Mr. Nurenberg's Japan Pages: Culture Shock in Japan

Japan is home of ancient traditions, peaceful gardens, advanced technology...it is also home to foods like squid ink crackers, museums devoted to seaweed, animated television shows that can induce seizures, and vending machines that sell underwear, comic books, alcohol, and fully cooked meals (sometimes all in the same machine). From the pinball gambling parlors of pachinko to the hot waters of the ritual onsen baths, a first-time visitor to Japan is sure to find some unfamiliar experiences that seem strange. Embrace it, I say!

A good rule of thumb when exploring a new culture is to always be adventurous...especially with food. From giant shrimp heads...

To enormous, freshly-killed tuna, we tried everything.


(You've never lived until you've eaten tuna meat scraped fresh from the belly of these guys right as you watch, then dunked in soy sauce...)

Even "familiar" foods like KFC might look a little different when prepared in a Japanese city:

 

This charming fellow with the spiked club is an Oni, a Japanese mythological demon whose kind were said to inhabit the woods of Nabori-Betsu until driven out by Peach Boy, a Japanese folk hero. Can you tell which one is the Oni, and which one is the English teacher?

"Hell Valley"in Nabori-Betsu is home to some of the many live volcanoes in Japan. Here, Mr. N explores the dangerous volcanic hotsprings, keeping well clear of their smoldering waters...

Well, not entirely. Wow, does 120 degree water feel good on the feet. Kids, don't try this at home.

Below, a giant parking lot exclusively for bicycles:

The giant Sapporo-Dome boggles the mind of first-time visitors.

Can you believe this entire 100 meter field, with stands that can hold 42,000 spectators, is built upon mechanisms capable of rolling it outside the dome to become an outdoor stadium?

I decided to follow in the footsteps of Buddhist pilgrims and pass through a small gap in the pillar supporting a famous temple. To prostrate oneself in such a manner, I was told, teaches humility, a necessary lesson on the path to enlightenment.

I have to say, I feel pretty humble right here...and pretty squished...

Well, it nearly took dislocating my shoulder, but I made it. I wonder who is wiser now...me for my experience, or everybody else in the room who refrained from squeezing through the gap, instead preferring to take pictures and laugh?

Here, one of our traveling companions finds a dragonfly of exceptional beauty...not to mention exceptional size!

Below are the famous deer of Nara, trained generation after generation to bow their heads in exchange for cookies. Cute, aren't they?

Don't be deceived! They're like pigeons with antlers, closing in on unwary tourists and swarming them, nipping their noses into your pockets to eat your food, money, tissues, maps, whatever they can lay jaws on. And if you don't have anything in your pockets, prepare for a head-butt! Feed these cuties at your own risk!

 

How many times have flight attendants in America held umbrellas over you when you walked out onto rainy tarmac?

 

Whew, after looking at all these pictures, I bet you want to kick back and relax.

When you've recovered your strength, continue onward...


History

Schools

 

Unless otherwise noted, all images came from my camera or the camera of Tom Hourihan.

Exceptions: The Fujii picture on page one comes from
http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/common/tis/ah/photo%20gallery.asp
and the samurai image comes from.
http://web.utk.edu/~history/images/japanese-warrior200.jpg
On this page, the anime image of Ryoko from Tenchi Muyo comes from
http://cyberpsychos.netonecom.net/Cels/Tenchi/Ryoko.html

 

 

Last Updated: 8-30-05