What I've Learned So Far

I thought It might be a good idea to compile a list of all the Japanese differences I've run into so far.  Foods also included.

• Always take your shoes off upon entering a house.
• Never step on the doorstep.
• Bow when meeting people.
• Kekko desu is a very formal way of saying "No thank you."
• Ramen Chinese noodles are very popular in Japan.
• Before eating, say "Italaki masu", afterwards say "Gotusuo sama".
• Always keep your head very close to the dish to avoid spilling.
• Get out of the way.
• Be on time.
• Take off your backpack and put it on the floor on a crowded train.
• Rest your eyes whenever possible.
• Drive on the left side of the road (more of a law).
• Don' t clap at temples, do clap at shrines.
• The buddha grants wishes, and everything at temples is supposed to comfort you or make you happy.
• Jellyfish are a big problem at beaches.
• Japanese game shows are very funny and strange, but very original.
• The Japanese value quality and consistently pursue it.
• There are vending machines and recycling containers EVERYWHERE.
• Trash cans are rare, little waste besides compost and recyclable plastic is generated.
• Japan imports 99.7% of its oil.
• About 12 million people live in Tokyo.
• Japan's foreign isolation ended in 1854, courtesy of US Commodore Matthew Perry.
• Hiragana are the 46 alphabetic symbols for Japanese characters, Katakana are for foreign words, and Kanji are the Chinese characters.
• "Yoko" means "sideways", "hama" means "sandbar", Yokohama=sideways sandbar?
• Parking can be up to 30,000 Yen a month (300 dollars).
• White license plates are for normal sized private cars, green for commercial cars, and yellow for small private cars.
• 1/3 of Japanese automobiles are small cars.
• Cars are Japan's biggest export.
• Almost everything is earthquake proofed.
• Japanese baseball fields have a dirt infield and are smaller.
• Traditional Japanese clothes are only worn at festivals.
• Japanese news television has a very colorful set.
• Streets are for the most part crowded and narrow.
• Japanese do a lot of walking.

Food:

• Tempura: breaded stuff you put in soba noodle soup, really good
• Soba noodles: buckwheat noodles eaten in a soy sauce-ish soup
• Uni: Sea Urchin sushi that doesn't taste all that great, sounds kind of like Unai, which means poop
• Miso Soup: Some sort of soup served with vegetables and tofu-related products.
• Curry is used in Japanese food too!
• Lots of Japanese food is eaten with spoons, not just chopsticks.
• A yogurt drink is drunk every morning after breakfast.
• Seaweed is part of lots of things, tastes good in soup.

More on this later.

Atiki masu.