6 Things that Shock the Japanese Visiting Abroad 

I really should have specified countries...すみません！ I had to pay for public toilets in London (the UK), some touristy places in Italy, most places in the Netherlands (except when you eat at restaurants), some places in Czech Republic, and a few more... As for eating before paying...as I mentioned in the video, it's not super common, but I've seen people do it in the UK and Canada. In Japan, people will react really badly to it but when I was in the UK, people didn't seem to care too much about it. (Like you don't get arrested or charged fines etc. More laid-back.) So that's that! I'm definitely not saying you'd see it all the time. But I've seen it happen a few times and that's more than what I've experienced in Japan.

I was born in the UK and lived here all my life and I have never seen someone eat something in a supermarket before purchasing it I would say that would shock me too

I worked retail for a while in the US. Eating before you pay is known as "grazing" and is pretty frowned upon in most retail businesses. Some might involve police and consider it theft, though I think most will only get after you if they see you doing it and then insist you pay right away. Definitely not common here, but I've seen people do it once in a blue moon.

Watching your beginners playlist is incredible! It feels weird, but because your playlist is a combination of videos recorded over a long time span, you always look so different, and are always in a different place lol. Yet it feels appropriate, with each new video, you change but I feel like it’s also a sign of how I’m changing and improving as well! Not really sure where I was going with this, other than to say you’re the MVP, Misa!

Your videos are so helpful! I’ve been using them to learn Japanese and I think I’ve improved greatly because of it so thank you ❤

I might be wrong, but I think the UK method of filling the sink with water to wash dishes was something that was encouraged during WWII to save water and it's stuck around. It's how I was taught to do it as a kid (I'm from New Zealand), but I also rinse off the soap before I let it dry.

Love how you still manage to teach some vocabulary in your non strictly learning videos ^^ When I was a child, my grandma would let me drink juices, milk etc inside the supermarket and then she'd pay for the empty bottle. But I've never seen anyone else doing this where I live (Poland), so I guess my grandma could've had a problem if she'd met some less friendly staff lol

In Finland the modern way to manually wash dishes is about the same as in Japan. One notable difference is that we use more of brush and less of sponge. We also rinse the soap off carefully as Japanese do.

I've lived in Europe for 50 years - I don't think I have ever paid for a public toilet. I mean, paid toilets do exist, I've seen them, buit there's usually a free toilet nearby (in a pub). :)

Supermarket workers in UK think of eating or drinking before paying as theft too. Even though the customer may end up paying you'll see security guards eyeballing them all the way to the checkout if they're seen doing it.

i am watching lots of doramas (China, Japan, Korea), and i have noticed the non-hugging thing, even during occasions that really would be quite normal in US or Europe, like relatives leaving or meeting after few years. Always found that strange and just figured, ok, it's maybe not appropriate behavior. One time, i met somebody from Japan in New York and we hanged out together as good buddies. When we parted at the end, we hugged, just like i would do with all my good friends and he seemed not to be put off by it but i could tell it was a new thing for him. I didn't want to behave any different from normal and i think he appreciated it but it is a very individual attitude, i get that.

Thanks for the vocabulary! As a European (Finnish) it was interesting to hear how we are weird, although things vary here too from country to country. In Finland we use very little of cash, it is seen something some old people would still do. We have used bank cards (debit cards) and credit cards for several decades. There are some paper bills I haven't seen irl in years and coins would just be a pain, difficult to get rid of. COVID took us further away from cash if possible. Toilets might pay here, but you can usually use toilet for free if you were a customer to that shop or restaurant (you might have to ask for an entrance, if the doors are locked). Shopping mall toilets are usually free and neat, but public toilets in parks for example might cost you something. They try to avoid some idiots messing up in them with the control. I couldn't handle my everyday life without dishwasher or dryer! If living alone, I might manage without a dishwasher, but with a family, no way! Our energy bills are skyrocketing now and we have had to find ways to save energy, so I have gone back to hanging our clothes for the most, I only tumble our small clothes like underwear as they are a pain to hang. In most of the housing complexes they have a common drying room or hanging wires on the yard for residents to use, so seeing other people's stuff there is not uncommon here either. I also find leaving dishes soapy grouse. I saw people doing that in England and I was baffled. Here people rinse the dishes. In many apartments here is a dish drying cabinet above the sink, where the racks are fixed. You can leave dishes to dry and close the doors putting them out of sight and taking space on the counter. I agree you with not eating before paying, it is not a good manner here either. Most people don't do it, but I have seen it happening many times, and some people give a snack to their children from the cart in the cash register line, apparently to keep them quiet. I think it gives a wrong lesson to these little ones, that grocery store's things were somehow in a grey area who owns them and you were allowed to do what you wanted with the stuff. Hugging is cultural thing, and I respect your way. Here the hugging culture is not so long that it is in many other European countries, where they also kiss one another on the cheeks... You need to know how many and which cheek to start. Huh. Not in Finland. Actually I think the hugging friends and acquaintances here started at some point of late eighties or nineties, I was born in seventies and I don't remember people doing that in my early childhood (except maybe while being drunk...). So we are a bit stiff up here in the cold north compared to our southern cousins. COVID has reduced hugging, as people also avoid shaking hands. All kind of stupid elbow touching was introduced to replace it, I think we should have implemented bowing instead! Much more elegant and no need to touch.

So, I can mostly only tell for Germany (and myself / my experience): 1.) (Almost) Every shop here accepts cash. I think I've only seen a single shop in my life that doesn't accept it. And I don't know if that's only due to Corona or if it was already like that before. 2.) Yes.. sadly you have to pay for most of the public toilets here. Especially at places like train stations. In malls I would say they are mostly free of charge. I think it somewhat depends on the traffic around the mall. If it is really busy outside and a lot of people would go there just from the streets, then it's more likely that you will be charged. So like malls directly next to train stations or in the center of a big city. I've never had to pay in a building where I already had to spend money to get in there though. Maybe there was just someone sitting with a plate and asking you for money? Shops like McDonalds do that a lot. That's not really a MUST to give them money, but in some circles it might be considered rude not to. 3.) I would say most households have a dishwasher. I think students might be an exception, if they do not have enough money for that.. but even most of the students I know have a dishwasher. 4.) Dryers on the other hand not so much. So yeah, there are definitely a lot of people who have a dryer here, but I wouldn't consider it a standard. 5.) Eating/Drinking stuff in shops before buying them.. so the people I know don't do that. I've seen it already, but it's not legally allowed here as well. You might get away with it, but I wouldn't bet on that. 6.) Since I'm from the "cold north" (where cold is referring to the emotional state of the people - not the temperature of the weather), hugging complete strangers would be weird as well. It can happen with friends of friends, even when meeting for the first time, but in my experience it's way more likely to shake hands or even just wave at each other. I'd say almost nobody would hug a stranger with a "free hugs" sign in the streets.. that's a different story on conventions though. There you see a lot of those signs and quite a lot of people make use of that.

I think a couple times when I was younger in the U.S. my parents told me it was okay to eat something before we got around to paying for it at the grocery store, but even as a kid I thought it was strange. Or buying shoes as well, I'd be wearing the new shoes when we'd go to the counter, and my old shoes would be in the box, and my parents would explain, but I was worried they'd think it was suspicious or something, even though they can just scan the box like normal.

Sounds like I'd be right at home in Japan. Everyone of your examples is how I've always lived, in southern California. Thank you for all the work you put into your videos.

You should do more of these Misa Sensei. I love these videos about travel, culture shocks and slice of life.

Thanks, Misa! I always learn something new from all of your videos and I appreciate all the effort you put into making them. Sending you a big virtual hug. 🤗❤

Always lift up my spirit watching your videos...

Yay, something to enjoy before the weekend. ❤

Thank you for some interesting insights!

About the dryer, I think in Japan, you can dry clothes outside most time of the year while in many parts of Europe, clothes won't dry for several months in the winter and fall. European winter is wet and cold while Japanese winters are usually not as cold and dry/arid. The sun also has way less intensity in most of Europe compared to Japan. During summer, given the latitude, you have more sun intensity in Sapporo than in Rome. (unless it's cloudy) Even though Rome is warmer compared to Sappor because of where the wind usually is comming from.

I am starting to LOVE the videos you upload, it was very understandable and also explained word by word plus the color coding of it was accurately translated. Kudos to this kind of Editing. Please continue to do this kind of content.

I continue to watch your videos every day, youre my main teacher, thankyou

Subscribed. This was first video I watched. Love the color coded break down, really helping me get this grammar!

The supermarket thing i don't understand, where I'm from i saw a few people opening a bag of chips or a drink in the store...always think those people are brain dead. I'm pretty sure in most of Europe you are not supposed to do that but there is very little repercussion if you do, there might be stores which will give you a hard time but most of the cashiers just want to finish their underpaid job and go home not deal with a dumbass.

thank you for the lesson.

Wow! Just discovered you. This vid is not only fun and interesting discussing the things you found strange in Europe but how we got a Japanese lesson thrown in for free as well! Your English and adopted accent is fantastic! Such a lovely voice to listen to.

love your videos

More countries should use drying cabinets for dishes (Astiankuivauskaappi) 😁 They are super useful, even as for storage!

I really appreciate your content, helps me to keep in contact with the language and learn something new about it and it’s culture ❤

I love your videos, Misa.

In the US(at least where I live anyway) public toilets are free. Most places accept cash here too, though once you start getting into larger transactions some places(like hotels) may not accept it. And there are also many places that don't accept bills larger than a certain amount(usually $20). People eating and drinking before they pay is definitely not allowed here, though if you're actually in line waiting to pay or something most places won't care if you say, open your soda or bottled water or whatever and take a sip while you're waiting to pay for it.

Even as an american the eating/ drinking in stores surprise me

In 2019 we were looking for a house in JP, a good number of the new ones have dish washers, so maybe it's changing? I still have never seen a clothes dryer in a house/apartment in Japan, though. But the house we bought (with dish washer!) has a feature in the bathroom's air system that will dry. I'm guessing it's intended for drying off the bath and shower floor, but we also use it to dry clothes sometimes, more so in the winter when it's harder to dry them by hanging. Keep up the great videos, Misa!

Well, thank you for to share that with us Misa. 😃

First time watching your videos, it was interesting and I like how you take the oportunity to teach how to say things. Good job!

Really nice highlighting and expination text I could really see how this would make learning Japanese a lot easier from your videos.

Us germans also love our cash haha When I was in Groningen, Netherlands I was surprised that I could only pay via card at many places..! Yeah it’s true you often need to pay for using the public bathrooms here. The mall at my place however, you don’t have to pay, but it is appreciated, like giving a tip. free hug signs tho.. if you've ever been to any convention in germany before, you know how much people love these. they’re everywhere :3

I love leaving nice comments for you too, Misa!! 😊😊😊 keep being awesome.

Thank you Misa sensei 💖❤️💕

whuat .. Portuguese studying japanese here and just clicked on your video because of the title. And now i subscribed because you have a very interesting concept of explaining your thoughts in pure japanese (so no book-japanese)m speaking slowly and repeating it and putting it in Kanji WITH furigana! wow, thanks a lot for your efforts!! Thats very very helpful!

Thanks!

も一同すごい動画みささん。ありがとうございます。

Her fuzzy little sweater looks cozy.

I like your last point on hugging. Sadly, since Covid we seem to be doing it less. Fantastic video! Hope there's more to come!

To be fair, drying your clothes outside on a line is way more environmentally friendly and something every culture should move towards. I’ve switched to it in the last few years and it’s fantastic. Your clothes also smell way cleaner and last longer too. Dryers are kind’ve hard on your clothes, especially delicate stuff like bedsheets and 下着

You have a very nice method for teaching Japanese!

thank you for teaching me some Japanese words Misa, your so assume keep you the good work, cheers.

ありがとうございます！😁

I don't wash my dishes like that in the UK, it seems I do it the Japanese way and always have since I started washing dishes! Also, it shows I lived in a rich person's house when I was living in Tokyo because we had a dishwasher hehe

dryer are big where i live, too. nowadays washing machine comes with a dryer programed in it, so you don't need a separate machine, and it's great for the winter. In summer the clothes are dry in like an hour, indoors, since my apartment has no where to hang it outside. It's great for doing my whole work clothes for the week.

People eating and drinking before they pay is pretty rare in the US. In the summer people might take a sip of a drink they are buying but no, I don't see people just going ham and eating and drinking.

6:39 In the US, the process is usually (if you have a two-pan sink): One pan has the soapy water, soak and wash the dishes there, rince in hot water pan and drain in the rack. If you only have one sink usually will rinse under running water.

I love your content Misa sensei. May I request a content about vocabulary used in travel and hospitality. I have been taking notes from your past lessons .Thank you so much. ❤ The Philippines 🇵🇭

Your hair looks amazing o /

In Sweden, it is not allowed to eat anything before you have paid for it in a shop. You don't own anything until you buy it.

In France, eating before paying in a convenient store is actually very rare...

In Finland supermarket items can typically be eaten before paying, but it happens quite rarely. Cahiers are interested only in scanning the barcodes on the product package. I always pay first.

Hey Misa sensei, I love your videos!! I’d like to make a suggestion for a video on essential commands/tips for talking to google home / siri in Japanese! Things like setting the volume of things, turning off the tv and lights, and special Japanese commands would be dope to know! I’ve been using my google home to practice, but sometimes it acts wonky. Thanks for all you do!!

It's really interesting how good your english is, but how interesting your speech flow pattern is. :)

i used to give tons of hugs to people at vienna city center. i had a sign and a sweater both saying free hugs!

Fantastic content, as always. The coloured subtitles are spot on. But is it just me who can't tear their eyes away from Misa herself? I bet I get hassle for saying this, but I think she's absolutely beautiful.

There is a reason that we leave the dishsoap on the plates, cups, etc., it's mainly from the fact that we use them on a frequent basis, and drying them using a dish towel is a right pain when they're fresh out the water so we let them hang out in the draining rack for a couple minutes and then dry them afterwards, this also reduces the amount of water absorbed by the towel itself.

Italy here: 1. We also prefer cash and everybody accept it. Nowadays credit card is a faster and safer way to pay, but I also do prefer cash honestly. 2. In italy there is a law. Every shop must to have a toilet and they can't charge you to use it. For drugs and other bad problems sometimes they will say "it's unavailable" to avoid you to use it... only train stations have the one where you pay. 3. Yes we hate to wash dishes. 4. Never seen in my life. We hang clothes outside as for japan...only rich people have it. 5. Absolutely not. Rarely happens that a kid open something to eat in a supermarket and parents usually run to the checkout to pay the item and get a receipt. 6. We love hugs a lot.

I laughed at the washing dishes part because back home, people do like you said and fill the sink with water and don't care if there's still soap left on the dishes. I hate it and when I do it like the way you said and use running water when I visit home, I get criticized haha Maybe I've been in Japan for too long 😅

Eating something before paying, I did this once as a child. My mother literally just opened a chocolate and gave it to me to snack on while we continued shopping. She told me to keep the wrapper(package) for the cashier to scan it. This seems super weird to me now, I probably won't do it again though.

Nice video.

Each point for America, where I grew up at least and from my perspective: Point 1. Most places will allow you to use cash or card. The only thing I've seen where I couldn't use cash was signing up for JLPT Point 2. I've never seen a public bathroom where I had to pay, but some private establishments deny you from using their restrooms because there's the risk of people taking things from it, or leaving behind illegal items, trashing the place, or just clogging the toilet terribly. Point 3. Many homes have dishwashers. It's not everywhere, but even many small apartments have them. In my home, we use ours once a year for Thanksgiving, but we wash the dishes like Misa described Japanese people do all year round Point 4. Many homes have clothes dryers, but many people have to go to laundry mats to use public machines that cost money. It's not as common to hang clothes, but some do on their balcony or in their backyard. Point 5. We can eat some food before paying for them in stores, many parents give their kids food to satisfy them while they shop, but we don't pig out on a lot while shopping typically, thats a bit too much. It doesnt matter as long as its bought afterwards really. I never eat food before paying personally. Point 6. America is very diverse, so some are more likely to hug others than some. You should see how susceptible the person is towards it, or straight up ask before doing anything because some people really need personal space. As much as I don't like saying it, America can be dangerous at times (thieves, kidnappers, creeps) so hugging strangers is ill-advised. It's very easy for you to get your belongings stolen or get hurt by touching random people, and some might think you're doing something nefarious by touching them and defend themselves. I would be very uncomfortable if anyone got too close to me personally.

In Sweden you usually have a tub of soapy water that you scrub the dishes in and then you rinse in a tub of clean water (if you do the dishes by hand).

Hi, in America, public restrooms are free. A lot of people may have a dishwasher, but there are probably just as many without (possibly more). Here, we normally run 1 sink of soapy water, and 1 sink of rinsing water (water only) and we use a dish towel that we rewash (and a scrubbing tool if needed) instead of sponges. We don't let suds dry on the dishes, but place the dishes in the sink of rinsing water after cleaning them. We also use a draining rack to let the dishes dry. It would be strange to see people still hanging clothes out in America at this age, but I'm sure some do for their own reasons. Eating before paying: I would consider it theft, but I do occasionally see people doing it, and it doesn't seem to be much of a problem (if they're in line to pay for it?). I don't know how it works 'cause I don't do it. In America, hugging is a common thing, but it depends on the person. Quite a few were uncomfortable before covid, and now, even more are uncomfortable with it.

I love all your vids. You're a a mega star.

Yeah I am not okay with "sampling" before you pay for things unless it's offered as a free sample. The washer & dryer thing I knew about , sun drying is supposed to be cleansing & most homes in Japan are too small anyway.

In America, eating grocery store food before you pay is illegal. I've never witnessed it in person though.

Eating or drinking stuff in a supermarket is definitly a theft, in france, But everywhere else too I think

3) I live in Europe, I am just an average person (definitely not rich), but even we have dishwasher at home... it actually saves water (compared to washing in hand) and makes the dishes super clean. It saves a lot of time, too.

Wow, that was so interesting. I can relate to many things you mentioned, even though I'm not from Japan. I always make sure that there are no remains of soap on dishes that come out of the dish washer by using the sink, which I get often criticised for by other people because they think I'm judging their skills. And also eating stuff before paying. I absolutely hate it when family members do that. Is it so really too much to ask for to wait 5 more minutes? Hugging is also something I always found strange. Especially on birthdays when so many people want to hug you, it's dreadful and annoying. I don't want to get that close to other people.

I live in Finland (Europe) and I've never seen people eat or drink in supermarkets before they pay, that sounds barbaric to me 😳🤣

I live in Sweden and sure, sometimes we open and eat/drink stuff in the store. Especially if we're with friends. I just get something to drink because it's hot and then we walk around the store and then I pay for it before walking out. As long as you don't leave the store, it's not stealing.

In Finland, we do have dishwashers at home, though finding driers are rare. Most of the public bathrooms are also free. Hugs do happen rarely, though they are deeply appreciated by me when they do. Wish I could have more of those...

its sorta interesting how public toilets are here. A lot of them in the city outside are free, then in bigger train stations they might cost or might not, but toilets in trains are always free. Then malls usually have free toilets and museums tend to have free ones, but restaurants need you to buy something to use them (which is probably understandable).

most mid-range washers can dry the clothes (+1200rpm) but its sunny 4/5 of the year most people use dishwashers

The public toilets cost money because of two reasons: Number one is that the city don´t want substance users and homeless people to take shelter there, and they think it´s less likely if the toilet cost money. The second reason is that if it costs money, fewer people will use it, and it will need less cleaning.

In the shopping malls where we are going the most (in Hungary) the bathrooms were free. But during the Covid the rule has changed and now you have to pay for them. In some cases the toilet is free only for the guests of the place. Sometimes you got a voucher for the usage.

In Portugal: we wash the dishes and have racks for them but also have dishwashers, it depends on the laziness of the people; we also hung the clothes outside to dry, on rainy countries and cold it's normal to have dryers; no one eats in the supermarkets before paying, only shoplifters, that drop the packages later, or some little kids that are hungry but then their parents pay at the cash-register; public toilets are mostly free but we also have paying ones, it depends a bit.

you are too good

Lots of my Japanese friends hug. It surprised me when I first went there.

Europe's a big place. I'm from the Balkans (which is considered Europe) and all of these, except the hugging were culture shocks for me as well. One thing that sticks out, from my time in the UK, is seeing someone down a 1L bottle of banana milk in the supermarket straight from the shelf.

Just spying on your Mansions of Madness copy ;) Love that you're into board gaming too!

Misa es bien preciosa, y enseña muy bien, siempre repaso mis clases en este canal

I LOVE YOUR ACCENT ===>>[SUBSCRIBED]

By the way, I love your accent! It's a cute combination of Australian and Japanese ones. Keep it up!

9:18 also in Germany its not allowed to eat and drink the stuff before paying. Just little Kids doing that without getting yelled at^^ The Cashier just tells them to do that after it went through the Checkout

I'm American and I wash dishes like in Japan and use my dishwasher as a drying rack. I like them rinsed well, too. Eating before paying is theft. Some people will pay with the empty package but most probably don't. Not many do it but I see it sometimes.

Portugal here, you can use cash everywhere here, in fact some places do not accept cards because businesses have to pay fees and other nonsense to have the machine that processes card payments, and small businesses forego that expense. You also don't pay for toilet use mostly everywhere, although it is good mannered to buy at least consume something at a café, water bottle, cup of coffee, something. Still, some businesses bar entry to the toilet until you've payed for something. Most everyone uses dishwashers here, it helps since you only have to wash some things in the sink. Most homes use a dishrack where you leave things to dry, although some homes to dry with a cloth. A dryer is not common at all, some people use them, some have them and only use them sparringly (they consume a lot of electricity). Some people eat or drink in a supermarket, but it is generally frowned upon. Hugging is pretty normal if your relationship is close as part of a greeting or farewell. We usually trade kisses on the cheek between women or a man and woman, men usually just shake hands as a standard greeting. Though some regions have men kissing on the cheek as a show of respect to elders in your family/community. You would not hug a coworker or at work generally. You would hug in pretty much any other casual situation.

Let's just appreciate for a moment how beautiful Misa is getting with time

I’m in the Western US and here are things we do or don’t do: Yup some places definitely don’t except cash. (There are also places that don’t except card tho) Nope! Definitely do not have to pay to use the restroom. Hmm… I thinks it’s about 50/50 on the dishwashers. People in the country don’t really use them. I think most people use dryers (Hippies excluded) Not many people do this but it’s legal I think. We hug everyone here! Even just our acquaintances! It’s like a greeting. Thanks Misa Sensei for telling us all about Japan! It was super fun learning about everyone in the comments countries too!

Some thoughts as an American... 1. Not having access to free public toilets is a culture shock for a lot of us as well when visiting Europe. It's kind of nice to know that they'd be available in Japan. I think if, after finding out that there are no public trash cans to throw away whatever packaging my lunch came in, I also found out I'd need to wait to go back to my hotel just to use the bathroom for free, I'd have an aneurysm. 2. Eating food in a store before you pay has been done here, but it's considered very low class. I think it gets mildly tolerated in convenience stores, as if the person at least pays, a sale is a sale. But in many other places, you'll still be treated as a shoplifter. I would not be caught dead doing it here, and I feel if I were ever dumb enough to do it in Japan, I'd just die from the collective shame being thrown at me by everyone in a mile radius. 3. Hugs can be relatively common here, though it's usually with people you're closer to. Family and close friends? Absolutely. Lovers? You'd be an asshole if you didn't. Casual acquaintances? Probably not, though some extroverted people can be more open to it. And then there's people holding free hugs signs. That's a case where I think many people bend their inhibitions on hugging strangers because they know it's not going to be awkward.

#5 I totally forgot this was a thing but yes this is a thing in the US too. I remember shopping with my mom as a kid and we would go to the deli and get chicken strips and a soda for me to snack on while walking around. Of course we hadn't paid for them yet because you pay for everything at the end but we were always sure to pay once we were done shopping. I don't know if I would ever do that today because I'm almost never in a situation where I really need to open something before I pay but I wouldn't feel too bad about doing it either.

Generally for me, if the dish has a fatty substance, soap is necessary to get a good clean dish. Else water and scrubbing is sufficient.

Hey, Misa. Can you please do a video about the particle "shi". I've seen it used but i can't quite get the meaning, or maybe it has multiple meanings and that confuses me. I don't really know its name but i am talking about the "shi" Japanese people use at the end of sentences. Love your videos, hope i can learn more.