10 British Habits I Lost After Living in Japan

Japan will make you a neater, more open-minded, and more kawaii person. Probably.

1. Eating while walking in public

You can get taiyaki (Sweet buns shaped like fish) at lots of festivals in Japan. From Japan Foundation London / Via jpf.org.uk

Guzzling down snacks while walking in public is frowned upon in Japan. Except at festivals thankfully, where eating tasty street food is one of the highlights.

2. Not slurping noodles

From Japan Foundation London / Via jpf.org.uk

Seriously, noodles taste better when you slurp them. That’s why ramen restaurants in Japan can be rather noisy places.

3. Tipping

Some Japanese coins have holes in them, which is rather exciting. / Via commons.wikimedia.org

The Japanese don’t tip as a rule, and yet the service is somehow AMAZING.

4. Wearing shoes around the house

This is what your entrance will look like if you have people over in Japan. By shibainu (ミナトク) / Via commons.wikimedia.org

Wearing shoes indoors is a huge no-no in Japan. Teachers and pupils even change into separate shoes when they get to school.

5. Greeting people by hugging them or shaking hands

By Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France / Via commons.wikimedia.org

In Japan, it’s all about the bowing. Stay there for long enough, and you’ll even find yourself bowing on the phone (really).

6. Throwing all your rubbish away without washing, separating, folding and tying it properly first

These bins are for burnable rubbish, non-burnable rubbish, bottles and cans. By Corpse Reviver (Own work) [GFDL (gnu.org / Via commons.wikimedia.org

You’ll soon become an expert in sorting your burnable, non-burnable, recyclable and non-recyclable rubbish and disposing it as appropriate.

7. Being ultra-careful about your valuables

Perhaps they’re so safe because of the omamori lucky charms Japanese people often hang on their bags. By FlipTable / Via commons.wikimedia.org

Sure, I’ll just save my seat at the café by leaving my bag, wallet and mobile phone there. It’s not like anyone’s going to steal them in Japan. (This is probably a bad habit though – theft is rare in Japan, but like any country, it can happen)

8. Thinking that cute things are just for kids

Believe it or not, these are traffic cones saying “No Entry.” From Japan Foundation London / Via jpf.org.uk

Kawaii culture rules all, young and old.

9. Being squeamish about sea food

Takoyaki. Nom. From Japan Foundation London / Via jpf.org.uk

Takoyaki (fried octopus)? Uni (sea urchin)? Fugu (toxic puffer fish)?

Onegaishimasu! (Yes please!)

But I’ll still avoid eating shirako – fish sperm. Yes, that’s a thing in Japan.

10. Saying “chin chin!” instead of “cheers!”

"Nomihoudai" (All You Can Drink) is one of my favourite Japanese words. By Onchunanai. / Via commons.wikimedia.org

If you want to say “cheers” in Japan, say “kanpai!” Definitely don’t say “chin chin.” That means...something else in Japanese. I’ll let you Google it yourself.