On this episode of Ichimon Japan we once again ask: What annoys you about living in Japan?
Topics Discussed
- The frustratingly useless nature of many English-language versions of Japanese websites
- Booking hotels in Japan
- The frustrating but hilarious nature of bad English translations of Japanese (a.k.a. Engrish)
- Engrish t-shirts
- The practice of using Japanese readings for kanji when reading a Chinese name and the confusion it can cause for both Japanese and English learners
- Clothing sizes in Japan
- How Japanese shirts tend to have shorter sleeves and be shorter vertically than American made shirts of the corresponding letter size
- How getting your internet set up in Japan can sometimes be a slow and frustrating process
- Annoying noise in Japan
- Loud political speeches during election season in Japan
- Shop employees using megaphones to attract customers
- Bear attacks and sightings in Ishikawa Prefecture during the fall of 2020
- Teikyūbi
- Gender stereotypes regarding sweets and cakes
- And much more!
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If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we’re able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month and that comes with perks like early access to episodes, a shout-out at the beginning of a future episode, bonus content, and discounts to Kimito Designs. For $3 a month you get all that plus access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and its many quirks. Whether you are studying Japanese or just enjoy learning about language and linguistics, you’ll enjoy Japanese Plus Alpha.
And it goes without saying that if you sign up, you’ll also get my undying gratitude. Thanks in advance!
Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.
Here’s some of the English-language sources used in this episode.
- These Totally Lost in Translation English Signs in Japan Have us Scratching Our Heads
- Things that foreigners find annoying about life in Japan
- Do Women Have a Bigger Sweet Tooth?
- Why Women Crave Sugary Foods More Than Men
Here are the Japanese language sources used.
- 日本とアメリカのサイズ感の違い
- This is the Japanese article that compares the measurements of Japanese shirts and shirts from the United States.
- 女性はなぜ甘い物が好きなの？その理由を徹底解説
The video below shows the kind of noise you’re likely to hear during election season in Japan.
If you missed part 1 of this episode, check it out via the link below.
The latest episode of the Japan Station podcast, can be found below.
If you would like to check out the Kimito Designs shop, then use the link below.
Japanese Vocabulary List
Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen’s WWWJDIC.
- Teikyūbi
- 定休日 【ていきゅうび】 (n) regular holiday; fixed day off; regular closing day
We Want Your Questions
Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We’re always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com.
Special Thanks
Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr)
Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.
