The Chopstick Ultimatum

This will definitely happen to you at least once in a Japanese shop selling food as long as you look remotely non-Asian, but the frequency at which it occurs will vary depending on your level of Japanese, as well as whether you are dressed like a tourist or someone who might possibly be living in Japan for the medium to long term. Usually they will want to avoid any potential risk of the beginnings of a disastrous English conversation, but the ones with a more courage will pop the big question....

What are you looking at?

The Japanese Konbini

Having moved into my company apartment with no internet access and possessing a bank account of which the funds are rapidly drying up, I’ve had plenty of time to sit here and (aside from doing basically nothing) reflect on some funny but also fantastic things about Japan. Although I’ve been here for the best part of a year now, it’s taken me this long to sit down and really take in everything that has happened over the past eleven months. 

No Conbini is complete without countless signs and posters!

I hope that anybody who currently lives (or has ever lived) in Japan can relate to this and have a small chuckle! For those of you who have not yet been to the land of the Rising Sun, I hope that this will act as a primer for the kind of environment you will experience! I’ve got plenty to talk about but let’s just focus mainly on two funny and strange (but interesting!) things about the Japanese convenience store!