Initial Reverse Culture Shocks Moving From Tokyo, Japan to Hawaii, USA
I lived in Japan for a total of 13 years, experiencing life both in the countryside and in the big city of Tokyo.
I would occasionally visit the US, most often my hometown of Honolulu, and there were always things that would stand out and require me to readjust to. Due to the pandemic, this is the longest period of not being in the US I’ve ever had.
A couple months ago, I returned to Honolulu to live. These are 11 things that are catching my attention in this early phase of reverse culture shock.
1. Service is way more casual
This was apparent right from my flight from Japan on Hawaiian Airlines. Staff were friendly and treated passengers like friends.
“Here’s your dinner, snack or whatever you want to call it.” said the flight attendant giving me my meal. Whatever I want to call it?
To her credit, the Hawaiian Airlines meal is more than a snack but definitely lacking as a meal compared to other airlines, so it is a bit hard to label.
Hawaiian Airlines’ meal from Tokyo to Honolulu has more unused tray space vs. other airlines on the same route
“You don’t want your cookie? It’s the best part!” another flight attendant said while picking up the meal trays.
Casual and friendly? Yes. Fitting with the local culture in Hawaii? Yes. As someone who grew up in Hawaii, it’s fine with me, but this type of service may be seen as too casual for someone expecting to be treated like a customer.
This is a huge contrast to how it typically is in Japan, as everything is formal, by the book, and overall really good but often lacking in human connection and empathy.
2. Smartphone apps are a lot better
Many in Japan are mobile-only, yet the smartphone app ecosystem is not as robust as it is in the US.
For example, the main app for my bank account at JP Post only allows me to see my balance and transactions. If I want to send money, I need to apply, go through a tedious security check, and use a second app. If I want to access my account on a PC, I need to apply for yet another login, and then use that separate login.
A separate app for Japan Post Bank used to authenticate customers again so they can use their account features in yet another app
Hakuyosha, a dry cleaning chain, has an app where you can register as a customer and earn points. It doesn’t keep transactions and you can’t use it to drop off or pick up your dry cleaning.
Systems aren’t connected which makes many apps in Japan less useful and feel like they’re several years behind the US in terms of functionality.
3. Mask usage varies
At the time I left Japan in last August 2022, nearly everyone still wore masks indoors and outdoors, although it began to decrease.
I’m not sure how many wore it because they wanted to, felt they had to, or did it because it was what everyone else was doing and didn’t want to cause problems by not doing so.
Coming back to the US, it seems to vary by location and time of day, at least in Honolulu. Overall, I’d say around 20-30% wear masks indoors.
4. Prices are high
The higher prices on everything, especially now with inflation issues, are a hard pill to swallow.
JPY value versus USD over the past year until mid-Oct 2022
Add into the equation the fact that I’ve been earning Japanese yen, a currency that has lost more than -26% in value against USD so far in 2022 (as of Oct), prices and my severely weakened buying power are catching my attention.
Tipping at restaurants, something not done in Japan, add to things, of course.
5. No updated price tags sometimes
While I’ve only seen this at Macy’s so far, I found it too odd to ignore. With no price tag on some items, there were signs saying to download their app and scan the item with it in order to “get prices in a snap”.
Macy’s asking people to download their app and scan items in their store in order to know their prices
Why would a store make you go through an extra step to see the price? Being physically so close to the point of purchase, store should make buying easy to do.
The overall feel of the store at the location I went to was also a bit dingy and disheveled, especially compared with department stores in Japan.
6. Way more dog-friendly
A dog walks out of a clothing store in a mall with its owner
Dogs in banks, cafes, clothing stores, etc. This is something I’m not use to seeing in Japan as dogs basically need to be tied up outside.
The dogs I’ve seen have been bigger than most in Japan, well-trained, well-behaved, and the overall pet dog environment seems to be a lot better.
7. Linear TV is dead
Streaming streaming streaming. Japan is full of streaming services as well, but not to the level that it is in the US.
Japan also doesn’t have YouTube TV, the service that basically gives you everything cable would. They also don’t have services like HBO Max, Peacock, etc. and they have limited cable TV that’s free (unless you pay the NHK bill or let their salesperson in, which most don’t).
8. Fruits aren’t as good on average
Japanese tourists like to take photos. of the fruit section in American supermarkets because of how they’re piled up in volumes. Unfortunately, the typical fruit doesn’t taste as good as their Japanese counterpart.
A juicy melon from Hokkaido, Japan. The juice in the cup on the right is just from cutting these slices
I’ve had good mangoes so far (I’m in Hawaii so go figure), but strawberries, melons, grapes… just not as good as Japan’s.
Bruised strawberries being sold at a supermarket in Honolulu
9. Trash is easier but probably not as good
In Honolulu, there are 3 trash bins: A grey one for regular trash, a blue one for recyclables, and a green one for yard waste.
In Japan, it varies by city, but in central Tokyo, most trash needs to be separated a lot more, despite being one of the relaxed cities when it comes to trash disposal.
This includes taking off labels from plastic bottles when disposing them, glass bottles, cans, burnable trash, etc. Milk cartons need to be separated. The disposal of slightly bigger objects need to be paid for and a pick-up needs to be scheduled. There are more rules and even in restaurants, paper and plastic are separated and there is another receptacle to get rid of any liquid before throwing cups away.
Trash in Japan has to be thoroughly separated, for example these plastic bottles with labels and caps removed
It feels odd to throw so many types of trash in a single waste basket or bin. It’s easier and more convenient, but is probably not as good and takes more work at recycling facilities.
10. Modern Japanese toilets are more common
The bathroom in general is one area that the US lags behind. Toilets and showers were so basic for the longest time.
While I’ve been aware of the increase in focus on modern Japanese toilets, as well as brands coming up selling attachable bidets, it’s interesting to see it first hand. From seeing them mentioned in hit drama series This Is Us to seeing TOTO washlet attachments being sold at Costco, it’s a welcomed change in American hygiene.
TOTO washlets being sold at Costco
11. Social Security Numbers are useful
This is overlooked as Americans, but my Japanese wife noticed how important social security numbers are.
Japan introduced their own version of an SSN a few years ago called “My Number”, and it still has very little usage due to systems not being connected with each other.
Many places don’t take My Number and choose to verify or check people’s status through traditional, analog methods such as official residence forms.
If you’d like to watch me cover this topic, check out the video here.