This article describes the culture shock experienced in Japan by Chris, a German, focusing on specific experiences involving the cost of eating out, free water and services at supermarkets. Looking back on life in Japan, the article highlights differences in dining and shopping.
Regarding perceptions of living costs in Japan, Chris noted that eating out could cost around ¥1,000, pointing to the affordability of dining at Japanese restaurants.
Chris learned for the first time that water is served free of charge when customers sit down in Japan, and was confused when comparing this with Germany, where ordering water used to be expensive. Even after learning that the water was free, Chris felt slightly apologetic when drinking it, wanting to behave politely.
In Germany, customers bag their own groceries after paying at the register, whereas in Japan supermarket staff sometimes bag them for customers. Chris was impressed by this service.
Chris also draws on experiences in Japan in creative work, studying the beauty of the Japanese language and deepening ties with Japan by reading works by Inoue Yasushi (井上靖) and Kawabata Yasunari (川端康成) in the original Japanese.
Through these experiences in Japan, Chris described reasons for coming to like the country and expressed a desire to share something with Germans who may visit Japan in the future.