Misconceptions

Having been in Japan for a year, and having spoken to lots of people back home and being asked lots of questions about life in Japan, I've come up with a list of what people might misunderstand about Japan and life in Japan.

If you don't want your perfect little self-constructed image of Japan ruined, turn away now.

Misconception #1: Everyone in Japan eats sushi or some kind of 'common Japanese food' everyday
Unfortunately, no. People definitely don't eat sushi everyday. It's not cheap even in Japan. And no not everyone eats ramen or even rice everyday. Quite a few Japanese people I know actually prefer bread to rice/noodles. For school lunch, out of 5 days in a week, we get about 2-3 rice days, 1-2 bread days and 1 noodle day. We never get sushi for lunch, hardly get tempura; but we do sometimes get curry, pottage, sautéed veg, potatoes and jelly.

When I asked one of my teachers in school (Japanese teacher) what they usually eat at home, he responded with 'salad, rice, soup...' and he occasionally takes his family out for pasta, burger, roast meat, and sometimes sushi.

Misconception #2: Everyone in Japan loves fish
Mr. S from one of my visiting schools, a Japanese language teacher, HATES FISH! I have also encountered several students and friends who generally don't like anything from the sea. And one of them was brought up by fishmonger parents!! Poor kid.

Misconception #3: Everyone in Japan is polite
Most people are quite polite in Japan and generally have relatively better manners than those in Hong Kong. BUT I have observed, several times, that people on a train or metro rarely give up their seat for the elderly.

Misconception #4: Everything in Japan is super high-tech and modern
In fact, squat toilets are still widely used around the country; many houses are poorly built with wood and metal; every year hundreds (or thousands?) of very traditional festivals are held all over the country that have been held for hundreds (or thousands?) of years. Japan has also done well to preserve many old old temples, shrines and buildings.

Misconception #5: Everything in Japan is very expensive
Only in the cities! And even within cities there are some great restaurant and shop finds that sell great value clothing and food. There are also lots of 100-yen shops and 100-yen (around 65p or $8HKD) sushi restaurants (my favourite haunt)!

Misconception #6: Japan is one big bustling urban city that's super crowded and noisy
There are in fact many deserted coasts, lots of farms and open fields, magnificent mountain ranges and deep forests.


Right - off to my sushi lunch.