25 Things about Japoon that are Excellent, Part 2

25 Excellent things about Japooon Pt2

by Wendy Elizabeth Horikoshi on Thursday, 25 February 2011 at 11:06

 

11. Over 99% literacy.
As a teacher, this statistic warms the cockles of my heart when I need cheering up,
and there are bookshops EVERYWHERE. Yay!

12. Free stuff.
For some reason, this expensive place is rife with free stuff. You walk down the street, and people on corners fight to hand you free tissues. Go into the supermarket and its free samples everywhere. Free beer, pickles, sausages, cakes, cookies, bread, chocolate, fish, jelly, vast amounts of pork products, unidentified slimey vegetables, 900 different types of tofu dishes. When I was poor, I used to cruise the basement floor of major supermarkets, do two circuts, and be full to the goog with little snacks during my lunch hour, because I couldn't actually afford lunch.

Then there are all the free little presents you get when you purchase EVERYTHING here.
Keychains, eyedrop holders, tiny address books, pretty stick on jewels, even hats, gloves and scarfs, when you buy a drink. Strange, but very cool.

13. Festivals. They have a festival for everything in Japan, I swear. Festival of the penis has its own dick shaped lollipops, enjoyed by cheeky little old ladies and small children alike. Food on a stick appeals to me, so chocolate bananas, sausages, cucumber, corn, chicken, pickled fruit in sticky toffee (Mizu Ame) and fresh fruit are all good onna stick while you are walking around in your Yuukata, on a nice sunny festival day. Games, plays, music, decorations, stalls, and you get to dress up. Who doesn't like festivals?? You might even win a goldfish or a little green turtle if you are lucky.

14. Manga Kissa. For about 5 bucks an hour, you can relax in a nice expensive massage recliner, play as much of your favourite online game, read as much manga/newspaper/magzine as you want, enjoy snacks and usually a free drink bar, all in the privacy of your own cubicle. I have seen people practice their Wii moves, so as not to get their arses handed to them by their friends next time they play. I have been in an ultra modern, wide screen catered Manga Kissa for a private movie screening (including icecream and beer) and I have to say that the service is muuuch better than in my loungeroom. The internet speed is usually excellent, and the array of slushie flavours enough to put me in a sugar coma.

15. Fast Food. I am not talking just about Maccas or KFC. You can have a dizzying array of curry flavours, bowls of ramen, instant ramen, many many fried things, sushi trains, beef bowls, burger joints, riceball places, eat at tiny little stalls that materialise only when the sun goes down (and are nothing more than a tarp, a noren curtain, a bench and a guy with a talent for noodles/Oden or just a talent for pouring beer and warming Sake).

16. Love Hotels. Trapped in a tiny company dormitory? Living in a two room house, made of paper and reed mats with your inlaws? No actual privacy? Well, slide on down to one of Japans hundreds of thousands of Love Hotels. A BIG bath, wide screen TV, with porn channels.Tea and coffee facilities, toiletries, bubble bath and TV in the bathroom. Rent or buy costumes, toys, pajamas for an overnight stay, or even take advantage of the karaoke and Wii they supply. Big beds, condoms supplied, all in lots of "rest" (three hours) or "stay" (overnight). Reasonably priced, and anonymous, they are a godsend for those who live with their parents, and a mini holiday for those who live with their kids. BYO your favourite partner ;)   Below are some of my favourite products written in Engrish