FAN OF TRIVIA?
Test your knowledge of Japanese culture!
Trivia: Restaurants will allow you to take home bentos, but not leftovers. Why is this?
Trivia: Restaurants will allow you to take home bentos, but not leftovers. Why is this?
Q.
How come Japanese restaurants will sell you a bento (a takeout meal), but they won’t allow you to take home your leftovers if you’ve dined in?
A.
Within Japan, it is considered safe to sell cooked food even if it has been sitting in a shop for hours. Most vendors are efficient about making sure that food has not been sitting out for an unsafe amount of time, and Japanese people typically eat the food items within the day they purchase. Oddly enough, despite this efficiency, there is no law in Japan that states that vendors cannot sell items beyond its expiration date. However, it is believed that taking home leftover food is not safe because customers have “contaminated” their food via their saliva and eating utensils. Restaurants will worry about food-borne illnesses and do not want to be held responsible if a customer gets sick.
Outside of Japan, it is considered unsafe to purchase food that has been sitting out in a shop for hours. But it is considered normal to be able to take home leftovers from a restaurant, especially since one has already paid for the food. Usually, when I meet foreigners in Japan, particularly Westerners, they always ask about food safety or feel frustrated if they cannot take home their leftovers. Now that you know the thought process behind it, you can be prepared next time you’re looking to take home food!
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Trivia: What are 4 typical things Japanese people do if they miss the last train home?
What are 4 typical things Japanese people do if they miss the last train home?
Q.
What are 4 typical things a Japanese person might do if he or she misses the last train home?
A.
Since Japan has a strong drinking culture, it is not unusual for people to miss the last train to take them home. But they don’t panic because there are many reasonable options for them to spend the night until the first morning train runs.
Manga kissas (24-hour manga book store) and capsule hotels are cheap and convenient options. They have showers, changing rooms, and your own box to stay in. Many of the manga kissas have all you can drink plans, and you can enjoy reading manga or working on your laptop. It’s also a great place to take a nap since it is pretty quiet.
Another option is to spend the night in a karaoke room, which is even cheaper than staying at manga kissas or capsule hotels; however, they can be noisy and are not suitable for sleeping.
The last option is to simply take a taxi home. Since many workers within Tokyo city live on the outskirts of city center, this can be quite expensive.
Have you ever missed the last train? What did you do?
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Trivia: What is "kenson"?
Trivia: What is "kenson"?
Q.
What is the meaning of “kenson”? Why is it important in Japanese culture?
A.
One of the important practices in Japanese society is “kenson”, which is the culture of humbling/minimizing yourself. It is important to not appear as intelligent or as confident as you actually are. You always want to keep yourself at the bottom of the ladder.
This culture is practiced from a young age. Kids probably learn to humble themselves when they start school. If you are too confident, others will see you as braggy or arrogant. Since Japanese society is all about harmony, kids learn to act like others.
As Japanese people get older, it is even more important to kenson, which goes far beyond being humble. Many foreigners point out that Japanese people seem to lack confidence; this comes from being educated that thinking one is better than someone else is taboo.
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Trivia: Name 4 ways that you can use your Suica or Pasmo card, other than for transportation.
Name 4 ways that you can use your Suica or Pasmo card, other than for transportation.
Q.
Name 4 ways that you can use your Suica or Pasmo card, other than for transportation.
A.
Suica & Pasmo cards are primarily used for transportation on trains, buses, and taxis. But there are other ways to use your Suica/Pasmo card for quick payments. Here are 4 other common ways:
Station vending machines
Convenience stores
Drug stores
Station lockers
You might also see Suica/Pasmo payments available at select shops, primarily within stations.
You can buy Suica/Pasmo at the station or at the “midori no madoguchi”. If you want to check your balance, you can simply use the ticket machine, and it can also be set to auto-charge so you don’t have to line up and recharge every time you run out of money.
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Trivia: What is the Obon Festival?
What is the Obon Festival?
Q.
Every August, Japanese people celebrate Obon. What exactly is the Obon festival?
A.
Obon is a Japanese Buddhist tradition celebrated every year to honor the spirit of ancestors. Japanese people believe that during Obon, the soul of their ancestors returns to their hometown.
The celebration takes place in mid-August over three days. Despite Obon being a sacred time of the year, it is not a public holiday. Because of this, you might want to check if any venues you’d like to visit are open or closed during this time.
As a foreigner in Japan, you have two options: The first is that you can join in on a Bon Odori festival to see people dance and enjoy Japanese summer street foods. The second option is that since many people will go back to their hometowns during this period, it is the best time of the year to explore Tokyo without having to wait in long lines. If you are visiting Tokyo, try out restaurants, cafes and go to events during this time to avoid the crowds!
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Trivia: What are two places where you can find an ATM, other than a bank?
What are the X places where you’ll find an ATM?
Q.
What are two places where you can find an ATM, other than a bank?
A.
Other than banks, you can find ATMs at post offices and convenience stores. While banks and post offices have limited open hours, ATMs at convenience stores are available 24/7. However, depending on where your card is from, you might not be able to withdrawal money late at night. Convenience store ATMs are usually only used for withdrawals and deposits; if you’d like to make a transfer then you’ll need to visit a bank ATM.
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Trivia: What is the meaning of 空気を読む (kūki wo yomu)?
What is the meaning of 空気を読む (kuuki wo yomu) and why is it important in Japanese culture?
Q.
What is the meaning of 空気を読む (kūki wo yomu) and why is it important in Japanese culture?
A.
In Japan, 空気を読む (kūki wo yomu) means to “read the air”. It is one of the first unspoken rules people learn when they start building a relationship with Japanese people.
Why? Well, the most important value to Japanese culture is to maintain group harmony; it is important to listen, see, hear, and sense what others are feeling before taking action. By doing so, one can avoid making other people feel uncomfortable, attacked, offended, or ashamed. It’s all about smoothening the conversation, with no trouble.
For example, even if you want to eat Italian food, if everyone else wants to eat Mexican food, you don’t disclose your opinion. Most of the time, it’s not so apparent. If you are being stared on a train with your legs crossed on a crowded train, that means to uncross your legs. It can seem passive-aggressive at times, but it comes from not wanting to be direct and hurt people’s feelings.
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Trivia: Why do Japanese people wear masks even when they are not sick?
Why do Japanese people wear masks even when they are not sick?
Q.
Why do Japanese people wear masks, even if they are not sick?
A.
Some Japanese people wear masks all year round, even if they are not sick. There are a couple reasons for this:
Many people wear masks in public as a preventative measure from getting sick. In Japan, a lot of people still go to work even when they are sick, so it’s important to wear a mask to avoid catching a cold, especially on a train or at an office.
Some people, women especially, wear masks to cover their faces when they don’t have on any makeup or are not feeling confident about the way they look. This is common especially amongst students and young working professionals.
As wearing masks is so common in everyday life for Japanese people, brands have come up with different types and styles of masks to match everyone’s needs!
If you are sick, make sure you follow proper etiquette and wear a mask when you are in public to prevent spreading your germs. You can purchase a face mask at convenience stores or drug stores.
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Trivia: Can you identify this object?
Trivia: Can you identify this object?
Q.
What is this object? Where do you typically see one? How do you use it?
A.
This object is an umbrella wiper. You’ll typically see them at entrances to office buildings and some department stores. After you have closed your wet umbrella, you can shake and wipe off the excess water by sliding the umbrella through this umbrella wiper.
Japan is known to be very clean, and it’s important to keep inside the store clean as well. After getting the water off, take one of the plastic umbrella bags at storefronts to cover your umbrella so that it won’t damage any items in the store. This is very particular to Japan and might have to do with the culture of disliking to get things wet by the rain. A lot of people would have a portable umbrella in their bags all the time just in case it rains!
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Trivia: If you are carrying a backpack, what should you do with it when you enter a crowded train?
If you are carrying a backpack, what should you do with it when you enter a crowded train?
Q.
If you are carrying a backpack, what should you do with it when you enter a crowded train?
A.
The answer is that you have to carry your backpack in front of you! Especially on a packed train, if you have your backpack on your back, it will prevent people from coming in. So the rule is to put it down on the floor between your legs, put it on the top compartment, or carry your backpack in front of you.
Japan is a society full of unspoken rules. Next time you ride the train, observe how people carry their bags and you’ll instantly notice how they are mindful of each other when it comes to their personal belongings.
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Trivia: What are 3 things Japanese people use cash for, other than purchasing goods?
What are 3 things Japanese people use cash for, other than purchasing goods?
Q.
What are 3 things Japanese people use cash for, other than purchasing goods?
A.
The answer is: Otoshidama, Okozukai and Wedding Gifts!
Otoshidama is the word for money that kids receive from their parents and relatives on New Year’s Day. This is a tradition every year, and sometimes even adults who are Sempai (mentor) will give money to other adults who are their Kohai (mentee).
Okozukai is an allowance that parents give to children, typically every month.
When you go to a Japanese wedding, make sure you bring clean and new cash in odd-number increments. Typically a gift of 30,000 is acceptable. It’s thought to be bad luck to bring cash that is bent, so go to the bank and ask for brand new cash!
At the end of the day, all three of these are gift-giving concepts.
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Trivia: What does this sign mean?
What does this image mean, where are you most likely to see it, and what should you do if you see one?
Q.
What does this sign mean, where are you most likely to see it and what should you do when you see one?
A.
This is called a “Maternity Mark”.
The maternity mark is a sign that pregnant women carry to indicate to others that they are pregnant.
Maternity Marks come in the form of stickers, keychains, pins, etc. You will most likely see a pregnant woman with this sign if you are near the priority seating of a train. If you see the mark and you are sitting in a priority seat, it’s courteous to give up your seat to the pregnant woman (assuming you are not eligible for priority seating, of course).
Some other suggestions if you see a woman carrying this sign is to avoid smoking near her and to ask her if she needs help if you notice she looks sick or uncomfortable.
Do Maternity Marks really help?
It’s hit or miss. Nowadays, people are looking at their cellphones so much that they do not notice women who have the maternity mark, or might not even notice they are pregnant unless they are really showing. In any case, pregnant women do find it beneficial to carry around, just in case others do notice it and can be sensitive to their condition.
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Trivia: When purchasing gifts, why do Japanese staff give you an extra bag within your bag?
When purchasing gifts, why do Japanese staff give you an extra bag within your bag?
Q.
When purchasing gifts, why do Japanese shop workers give you an extra bag within your bag?
A.
If your main bag gets damaged via transit, you can put the gift in a clean bag to present to the receiver. It’s always these small thoughts that count! In Japanese we call this “Kizukai.” Japan has a strong gift culture, so it’s a good idea to show appreciation through gift-giving.
A great way to get started? If you’re going on a holiday, pick up some local snacks and gift them to your coworkers and friends.
What’s gift giving like in your culture?
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Trivia: Which of these are unwritten rules of etiquette on a Japanese train?
Which of these are unwritten rules of etiquette on the Japanese train?
Q.
The hardest cultural etiquettes to pick up on are the ones where there are unwritten rules. When riding the train, which of the following are unacceptable (select all that apply)?
a) Eating
b) Drinking out of a can
c) Chatting loudly
d) Making a call on your phone
e) Texting
f) Applying makeup
g) Wearing a backpack
h) Sitting in a priority seat
A.
All of these are unacceptable except for e) texting and h) sitting in a priority seat. You can sit in a priority seat as long as there are no elderly, injured, or pregnant people who need it.
Out of all of these you might be wondering about b) drinking out of a can, f) applying makeup and g) wearing a backpack. It’s acceptable to drink on the train as long as there is a lid or cap on your beverage to avoid spilling. In general, it is considered impolite to apply makeup in a public setting and women typically go to station bathrooms instead. As for the backpack, you can of course be carrying one but the point is that you don’t want to wear it on the train and prevent people from trying to get around behind you or bump into people on accident. If you have a backpack, take it off and either stow it on the shelf above the seating area or place it on the floor between your legs.
Are any of these unwritten etiquettes ones you weren’t aware of?
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Trivia: What is the main purpose of Ohanami?
What is the main purpose of Ohanami?
Q.
Every Spring, Japanese people gather in parks to have picnics during cherry blossom season. We call this “ohanami”. What is the main purpose of these gatherings?
a) To enhance communication with coworkers, friends, and significant others
b) To fully enjoy the cherry blossoms at their peak by spending time outdoors
c) To finally enjoy nature and the warmer weather after months of being stuck indoors
A.
The answer is a) to enhance communication with coworkers, friends, and significant others. The culture of communicating through drinking alcohol is very big in Japan. For them, Ohanami is not for enjoying cherry blossoms or nature, it is more about drinking and building relationships with others.
In companies, young employees are responsible for finding a good spot for Ohanami company gathering. It is not uncommon for these young employees to camp out the night before in order to snag the best spot. This passion shows just how big of an event this is in Japan!
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Trivia: What are you obligated to do if you received chocolates from your coworkers on Valentine's Day?
What are you obligated to do if you received chocolates from your coworkers on Valentine’s Day?
Q.
What are you obligated to do if you received chocolates from your coworkers on Valentine’s Day?
A.
For starters, only men receive chocolates from women on Valentine’s Day. So, if you’re a man and you received chocolates from your female friends and coworkers, you have an obligation to reciprocate the gesture by giving candy or chocolates back to them. We have a special day for this in Japan called White Day, which is on March 14th, exactly one month after Valentine’s Day.
There’s no pressure to buy anything fancy or bring anything homemade; a bag of chocolates or a box of cookies from a department store on your way to work is perfect!
How do you feel about White Day?
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Trivia: What is a "shindansho"?
What is a shindansho?
Q.
What is a shindansho (診断書), when would you need one, and how much does one cost?
A.
A shindansho (診断書) is a “medical certificate” (doctor’s note). In Japan, you will need a shindansho to get a day off from work due to illnesses. Even if you don’t feel like you need to get checked, you will need the slip to prove that you are sick.
To obtain one, ask your doctor to provide you a shindansho and they will write you a slip to take with you after your check up. Shindansho typically costs around 3000 yen, though it could cost anywhere from 2000-6000 yen depending on the certificate.
You might find the cost to be surprising because one of these certificates can cost more than the medical check up and medication, combined. But it’s important to Japanese companies to have this proof of illness to confirm your sick day.
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Trivia: How do teenagers and young adults date in Japan?
How do teenagers and young adults date in Japan?
Q.
How do teenagers and young adults date in Japan?
A.
There are a couple of dating rules in Japan. When you have feelings for someone, you have to “kokuhaku”, which means to “confess your love”.
Usually, the male in the relationship has to kokuhaku and ask the female to formally be in a relationship. If the girl says yes, the next step is to plan “kinenbi”, which is to create and celebrate anniversaries.
Some couples choose to celebrate every month, especially teenagers and couples in their early 20s.
Dating apps are used to meet people, Japanese people tend to use them for more casual relationships, similar to Western cultures.
If you want to see how young people date in Japan, the Netflix show Terrace House portrays the dating scene very well, so check it out!
What’s the dating protocol in your culture?
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Mediating conflict between what Westerners and Japanese believe qualify an employee for promotion
What do you need to do to qualify for a promotion in Japan?
In a recent newsletter, I presented a classic cross-cultural conflict where a junior marketing employee (Emily) wanted to discuss opportunities for promotion with her Japanese manager (Suzuki-san), but Suzuki-san felt she was not ready. Emily produced great marketing results, but Suzuki-san felt Emily needed to make more effort in consulting with management before taking action and helping her teammates. The cultural issues here are related to what people believe employees need to have in order to qualify for a promotion - in Emily’s case, showing results, and in Suzuki-san’s case, being a team player.
Unfortunately, I did not receive responses from Japanese readers (granted, posing questions in Japanese next time would likely help). However, even within the foreign community, the responses are mixed.
Come check out what readers had to say:
If Emily is in a Japanese company based in Japan, she is going to have the same problem wherever she goes. Expats in Japan often find that some self-reflection is important in understanding cultural mis-fit, and may look to work at Western companies based in Japan to help them transition to work and life in Japan. Emily is going to have to recognize that every company, not only every country, has specific cultural values that require navigating. Her boss Suzuki-san has provided her with very specific suggestions (management approval on content, attend team social events) that if she implemented would help her be more effective quickly.
———
Fire Suzuki-san, give Emily the management role. Put her in charge of modernizing the company.
———
The scenario is possibly flawed - My understanding is that Emily is working towards a non-Japanese market and an expert in her field - feelings and the Japanese way of achieving goals is irrelevant & redundant - for this target market online - there is a risk that 'the Japanese way' will indirectly mess up - confuse the message and perhaps Emily and misalign the intended brand identity by owners of the brand/project with the brand image. Which comes back to why did they hire a non-japanese person in the first place? is it because they can not do it? Trust is missing from the equation.
———
I would remind Emily that she's in Japan not the US, and there's different work ethics. I'd also tell Emily to get educated in Japanese culture and learn the way Japanese companies expect from their employees. I would remind the manager that she's dealing with an American that has ingrained work values that are quite different from her Japanese counterpart. Tell manager to send Emily to a workshop that teaches the Japanese way and what's expected.
———
In this case, Suzuki-san may perceive Emily’s approach as too aggressive in lieu of her limited time with the company. A request for promotion based on the success of a single project (despite Emily’s disregard for protocol, etc.) might pose a red flag for a lot of Japanese employers, now wondering if every successful project Emily completes will immediately be followed by another demand in pay or position.
At the same time, however, Emily probably feels left in the dark as to what conditions constitute consideration to a promotion. She would definitely have a higher sense of security if such conditions were written into her contract.
If Suzuki-san’s company does not have an established set of conditions for such consideration and base promotions on a more overall assessment, then this should be simply explained to Emily so that she does not carry false expectations and can leave the company if she does not agree with their “unwritten” policy. Suzuki-san should be as truthful as possible and let fate decide. If, however, she can come to appreciate the wholistic approach the company uses when considering promotion, it’d be an educational experience for her as well as a plus for the company.
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Suzuki-san is toxic and needs to be let go. Suzuki-sans poor hiring choices resulted in the fact that most employees were lagging behind Emily, who is top performer, whom Suzuki-san is about to lose. Giving Suzuki-san’s role to Emily would result in higher productivity across the board as her direct approach would mean that less time is being wasted. On top of that, being the SME Emily would be able to lead by example and mentor other employees in the process.
———
I would suggest Emily needs to understand the environment she is working in and while I understand her western approach its also important to consider the culture within which she is working. In stead of looking for a new job (and most likely stepping into a similar situation again) maybe she could work with her manager in setting some teamwork KPI's to support her continued great results in productivity.
What’s your take? Continue the conversation by leaving a comment!
Trivia: What is a "chienshoumeisho"?
What is a chienshoumeisho, when do you need one, and how much does it cost?
Q.
What is a chienshoumeisho (遅延証明書), when would you need one, and how much does one cost?
A.
A chienshoumeisho (遅延証明書) is a train delay certificate.
Trains can get delayed all the time, especially during rush hour. It is the general rule to take into account the possibilities of train delays and calculate the time, but even so, long train delays can cause you to be late to work.
Being late to work is a big no in Japan, so if will be late, you will want to make sure you pick up a chienshoumeisho. To obtain one, you will see train officers in uniform near the ticketing gates distributing white train delay slips as you exit the platform. If you do not see a train officer distributing slips, you can likely find a box filled with certificates to take on your way out of the gate. It is pretty easy, and having this delay certificate will prevent you from being marked late at work.
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Founder of Thrive Tokyo
Greetings! I’m Katheryn, a coach and trainer who helps professionals live, work and thrive in Japan. Click here to learn more about me.