25 Things about Japoon that are Excellent, Part 1

25 excellent things about Japoon, Pt 1

by Wendy Elizabeth Horikoshi on Friday, 19 February 2011 at 11:43

1. Public Transport.
Simply put, this country has the smoothest, cleanest, fastest public transport in the world. Easy to use, always on time, barring major disasters, and the best part is, if they ARE late, then you get a note from the train conductor to excuse your tardiness.  I am always so excited to get a late note, I keep it for the novelty value (twice in 14 years).  Trains in Australia run on a timetable that is mostly fiction.

2. Service.
Banks, Department stores, service stations, all have attendants to come and help you with your every need, with a smile. Need to fill in a form, use an ATM, buy a ticket or check your oil? There is always a uniformed attendant for you, and they usually speak a few words of English.  Nice.

3. Bicycle tracks.
I just gave up my car, and we have a family of four. This would be horrible in Oz. I have a 15km paved green road around Kodaira all the way to Tamagawa Josui, just for bikes and walking. Past all the major supermarkets and shopping streets, banks, parks and schools. I can bike anywhere, and if its a little too far, then I can take a bus or train.

4.The Magic Ticket.
You can pay for your drinks, bus, train and subway tickets, and even your Mc Donald's with your passmo/passmo credit card. Means you don't have to take it out of your wallet. How many times have you lost or bent your ticket? You can get a drink, breakfast, get your train and make it to work, all by waving your wallet or mobile phone past the sensor. You can even break your journey, and your magic ticket will keep it all on track for you. You can set it to auto recharge if you like as well, meaning you won't catch a bus again and not have enough change for the fare.

5.Serial Politeness.
People will be polite to you, and usually try to help you, even if they don't like you. If some one doesn't like you in Oz, you have about a 50% chance of a punch in the head.


6. Safety.
This is the safest place in the world, with the lowest crime rate for everything . You can leave your doors open, your car unlocked, and catch a train or bus and walk home alone at night at any time without of that inner city fear that you get in Sydney.


7. Vending machines.
They sell everything. Beer, cigarettes, rice, flour, hot coffee, soup, raincoats, umbrellas, hot food, ice-cream, cold drinks, snacks, flowers, magazines, porn, sex toys, newspapers, milk, fresh veges. You name it, however bizarre or mundane, however useful and unexpected, some one put it in a vending machine, probably along my street. The only thing you rarely see in vending machines is packets of chips and lollies.  Strange but true.

8. People are honest.
If you drop something, or lose something, it's odds on that you get it back. Wallets, cameras, phones, bags. It would all be lost for good in my home country, but it is returned with alarming regularity here.  I have dropped my wallet a few times, always got it back.

9. The Cute Factor.
Cute is a cultural phenomenon here. Hello kitty, Mickey Mouse, Miffy, Pooh Bear and Aladdin (as well as all the Disney Princesses, and their entourages) are on bank cards, bags, tickets, posters and are woven into every day life. It`s totally OK for a 45 yr old woman to have a Mickey and Minnie lunch box and matching handbag. It's actually a bizarre kind of freedom.

10. The 100 yen shop. Simply, you can buy way more in the world for 100 yen. These huge bargain warehouses buy in bulk using the mighty yen, and sell (for a nice size profit) stuff that is useful, nice to look at and doesn't make you feel guilty when you buy it, as its only 100 yen a pop. Some of it is just 100 yen sized, some of it is kitschy micro niche stuff, but some of it, like kitchen utensils, are good value, and it's my Fav place to shop.  Below is a selection of Engrish named chocolates from my local supermarket.