minute wondering why the driving wasn't opening the door for me, thinking he didn't see me or something. It was so awkward until I remembered I had to open it myself
An interesting thing to consider, for example, is why certain things just "are the way they are". A rule MAY BE STUPID or extra or whatever, but the adherence to rules when no one is looking, or for the sake of others produces a society where people don't steal. So, the "freedom" of some western countries may be real, and you may appreciate it, but it comes with an unspoken and hard to quantify cost.
"hey teacher is there anything wrong with eating while walking? "no" "oh cool.... do you ever do it?" "no" "oh... do you know anyone who does?" "no" oh
Back in university I had a job at Disneyland, and during training we were taught to never point at anything. Always use your full palm or two fingers minimum to direct or point at something. I find myself still doing that after many many years later.
As a Taiwanese person, our culture is very similar to Japanese culture. Everything you mentioned in Japan is accurate, except for one thing I wasn't sure about…whether soy sauce should be added to rice. Other than that, I guarantee it's all true 😄
The only exception that comes to mind might be TKG (tamago kake gohan). It’s a traditional homemade dish where a raw egg is placed on top of rice, and soy sauce is added before eating. However, strictly speaking, the soy sauce is poured over the egg on the rice, so I don't think it’s common to add soy sauce directly to the rice. Similarly, in dishes like the 'kaisendon' that Chris introduced, the soy sauce is poured over the sashimi on top of the rice.
You can definitely point out the flaw if the food is not as the chef intended and most shop will redo the food or offer a refund. “No critism” is basically do not argue with chef if the food is working as intended . As people around you are eating the same food as you .
I kind of like the vast majority of those rules....I woukd say except for the one of being late because something outside of your control , like a storm, trains all canceled, are a not a good excuse enought. But other then that, I think most of them make the life in society much smoother! Good video, Thanks!!!🤩
@22:15 - mate, what?? I’m not even British and I know that’s not right. I go to London yearly and it’s always been walk-on-the-left and stand-on-the-right - the Tube, the train stations, the shopping centers, the airport. Even went to Leicester and Kent a few weeks ago and the rules are the same. UNLESS you’re talking about chavs and delinquent bothering 99% of other people by being donkeys - in which case that’d probably be best if you clarified lol
At 02:52, when this English bloke was speaking about the West, obviously Chris is not speaking for France. Before I visited Paris, I learned that there is a culture of taking your meals properly at the correct time and space so that you can properly savor and enjoy your meal. So, no eating and walking in the streets of Paris (if you wanted to blend in with the locals).
That last one I do see people do sometimes in America, but it's generally considered rude to try and hold a spot with a chair or umbrella or whatever other random item because you're not actually there using the space or waiting in line.
I have photophobia so I typically have to wear sunglasses at all times (except at night). So, maybe if I get a shirt that says Im not rude I just have photophobia in japanese people might understand... Or I could just dress like Kazuma Kiryu from the Yakuza Game and scare everyone.
Gonna be honest, as an American, I have never once returned a meal at a restaurant or even said anything negative to a waiter or cook, despite having had some horrible meals. I feel like it’s just how I was raised. One meal being bad isn’t that big of a deal, I just won’t eat there again, no need to make someone feel terrible about it. Unless I found a heroin needle in my soup, I would never send back a meal at a restaurant. C
this for sure. it might be somewhat regional too, hard to say, but i've never once done that, and every time i've been to a restaurant in the US where someone i was with sent their order back, you could tell every single person who witnessed it hated that person lmao
The escalator is something we do in Canada as well.... And for my trip to Japan, I have no issues with most of them except the sunglasses part. Having some eye sensitivity to strong lights, not wearing sunglasses means a high chance of major headaches/migraines
