[Image1][English/Japanese]Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: Shops (1)For
[Image2][English/Japanese]Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: Shops (1)For
[Image3][English/Japanese]Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: Shops (1)For
[Image4][English/Japanese]Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: Shops (1)For

[English/Japanese]
Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: Shops (1)

For two consecutive weeks, I have been telling you about the city, but this time I would like to introduce you to the "stores" in the city. All stores in Japan are famous for their courteous service, and the customers themselves are known to form beautiful lines when waiting in line at the cash register. Here I would like to share with you what kind of problems international students encounter when they come to Japan for the first time and shop, based on the stories of our students.

Convenience stores are a bit expensive but convenient. Is this juice? Or is it alcohol?

There are about 7,800 convenience stores in Tokyo. In other words, the city is full of convenience stores. Most of them open 24 hours a day, so international students often say things like, "It's convenient because they are open even when I come home from my part-time job late at night.” and "I don't feel scared when I walk alone late at night because the stores are well-lit. ” Also, when international students enter a convenience store for the first time, they are surprised at the large number of products. I often hear that they are impressed by the variety of drinks. However, there are many stories of people who bought what they thought was a beautifully packaged juice, only to find out that it was alcohol. Because of this kind of trouble, the Chinese character for "liquor" is not usually taught at the beginner level, but at our school, it is taught immediately after entering the country. Please be careful, everyone.

Do you buy too much? 100-yen stores

Did you know that there are stores where all items are sold for 100 yen (excluding tax)? Although not as common as convenience stores, there are nearly 800 of these 100-yen stores in Tokyo. These 100-yen stores, commonly known as "100-yen stores," offer daily necessities (dishes, cleaning supplies, etc.) and even food. Therefore, when students start living in Japan and need daily necessities, they go to these 100-yen stores to buy them. Not only are they inexpensive, but they also come in a variety of designs, and once they have been to a 100 yen store, many of them end up going back again and again to buy things they don't need. I often hear stories of students, especially those who have just arrived in Japan, who have spent a lot of money at 100 yen stores. This is the time when you need money until you start your part-time job. Be careful when shopping.

A room full of stuffed animals! Be careful not to get too carried away at the game center.

Just like 100-yen stores, game arcades are a place where people tend to spend a lot of money. Some study abroad students get addicted to "crane games" and spend a lot of money on them. And before they know it, their room is covered with stuffed animals from the crane game. Because of this, students often throw away their stuffed animals as trash when they move out, crying because they have too much luggage. Students often feel lonely when studying abroad, and many of them find comfort in their stuffed animals. Try not to have too many stuffed animals, and enjoy them!

Did you get to know about Japanese stores? We will continue to introduce stores in the next article. By the way, our school has a convenience store and a 100 yen store just a few meters away from the school (student dormitory). Even if you have just arrived in Japan, you can get everything you need quickly. You can learn how to shop with your teacher at first, so you can start your new life with peace of mind.

What surprised international students when they came to Japan ~Shop edition (1)~

For two weeks in a row, we have been telling you about the state of the city, but this time we will introduce the "shops" in the city. All Japan shops are polite in their customer service, and customers themselves are famous for forming a beautiful line when they line up at the cash register. Here, we will tell you what kind of trouble international students cause when they come to Japan for the first time and shop, based on the stories of our students.

A little expensive but convenient convenience store Is this juice? Alcohol?

There are about 7,800 convenience stores in Tokyo. In other words, the city is full of convenience stores. Since most convenience stores are open 24 hours a day, international students have commented, "It's convenient because it's open even when you come home from a part-time job late at night." or "It's not scary because it's bright even if you walk alone at night." I often hear that. Also, when international students enter a convenience store for the first time, they are very surprised by the number of products. Among them, I often hear that they were impressed by the number of drinks. However, there are many stories that when I bought it thinking it was a juice in a beautiful package, it was alcohol. Because of these troubles, the kanji "sake" is not usually learned at the beginner level, but at our school, we try to teach it immediately after entering the country. Please be careful.

Do you buy too much? Shops with 100 yen uniform

Did you know that there are stores where you can buy all products for 100 yen (+ consumption tax)? Although not as much as convenience stores, there are nearly 800 shops in Tokyo that offer 100 yen uniforms. This 100-yen shop, commonly known as the "100 yen shop", has daily necessities (tableware, cleaning tools, etc.) and food. Therefore, when students start living in Japan and need daily necessities, they go to this 100-yen shop to buy them. Not only is it cheap, but there are also various designs, and once you go to a 100 yen shop, many people go there many times and buy things they don't need. In particular, I often hear stories of students who have just entered the country and splurged money at 100-yen shops. This is when you need money until your part-time job starts. Let's shop carefully.

Before you know it, a room full of stuffed animals! Be careful not to get too stuck in the arcade.

Just like a 100-yen shop, it's a "game center" where you end up spending money. Among them, there are international students who are so addicted to the "crane game" that they spend a lot of money. In addition, before you know it, the whole room is full of stuffed crane games. Because of this, students often throw away stuffed animals when they move as garbage that makes them cry because they have too much luggage. Studying abroad often feels lonely, and many students are healed by stuffed animals. Let's enjoy the stuffed animals so as not to add too much.

Did you get to know about Japan's shop? We plan to continue to introduce the store next time. By the way, our school has a convenience store and a 100 yen shop a few meters from the school (student dormitory). Even if you have just entered the country, you can prepare what you need immediately. You can start your new life with peace of mind because you can shop with your teacher at first.

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Jul. 20, 2021
[English/Japanese] Things that Surprised Foreign Students When They Came to Japan: Shops (2) This time, I would like to introduce you to some of the "stores" in the city. Bookstores are full of manga, contents that even adults can enjoy What kind of books are available in bookstores in your country? When a foreigner enters a Japanese bookstore, he or she is surprised to see how many manga are available. Manga is one of Japan's most famous subcultures in the world, and I often hear that people are surprised to find that even adults read manga. The famous Doraemon and Dragon Ball are works for children, but there are also many works for adults. For example, there are stories about businessmen succeeding in their jobs or lawyers playing an active role in court. There are also children who study by reading historical and scientific cartoons. Students at the University of Tokyo, which is famous for its high academic achievement, are also encouraged to study manga. It may be a little difficult for those who have just started studying Japanese, but please pick up a manga. You may find your world expanding. Shocking ticket prices! Movie theaters I often hear stories of international students who wanted to go see a movie, went to the movie theater, and then gave up on seeing it. Why is that? It's because the ticket price is too high. In most student countries, it costs less than 1000 yen to see a movie. In Japan, however, an adult ticket costs as much as 1,800 yen to see a movie. That's why people give up watching movies. It varies a little from theater to theater, but if you choose a day when women are cheap or a service day, you can see a movie for about 1,000 yen. Check out the cheap days before you go. Seven Wonders of the Restaurant The salt piled up like Mt. Fuji at the entrance of a restaurant... the flying forks and fake food in the showcase... the small towels served when you sit down... the food that comes to you even though you didn't ask for it... To a foreigner, there are many strange things about Japanese restaurants. ・The salt piled up like Mt. Fuji at the entrance is to pray for business prosperity. ・The flying forks and fake food in the showcase are called "food samples". These are models of food made of wax or synthetic resin. They are very popular among foreign tourists, and many people buy small key chains and other items as souvenirs. ・A small towel is called an "oshibori". A small towel called "oshibori" is used to wipe your hands before eating. ・A dish that you didn't order but which is already ordered... This dish is called "otoshi" and is brought to your table when you enter a restaurant that serves alcohol, such as an izakaya (Japanese style pub), even if you didn't order it. The price is about 300 to 500 yen. Have you learned a little about Japanese restaurants? Our school's library has not only a wide variety of books for reading, but also a wide variety of manga, which can be checked out. Let's use manga to understand Japanese culture and go out on the town! What surprised international students when they came to Japan ~Shop edition (2)~ This time, we will introduce the "shops" in the city. Bookstores are full of comics, content that adults can also enjoy What kind of books are available in bookstores in your country? When foreigners enter Japan bookstores, they are surprised by the number of manga. Manga is famous around the world as a subculture of Japan, but I often hear that even adults are surprised to read manga. The famous Doraemon and Dragon Ball are for children, but there are also many works for adults. For example, a story about a salaryman succeeding in his job or a lawyer playing an active role in a court case. There are also children who study by reading historical and science comics. Students at the University of Tokyo, which is famous for their high academic ability, are also studying manga. It may be a little difficult for those who have just studied Japanese, but please try it. Your world may expand. I was surprised by the ticket price! movie theater I often hear stories of international students who wanted to go to the cinema and gave up watching it. Why is that? That's because tickets are expensive. In most student countries, it costs less than 1000 yen to watch a movie. However, when watching movies in Japan, the adult fee is as much as 1800 yen. That's why I give up watching movies. It varies slightly depending on the movie theater, but there are days when women can see it for about 1000 yen if they choose a cheap day or a service day. Let's check out the cheap days before going. Seven wonders of restaurants Salt served like Mt. Fuji at the entrance of the restaurant ... Showcase flying forks and fake dishes... A small towel is served when you sit down... Dishes that are brought to you even though you didn't order them ... There are many strange things in Japan restaurants for foreigners. ・ Salt served like Mt. Fuji at the entrance → prayers for prosperous business. Showcase flying forks and fake dishes → called "food samples". Models of dishes made of wax or synthetic resin. It is very popular with foreign tourists, and many people buy small key chains as souvenirs. ・A small towel → called an "oshibori". It is used when wiping hands before eating. ・ Dishes that are ordered even though you did not order them: It is a dish called "otsushi" and is mainly served in izakaya and other restaurants that serve alcohol, and when you enter the store, it is brought to the table even if you have not ordered it. The price is about 300~500 yen. Do you know a little about Japan store? Our library has not only extensive reading books but also a wide variety of manga, which can be borrowed. Let's understand the culture of Japan with manga and go out into the city!
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Jul. 6, 2021
[English/Japanese] What international students were surprised to learn when they first came to Japan. The City (2) Continuing from the previous article, I would like to introduce the "city" this time as well. Free pocket tissues? In Japan, pocket tissues are distributed in front of train stations every day. It is said that many foreigners are surprised when they see this scene. The reason why they are so surprised is because these pocket tissues are all free. If you look closely at the pocket tissues you receive, you will see advertisements for companies. Thanks to this advertisement, you can get them for free. Sometimes, they give out small snacks or cosmetic samples. Pocket tissues are handy to keep in your bag, so be brave and accept them. Feeling like a king? Many foreign tourists are impressed by the automatic opening of the doors when they get into a cab. Also, Japanese cab drivers are famous for their excellent customer service. However, cabs are more expensive than in other countries, so consult with your wallet before using a cab. Do you ride your bicycle on the sidewalk? On the roadway? Roads in Japan are known to be narrow. Light cars, which are easy to drive on such narrow roads, look like toy cars to foreigners. In addition, bicycles are sometimes ridden on both the roadway and sidewalk, making it difficult for them to understand the rules for bicycles. International students often get stopped by the police and pay fines because they do not understand the bicycle rules. As a general rule, bicycles are to be ridden on the road. (There are some exceptions where bicycles can be ridden on the sidewalk. Be sure to check the traffic rules carefully before you ride. Have you learned about Japanese cities? At our school, we hold a traffic rules seminar every six months. In order to live safely in Japan, let's make sure to learn the traffic rules. What surprised international students when they came to Japan ~ The state of the city (2) ~ This time, we will continue to introduce the state of the city. Free tissues! In Japan, pocket tissues are handed out in front of the station on a daily basis. It seems that many foreigners are surprised to see this scene. The reason why you are surprised is that all of these pocket tissues are free. If you look closely at the pocket tissue you received, you will see an advertisement for the company. Thanks to this ad, you can get it for free. Sometimes, small sweets, cosmetic samples, etc. are also handed out. Pocket tissues can be useful if you keep them in your bag, so be brave enough to take them. Feeling like a king? There are many foreign tourists who are impressed by the automatic opening of the door when taking a taxi. Japan taxi drivers are also famous for their excellent customer service. However, taxi fares are higher than in other countries, so consult with your wallet before using a taxi for transportation. Are bicycles on sidewalks? Roadway? The roads of Japan are notoriously narrow anyway. It is said that the "mini automobile" that is easy to drive even on narrow roads looks like a toy car to foreigners. In addition, bicycles may be running on both the roadway and the sidewalk, and the rules for bicycles can be confusing. International students often don't know the rules of cycling and are stopped by the police and pay fines. By the way, as a rule, bicycles should be ridden on the roadway. (Sidewalks may be allowed as exceptions.) Be sure to check the traffic rules carefully before driving. How was it? Our school holds a lecture on traffic rules once every six months. Learn the rules well to live safely in Japan.