This is an enjoyable thread on Japan-with-beginner-eyes; I wouldn't have noticed most of it. h/t @Pinboard
Might contribute a few notes in replies to this tweet, which is clearly not going to be a happy Twitter experience but we work with the software we have...
Might contribute a few notes in replies to this tweet, which is clearly not going to be a happy Twitter experience but we work with the software we have...
I would not recommend pushing ムーブ / Oscillate on a toilet from a distance away. It is to cause the thing spraying water at your backside to move. If you are not blocking the toilet bowl you will make a mess, unless a newer model that detects you.
You will see tickets at ramen shops specifically. Most restaurants will expect you to pay after service, except fast food, which is pay before.
The ticket system improves cleanliness in a wet, steamy environment. (More quietly: inventory control.)
The ticket system improves cleanliness in a wet, steamy environment. (More quietly: inventory control.)
In the event of a bad earthquake, there is the confluence of both a) fires and b) busted water pipes, so emergency cisterns are much more frequent than they are in the US/Europe. A firetruck contains its own powered hose to deliver pressurized water.
The emergency flashlight for your hotel room is for emergencies which might happen while you're in your hotel room, which could interrupt power to the hotel lights, making it more difficult than it needs to be for you to evacuate in an orderly fashion.
Keeps water out of the apparatus.
Fun fact about vending machines: the engineers of them are Very Serious People. For example, substantially all Japanese drink vending machines can be circumvented to dispense free drinks, by design, for emergencies.
Fun fact about vending machines: the engineers of them are Very Serious People. For example, substantially all Japanese drink vending machines can be circumvented to dispense free drinks, by design, for emergencies.
Instructions are broadcast when there is an actual emergency. They're generally on the order of "For an X brand machine, punch anything through the top right corner of the display; it's just paper. Moderate force will take the entire front of the display off; take drinks."
You might ask "Wait a second -- they design substantially every vending machine in the company to be stolen from by any ten year old." and you'll get a "Geez, what are you designing your ten year olds for?!" if you bring that up here.
There will come a time when "Tsunami alert. Seek shelter immediately. Get to 15m above sea level. Get to 15m above sea level." is broadcast over the city.
On that day, you don't want to have to guess, so you put elevations where everyone will check.
On that day, you don't want to have to guess, so you put elevations where everyone will check.
School zone from 7:30 to 8:30; similar function to the same instruction in the US.
"Welcome [to Japan]! *picture of snowman*"
(Translator's note: The location you're being welcomed to is implicit in the language and heavily implied by ようこそ being the name of the international tourism program.)
(Translator's note: The location you're being welcomed to is implicit in the language and heavily implied by ようこそ being the name of the international tourism program.)
The reason for women's only cars is rampant sexual assault on trains/subways, with a specific hot spot being during rush hour, when people are pressed skin-to-skin. Japan has made attempted improvements but doesn't have social will to stop it dead.
The first one says "Beware of door! Don't touch the door; you may be injured." The other two are adequately if not literally translated.
This is most frequently at places which are catering to the salaryman crowd, who might only have had a few hours for dinner at that point.
(This sounds like an exaggeration. It is not.)
(This sounds like an exaggeration. It is not.)
Disabled folks and advocates for them in Japan have their own set of complaints, but it is true that a lot of public infrastructure anticipates their needs.
(You'll also see many more behaviorially disabled children in public than in the US. Deep topic.)
(You'll also see many more behaviorially disabled children in public than in the US. Deep topic.)
This restaurant was the de-facto lunchroom for the Stripe Japan office, although I always felt bad when we e.g. flew someone all the way out to Japan and feed them a cheeseburger. (Great food and, critically, can seat 12 instantly.)
If you want to buy a ticket to go in and get out at the same station, there is a specialized ticket for that (costs ~$1.50). If you do it on regular ticket, error. Talk to the attendant & they'll let you out, or use fare adjustment machine (inside gates).
"Why different tickets?! Why not just buy the usual 140 yen ticket?"
Because some bright individuals figured you can get on at Tokyo station, purchase an in-and-out ticket, travel across country, meet a confederate with 2 in-and-out tickets at station, and steal $200 in service.
Because some bright individuals figured you can get on at Tokyo station, purchase an in-and-out ticket, travel across country, meet a confederate with 2 in-and-out tickets at station, and steal $200 in service.
Not *technically* an actual thing, but back in the day there was some worry about cell phones interfering electromagnetically with pacemakers, so the sign would explicitly tell people w/ pacemakers to sit in reserved seating + no phones near there.
The notch is for your umbrella generally, but you can use it for a cane if you have one.
Lines are displayed in geographical order (beginning to end); for circular lines (like Yamanote) they try to make the orientation same at all the stations so you know where you are.
The letter/number combo is folks for whom Meijijingumae might be hard.
The letter/number combo is folks for whom Meijijingumae might be hard.
Japanese retail is an interesting institution in a lot of ways, but one of the things they'll do is actively ask employees what products are their recommendations, sometimes having handwritten recs next to the items. (Particularly good in bookstores.)
It's not a magazine about spreadsheets, it's a book to teach you Excel, which happens to be illustrated with manga characters. The series is famous (like For Dummies); you can also buy Small Business Taxes With Manga, etc. (Heavily tech-weighted.)
Summons the server to your table by causing a light to go off with your table number in a place with good planned lines of sight in the restaurant, plus plays a chime to sound in the area to tell wait staff to check the board.
The platforms at a train station have very slight grade so that rainwater does not cause puddles on them. They don't generally look obviously inclined, so you might let go of a baby stroller or wheelchair. Gravity works. This sign tells you to not let go.
"These lines are for the benefit of the visually impaired. Please do not place [your luggage] on top of them."
You can post a telegram in Japan, which will get typed up by the Post Office and then delivered as a telegram.
"Why on earth would you do that?" Telegrams are the socially accepted way to deliver your regrets that you could not attend e.g. a wedding.
"Why on earth would you do that?" Telegrams are the socially accepted way to deliver your regrets that you could not attend e.g. a wedding.
Japan Post does like $500 million a year of them. You can pay extra to have the telegram delivered with e.g. a Micky and Minnie Mouse pair of dolls dressed up for a wedding to hold the telegram delivering your regrets.
Costs $50~100 or so; ~$20 w/o doll IIRC.
Costs $50~100 or so; ~$20 w/o doll IIRC.
"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT WITH A TELEGRAM?" You know how the most expensive document you own is called a sheepskin, is not actually made of sheep, and will never be seen by anyone? It's sort of like that.
