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Culture Shock, Recap
Nov. 21st, 2004 04:54 pmA few other things that came to mind, in recap.
You can get almost anywhere via train and subway in Japan. Apparently this includes both major cities and relatively minor ones; local towns are generally on one train route or another. Despite many folks telling me how cool and fast they were, I was underwhelmed by the bullet train. It's somewhat faster than Amtrak, but not enormously so - and I think mostly it's faster simply because it doesn't stop as often as American trains; it tops out perhaps around eighty MPH. The bullet train from Osaka to Tokyo had only three stops, thereby allowing it to spend more time at a high pace. It is quieter than Amtrak, but not particularly more comfortable.
Heh, I think I forgot to follow up on Europe Village (per the second entry) - it is in fact the more adult section of tourist-town... in the sense that it's got any number of "gentleman's clubs" and "dating services". Definitely had a sleazy feel to it; I didn't hang around.
Japanese health care seems good, dental care does not seem to be nearly as good. Didn't see anyone with orthodonture, but clearly some relatively well-off individuals have had a great deal of teeth-straightening and so forth. A lot of middle and lower class individuals have crooked teeth and shiny dental work; not sure if it's mercury amalgam, stainless steel, or something else.
Subways are very humid and could use more ventilation. Japan must be rather unpleasantly warm during summers. Most Japanese office and hotel buildings are kept warmer than comparable American buildings, enough so that I found it uncomfortable (at least in a suit).
Schoolkids are seen either in uniform or in outlandish dress. Relatively few seem to opt for the same fashions as their elders.
Christmas is very big in Japan. Not sure why. Though mostly a shopping holiday, it has a more overt Christian component than it seems to here in America - signs generally indicate "Celebrate the Birth" or the like. Santa Claus is not featured, though Christmas trees and reindeer are common. (There's another sociocultural observation to be had there - apparently the "jolly fat man" is not a part of Japanese culture, being obese is a serious social stigma unless you are a sumo wrestler.)
You can get almost anywhere via train and subway in Japan. Apparently this includes both major cities and relatively minor ones; local towns are generally on one train route or another. Despite many folks telling me how cool and fast they were, I was underwhelmed by the bullet train. It's somewhat faster than Amtrak, but not enormously so - and I think mostly it's faster simply because it doesn't stop as often as American trains; it tops out perhaps around eighty MPH. The bullet train from Osaka to Tokyo had only three stops, thereby allowing it to spend more time at a high pace. It is quieter than Amtrak, but not particularly more comfortable.
Heh, I think I forgot to follow up on Europe Village (per the second entry) - it is in fact the more adult section of tourist-town... in the sense that it's got any number of "gentleman's clubs" and "dating services". Definitely had a sleazy feel to it; I didn't hang around.
Japanese health care seems good, dental care does not seem to be nearly as good. Didn't see anyone with orthodonture, but clearly some relatively well-off individuals have had a great deal of teeth-straightening and so forth. A lot of middle and lower class individuals have crooked teeth and shiny dental work; not sure if it's mercury amalgam, stainless steel, or something else.
Subways are very humid and could use more ventilation. Japan must be rather unpleasantly warm during summers. Most Japanese office and hotel buildings are kept warmer than comparable American buildings, enough so that I found it uncomfortable (at least in a suit).
Schoolkids are seen either in uniform or in outlandish dress. Relatively few seem to opt for the same fashions as their elders.
Christmas is very big in Japan. Not sure why. Though mostly a shopping holiday, it has a more overt Christian component than it seems to here in America - signs generally indicate "Celebrate the Birth" or the like. Santa Claus is not featured, though Christmas trees and reindeer are common. (There's another sociocultural observation to be had there - apparently the "jolly fat man" is not a part of Japanese culture, being obese is a serious social stigma unless you are a sumo wrestler.)
