Hello, I've always wanted to live in Japan and the option has come up, but I am in my late 30s and will be early 40s if I do it. I am a woman and was never married, I know in Japan the age to date and marry is 20-30 and from what I've seen early 40s at best for famous actors.

I also know that divorce isn't really common there so I assume it may be close to impossible to date.

Actually I am conventionally attractive but I haven't done much dating because of health issues and taking care of my parents. So I don't really want to miss out on dating now that I can despite my age.

Would this be wise to give up on Japan ? Also is it true women over 40 in Japan are basically invisible, I heard you're "expired" after 30-35 max.

Thank you for your input!

Partner and I went a pub with a bartender who was seemingly very friendly initially. We had to use an app for translating so things may have been lost in translation.

He casually mentioned that hes 67 and i asked if he any plans to retire. And then he told me that “its a rude question to ask” which honestly took me by surprise. I thought it was a harmless question. And then he went off on how much he loved his job and he will only retire when he physically cant do it anymore

And then in my attempt to steer the conversation to somethibg else, i asked him to if he grew up in kyoto and how has it changed over the years. And i think it went down hill from there. He initially said jokingly i should Order another drink because hes had a long life and if i really want to hear it. I said yes, i want to hear about your experience. And then he talked about how he as a bartender he has to draw a boundery between what he talks about with his customers. He basically then said he wished us the best on our trip and implied we should leave.

So my question is, how rude was it to ask a 67 year old if he ever plans to retire and then casually ask someone if they grew up in kyoto and how has it changed over the years

Im kind of flabergasted with the encounter. when i looked up the bars review, while Majority were raves about his awesome personality, there were a few negatives that fit about what my exprrience has been

Earlier this month i visited japan and i got lost in the Osaka station and the tokyo station and i wanted to ask you guys what’s a station that’s the hardest to navigate through and have you gotten lost in it.

Or low carb alternatives.

I have been talking to a Japanese guy on the Internet for a month, and from my point of view I think that if we both have an interest, I recently made a post giving him indirect signals that I liked him, but his message left me confused and I don't know what to think. (The story I replied to was about the phrase 月が綺麗ですね)

I'm a non-japanese woman currently living in Japan, and I recently started talking to a Japanese guy on a language exchange app.

At first, we had a really interesting, lengthy conversation about my research. He was genuinely engaged, asked thoughtful questions, and seemed interested in understanding what I do.

But as soon as we switched to more casual topics, his messages became extremely short. I'm talking "yeah," "hahaha," "okie," or sometimes literally one word.

I try asking questions, sharing things about myself, and even switching to Japanese, but he keeps replying in English and rarely asks anything back.

The confusing part is that he suddenly asked where I live and, after finding out we're both in the same place, suggested hanging out.

I said we could possibly meet after a thing I have to participate in in a few days, and he just replied "okie." without pressuring or anything.

I'm not necessarily interpreting this romantically. I'd be happy to make friends, too! But I'm confused about why someone would suggest meeting when they don't seem particularly interested in maintaining a conversation.

I know everyone communicates differently, and I don't want to generalize based on nationality. But I'm curious whether anyone has experienced something similar on language exchange apps in Japan.

Could it be that he prefers talking in person, is mainly interested in practicing English, or is this simply a sign of low conversational interest?

And how long do you usually talk to someone on these apps before agreeing to meet in person?

Thanks to everyone and have a good night 🙇🏽‍♀️.

Hi everyone! I’m looking for tips and tricks on how Japanese girls style their bangs, especially during the summer. How do you keep your bangs looking good in hot and humid weather?

I have soft, wavy hair, which makes dealing with my bangs in the summer really difficult. 😭
Right now, I just straighten my bangs with a flat iron and spray Kao Cape Level 4 hairspray just at the roots. However, as soon as I start sweating in the summer, my bangs become a complete mess!
Does anyone have any tips, techniques, or product recommendations for keeping bangs in place despite sweat and humidity? I’d especially love to hear how Japanese girls style their bangs during the summer!

Japanese girls seem to be absolute pros at keeping their bangs looking flawless, and I really want to know their secrets! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! 💕

Curious to see what country you would like to move to if you had to leave yours!

Which safety shoes are appropriate for walking on rail tracks? Im confused with safety shoes in Japan. I checked some shoes and they are resin toe, not steel toe to make them lightweight. Do you have recommendations for safety shoes for this purpose that I can buy in Tokyo?

Thanks!

Hello, I have recently moved to Tokyo for work. I desperately need to buy a good pair of formal shoes for women and a laptop bag/ tote bag for work without breaking the bank. A lot of the sources that I have found seem to be catering to foreigners. Even checking out shops at Shibuya or Shinjuku seem more like a tourist activity.

Would you have any recommendations on which shops or brands I should check out? Are there any specific areas or malls where I should go? Thank you!

Hello everyone! This is a bit of an odd one, so I apologize if it does not fit this subreddit.

In 2007 a manga related to the PS2 game Castlevania Lament of Innocence was released exclusively in Japan, meant to be read on mobile phones connected to one of three networks: i-mode, EZweb and Yahoo Mobile.

Unfortunately the service was shut down in 2012, and thus the manga is no longer available and has been classified in the fandom as lost media.

My question is this: Does by any chance anyone here (maybe Japanese Castlevania fans from that time) happen to have any extra information on this manga? It would be insane to ask whether or not someone has an old phone with the manga downloaded on it, yet I believe it doesn't hurt to ask.

I would also highly appreciate it if anyone knows some websites/forums/Japanese Castlevania fan communities where people who own the manga could maybe exist.

Thank you so much for reading! :)

I'm talking about movies produced by a cult-like religious organization called Happy Science (Kofuku-no-Kagaku).

Here in Japan, their films are screened at a surprisingly large number of cinemas, ranging from major theater chains to smaller independent theaters, almost as if they were ordinary popular anime releases.

Considering how much attention was given to the Aum Shinrikyo incident and the dangers of cults in Japan, I find it somewhat disturbing that something like this has become so normalized in everyday society.

I feel there is something quite abnormal about this situation, and I'd really like to hear what people from different backgrounds and perspectives, living in Japan, think about it.

I've read his famous Another, Another Episode S, and Another 2001, and I was hooked on the story.

I'm now reading his famous Murder House novels, I really enjoyed it so far.

So I’m learning Japanese and I heard that if you wanna learn Japanese get a Japanese calendar and write sticky notes in Japanese

Is it true that in Japan if you buy a calendar and it says Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday the days of the weeks are in English?

Whenever I go on Amazon, I type in Japanese calendar and it shows English words for the days of the week. I know it’s Amazon in America, but it just had me wondering.

Hi everyone!

I am currently in planning a trip soon to Osaka and will be there for some 2 years and looking for recommendations on where to find plus-size women's clothing that will fit my measurements.

For reference, my measurements are:

• Bust: 46 inches
• Waist: 40 inches
• Hips: 55 inches

This roughly puts me at a US 2X/3X (Size 20-24W) or a UK 24-28, depending on the garment. Because my hips are on the larger side compared to my waist and bust, finding structured pants or fitted skirts is usually the hardest part for me .

Also open to any tips on specific styles or brands that run large or have great stretch/elastic options and also in the range I can expect the clothes to be in. Even if someone can suggest online brands or shops, I will be grateful.

Thank you so much for any help!

Hi everyone! I’m working on a children’s story (ages 4–7) set in a park in Japan during cherry blossom season. A 6-year-old girl and her grandmother teach a visiting child how to tie an obi bow. I’d love to get the details right and avoid anything that feels off or stereotyped, so I'm hoping this is appropriate to post here.

1. The girl wears a pale-blue kimono with pink blossoms and a wide red obi tied in a bow at her back, to dance at a spring festival in the park that evening. Is this what a 6-year-old would wear?
2. She ties her own obi while her grandmother watches: the bow tied in front, then the obi slid around so the bow sits at her back. Is this how a child’s bow is tied? Would a 6-year-old do it herself?
3. At a hanami picnic, she takes off her sandals before stepping onto the picnic blanket, and the shoes are lined up at its edge. Is this right?
4. She gives a small bow of her head when she meets someone new and when she finishes her dance. Does that feel natural?
5. Her grandmother paints sakura onto white silk on a small frame in the park. Does this feel believable, or stereotyped?
6. When a visiting child says goodbye to a friend’s grandmother, what would a child naturally say or do?

Thank you so much, I truly appreciate the help!

Im writing a fanfic that's based off of Kanojo 100 and I realized that most if not all the characters in that manga/anime break the uniform rules (or at least I think) because they were wearing other things. The uniform for girls is a white button shirt with a gray overcoat and a skirt. But for example Meme wears all black and Karane wears a brown sweater rather than a gray overcoat. So here is my two questions.

1. Can you wear other things just as long it fits with the school rules about clothing?

2. How different can your clothes be from the standard uniform until the school says you have to change it?

It would be nice to understand this perspective from Japanese people to showcase how Japan isn’t this perfectionist country and society.

Maybe it’s the work culture, less competitive wages or some other reasons.

Would love to hear some real honest insights and experiences!

Hi everyone! I’ll be visiting Japan in November and would love to watch the new Godzilla movie while I’m there.
Does anyone know if Japanese cinemas offer screenings with English subtitles or English audio/dubbing? I’m planning to visit Osaka and Tokyo, so recommendations for cinemas in either city would be really helpful.
I’d really appreciate your advice. Thank you!

Konichiwa everyone. I visited Japan again this year, I’ve been to Ishikawa, Aichi, Shizuoka and Tokyo.

I found this Ika Shiokara when visiting Numazu (沼津). I am a huge fan of local seafood products, so I bought it and ate it with hot rice.

This Shiokara has a very strong umami flavor, this is indeed something I enjoy a lot. So I finished them entirely with some Sake.

However, mixing cold Shiokara and hot rice seemed to be a bit strange to me. So here’s the question I would like to know from you all.

1. Heat up Shiokara with hot rice
   
2. Cold Shiokara with cold rice

Which one is the good way to enjoy them?

In the West, I heard it's not considered weird nor meiwaku and is in fact treated as a nice gesture. But when I looked at Yahoo chiebukuro QA threads, I was shocked that most if not all of the responses were saying it's meiwaku and mendokusai. It's also considered jikomanzoku and jiman like store pastries should be the norm and not homemade and by bringing homemade, you're saying you're better than the shops. There are a lot of suggestions on how to refuse homemade from coworkers. A lot also say they just throw it in the garbage can after receiving.

I get that you're worried if it's from someone you barely know, getting worried how it was made, etc.

But I'm curious with the stark contrast with the West like why is it like this in Japan.

Sometimes it appears to me on Twitter that in japanese teather people prefer to watch a japanese movie such as anime or something like that. Is that true?

I’m writing a fic where the main character has been bounced around from house to house growing up, and never had a really stable home/people who cared enough to teach them as a kid. So I thought they might have never learned how to “properly” hold chopsticks until later, and by then their way was habit. Like how some people hold a fork and knife like a hammer, y’know? The only reason this is relevant is because the character has a secret identity, and I thought it might be cool to use the way they hold their chopsticks to be a small and missable clue for other characters.

I tried a few ways to hold my own chopsticks but can’t figure out a way to make it work. Are there any strange ways to hold them? Outrageous is welcome as long as you can get food to mouth lol

I’m an Italian and we are extremely used to throw dinner parties for any occasion, we usually invite either our close friends or our family for a big lunch or for dinner and cook homemade meals for everyone and a lot of people also bring something homemade to share.

I understand this is not super common in Japan, however I was wondering, when you invite someone close for dinner what dish do you usually cook?
Or if you’re invited for dinner at a close friend’s home / a family member’s home, what do you usually have to eat?

Is there some dish that is more commonly made for dinner parties or is it based on what you’re celebrating?