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'Stop With the Personal Questions!' - Things That Shocked British People When Visiting Japan

Last updated: 27 August 2020

England is home of London, a beautiful and historic city, and of landmarks like Stonehenge, a World Heritage Site. What is the impression British people have of Japan when they visit?

In this article, we will talk about things that shocked British people when they came to Japan. (The following reflects the opinion of the interviewees only and was written by a Japanese national.)

A British woman in her 40s living in Japan with a child talked about Japanese food.

“I heard that Japanese food is healthy, but I can only find dishes that use meat or eggs. It felt like there weren’t many vegetarian restaurants. Yet tofu is the best healthy food. When I went to Japan, I always had tofu salads.”

This British woman does not eat meat or eggs. Japan uses fresh eggs and juicy meat often, but for this woman, it’s a problem. It’s good she found delicious tofu, though.

“I was surprised by the custom of relatives gathering and giving out New Year gifts. In the UK we give presents on Christmas, but never on New Year’s. And the envelopes used to give money to younger people are beautiful.”

Since Christmas is so big in Christian countries, there is a different way of celebrating the New Year. Looking at the representation of Christmas in foreign movies and shows, with a large tree, a roasted turkey and a pile of presents, this holiday seems to have much more relevance than it does in Japan.

Spending a lot of money on presents and then also having to make the envelopes for your younger family members can take a toll on your wallet…

“Many Japanese men asked a lot of personal questions on a first date. I thought it was a bit rude. They want to know where you’re from, about your family, your job, etc. There was no second date with these guys, of course (laugh).”

It’s not unusual in Japan to talk about more private matters as a way to know each other, but it also gives the impression of jumping into one’s personal life too quickly. If you want to learn more about the other person, don’t be rude!

“’Ale’ is a popular style in the UK, and I really like its rich taste. Until now, I thought that British beer was the best in the world, but if you drink a beer from a convenience store in Japan, you’ll see it’s delicious! It’s rich and the right amount of bitter, and it tastes fresh even though it’s canned beer! It’s really amazing.”

Japanese beer makers strive to make sure their beer not only tastes good, but it also stays fresh. Mr. J, who loves beer, was impressed by this skill.