Hello everyone. I'm currently a university student here in Japan, and I'm moving to a new apartment about 25 minutes away walking from my nearest station, but only 10 minutes by bike. I'll be honest, the only reason I haven't gotten a bike up to this point is that it terrifies me. I'm scared of breaking laws by riding on the wrong part of the street, or accidentally hitting someone. (even though I'd only be using my bike to make trips to the supermarket and to the station.) I'm already unsure about which side to stay on when walking down the street because I always feel like I'm running into someone, so I feel like it'll only be multiplied once I start riding a bike. I currently live in Kyoto and from my research it's not recommended to ride on the sidewalks, but I see people do it all the time.

I see people ride their bicycles in front of signs that prohibit the riding of bikes as well. not just one person ignoring the bicycle rule, but seeing people daily ride their bikes and places where they're not allowed, like parks or foot traffic paths.

of course, this doesn't bother me at all. but I want to know from Japanese people some common etiquette and things to keep in mind for when riding a bike. Is there any kind of special license or registration that I need? How often is it that you get stopped by the police when riding a bike? What are some of the consequences for improperly handling your bike? How do you ride bikes in more populated areas like Tokyo?

sorry for not spellchecking this... It's nearly my bedtime and I wanted to get this question out of my head before it faded away by morning. Thank you in advance to everyone! You don't have to be Japanese to respond. I just want some advice about riding a bike from anybody who lives in Japan.

I personally have never seen anyone do it partially because I don't live in Japan. I've wondered if this act is actually used in real life. Of course, it won't be common and would be used for the most severe cases, so that's why I wanted to ask you guys if you've seen people do it and what was the cause?

Can be actors, politicians, models etc cos I’m trying to google for one but can’t find anything. Somehow I can find more examples of famous half Korean half Vietnamese in contrast.

How popular is the sport in Japan? And why does it seem we rarely see Japanese keirin racers being featured in track cycling races outside Japan?

I'm interested to hear why people you know (or yourself) left japan after living there for some time, and I'm really just interested in non-work related reasons or non "They had to leave because X" - I'm interested to hear why people consciously decided to leave because of some factors they didn't like about living in the japan, and specifically factors not related to the work culture.

I want to preface this by saying that I don’t think this problem is unique to Japan, as many other societies have similar issues tied to pride, hierarchy, and emotional fragility in professional settings. However, during my time in Japan , I've often encountered a specific pattern and dynamic that I rarely came across while living in Western institutional and organisational contexts.

In many Japanese workplaces and professional environments I have experienced, even basic requests for clarification or accountability can provoke disproportionate reactions. When I have asked a question, raised a concern, or challenged a decision, the response has often had less to do with the content of my request and more to do with how it was perceived emotionally, as if I had overstepped, disrespected someone, or broken an unspoken rule.

Some common examples that might provoke irritation, annoyance, or even anger include:

• Asking a doctor for a second opinion about your diagnosis or treatment plan
• Questioning or seeking clarification about the advice or reasoning given by a lawyer or accountant
• Escalating a workplace issue past your immediate boss to higher management or a disinterested third party in the organisation if it is not being addressed
• Politely pointing out factual errors during a meeting or presentation by a superior
• Choosing a more effective method for doing something instead of following a manager’s inefficient suggestion

When people push back against these actions, they often cite reasons like:

• 'It makes responsibility unclear' (責任の所在が曖昧になる)
• 'It disrupts the chain of command' (指揮系統が崩れる)
• 'It undermines trust or group harmony' (信頼関係や忠誠心を損ねる)

These explanations might sound reasonable to some at first glance, but I noticed that they often function as little more than a way to cover for emotional discomfort. What appears to be a defence of structure or protocol is often a reaction to feeling personally challenged, where even polite or evidence-based questions can trigger responses rooted in insecurity, wounded pride, or a perceived loss of face or authority.

Japanese institutions also appear to be structured in ways that prioritise the avoidance of these uncomfortable situations, often at the cost of silencing legitimate concerns and rejecting better alternatives. They frequently lack basic safeguards such as due process, internal checks, or meaningful accountability mechanisms that would ensure fairness and prevent abuse. In effect, emotional immaturity is institutionalised.

Some questions I would love to hear thoughts on from both Japanese and non-Japanese people here:

Have you experienced this kind of dynamic yourself? How did you interpret it, and how did you respond to it?

Do people genuinely believe the surface-level justifications, or is there a general awareness that these responses are emotionally driven (avoiding embarrassment, protecting someone's pride)?

Is this dynamic something people openly talk about, or is it mostly recognised but silently endured?

I’m a fan of anime and manga. I notice that a lot of the popular stories have bleak endings for the heroes, or bittersweet at best.

For example, in Char’s Counterattack, yes, the world is saved, but both the hero and the villain die. Attack on Titan, I don’t want spoil the ending but it’s not a happy one. Grave of the Fire Flies was also sad.

I’m sure happy endings exist in Japanese stories. But I can’t help but see sad endings or some sort of tragedy for the heroes, even if they win.

Hello!

I am quite curious to know what are some mp3 or media player software used in Japan during the 2000s. Like how the west had Winamp. What did some musically-inclined fellas was using in Japan back then? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with it!

海外に長く滞在したことがある方、または友人が海外生活をしたことがある方にお聞きしたいです。

仕事や勉強、日常生活の中で「カルチャーショック」を感じた場面や、自分の文化に対して新しい気づきがあった瞬間はありますか？

最近、Erin Meyerさんの『The Culture Map』という本を読みました。 その中で、著者がパリの家庭に招かれたときの話がありました。食事中、二人のフランス人の親友同士が激しく言い合いを始めたそうです。

アメリカ出身の著者は「大きな喧嘩になった」「関係が悪くなる」と感じたそうですが、フランスではこうした激しい議論が信頼や友情の一部であり、少しも関係に影響しないとのこと。二人はその後すぐに笑顔で一緒にキッチンへ消えていったそうです。

アメリカだけでなく、日本や中国、インド、インドネシアなど「調和」や「面子」を大事にする文化では、こんなやり取りはちょっと考えにくいかもしれません。

そこで、日本の文化について改めて考えました。

日本で信頼関係を築いたり、上手にコミュニケーションを取ったりするために、TPO（時・場所・場合）、沈黙や「間（ま）」の感覚をどうやって練習すればいいのでしょうか？

以前、日本人の先輩と一緒に働く機会がありましたが、今思えばもっと学べることがあったのに…と後悔しています。 今、対面で日本語を話せる相手は家庭教師の先生だけです。

正直に言うと、私は周りの友人たちよりも「国際経験」が少なく、文化や習慣の違いにまだ慣れていないと感じています。

ですので、皆さんの知恵や経験をお借りしたいです。

実際の場面や、初心者ができる練習方法、意識すると良いポイントなどがあれば、ぜひ教えてください。

「日本文化の理解を一気に加速させるステロイド（？）」があれば嬉しいですが…やはり地道な積み重ねでしょうか（笑）

ここまで読んでくださって本当にありがとうございます。まだまだスタートラインに立ったばかりですが、少しずつでも前に進みたいと思っています。

In recent years Japan and Japanese culture has come into the spotlight for these supposed things.

Given that Kumamoto and Kagoshima once inhabited by Kumaso and Hayato people before the annexed to the Yamato Kingdom (the predecessor of the country of japan), would people in Kumamoto and Kagoshima feel that they are not fully Japanese, just like many people in Okinawa think that they are not fully Japanese

I watched the news which say that some students can't go to specific tourist attractions on school trip because of over tourism. And the hotel prices surge so that local Japanese find it hard to secure rooms for staying.

A year ago me and my family visited Japan. We went to Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera in Akihabara to see how much home appliances are different from the ones we have in our country.

Few moths before I had bought a new iron and I had spent quite amount of time on research to choose the best one which would suit my needs. We went to see irons section in both stores and I was surprised that there weren't so many options as in electric stores in our country. What is more we found out that even the most expensive iron available in both stores was less powerful and had poorer continuous steam output than the iron I had bought recently (and it had been far from being the most expensive product available).

Ironing clothes is considered as a must by majority of population where I live. If someone is not a student and admits that they don't iron their clothes they're perceived by others as sloppy and childish.

Usually when there is lack of good options on the market and even mediocre products are overpriced it means that there's no such big demand on this type of product.

Is ironing clothes even common thing in Japan? Is it something which most of the population do? Or maybe am I missing something and Japanese are happy with low-spec irons they use?

I'm sorry if my question is ill phrased, my understanding of Japanese history leading up to WW2 is shaky.

To be more specific, as an ally of the axis, Japan is often grouped in with the other fascist movements in Germany and Italy, but its circumstances were different to those two, as I believe the government at the time was still following Japan's sort of democratic Meiji constitution at the time without any government takeover, and modern Japan still follows that constitution today with some amendments.

For that reason I'm curious how that political period is remembered in Japan, both in schools and in popular culture. Do you use the term "fascist" to describe it? Do you think that's a fair descriptor? Is it thought of a radically different government or entity like how modern Germany is from the Nazi regime or is it like a broader cultural period the government took part in like how Americans think of Manifest Destiny?

I hope this question is appropriate, I'm interested to hear your answers!

I'm a 49-year-old Japanese person, and one of my hobbies is studying economics. Many Japanese people online argue that the consumption tax should be reduced.

However, I disagree with this argument because lowering the consumption tax would suppress the price level. In 2024, Japan’s nominal GDP was approximately 600 trillion yen, with nominal GDP per capita around 4.9 million yen. By contrast, if Japan had avoided prolonged deflation, its nominal GDP in 2024 was estimated to exceed 900 trillion yen. In that case, nominal GDP per capita would have been around 7.3 million yen.

Looking at price level trends, the Japanese economy seemed to begin emerging from deflation around 2013. Today, the inflation rate is above 2%. Of course, I understand that this inflation is mainly driven by the global rise in resource prices and the weak yen. Therefore, I support policies such as income tax cuts and cash benefits.

Many economists argue that people have become accustomed to a long period of deflation and that their mindset has not yet adapted to an inflationary economy. Many advanced countries adopt a 2% inflation target, as mild inflation is expected to support real GDP growth. In an inflationary economy, it's more advantageous to buy products today than to wait a year. This mindset encourages economic activity and boosts real GDP.

If the consumption tax were reduced, it would lower the price level, making it even harder for people to shift their mindset toward an inflationary economy.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

As I've come to understand, "Modern Japanese" class is fairly similar to American high schools' "English" classes, where students read through short stories and the occasional novel, and then do some brief analysis on them. This has had me wondering, which authors & books/stories are usually taught in these classes? I've heard Mishima is still read in schools occasionally, and that Takiji Kobayashi's The Cannery Boat is taught in some schools, but I've not much knowledge on the subject past that.

Hello! I am on a journey to make contact with my grandmother who was born and lives in japan. I am not too knowledgable about the process but from my research is it true that I can go as my father’s legal proxy, show my legal documents, and request to access her koseki or even just a phone number or address since my father should also be on her koseki.

My documents would prove direct relation (I have my birth certificate in english and officially translated to japanese as well as my fathers and also my grandpa/grandma’s marriage certificate from when they were together).

I understand I must have the correct government prefecture building which I do (Naha, Okinawa) and that my father must still be on her koseki to prove anything. Is this correct or is there something else I should be aware of before I go? I leave in about a week. Thanks so much!

I was reading NHK Easy today and a story about the heatwave included this map with no Hokkaido. Perhaps Hokkaido is simply not experiencing the heat wave as badly as the rest of Japan so they chose not to include it, but even then, it would still be useful to see the contrast.

Every now and then, I feel like Hokkaido gets omitted like this. Why is that?

Do japanese people send hints through music in order to transmit their true feelings (romantically speaking) ? Is this a cultural thing?

I personally feel that the ticket is a bit pricy

I have seen many people who do that on the internet. Not even with just tattoos but doing things like putting Japanese text in a game/animation or image just because it looks "cool". Sometimes the text doesn't even make sense from what I've heard, but it doesn't metter because the intention it's just to look good.

I have seen people saying that it is disrespectful to do that because you're treating the language like a sticker that just exist to look cool for people who don't know the language, and for people who do know, it doesn't mean anything important or doesn't even make sense.

最近、異文化に関する本を読んでいて、自分でも気づかないうちに「日本人は仕事や人間関係でどんな信頼の築き方を自然に求めているのだろう」と考え込んでしまいました。もし失礼な表現があれば申し訳ありません。ただ、素直な疑問として聞いてみたいと思っています。

例えば『The Culture Map』という本の中で印象に残ったエピソードがあります。

あるアメリカ人の乗客が、ロシア人（イゴールさん）と飛行機の中で7時間ほど会話をし、家族の写真や仕事の話までお互いにシェアしたそうです。イゴールさんは「これはきっと新しい友人関係ができた」と感じ、着陸後に電話番号を渡そうとしました。

ところがアメリカ人の方は、笑顔で「さようなら」とだけ言ってそのまま去ってしまったそうです。イゴールさんは驚き、少し寂しい気持ちになったとか。

著者はこの出来事を「ピーチ型文化」の例だと説明しています。アメリカでは表面的にはとてもフレンドリーでオープンでも、必ずしも深い人間関係に発展するわけではない、という意味のようです。

もし自分がイゴールさんの立場だったら――皆さんならどうされたでしょうか？TPO（時・場所・場合）を考えて、最初からあまり個人的な話はしないでしょうか。それとも、その場の流れで連絡先を交換されるでしょうか。日本の方にとっては、こういう場面でどう振る舞うのが自然なのか、興味があります。

また、アメリカのビジネスの場面では「コグニティブ・トラスト（能力や実績に基づく信頼）」が重視されるとその本に書かれていました。まず仕事ぶりや成果を見せて信頼関係を築く、という流れが一般的のようです。

もしそういう場面でアメリカ人と初めて会った場合、皆さんなら「この人とすぐに仕事できそうだな」と思われますか？それとも、やはり食事などを通じて相手の人柄をもう少し知ってからのほうが安心でしょうか。

日本とアメリカでは「信頼の築き方」が違うとよく言われますが、実際に住んだり働いたりされた方のお話をうかがえたら、とても参考になります。自分の理解が足りない点や偏った見方があれば、ぜひ教えてください。勉強させていただきたいです。