5 Weird Things About Japan

While my last "Top 5" list talked about the Crazy Cool Things in Japan, this list will document the Top 5 altogether strange things in Japan. Maybe they are still cool, but they fit more in the category of, "Things that make you go hmm..."

5. Jumbo McDonalds sandwiches 

The McDonalds international menu is remarkable. Did you know that McDonalds India serves the Chicken Maharaja Mac and there is no beef on the menu? In Egypt you'll find the McArabia: two chicken or beef patties between pita bread with tahini sauce. While Japanese McDonalds serve an EBI Filet-O shrimp burger and a Green Tea Oreo McFlurry, the most curious menu items are from the America-style menu. Behold, the Mega Mac. Packing 700 calories and 40 grams of fat, it's a surprise that this item isn't actually found on American menus.

4. 2-ring binders and 2-hole punches

Who ever heard of a 2-ring binder? The fact is that it's almost impossible to find a 3-ring binder in Japan. It's nothing against the number 3 (4 and 7 are the taboo numbers). It would make sense, then, that there aren't any 3-hole punches either.

3. Super hunched over old ladies everywhere

Ubiquitous osteoporosis. Say that 10 times fast. Little calcium is consumed here, so what that amounts to is hundreds of hunched over old ladies. But considering, the country has a relatively low rate of osteoporosis, likely due to the weight-bearing exercises of old ladies who I see shoveling away every last flurry of snow that touches their property. Also floor-sitting and squat-peeing might contribute. And natto never hurts.

2. Bags in bags in bags

Despite the best efforts of grocery stores in Japan to reduce plastic waste by charging you 5 yen per bag, putting things in bags is really a part of Japanese culture. When buying gifts for coworkers they must be individually wrapped, and then artfully packaged. The redundancy is disturbing, but I think it serves to show the efforts that are taken to present a purchased product as clean, contained, and cared for.

1. Technological backwardness

You think of Japan as the land of technological innovation: from consumer electronics to robotics to the automotive industry. The one most surprising thing about living in Japan is how far from our expectations technology here really is.

Would it surprise you that most workplaces are stuck in the 80's using fax machines? And while some people have Smartphones, the vast majority are using really simplistic flip phones. There is almost no wi-fi in businesses or hotels, and while many classrooms have a television, they have a chalkboard and not a Smart board like in many modern American classrooms. Furthermore, credit cards are rarely accepted at businesses.

In Japan, I have encountered so many things that blow my mind, either because of their awesomeness or because of just how very different they are from American culture. I found out yesterday that sleeping at work is not frowned upon as it's a sign of exhaustion from hard work rather than laziness!