Compare and Contrast

I've always been fascinated by the differences between cultures. I do believe that there are some things that are right or wrong, but there are so many aspects to life that can be approached in a variety of ways that are neither right or wrong, just different.

Here are some differences I've seen between Japan and the part of the US where I live.

Traffic Signals

At an intersection between my dorm and the school, the arrow to turn right follows the green light, while I'm used to the arrow to turn left coming before the green light.

Also, Japan drives on the left side of the road.

Recycling

In my neck of the woods in the US, we separate our trash into paper, recyclables (glass, PET bottles, metal cans), and everything else.  The only rule for putting it out at the end of our driveway each week is that the recyclables need to be in a blue bag.

Here, separating trash is a science.  There is burnable trash, non-non burnable trash, plastic bags and containers, PET bottles, glass bottles, cans, paper and large items.  When I lived in Tochigi, grocery stores had receptacles for cleaned and flattened milk containers, too.  Burnable trash, which includes kitchen waste, is collected more than once per week.

In Japan, each neighborhood has a trash collection point; you don't leave the trash at the end of your driveway (if you have one).  You also have to buy official bags for certain kinds of waste.  This way, those who throw away the most, pay the most.

This may seem a little extreme, but Japan doesn't have the room for landfills that we do in the US.

Paying at the store

In Japan, there is a tray by the cashier, into which you place your money.  Don't hand it directly to the cashier.

The consumption tax recently went up to 8% nationwide from 5%.  It applies to food, unlike Wisconsin's sales tax.

Heating and Cooling

In the US, we have central heating, and quite often, central air.  In Japan, rooms are heated and cooled individually.  Usually an air conditioner will also provide heat.  The main unit is outside, and the fan and control are mounted on an inside wall near the ceiling.  There is also a remote control.

This is for economy and energy efficiency.  On the plus side, you don't have to seal off rooms you're not using in order to not heat them.  On the other hand, areas like hallways can be cold or hot.

Laundry

Clothes dryers are not common in Japanese homes.  This is partly for economy and space reasons, and because hanging clothes out to dry is better for them. I'd love to be able to do that but we only have part of the year where it would make sense, and during part of that, there are lake flies.

Laundromats have dryers, of course, for when you really need one, like during rainy season.

Imported Cars

At home, my hubby and I have a Volvo and a Kia.  We've also owned domestic cars, like Chevy or Buick. But I have seen far fewer non-Japanese cars here than I see non-American cars back home.

Aichi Prefecture is home to Toyota, so of course, there are more Toyotas around here than anything else.  Car ownership is also greater in this area than in other places.