Top 10 Facts About Japan
Japan!
When anyone mentions Japan, the first things that springs to mind are Sushi,
Sumo Wrestlers and Ninjas.
But there’s soooo much more to
Japan than you could ever imagine.
But there’s soooo much more to
Japan then you could ever imagine.
Are you ready? Let's go travelling....
10: Meow – Cat Island!
Yip, you read right, whole islands that are inhabited by our favourite furry felines.
The Island of Aoshima for example, is the most popular cat island,
although there are multiple “Cat Islands” off Japan’s
coastline and even on inland saltwater lakes.
Tashiro-Jima is the second best-known island for cats, but now the concept is becoming
a popular tourist attraction, more islands are becoming cat havens.
9: It's Raining Umbrellas
We aren’t even kidding!
On many streets in Japan you can find vases with umbrellas, so if it starts
raining – you can take one so you don’t get wet.
After you’re done using it, you must return it to any other vase
you happen to find along your way.
Because the Japanese people are so honest, people rarely steal them.
What a lovely fact, don’t you think?
8: Cleaning 101
Guess what?
As part of their regular school day, Japanese students clean their schools,
in a tradition called o-soji.
Imagine cleaning your classroom or school field after your English lesson?
Time is set aside every day for students to tidy up classrooms,
mop floors, and clean bathrooms.
A few times a year, they even clean up in the neighbourhood
around the school.
The practice teaches students to help others and respect their surroundings.
7: Donald Who?
Everyone’s favourite mascot, Ronald McDonald is called Donald McDonald
in Japan due to a lack of a clear ‘R’ sound in Japanese.
In Japanese, the character’s name is written as
ドナルド・マクドナルド
(Donarudo Makudonarudo).
That’s almost as big of a mouthful as a Big Mac.
6. Nap Time! Zzzzzzzz
It comes as no surprise that the Japanese are rated amongst the
hardest workers in the world.
Most parts of the world have usual 8-hour workdays but in Japan,
this is unheard of.
Most Japanese workers stay for extra hours to show they’re willing to work.
Even though most Japanese companies do the same amount of work
as the rest of the world, workers wait until evening to complete their tasks.
This even includes sleeping on the job.
Napping on the job – called inemuri – is seen as a sign of being a hard
worker in Japanese business culture.
That’s almost as big of a mouthful as a Big Mac.
Some people even fake it! Who knew you could get
paid to sleep at work?
Shhhh, don’t tell Mom and Dad.
5. Vending Heaven
Japan has the highest number of vending machines in the world,
with approximately 5 million machines, or 1 machine for every 23 people.
You can buy everything from live lobsters and bread in a can, to pizza or
burgers and Buddhist amulets from a vending machine.
Imagine ordering your favourite Hawaiian pizza from a vending machine?
4. I'm Spinning Around
Does it feel like time has been moving faster recently?
Well, wait for it because this is going to blow your mind.
The 2011 earthquake near Japan shifted the earth’s axis by 10 to 25
centimetres, increasing the rotation speed of the earth and
shortening the day by 1.8 microseconds.
How crazy is that?
3. In it to Win it
There is a popular TV game show in Japan where one item in a room
is replaced with a look-alike item made of chocolate or other candy.
Contestants then have to try and guess what item it is –
by biting into various objects such as chairs and lamps, etc.
“Mmmm what a tasty couch you have Jane!”
Japan!
When anyone mentions Japan, the first things that springs to mind are Sushi, Sumo Wrestlers and Ninjas.
But there’s soooo much more to Japan than you could ever imagine.
But there’s soooo much more to Japan then you could ever imagine.
Are you ready? Let's go travelling....
10: Meow – Cat Island!
Yip, you read right, whole islands that are inhabited by our favourite furry felines.
The Island of Aoshima for example, is the most popular cat island, although there are multiple “Cat Islands” off Japan’s coastline and even on inland saltwater lakes.
Tashiro-Jima is the second best-known island for cats, but now the concept is becoming a popular tourist attraction, more islands are becoming cat havens.
9: It's Raining Umbrellas
We aren’t even kidding!
On many streets in Japan you can find vases with umbrellas, so if it starts raining – you can take one so you don’t get wet.
After you’re done using it, you must return it to any other vase you happen to find along your way.
Because the Japanese people are so honest, people rarely steal them.
What a lovely fact, don’t you think?
8: Cleaning 101
Guess what?
As part of their regular school day, Japanese students clean their schools, in a tradition called o-soji.
Imagine cleaning your classroom or school field after your English lesson?
Time is set aside every day for students to tidy up classrooms, mop floors, and clean bathrooms.
A few times a year, they even clean up in the neighbourhood around the school.
The practice teaches students to help others and respect their surroundings.
7: Donald Who?
Everyone’s favourite mascot, Ronald McDonald is called Donald McDonald in Japan due to a lack of a clear ‘R’ sound in Japanese.
In Japanese, the character’s name is written as
ドナルド・マクドナルド
(Donarudo Makudonarudo).
That’s almost as big of a mouthful as a Big Mac.
6. Nap Time! Zzzzzzzz
It comes as no surprise that the Japanese are rated amongst the hardest workers in the world.
Most parts of the world have usual 8-hour workdays but in Japan, this is unheard of.
Most Japanese workers stay for extra hours to show they’re willing to work. Even though most Japanese companies do the same amount of work as the rest of the world, workers wait until evening to complete their tasks. This even includes sleeping on the job.
Napping on the job – called inemuri – is seen as a sign of being a hard worker in Japanese business culture.
That’s almost as big of a mouthful as a Big Mac.
Some people even fake it! Who knew you could get paid to sleep at work?
Shhhh, don’t tell Mom and Dad.
5. Vending Heaven
Japan has the highest number of vending machines in the world, with approximately 5 million machines, or 1 machine for every 23 people.
You can buy everything from live lobsters and bread in a can, to pizza or burgers and Buddhist amulets from a vending machine.
Imagine ordering your favourite Hawaiian pizza from a vending machine?
4. I'm Spinning Around
Does it feel like time has been moving faster recently?
Well, wait for it because this is going to blow your mind.
The 2011 earthquake near Japan shifted the earth’s axis by 10 to 25 centimetres, increasing the rotation speed of the earth and shortening the day by 1.8 microseconds.
How crazy is that?
3. In it to Win it
There is a popular TV game show in Japan where one item in a room is replaced with a look-alike item made of chocolate or other candy.
Contestants then have to try and guess what item it is – by biting into various objects such as chairs and lamps, etc.
“Mmmm what a tasty couch you have Jane!”
2. Brain Freeze
Food scientists in Japan have recently invented ice cream bars that do not melt.
Woooooah!
We know, we are as excited as you are.
While experimenting with the chemistry of strawberries to help the poor
farmers affected by the 2011 tsunami, these awesome scientists
accidentally discovered a chemical that solidifies cream almost instantly.
What a great mistake to make! Ice cream bars made with this compound
can be blasted with hot air for five minutes and still won’t melt.
Yippeee!
1. Have a Break
Our number 1 weirdest fun fact about Japan is…
*drum roll*
There have been more than 300 different Kit Kat flavours in Japan,
including soy sauce, “European cheese” and wasabi.
Like Ewwww!
Some of them are limited or regional editions.
Because the candy bar’s name coincidentally sounds like the Japanese
expression Kitto Katsu, which translates to “You will surely win”,
it is a popular good-luck gift for students ahead of university exams.
Do you think a Soy Sauce Kit Kat would help you pass that Biology exam?
Hmmmm!
2. Brain Freeze
Food scientists in Japan have recently invented ice cream bars that do not melt.
Woooooah!
We know, we are as excited as you are.
While experimenting with the chemistry of strawberries to help the poor farmers affected by the 2011 tsunami, these awesome scientists accidentally discovered a chemical that solidifies cream almost instantly.
What a great mistake to make! Ice cream bars made with this compound can be blasted with hot air for five minutes and still won’t melt.
Yippeee!
1. Have a Break
Our number 1 weirdest fun fact about Japan is…
*drum roll*
There have been more than 300 different Kit Kat flavours in Japan, including soy sauce, “European cheese” and wasabi.
Like Ewwww!
Some of them are limited or regional editions.
Because the candy bar’s name coincidentally sounds like the Japanese expression Kitto Katsu, which translates to “You will surely win”, it is a popular good-luck gift for students ahead of university exams.
Do you think a Soy Sauce Kit Kat would help you pass that Biology exam?
Hmmmm!
