What does "feeling of being in Japan" mean?
May 27, 2009, 9:21 pm
#167
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
What does "feeling of being in Japan" mean?
Heading home, settling into the seat of the 747 a bit sad that the adventure is over altogether too soon then catching a glance out of the window during pushback to see four or five of the ground crew giving long slow waves and bowing to the departing aircraft.
Heading home, settling into the seat of the 747 a bit sad that the adventure is over altogether too soon then catching a glance out of the window during pushback to see four or five of the ground crew giving long slow waves and bowing to the departing aircraft.
Jul 4, 2009, 7:59 pm
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,186
Yesterday, in Ginza, was approached by some kind of interviewer or survey taker. She asks me (in Japanese) if I speak Japanese. I respond (in Japanese) that I don't. She says (in Japanese), sorry this survey is for Japanese speakers only. I say (in Japanese) no problem.
Impeccable Japanese logic.
Impeccable Japanese logic.
Jul 4, 2009, 9:59 pm
#169
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York City
Programs: BA Gold Guest List; HH Diamond; Hyatt Diamond; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,833
If I am in a perverse mood, I will pay for my morning coffee + danish in trouble-making fashion. Breakfast comes to 601 JPY, and sometimes I will give the person at the counter 802 JPY. There is never any complaint. They take my money, put it into the register and give me my 201 JPY in change.
Similarly, although not deliberately this time, I forgot to pay the sewerage component of my water bill (which was 376 JPY). The water people sent a guy round to collect it from me in person, and initially I didn't let him in because I thought he might be from NHK. He was extremely polite and bowed after I'd paid him in small change.
The feeling of being Japan is never quite knowing how much of an ....... people really think you are.
Similarly, although not deliberately this time, I forgot to pay the sewerage component of my water bill (which was 376 JPY). The water people sent a guy round to collect it from me in person, and initially I didn't let him in because I thought he might be from NHK. He was extremely polite and bowed after I'd paid him in small change.
The feeling of being Japan is never quite knowing how much of an ....... people really think you are.
Jul 4, 2009, 10:43 pm
#170
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,528
When I find myself bowing back to a supermarket cashier as she bows and says "Irasshaimase" before taking out and scanning the first item from a basket.
Jul 5, 2009, 1:30 pm
#171
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, Air Miles
Posts: 942
another thing is bowing whilst talking on the phone.. Yep... I actually do that..
Jul 6, 2009, 5:49 pm
#173
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Reno, NV
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,461
Every time walking past the large green painted spots on train platforms and remembering the times went in the ladies only car.
Or spotted an open end of the cool Yamanote sen car in the middle of summer, and realized the reason it was open after jumping on....a homeless man staying out of the heat too.
Every time the JR West Fukuchiyama to Osaka train slows down as it approaches the bends just before Amagasaki Stn. When the Washington Metro accident happened last month, it didn't even make it to the front page of the SJ Mercury News.
Or spotted an open end of the cool Yamanote sen car in the middle of summer, and realized the reason it was open after jumping on....a homeless man staying out of the heat too.
Every time the JR West Fukuchiyama to Osaka train slows down as it approaches the bends just before Amagasaki Stn. When the Washington Metro accident happened last month, it didn't even make it to the front page of the SJ Mercury News.
Jul 25, 2009, 4:14 am
#174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,186
Decided to go to Kagurazaka today just for a summer stroll, and ran right into the Kagurazaka Matsuri. Everybody in yukata and fans, a complete throwback to hundreds of years ago.
Opening act was 10,000 kids, the oldest no more than 6-7 years old, doing the synchronized awa odori to live fife and drum from Kagurazaka-shita to the top of the hill. They probably had to round up every kid in Japan for that one.
Opening act was 10,000 kids, the oldest no more than 6-7 years old, doing the synchronized awa odori to live fife and drum from Kagurazaka-shita to the top of the hill. They probably had to round up every kid in Japan for that one.
Jul 25, 2009, 6:48 am
#175
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,878
Am here in Hakone and tomorrow, rain or shine, am going to ride one of those staggeringly schlocky pirate ships that Odakyu runs across the lake.
Today in the massive food court at Gotemba Premium outlets, there were three mooseheads mounted on the wall that moved and sang in synchrony to a recording. I figured they were bought from Disneyland when they closed down the "Country Bear Jamboree" show.
If those mooseheads and those pirate ships aren't Japan, I don't know what is!
Today in the massive food court at Gotemba Premium outlets, there were three mooseheads mounted on the wall that moved and sang in synchrony to a recording. I figured they were bought from Disneyland when they closed down the "Country Bear Jamboree" show.
If those mooseheads and those pirate ships aren't Japan, I don't know what is!
Jul 26, 2009, 5:14 pm
#177
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,231
Decided to go to Kagurazaka today just for a summer stroll, and ran right into the Kagurazaka Matsuri. Everybody in yukata and fans, a complete throwback to hundreds of years ago.
Opening act was 10,000 kids, the oldest no more than 6-7 years old, doing the synchronized awa odori to live fife and drum from Kagurazaka-shita to the top of the hill. They probably had to round up every kid in Japan for that one.
Opening act was 10,000 kids, the oldest no more than 6-7 years old, doing the synchronized awa odori to live fife and drum from Kagurazaka-shita to the top of the hill. They probably had to round up every kid in Japan for that one.
Aug 20, 2009, 4:13 am
#178
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Sunny Place
Programs: Star Alliance
Posts: 1,655
This evening I noticed a lights-flashing ambulance parked in front of a nearby business hotel. As I passed the hotel, I watched the ambulance attendants stopping to slip covers over their shoes, before preceding inside with their stretcher.
Aug 20, 2009, 4:31 am
#179
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,662
My teacher told me of the time that some gangster loan-sharks came to beat up his landlord for failure to pay up on time ... and as they entered the building they all took off their footwear and the most junior hoodlum aligned everyone's shoes properly in the genkan.
Aug 20, 2009, 6:11 am
#180
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ani Ichibanya
Programs: WWMFD
Posts: 6,292
Poor fellow probably hasn't "made his bones" yet. In western gangs, this usually entails killing someone. In Japan, you're required to use impolite language to a victim at least TWICE!