What NOT to do in Japan | Tokyo
Information | History | View | Sightseeing | Video
Japan is an awesome place to visit, and no one should let "rules" get in the way of that! But Japanese culture can be very different to what we're used to at times, and some things we do that may be acceptable for us can be surprising and rude in Japan. My husband, Jun, and I put together a list of the most common things we see that can cause trouble (I speak from the perspective of having done all of these!) Mainly, this is if you plan on establishing yourself in a Japanese community through work/family--if you're visiting as a tourist then you don't really have to worry so much about it. :) As a foreigner you won't be held to the same standards as Japanese people, but if you want to give a really good impression then these are some guidelines you can follow! None of these are things you HAVE to do. They are ideals and not always the followed practice. I just always think it's better to know the ideal standards and then you can choose how closely you want to follow them! Rule of thumb: Just think about how your words and actions will affect the people around you before you do something! It's as simple as that. :) Useful Japanese phrase: shouganai (しょうがない) - It can't be helped. It's pretty similar to "shit happens." You're essentially letting a bad situation slide off your back instead of internalizing it. FAQ: "Can I still listen to music/text on the train/bus?" Yes--sorry I wasn't clear. I meant only making a call on your phone. You won't be strange or rude at all if other people can't hear what you're doing! "So you can't be outgoing in Japan?" Of course you can! Sorry for being unclear on this, too. By "don't be emotional" I meant negative emotions. Everyone loves happy people! And some places it's perfectly fine to be loud--just take your cue from the people around you. :) "So I shouldn't go to Japan? I'll stand out anywhere." Again, sorry for being unclear! Yeah, foreigners are going to stand out, period. Mainly I meant through actions and not looks, but even then Japanese people don't expect foreigners to know their customs so it's fine to make mistakes! I've done EVERYTHING in this video (and still do some of them), which is why I wanted to talk about it in the first place! "What about customizing food if I have allergies?" A lot of restaurants list common allergens on their menus. If you're not sure you can always ask! And you can always ask to see if they'll customize your order--it's just never worked for me. "Do I have to talk like a robot like you? :( " No, I just suck at public speaking.(° ▽ °;)We had like maybe a dozen subscribers when I made this video and never expected it to get so much attention. I had no idea how it would end up being perceived and if I could do it again so I didn't sound so "strict" or "uptight" or scare people off from Japan then I would in a heartbeat! My new videos are less crappy. Sorry! :( For the opposite perspective: "What not to do in America" for Japanese people - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tYCQ661FII ★ Patreon! http://patreon.com/rachelandjun ★T-shirts & Merch! http://rachelandjun.spreadshirt.com/ 【You can also find us:】 ×Gaming channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/RachelandJunGame ×Extra videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/RachelandJunExtra ×Jun's Kitchen: http://www.youtube.com/user/JunsKitchen ×Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/rachelandjun/profile ×Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelAndJun ×Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelAndJun ×Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachelandjun ×Our blog: http://rachelandjun.blogspot.com/
Comments
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なんて言ってるかわからないww
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Could you bring a flag that was captured from the enemy and show it off +Rachel & Jun?
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God I'm so glad I've never been a weeb. No need to respect the rules, no inside urge to go to Japan.
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japan actually sounds perfect for me
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If something happens & it's their fault i will complain. I will not allow them to sweep something under the rug just so not to be rude. If they are in the wrong they WILL know about it. How ridiculous.
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i prefer this rachel
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Japan is giving me so much heavy restrictions
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Is Rachael from Irish origin?
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EXCELLENT BUT YOU ARE SPEAKING WAY TOO FAST
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Man.... this made me really anxious because I've always wanted to visit... but the whole sexualization of the chest area would make it really hard for me to feel comfortable. I have really large breasts and it's often hard to find clothes that don't show any cleavage whatsoever and the whole phones on busses thing... I tend to get really anxious in public places so to not be able to take my mind off of it in some way or form would be awful... I suppose maybe it's not for me.
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Not use my cell phone? What if I am a dentist? Japanese people do it. As long as people can hear what you're talking about in Japanese, it's completely okay.
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LOL This girl should understand people more.
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good 🖒
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Lol, good I was scared that Japan was different then I took it to be. What words, phrases, and basics of Japanese would you suggest I learn before I go to Japan? What Area are you in? You said it was your favorite so I would like trying to visit it. Also, can you read books on busses? How often do Japanese bow their head? If you are a loud foreigner, do Japanese dislike you a lot? Or do they enjoy your diversity?
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f@#$k that. i do what i want to do i dont care if i get cought the DA could play this muddaphucking tape in court.
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telling someone not to stand out and then telling someone to be themselves......The way I look is something that will always stand out. So this means nothing to me.
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Can I try asking for help when I go to Japan in the future?
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It's called "respect". There's not enough of that in America, everybody out for themselves & don't give a crap about anything. You see trash everywhere, graffiti, vandalism & things getting stolen everywhere.
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I don't really know too much about the customs of Japan, and I've never been there myself. I live in America, but I feel like I've taken on some of these mentalities myself. I don't usually like talking or making noise in public, even if I'm with a group of friends, as not to disturb anyone. And in public I never really get emotional or make a big deal out of anything happening to me either, for the same reasons. Also blaming myself even if it's not my fault. I always felt these things were a little unique to me, at least in my community. It's interesting to see there's a whole country that takes on such mentalities.
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Your eyes look awesome!