We had “toilet talk” in the previous post. What does the Russian Bear have for us today? Some other “profound truths” about the Japanese culture. Here goes.
You need a small towel with you at all times to wipe off the sweat from your face and neck. That and a hand fan are pretty much a necessity. You can get away with napkins, but you need to go to Starbucks to get napkins, because the Japanese has a prejudice against paper napkins, and you won’t get them at most places, even where you buy ice cream.
I think that this is not something unique to Japan – at least the wiping off of sweat from your face. It is more of a foreigner being used to colder temperatures and finding himself in warmer conditions. I don’t really understand this much, though, as I have always thought that Japan is colder than other Asian (southeast at least) countries. Perhaps it depends on which area you are in? The lack of paper towels, I have an explanation for – the Japanese are very conscious about the environment and using paper towels for everything when you can use washable (reusable) towels is something that is embedded in their way of thinking.
Everything is about half of the American size: cars, fire trucks, benches, seats, meal portions. Overweight Japanese are a true rarity.
Very true. Even other Asians who tend to have more weight on them are surprised at how lean the Japanese are. It has a lot to do with their diet and they health conscious lifestyle. Try going to a public bath – where you have to go in in your birthday clothes – and you will know what I mean.