Culture shock in Japan (Americans)

[daywalker]

"People speak English"

"Nobody speaks English"

[domdrty]

Feeling safe and actually being safe are two different things.

[antoninomartino]

Yea the lack of trash cans is wild, you have to walk for miles just to get rid of a chewing gum.

[deathofanartist]

The "a lot of people speak English" and "nobody speaks English" is actually based on expectations prior to traveling there. First is somebody who expected no English and learned some of the language in advance. Second is somebody who expected more English or didnt learn enough Japanese.

[v]

People really confuse Tokyo with the entire country when it comes to technology and it's advancements. Tokyo and some major tourist prefectures will have a lot of advancements, but if you go rural, it will definitely change drastically.

[monky]

the last one, when I first went to Japan at age 19, alone. I was scared and while looking for a way to reach Tokyo, I completely forgot and left my luggage at the entrance of the airport. I only realized it after I've reached downtown Tokyo, and I rushed back to the airport to look for it. At that time I was so angry at myself and thought that's it, I've got nothing and lost everything. Then I saw my luggage standing at the exact spot I left it there many many hours ago and I couldn't believe it.

[EtopiaCA]

Sexual assault is pretty common in Japan, not sure where that redhead lady lives in Japan but she needs to be more careful.

[lieutenantkettch]

Japan is a country where the technology is simultaneously 20 years in the future and 20 years in the past. So you have robot servers and receptionists in hotels and restaurants alongside fax machines and floppy disks. The retro tech mainly due to most Japanese companies' middle and upper management being aging boomers that don't or can't learn new tech, while at the same time Japanese culture gives deference to elders and superiors.

[mileyrocks]

Assuming anyone, especially women, can just be vulnerable on the street in Japan is wrong. It’s yes a more safe place but it’s by no means 100% crime free. The wrong person could be walking by at the wrong time anywhere in the world…

[alexp.]

"We have electric cars, but probably not as much as here"

Meanwhile Japan having almost no electric cars

[pohau]

For trash can, go into a combini, they have trash cans

[BLa-lqbs]

I probably wouldn’t test your luck and pass out on the street drunk still as a woman (speaking as a woman). It only takes one time for something terrible to happen….

[jakdee]

I feel like I thought a decent amount of people spoke English until I travelled elsewhere and it’s night and day. Have been in Cambodia the last three weeks and the level of English here is crazy good when you consider the disparity in education between the two countries.

[jerlinej]

I would NEVER feel safe passed out ANYWHERE lmao these tourists are too bright eyed and bushy tailed.

[ohwow]

I’m from Japan. Last one definitely isn’t true, Japan is a safe country but SA is very common. If she passed out on the street she most likely would be “bothered”

[EliSoza]

The last girl...pls don't. No one deserves to be hurt ever but Japan does have false sense of safety bc people r very polite. In reality SH and SA are very common. I've had to leave trains multiple times bc I was being grabbed by people. Always think of your safety first.

[kaoo]

Someone finally said it: the Prostitution and Porn being very public and noticiable in Japan is very shocking when you compare it to USA.
But then this is my perspective as an American who hasn’t been there but have seen alot of videos of japan and it’s society.
I say it’s shocking because it’s a country that is known for having people to be perceived as more civilized with high standards of manners and work-motivated.

[MekYuu]

The last one is not really true. Actually it is very dangerous for girls to be drunk alone at night especially in Tokyo. Sexual assault/harassment happens quite often in Japan and it’s not actually safe like how we thought Japan would be.

[cooljammer]

People in Japan will say they speak English when they don't, or say they don't speak English when they do. Nobody seems to be able to properly assess their own skill.

[pikanoob]

lol the dude who said people speak english has only been in the airport