WEIRD things that are NORMAL in Japan

Mrs Eats

23 Apr 202108:24

Summary

TLDRThe video discusses several cultural norms in Japan that might seem surprising to people from other countries. It explains why eating raw eggs is safe in Japan due to strict cleaning standards, and highlights other unique practices such as all-you-can-drink services (nomihoudai), public drinking, and leaving personal belongings unattended without fear of theft. The video also touches on the freedom Japanese kids have when traveling alone, and how it’s common for them to navigate public spaces independently from a young age. The speaker contrasts these customs with experiences abroad.

Takeaways

🥚 In Japan, eating raw eggs is common and considered safe because the eggs are thoroughly cleaned, unlike in many other countries.
🍚 Tamago Kake Gohan, a dish with raw egg, rice, and soy sauce, is a popular Japanese breakfast.
🍶 Japan has 'nomihoudai' services in many restaurants, where customers can enjoy all-you-can-drink alcohol for a limited time.
🍺 Alcoholic beverages, including beer and plum wine, can be bought from vending machines in Japan, and in some cases, without ID verification.
🍻 Drinking in public is legal and widely accepted in Japan, with people often drinking on trains or in public spaces without issue.
🚗 It's common for Japanese people to leave their cars running while unattended, which is a surprising cultural difference compared to other countries.
👜 In Japan, people often leave their belongings unattended in public places, like phones or bags on tables, without fear of theft.
🛏️ Sleeping in public spaces like fast food restaurants is not unusual in Japan, especially late at night while waiting for public transportation.
👧 Japanese children often travel alone using public transportation to school or cram schools, even at a young age, which is considered safe and normal.
🎒 Japanese high school students often travel long distances, such as trips to Tokyo Disneyland, without adult supervision, showcasing trust in the safety of the environment.

Q & A

Why is it safe to eat raw eggs in Japan?
-In Japan, egg companies clean the eggshells very thoroughly to ensure safety. The risk of salmonella is extremely low, with only 3 out of 100,000 eggs being found to have it, making raw eggs safe to eat.
What is 'tamago kake gohan' and why is it popular in Japan?
-Tamago kake gohan is a popular Japanese breakfast consisting of steamed rice, raw egg, and soy sauce. It's safe and delicious, thanks to Japan's strict egg sanitation practices.
How do Japanese 'nomihoudai' services work?
-'Nomihoudai' is an all-you-can-drink service available in many Japanese restaurants and bars. It is typically offered for a set period of time, such as 60 or 90 minutes, allowing customers to drink without paying for each drink separately.
Are people allowed to drink alcohol in public places in Japan?
-Yes, drinking in public places is legal in Japan. It's common to see people drinking on trains or in parks, and many Japanese vending machines even sell alcoholic beverages.
Is theft a concern in Japan when leaving belongings unattended?
-In Japan, it is common for people to leave their belongings, such as bags or phones, unattended in public spaces without fear of theft. This reflects a culture of trust and low crime rates in the country.
Why do people sometimes leave their cars running in Japan?
-In Japan, some people feel comfortable leaving their cars running while they run errands, trusting that no one will steal the car. This behavior reflects Japan’s general sense of safety and low crime rates.
Is it common to see people sleeping in public spaces in Japan?
-Yes, it's common to see people sleeping in public spaces, such as fast food restaurants, especially when waiting for the first train or bus. Staff typically avoid disturbing them to prevent causing trouble.
Do Japanese children have more independence compared to children in other countries?
-Yes, Japanese children, even as young as 6 or 7 years old, often travel to school or cram school by themselves using public transportation. Parents feel it is safe due to Japan's low crime rates.
What is 'cram school' in Japan?
-Cram school in Japan is a special school where students go after regular school hours to study additional subjects or participate in extracurricular activities. Many children attend cram schools to improve academically.
Do Japanese high school students often travel far without parental supervision?
-Yes, it is common for high school students to take trips without parental supervision, such as going on school trips or visiting Tokyo Disneyland. Parents trust that their children are safe while traveling.

Outlines

00:00

🍳 Raw Eggs and Breakfast Culture in Japan

The speaker discusses the cultural norm of eating raw eggs in Japan, particularly in the popular dish 'tamago kake gohan' (steamed rice with raw egg and soy sauce). In Japan, egg companies thoroughly clean the shells, making raw eggs safe to eat, with very low instances of salmonella. The speaker recounts a personal experience from New Zealand, where her friends were shocked by her breakfast choice of rice and raw egg, as it is uncommon and considered unsafe outside of Japan.

05:01

🍻 Drinking Culture and Alcohol Vending Machines in Japan

This section explains Japan's drinking culture, where 'nomihoudai' (all-you-can-drink) services are common in bars, allowing customers to enjoy alcohol for a fixed period. Japan also has vending machines that sell alcohol, such as beer and plum wine, with some requiring an ID, while others do not. The speaker contrasts this with the United States, where such services and vending machines are rare or nonexistent. Additionally, public drinking is legal in Japan, and people frequently consume alcohol in public spaces, such as on trains, without disturbance.

🚗 Public Trust and Leaving Belongings Unattended in Japan

The speaker highlights the high level of public trust in Japan, where people leave personal belongings unattended in public places without fear of theft. For example, bags or phones are left on tables in cafes, or cars are left running while the owner does errands, with little concern for theft. This behavior, while normal in Japan, is shocking for foreigners and would not typically occur in countries like the U.S., where theft is more common.

😴 Public Sleeping and Social Tolerance in Japan

In Japan, it is common for people, especially the younger generation, to sleep in public spaces, such as fast food restaurants, while waiting for public transportation late at night. This is generally accepted by restaurant staff, who may not like it but avoid confronting customers to avoid conflict. The speaker contrasts this with foreign perceptions, where people might find it strange and expect management to intervene.

🚌 Independence of Japanese Children in Public Spaces

Japanese children, even as young as six or seven, often travel alone to school using public transportation, a sight that is considered normal in Japan but may be surprising to foreigners. High school students also travel long distances independently, sometimes for school trips to places like Tokyo Disneyland. Japanese parents trust that their children are safe, using tracking devices or simply relying on the country’s low crime rates, and encourage independence from a young age.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Raw Eggs

In Japan, it is normal and safe to eat raw eggs because they are thoroughly cleaned and inspected for safety. This contrasts with other countries, where eating raw eggs is considered risky due to the potential for salmonella. The video mentions tamago kake gohan, a popular Japanese dish made with raw eggs and rice, showcasing how this practice is embedded in Japanese culture.

💡Tamago Kake Gohan (TKG)

Tamago Kake Gohan, or TKG, is a traditional Japanese breakfast made by mixing a raw egg with hot rice and soy sauce. It is highlighted in the video as a beloved meal in Japan, representing how the Japanese trust the safety of their eggs. This dish symbolizes the cultural acceptance of consuming raw foods that may be unusual in other countries.

💡Salmonella

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning, often associated with raw eggs in many countries. The video contrasts Japan with other countries by noting the extremely low rate of salmonella in Japanese eggs, which makes consuming raw eggs much safer. This cultural difference emphasizes Japan's stringent food safety standards.

💡Nomihoudai

Nomihoudai is a Japanese term meaning 'all-you-can-drink.' It refers to a service in Japanese restaurants and bars where customers can drink as much alcohol as they want for a set period. The video compares this practice with other countries, like the U.S., where such services are uncommon or restricted. Nomihoudai reflects the unique social drinking culture in Japan.

💡Public Drinking

In Japan, it is legal and socially acceptable to drink alcohol in public spaces, such as on trains or in parks. The video discusses how common it is to see people openly drinking without causing disruption. This reflects the cultural norms of politeness and non-interference in Japan, where public behavior is often governed by unspoken social rules.

💡Safety and Trust

The video frequently emphasizes Japan's culture of safety and trust. Examples include people leaving their belongings unattended in public, running cars with the engine on while they step away, and children traveling alone. These behaviors would be unusual or considered risky in many other countries, highlighting how Japanese society places a high level of trust in its citizens.

💡Cram School

Cram schools, or 'juku,' are private educational institutions in Japan where students go after regular school hours to study more intensively. The video mentions that it’s common for Japanese children to attend cram school and return home late, further emphasizing the sense of safety in Japanese public spaces, even for young students traveling alone.

💡Public Sleeping

In Japan, it is not uncommon to see people sleeping in public places like fast-food restaurants, especially late at night while waiting for the first train or bus home. The video explains that this is generally accepted in Japan, contrasting with other countries where such behavior might lead to intervention by staff. This reflects Japan's non-confrontational culture.

💡Vending Machines

Japan is known for having vending machines that sell a wide variety of products, including alcoholic beverages. The video describes how alcohol vending machines in Japan sometimes require ID verification, though not always. This illustrates the convenience-oriented culture in Japan, where vending machines are a common and trusted way to buy goods.

💡Freedom for Children

The video highlights how Japanese children are given a lot of independence, such as traveling alone to school or cram school using public transportation. This is contrasted with other countries where children of similar ages are often closely supervised by adults. This cultural norm in Japan is a reflection of the country's sense of community trust and safety.

Highlights

It's normal to eat raw eggs in Japan due to the thorough cleaning of egg shells, making it safe for consumption.

Tamago kake gohan, a popular Japanese breakfast, consists of steamed rice, raw egg, and soy sauce.

Raw eggs in Japan are extremely safe, with only 3 out of 100,000 eggs containing salmonella.

Many Japanese restaurants offer 'nomihoudai' or 'all-you-can-drink' services for a set period of time.

Alcoholic drinks can be purchased from vending machines in Japan, and sometimes no ID is required.

Drinking alcohol in public places, like on trains, is socially acceptable in Japan.

In Japan, it's common for people to leave their belongings unattended in public spaces without fear of theft.

Japanese people often leave their car engines running while stepping away for errands, something surprising to foreigners.

Sleeping in public places, such as fast-food restaurants, is normal in Japan and staff generally avoid confronting sleepers.

Japanese elementary school kids often commute to school alone using public transportation, even as young as six years old.

Junior high and high school students in Japan frequently travel alone, sometimes for long distances, which is considered safe.

Cram schools are common in Japan, and students attend them after regular school for additional studies.

Japanese high school students often take long trips by themselves, such as traveling to Tokyo Disneyland on a night bus.

In Japan, parents feel secure allowing their children to navigate public spaces independently due to the country's low crime rates.

Despite safety concerns, many Japanese parents trust that their children can travel alone without significant risk.