- In English, a person who is obsessed with Japanese culture is called a “Weeaboo” or “Wapanese”.
- Japan is full of really (really really) cute characters (ex: Hello Kitty, Rilakkuma, Tottoro, etc.)
- There are ALL sorts of merchandise featuring those characters. (Headphones, pencils, stickers, backpacks, and even shower caps.)
- MOCHI. ICE. CREAM. (nuff said)
- Watching anime can be pretty fun (and there is anime just for adults, too! My favorite is called Nana.)
- Japanese people say “moshi moshi” instead of “hello” when they pick up the phone.
- Any type of Japanese candy is AMAZING.
- There are Japanese versions of American candy; who wouldn’t want to try Green Tea Kit Kats?
- There are different ways of using chopsticks for different kinds of food.
- Japan has a “cat cafe”, which is a cafe where you can drink your coffee while hanging out with cats.
- There is a ritualized tea ceremony you should perform whenever you prepare powdered green tea for your guests. This ceremony is called chanoyu.
- A Japanese make-up trend, me no shita chiiku, is meant for making girls look sick (there are even tutorials that teach how to mimic under eye bags) to create the appearance of needing to be looked after.
- In Japan, it is very important to use titles when talking to other people. These are used after the name of the person you are talking to. (That is why my Japanese best friend calls me Rafi-chan!)
San: Mr., Mrs., or Ms. - Black cats are a sign of good luck.
- SQUARE WATERMELONS are a thing! (The Japanese designed these so that they would be easily stackable.)
- The majority of streets in Japan have no name.
- If you are a Japanese citizen, you can’t be a citizen of any other nation; if you have a Japanese citizenship, but are also a citizen of another country, at one point you’ll have to choose one.
- Japan is a REALLY cool nation with a rich and interesting culture that has been attracting the curiosity of more and more people every year! JAPAN ROCKS!
Sama: more respectful version of San.
Sensei: teacher.
Kun: used for boys OR by superiors to inferior males.
Chan: used for children, girls, lovers, family, and close friends.
Etc. (there are LOTS of titles, you can find more information about them here: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/titles.html)
