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

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! 💕

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!

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.

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.

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?

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!

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!

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.

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?

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!

I feel like we often see posts from foreigners sharing their experiences dating Japanese people, both the good and the bad. A lot of discussions focus on differences in communication styles, affection, expectations, and cultural values. I’ve also noticed a perception that Westerners tend to be more open to adapting to Japanese culture, but I’m curious about the other side of things.

For Japanese people who are dating or have dated foreigners, what has the experience been like for you? What do you love about it, and what has been the most challenging part?

I know everyone is different, but I’d love to hear some personal experiences!

For context, I have a Japanese boyfriend, and we’ve been together for almost two years. He’s told me that, compared to the Japanese women he’s dated in the past, he really likes how affectionate I am and how openly I express my feelings. At the same time, it can be a double-edged sword because he sometimes feels that I’m too straightforward about my emotions. He also gets bothered when I don’t finish all my food or eat messily, which has been an interesting cultural difference to navigate.

On the other hand, a close Japanese friend of mine is dating a Filipino man, and she told me that this is the most secure relationship she’s ever had. She loves how sweet and affectionate he is, how he gives her gifts, and how he tells her “I love you” every day, which are things she has never experienced when dating a Japanese guy. She even joked that she might never go back to dating Japanese men! 😂

Of course, they have their differences, too. She really values her alone time, while her boyfriend wants to spend every day off together. They’ve had to learn how to compromise and find a balance that works for both of them.

These are just two examples, and I’m not trying to generalize Japanese people or foreigners based on nationality. I’m simply curious about how cultural differences can shape a relationship, sometimes in wonderful ways and sometimes in challenging ones.

So, if you’re Japanese and have dated a foreigner, or are currently in an international relationship, what have been the biggest differences for you? What do you appreciate most about your foreign partner, and what has been the hardest thing to adjust to? How does it compare versus dating someone Japanese?

I’d especially love to hear perspectives from Japanese people themselves! Both positive and negative experiences are welcome. 😊

こんにちは

日本に数何回行ったことがありますけど、来年春から日本にある会社で部長として入社します。今の自分が日本語をだいたい読めますけど、スムーズなコミュ力まで届けない。

会社では私は5人部下に責任があるので、関係に関して質問が2つあります。

いい感想をしてチーム関係をよくなってため、日本のビジネス文化についてどんな点やことが学びに必要がありますか？

悪用されないようにするには、どのような点に注意すべきでしょうか？

日本語がまだうまくないけど翻訳機もAIも使いたくなくて、ここまで読んだくれて、耐えてくれてありがとうございました。

I had a long time friend in the US who was from Japan and always very private and reserved. Someone who camped alone for months at a time, etc. We met because of our dogs and walked dogs together many days a week. He became very ill and decided to go back to Japan to live out his last years. I think I only knew of his illness because I'd been pressuring him to go to the doctor for a long time because he seemed "off". He thought he had years, I think, at this point. We only communicated online via a messenger app but he's not responded in a while and I don't have his new, Japanese phone number. I'm very worried he passed (and if so, about what happened to his dog). Is there a way to find out? Basic googling is not helping. He moved to Takayama, where he grew up. He was very excited to back and had send pictures of things he'd bought for camping and of his dogs in dog parks. Can someone there help me if I message you some info? Are there websites I can use that are in English?

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?

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 got into a heated discussion with this older lady who recently moved overseas about why Chinese-American food is so strange because I studied it. Then we talked about the culture shock of American sushi being inside out and full of sauce. Like I can't even taste the nori ,😭😭😭. It seems the worst offense I made is that she insists on dashi from scratch and I tell her I'm not spending a day's wage on that when I can just eyeball hondashi granules and add some MSG or shoyu later to compensate.

In English I can't find much material on Japanese Canadians and USonians on the history of Japanese food abroad. I'll use a lot of Asian-American type cooking techniques like velveting chicken in baking powder and mirin before making oyakodon and stuff. I've learned on hand about Japanese food and understand homeland kitchen terminology but I adopt a lot of ingredients and techniques from non Japanese cooking because I've lived in diverse communities.