Japanese streets can effectively showing the characteristics of Japanese. The design of Japanese streets is usually a big main street with a lot of small alleys branching out to other directions. Though ordered and neat, the streets implicated with big conflicts because of different styles and features. Japan Tokyo is one of the most prosperous and wealthy cities in the world. This kind of identity is adequately revealed by the main streets of Tokyo. But as for traditional style of Japan, it can be also preserved by the alleys in Tokyo. After all, what kind of streets and alleys can simultaneously keep these two contrast styles?
Main streets, is the major arteries in a city. Like the main body of human, they are important representatives. Main streets in Tokyo are ordered, hustle and bustle. And because of being an international city, the style of main streets in Tokyo merges some foreign feelings and thus these main streets are not so Japanese style. A lot of stores on the streets which all have their own features also reflect the ability of Japanese of doing well on business. The owners of the shops either wait quietly in the store or yell out loud to attract the customers. But more often I see the owners sweeping the floors outside, as if cannot even stand a second of the dirt. The plan of the main streets is also great. The tar on the streets is really flat. And there even are some facilities for the blind. This is something I feel surprise in Japan because I see that Japan does it better than other countries. The big, uneven and heavy lines are designed to show the blind where to go. And there are also branches to warn the blind that which direction they can go or there might be a car or person comes from this way. Every day I go to school, there is always a blind woman strolling on the road. I believe without these facilities the blind can’t walk on their own. The carefulness of Japanese can be seen everywhere including the main streets. Japanese main streets show that Japan is a well developed country and actually have no very Japanese style.
The alleys are not the main but are also important for linking. Like the limbs of human body, not the most essential, but the main part cannot live without them. The small alleys in Japan are very different from other countries. They are clean, quiet and having traditional Japanese style. Trees have different kinds of colors, crooked but clean alleys with many traditional Japanese style low buildings. These alleys are so comfortable that make me feel like I am in the country side and leaving the big and noisy city. The alley’s in Japan, unlike the main streets, are dulcet and having traditional Japanese style.
This is what I found really special of Japan: even just roads have two completely different kinds of styles. Just like Japanese, seems really conflicting characteristics but actually well mixed together.
Japan is a country which has strong economic, state-of-the-art technology and high GDP. In other words, Japan is a highly developed country. But more than that, Japan are well-known as a country has a lot of innovative inventions and technology. Before coming Japan, I’ve always looked forward to seeing Japanese technology. Now I would like share some most amazing things which totally blew my mind.
The first thing is the machines that cook ramen. My first time eating ramen is in shop that near Shinjuku station. The shop is traditional type and not big. I sat in the middle of the counter where the customers eat ramen. I saw that the cook threw noodle in the hard iron net and pushed a button. Then the machine went down to the boiling water electronically. Then when the noodle is ready, the machines went up, and then the cook put the noodle in the bowl with soup and other things and gave it to me. I thought it was a great invention. In Taiwan we also have a lot of traditional noodle shops. One of my friend’s parents owning one noodle shop. She told me that in order to cook noodle, her parents’ wrists were both hurt. Because cooking noodle needs cook to check and shake the hard iron net. It’s just the matter of time that wrist hurts. So I hope some people can bring this invention to Taiwan too!
The second thing is cell phone. When I was little, I had already heard that Japanese cell phones have highly developed technology which allows them to watch weather reports be cell phones. I was really eager to see Japanese cell phone because in that time the cell phones in my country were still black and white! So after I came to Japan, I bought the Japanese cell phone instead of iPhone. Japanese cell phones generally are big, elegant and have beautiful colors. I can surf the net, watching televisions, shop and even use GPS by my cell phone. But what was the most memorable is earthquake warning! When I was having my statistics class, a lot of cell phones, including mine but no iPhones, rang loudly. We were all stoned (because most of us are international students who just came to Japan for not long time.) Then we checked our cell phones and saw that there was an earthquake near Tokyo and warned us there might be a earthquake in a few minutes. I was really surprised, what a great invention it is! Taiwan is also a sea island which has a lot of earthquakes. In the recent 20 years, the most sever one is the 921 earthquake. After 921, many people were afraid to sleep and ran out of the houses as soon as possible if there is any small shake. I believe if we have this technology, we can make more people feel less worried and there might be less damage when earthquakes come. So I also love it!
There are a lot of technologies that Japanese might not aware of at all, but as foreigners, I can find out a lot of small but useful things in Japan. I will never be tired of finding them because they are all so cool!
I believe foreigners in Japan are all pleased with the attitude of the workers in shops. The workers in shops smiles all the time, talking in the politest and sweetest voice, bowing so many times that even the foreign customers feel a little bit nervous. In fact, Japanese way of treating customers is really impressive and it even becomes one special thing in Japan.
Smile. This is something I can never forget about Japanese. Japanese smile has a particular way that distinguishes them from other countries smile. If one says American smile is outgoing and passionate, then Japanese smile is sweet and polite. This is something I still cannot figure out. In Taiwan, every time my friends and I see someone smiling, we can immediately tell that “That person must be Japanese.” And we were almost right all the time. After I came to Japan, I am stunned that Japanese do have a special way of smiling that pleases people. And because of this Japanese style of sweet and polite smile plus some training, Japanese become the best workers for customers.
Japanese are also known for bowing. In other countries, it’s hardly to see that so many people bowing to each other in the same time. But in Japan, even young people also bow to people who are a little bit order than them. At first, I felt uncomfortable and uneasy when other people bow to me. Because in Taiwan only when someone do something really great and people with great grateful want to thank he or she will bow in a way to show their thankfulness. But in Japan even I go into a shop without buying anything, after I come out the shop keeper still bows to me. I used to be nervous when people bow to me. But as I get used to it, I realize that bowing is actually a cultural action so I don’t have to overreact. Now I can also bow to people in daily life to show politeness!
Japanese is a slow and soft language that makes people feel classy and elegant. Japanese has polite form and normal formal in their language. It shows that Japanese really care about politeness. In my point of view, Japanese workers in the shops always talk in Japanese in the softest and politest way to make customers feel comfortable and being respected. They talk in the voice that is not so loud, slow pace and polite. So some of my friends even say that in Japan they can get the best customer service in the world! And I personally love the way they talk and I really want to learn Japanese in that way! I
Japan is really a country being famous for their way of treating costumers. After I come to Japan, I can really agree with that and enjoy being served in the best way all customers can get! This is something I found really cool about Japan.
This year I went to 增上寺 to count down to the new year and after then I went to 台場 to see the first sun rise in 2011. These two events were all very new to me. I found a lot of cool things about Japan in them!
On the last day of 2010, my friends and I went to 增上寺 to count down to the new year and we wanted to see the beautiful Tokyo tower. We arrived at 9:30 at night. People were starting to gather in 增上寺. Around 10 pm, some people ran out and sang a song. Though I didn’t know the name of the song, but I liked it. After they finished singing, a girl ran out carrying a torch. Then they light up some spots. It’s quite interesting to see that because I have never seen anything like that before. What was even more fascinating was that增上寺 distributed eco-friendly balloons. But the number of the balloons is limited so I didn’t get the balloon. The purpose of the balloons was to make everyone let go of the balloon when the moment that the New Year comes. So when 2010 only had 10 seconds left, all of us in增上寺 shutting out loud to count down the time and then let go of the balloons. In a moment, all the balloons flew into the sky and the view was very beautiful and they also rang the huge bell in the增上寺. But I think the greatest of all is Tokyo Tower! It is always very gorgeous at night. When the first time I saw Tokyo tower, I couldn’t believe it can be so attractive. The beautiful orange light with night sky, the whole scenery was stunning. Everyone around me couldn’t stop looking at Tokyo tower just liked me. And when there were only few minutes in 2010, the light of Tokyo tower gone out, only a few purple lights sparkled. As the time of 2010 became less and less, those purple lights sparkled faster and faster. When 2011 came, the whole Tokyo tower was like being pasted with a lot of diamonds, sparking at night. Tokyo tower was the best part for my countdown event.
After then, my friends and I went to 台場 to see the first sun rise in 2011. The weather was really cold, so we stayed in McDonald to wait. At first we thought there were not many people wanted to see sun rise as we do, but then as the time of sun rise became close and closer, people in McDonald became more and more. We asked the girls sat besides us what were they want to do, they told us they are going to see the sun rise! And when we get out of McDonald, there were a large crowd all going in the same direction. As we followed, we found that a lot of people were all going to see the sun rise. When the sun came out, Japanese around us were all very exciting!
I thought these two events were very special because in Taiwan, we have concerts and fireworks so we won’t be so calm to count down to the New Year and won’t be so happy to see the sun rise! It seems that Japanese are really different from us, and that’s why I found it is cool!
Tokyo is one of the most famous cities for shopping. Like New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo has its own fashion style that represents Japan. But Japanese style is not the only choice people can found. There are also lots of foreign brands in Tokyo and many of them are my first time seeing them. Shopping in Tokyo is a pleasure for women. I would like to share some of my experience about how good it is to shop in Tokyo. I’d like to take Shinjuku as the example.
First, Shinjuku is big and diversified enough for people to shop. There are so many kinds of brands and department stores that people can spend all day but still can’t finish all of them. Because of its the diversification, anyone can find their tastes in Shinjuku. Japanese style, English style, American style and Korean style ……etc. There are so many kinds of styles that can satisfy everyone.
Second, the service of Japanese is just great! One of the best things shopping in Japan is that the shopkeepers are all really kind, sweet and polite. They interpret the products and goods in a soft and slow way. They wear smiles all the time and never forget to bow. I guess it is because Japanese itself is a tender language that sounds really soft and graceful. So I enjoy shopping Japan because it comfortable to be served in a great way!
Third, Japan has big sales during New Year times. Sales in Japan are really sales. They do great deduction in prices that makes people feel so happy to buy those things. Some people say that because the prices get so low that really make them feel like the New Year is coming and these sales are the best gifts! What’s more, a lot of people in Taiwan fly to Japan during Christmas and New Year times because the sales are really fascinating! It shows that just how great the sales are!
Forth, there are many things target on women in Tokyo. I like the way Japanese do business. They always remember who they should target on and really put efforts in catching their customers. As a girl, there are many products aim on women which make me feel surprised and satisfied. Japanese products always have some special features for women. For example, Japanese products have girl colors that are so different from others. Laptop, cameras and other electronic things have girls features are going to catch female customers’ hearts much more easily. I even found that there are some shops have a corner sells products just “for ladies”! That is so cool and smart!
Shopping Tokyo is like shopping in a city that is specially made for shopping. So anyone can enjoy buying things in Tokyo no matter where they come from. I think it is amazing and cool to plan a city so good for shopping! And I personally take pleasure in shopping in Tokyo!
Tokyo is the capital city of Japan and is the city that I am living now. There are a lot of strange things happening in Tokyo every day. I’d like to share some cool things in Tokyo which I discovered while I am living in Tokyo.
The first thing is the buildings in Tokyo. Tokyo has a lot of earthquakes, so the average heights of buildings in Tokyo are generally low. But there are still some high skyscrapers in Tokyo and most of them are really beautiful. I started to fall in love with architecture since I came to Tokyo because they are so stylish and unique that make me cannot take my eyes off them. For example, buildings in 台場are all so great. My favorite is the building of Fuji television. It is special, pretty and full of the feeling of design. So now I like to carefully look at the buildings in Tokyo and enjoy the beauty that the architects gave us.
The second thing is the birds on the streets of Tokyo. There are so many crows and pigeons on Tokyo. The crows are all so black and big that they are really scary to me actually. And in Taiwan, people regard a crow as a bad sign. If anyone hears the sound of a crow, it means there is going to happen some bad things in the person’s family. So I felt creepy about crows when I just arrived in Tokyo. Now though I don’t feel creepy anymore but I still don’t like crows. Furthermore, crows like to eat the garbage on the street and make the whole a mess! So I really can’t understand why Japanese don’t afraid or hate crows. As for pigeons, though they are not as scary as crows I still don’t feel comfortable seeing a lot of crows gathering on the streets. What’s most surprising is that people in Tokyo seems too used to these birds that they walk on the streets as if these birds don’t even exist. I can only say that Japanese are so strange but cool!
The third thing is the close time of shops. I come from Taipei, the capital city in Taiwan. Taipei has another name that is “the city that never sleeps.” It shows that even at night, Taipei is still a bustling city. We even have night markets! (Night market is a kind of shopping place that only opens at night.) So as a person grew up in a city like that, surely I am not used to the early close time of Japan! Though Tokyo is the biggest city in Japan, the shops in Tokyo still close around 9 pm. That is so early to me! I often buy something to eat around 12 am at holidays. But in Tokyo I have no choice but to stay at home at night. If there is anything that open at night, is either karaoke or 居酒屋. So I am surprised to find that such a big city like Tokyo can be so not bustling at night.
As a foreigner, though a lot of things are weird I still find pleasure in finding these different things. Weird but cool is the best thing to describe Tokyo!
Japan is a country full of machines. Because of their highly developed technology and busy Japanese are lacking of time, machines are important to Japanese. Vending machine is one kind of machines, saving a lot of time and manpower. But what’s really surprising is that Japan has a lot of strange vending machines. These vending machines have so many special functions that can be far beyond my imagination.
The first one is tobacco vending machines. A lot of Japanese are tobacco-addicted. So many Japanese are smoking that causes a great demand of tobacco. But Tokyo is a big city, many people may want tobacco anytime and anywhere. There cannot be so many stores to sell tobacco to satisfy everyone. So they invented tobacco vending machine. People can find tobacco vending machines on the streets and in the corners. So now people can buy tobacco without a lot of efforts. And these vending machines can also prevent children from buying tobacco. They create a card that can only be bought by people over twenty years old. Anyone who wants to buy tobacco through vending machines has to insert this kind of special card. So children under twenty cannot get tobacco! I think this is a great, smart and convenient invention!
The second one is food ticket vending machines. A lot of traditional Japanese food shops have this kind of vending machine. Customers choose their food buy selecting on the vending machines and pay the bill by buying the tickets that shows what the customers want to eat. And then the customers go into the stores and give the tickets to the workers in the shops, then the food is ready! This is also a brilliant invention! There are three advantages of this food machine. First, it can save the time and manpower to order. Shops don’t have to print menu and don’t need to hire anyone to order for the customers. And shops don’t have to waste sit to wait for a long time for customers deciding what to eat. So the only time customers would spend is only waiting the food and eating. Second, shops don’t have to hire people as cashier. And sometimes the shops in order to cut down on expense, workers have to cook and be the cashier. That’s not good because money is dirty. Third, it’s also convenient for customers because then customers don’t have to worry about dividing the bills! I think it’s also disturbing to divide bills with friends. But this kind of vending can solve this problem easily because then customers can order individually and vending machines can also give the customers changes individually. So I really love this vending machine!!
Japan has other kinds of special vending machine and I think this is so special!
