[Image1][English/Japanese]Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: TrashJapanes
[Image2][English/Japanese]Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: TrashJapanes

[English/Japanese]
Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: Trash

Japanese cities are famous around the world for their cleanliness and lack of litter on the streets. Why is that? In Japan, there are many rules regarding garbage. In addition, foreign students often get into trouble with residents because of this. In this article, I will introduce the rules regarding garbage.

No trash cans! Japanese who take their trash home

One of the most annoying things for foreign tourists when they come to Japan is that there are no trash cans. Where should you throw away the tissue you blew your nose with, or the candy wrapper you put in your mouth when you got hungry? When Japanese people have small trash, they put it in a pocket in their bag and throw it away when they get home. Also, many people with small children carry plastic bags for garbage in their bags. Some shopping malls and convenience stores have trash cans that anyone can throw away. When sightseeing, it might be a good idea to check the places where garbage can be thrown away with you.

How many kinds of garbage should I separate? How to separate garbage

When you first start living in Japan, one of the first things that confuses you is how to separate garbage. Let's take a look at the garbage separation in Hachioji City, Tokyo. Combustible trash, non-combustible trash, toxic trash, plastic containers and wrapping, magazines, paper packs, newspapers, cardboard, empty bottles, empty cans, plastic bottles, used cloth, oversize trash.... International students who have just arrived in Japan are surprised by the many types of garbage separation. Also, there are rules for each type of garbage. For example, PET bottles should not be thrown away as they are. The cap and label must be disposed of as plastic waste, while the bottle must be washed and crushed to become plastic bottle garbage. Furthermore, garbage should not be thrown away every day, but on the designated day of the week at the designated place. Depending on where you live, you may also have a set time to throw it away. And the rules change depending on the local government. For example, in Hachioji City, you have to buy the designated garbage bags at the supermarket. What do you think? There are so many rules for garbage disposal, aren't there? In fact, garbage separation is so complicated that even Japanese people make mistakes. Many foreign students who don't understand the rules of trash separation and throw away their trash randomly get into fights with other residents and have to move out. To prevent this from happening, first get a garbage calendar from the city hall and dispose of your garbage according to it. If you are not sure, you can ask a Japanese person. I'm sure he or she will be kind enough to help international students who are making an effort to sort out their garbage.

Were you able to learn about the rules of garbage? By the way, our school requires us to live in the school dormitory for six months. And during that time, the school will teach you about garbage. If you don't know how to throw away or separate garbage, you can ask the teacher in charge by e-mail. By learning about garbage for six months, you will be able to stay trouble-free even after you graduate from school. If you are able to separate garbage naturally, you will be able to live well as an international student.

What surprised international students when they came to Japan ~Garbage edition~

The city of Japan is famous in the world for its cleanliness and for the fact that there is no trash on the streets. Why? There are many rules regarding garbage in Japan. In addition, this causes problems for international students frequently. This time, I will introduce the rules regarding garbage.

No trash cans! Japan people taking garbage home

One of the problems that foreign tourists have when they come to Japan is that there are no trash cans. Where do you throw away the tissues you blew your nose and the candy wrappers you put in your mouth when you're hungry? If a small piece of garbage comes out, Japan people put it in their pocket in their bag and throw it away when they go home. Also, if you have small children, many people have plastic bags for garbage in their bags. Shopping malls and convenience stores sometimes have trash cans that anyone can throw away. When sightseeing, it may be a good idea to check the places where garbage can be thrown away together.

How many types should I divide? How to separate garbage

The first thing that confuses you when you start living in Japan is garbage sorting. Let's take a look at the segregation of Hachioji City, Tokyo. Combustible garbage, non-combustible garbage, hazardous garbage, containers and packaging plastics, magazines, paper cartons, newspapers, cardboard, empty bottles, empty cans, PET bottles, old cloth, bulky garbage... International students who have just arrived in Japan are surprised by the variety of sensible types. There are also rules for each fraction. For example, plastic bottles should not be thrown away as they are. Caps and labels become plastic garbage, and bottles are washed and crushed to become plastic bottle garbage. In addition, garbage should not be thrown away every day, it should be thrown in a designated place on a set day of the week. Also, depending on where you live, there may be a fixed time to throw it away. And the rules change depending on the local government. For example, in Hachioji City, designated garbage bags must be bought at supermarkets. How is it? There are too many rules for throwing away garbage, right? In fact, garbage separation is so complicated that even Japan people can make a mistake. There are many cases where international students who do not know the rules for separating garbage and throw it away appropriately get into a fight with other residents and have to move. To prevent this from happening, first get a trash calendar at the city hall and throw away the garbage according to it. And if you don't understand Japan you can ask people. I think they will teach you politely to international students who are trying to separate garbage.

Did you find out about the garbage rules? By the way, our school has to live in the school dormitory for half a year. And in the meantime, we will conduct garbage instruction at school. If you don't know how to dispose of or sort garbage, you can ask your teacher by email. By learning about garbage for half a year, you can spend your time without trouble even after graduating from school. If you can sort garbage naturally, your study abroad life will go well.

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Jun. 29, 2021
[English/Japanese] Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan: The City (1) I wrote in my previous blog that there is no trash on the streets in Japan, but there are many other things that are unique to Japan. This time, I would like to introduce some of them. A city full of vending machines Japan is famous for its large number of vending machines. Not only in number, but also in variety. For example, there are vending machines at train stations that sell books, bananas, and other items. I have also heard many stories of people being surprised when a vending machine says "Hello" to them as they walk by. These days, some vending machines have digital images to help you choose a drink, and some even allow you to sign up for a subscription. It is a little more expensive than buying at a store, but it is very convenient, so try to use it. How to ride an escalator Of course, you have escalators in your country, but in Japan, there is an unspoken rule about escalators. In Tokyo, ride on the left side of the escalator, and in Osaka, ride on the right side. This is not an official rule or manner, but for some reason it is the way it is. Of course, there are manners. For example, you may see people walking up the escalator, but this is very bad manners and dangerous, so don't do it! WiFi spots are scarce! Compared to a few years ago, the number of free WiFi spots has been increasing, but compared to other developed countries, there are still very few WiFi spots in Japan. Of course you can use it in convenience stores and fast food restaurants, but be aware that it is often not available in small stores. It is recommended that you check out WiFi spots ahead of time when sightseeing. You too can become a collector. Manholes are art. In many parts of Japan, there are manholes that are designed in the image of the local area. Manhole designs have become so popular that some towns have made them into "manhole cards" and handed them out. Recently, manholes with various anime characters, including Pokemon, have appeared, and some places have become famous as tourist spots. When you are sightseeing in Japan, you are likely to look at the stores and scenery, but please take a look down there as well. (The photo is a manhole in Hachioji. Please come and see it.) What do you think? I plan to tell you more about the city in my next article. Look forward to it! What surprised international students when they came to Japan ~ The state of the city (1) ~ I wrote in my last blog that there is no trash in the Japan city, but there are many other things that are unique to Japan in the city. Here are some of them. A city full of vending machines Japan is famous for having a lot of vending machines. It's not just the number that is large, but also the variety. For example, vending machines selling books and bananas are installed at stations. I also often hear that I was surprised when a vending machine said "hello" while walking. Recently, some of them can choose drinks with digital images, and some allow you to sign up for a subscription. It's a little more expensive than buying it at the store, but it's very convenient, so please use it. Escalator Implicit Rules Of course, there are escalators in your country, but there are unspoken rules for escalators in Japan. That is, when riding in Tokyo, you should be on the left side, and in Osaka, you should be on the right side. This is not a formal rule or etiquette, but for some reason it is like this. Of course, there are manners. For example, you may see people walking up in the direction where everyone else is not standing, but this is very bad manners and dangerous, so let's not do it. Few WiFi spots! Compared to a few years ago, the number of free WiFi spots has increased, but compared to other developed countries, there are still few WiFi spots in Japan. Of course, you can use it at convenience stores and fast food restaurants, but be aware that it is often not possible to use it in small stores. When sightseeing, it is recommended to check WiFi spots first. Be a collector too Manholes are art Japan there are manholes designed in the image of the land. Manhole designs are very popular, and in the city they sometimes hand them out as "manhole cards". Recently, manholes with various anime characters such as Pokémon have appeared, and some places have become famous as tourist spots. While sightseeing in Japan, you will often see shops and scenery, but please take a look below. (*The photo is a manhole in Hachioji.) Please come and see it! ) How was it? We will tell you about the state of the city next time. Please look forward to!
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Jun. 15, 2021
[English/Japanese] Things that Surprised International Students When They First Came to Japan: Public Safety Japan is known as one of the safest countries in the world. Even if you drop your wallet, you can often get it back,Of course, it depends on the location, but it is safe to walk alone at night. In addition, there is a unique culture born from this safety, which often causes problems for international students. In this article, I would like to introduce some of them. Handkerchiefs on the table Japanese people who secure their seats with luggage In Japan, when you go to a food court, you may find a handkerchief on the table, or sometimes a bag. And no one sits at the table. Even when the place is crowded, no one sits at the table. Why is this? Japanese people sometimes put down their belongings when they reserve a seat for themselves. I once heard a student say, "I was surprised to see people leave their bags with valuables in them.” Handkerchiefs, for example, may not be noticed that they are placed there, so if you sit down by mistake, you may get into trouble. Make sure you check before you sit down. Children walking alone to school: Be careful to talk to them A student wrote an essay about how she was surprised to see a small child walking alone with a big bag on his back. Many elementary school children in Japan walk to school alone. Some of them are as young as six years old and ride the train to school by themselves. Some of the international students like children and will ask a child who is walking alone, "Are you okay by yourself?" or "You are so cute!“ However, if you do this, you may be reported to the police, so if you see a child walking alone, just watch him or her gently. Can I have these vegetables?:Unattended Vegetable Sales In the fields of Japan, there are sometimes small huts where no one is around and vegetables are sold. When you want to pay, you put money in a box inside the hut. The international students who saw the hut for the first time were impressed by the fact that the money box was placed outside. Many students use the unmanned market because they can get fresh vegetables at a lower price than at the supermarket. In addition, some students mistakenly take vegetables that are thrown away in the fields or nuts from trees in the park, thinking that they are allowed to take them, and end up being caught by the police. All plants grown outside have their owners, so please do not take them. Twice in one day!:International Students and Police check Japanese police officer often stops and asks questions to people he or she thinks are suspicious on the street. Thanks to these questions, crimes can often be prevented. International students are often questioned , especially male students, sometimes twice a day. During the questioning, you will be asked if you are carrying your residence card, which school you go to, and so on. Even if you are going to the local convenience store, be sure to take your residence card with you when you go out. What did you think? Even in Japan, which is considered to be a safe country, there is of course the danger of being involved in crime. Please do not feel overly secure, and be careful while you are studying abroad. By the way, when you enter our school, we try to get to know you by going to the police station in your neighborhood, participating in local events and volunteering, etc. Building a good relationship with your neighbors is necessary for a smooth life as an international student. When you come to Japan, be sure to greet the people you see every day with a cheerful greeting. What surprised international students when they came to Japan ~Security~ Japan is known as one of the safest countries in the world. Even if you drop your wallet, it often comes back, and of course it depends on the location, but it is safe to walk alone at night. In addition, there is a unique culture born from this safety, which can often cause problems for international students. Here are a few: Handkerchief on the table: Japan people securing a seat with luggage In Japan, when you go to the food court, there are handkerchiefs on the table and sometimes bags. And no one is sitting at that table. Even if there are many people, none of the customers will try to sit in the seat. Why is that? A Japan person may put down their luggage when securing their seat. I once heard from a student that he was surprised to see someone leave a bag containing valuables as it is. You may not notice that there are handkerchiefs etc., so you may get into trouble if you sit down by mistake. Check before you sit down. Children who go to school alone: Be careful not to talk to them! Once, a student wrote an essay in which he was surprised to see a small child walking alone with a large load on his back. Many elementary school students in Japan go to school alone. In some cases, children as young as 6 years old take the train alone to school. Some international students like children and will ask a child walking alone with good intentions, such as "Is it okay to be alone?" or "You're cute," but the police may be notified, so even if there is a child walking alone, just watch over them quietly. Can I get this vegetable? : Unmanned sale of vegetables In the fields of Japan sometimes there are small huts where vegetables are sold. When you pay, put money in a box located inside the shed. When the international students saw the hut for the first time, they were impressed by the money box outside. Many students use unmanned sales points because they are cheaper than buying them at the supermarket and you can get fresh vegetables. In addition, some students may mistakenly think that they can get vegetables discarded in the field or nuts from trees in the park, and the police may catch them. All the plants that are grown outside have their owners, so please don't take them. As much as twice a day! International Students and Job Questions A job question is when a police officer stops someone on the street who he thinks is suspicious and asks them a question. This job question often helps prevent crime before it happens. International students are often asked about their duties, especially male students, which can be taken twice a day. In the job question, you will be asked if you are carrying a residence card and where the school is. Even when you go to a convenience store in your neighborhood, be sure to bring your residence card with you. How was it? Even Japan are considered safe, of course there is a risk of getting involved in crime. Please be careful not to feel too safe while studying abroad. By the way, at our school, when you enter the school, you go to greet the neighborhood police box and participate in local events and volunteer activities so that the people of the city can remember your face. Building good relationships with your neighbors is necessary for a smooth study abroad life. When you come to Japan, greet the people you see every day cheerfully.