What I Learned on a Recent Trip to Japan

I was prepared for Japan to be different, and it was in so many positive ways. More than any other country, it has combined ancient traditions with a high-tech modern environment. Some things of note: 

The people of Japan rival Icelanders in their friendly, welcoming demeanor. Politeness abounds and, yes, everyone bows. Arriving at your hotel, you will be greeted with several bows. English is not widely spoken, but there is an honest attempt to communicate. New cell phone technology makes it easier. 

Because Japan is so mountainous, the population density may seem higher than it is. The term "sticky rice" is used to define this phenomenon of people, people, people. The term was also used by our tour manager when she wanted our group to stay together. 

Becoming a Geisha is like entering a religious order. At age 15-16, one forsakes cell phones and contemporary life to live communally as a maiko (apprentice) for up to six years, learning music, dance and the tea ceremony. When proficient, you may attain Geisha status but cannot marry. 

Because the first cars introduced into Japan were from England, driving is on the left-hand side of the road. 

The Japanese language does not break down

words into syllables. They don't say Hir o shim a, To key o or O sak a, but rather Hiroshima, Kyoto or Osaka without accenting any syllable(s). 

The city of Kyoto has undergone the fewest changes since WWII. The allies avoided bombing the city because of its special cultural significance and history with castles, temples and abundance of historic wooden houses. It is not uncommon to encounter a geisha and her maiko apprentices on the streets in the oldest part of the city. 

No jay walks. Even on side streets where there is a traffic signal, pedestrians wait patiently for the light to change. There is absolutely no litter or litter baskets. Japan. suffered a terrorist attack by a cult group in March of 1995, using chemical weapons hidden in waste receptacles in Tokyo's train stations. After that, citizens were encouraged to take trash home. Even in the airport, there are no receptacles in the boarding areas. Trash is returned to where you purchased the food. 

The Japanese love baseball. The NPB, Nippon Professional Baseball league, is made up of 12 teams in two divisions. Many teams have huge corporate sponsorships, but some, like the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, are supported by the prefecture, creating rabid fan support. Baseball was not a post-WW II phenomenon in Japan but had its roots in 1934. 

I did not notice one bank in Japan. Tourists typically use their ATM cards to withdraw money at the 7-Eleven, Family Mart or Lawson convenience stores. At least one of these stores is on every block in urban areas. 

Kit Kat is the unofficial national candy of Japan. My research revealed that there are between 300 and 400 different varieties of the bar. We sampled the traditional - the strawberry- and brought home the sake-flavored, and also purchased ones packaged to look like Mt Fuji, featuring a blueberry cheesecake flavor. Another popular flavor is green tea. 

Kawali means lovely, cute, adorable, and this manifests itself in Pokémon, Hello Kitty and Snoopy items for sale in retail stores. No pun intended, but Snoopy noses out Hello Kitty for the most popular character in this category. He is beloved because he inspires empathy and transcends cultural boundaries. 

We flew All Nippon Airways from Chicago to Tokyo. The entire exterior of the plane featured Pokémon; it was also reflected in flight attendants' uniforms and in the safety information video. 

When Rocki Aoki opened the first Benihana restaurant in 1964, Teppanyaki cooking was only available on a limited basis in Japan. It did get its start post-WW II, but this style of cooking is very evident today. The primary difference from the US version is its orientation towards preparing primarily beef, as opposed to offering. chicken, scallops and shrimp. 

I will have to summarize the last few items. Be prepared to take off your shoes on many occasions. The oyster farms in France were revitalized with the help of Japanese oysters. Appreciate the very high- tech commodes that have a bidet feature. There are 25 UNESCO sites. Western-style breakfasts are readily available, but the Japanese eat what we would consider lunch and dinner foods for breakfast. There are great Italian restaurants in Japan. 

Written by Tom Gannon