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Any first time visitor to Japan may experience a bit of cuteness overload as it is quite common for Japanese companies, the government and even the military to use a cute character or mascot in their promotional material. Many western people can find it a bit odd and amusing that even the most serious business will put out a publication with a happy character all across it. Today the cuteness or Kawaii culture has become part of Japan’s identity with characters that westerners would normally associate with small children’s books becoming part of Japan’s hip pop culture scene. |
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One of the more novel forms of advertising in many of the high traffic areas especially around Shibuya and Shinjunku are the tissue packs. These small plastic packages with advertising and packages are handed out in their tens of thousands every day by young people typically advertising mobile phone deals, dating services or party lines. |
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Smoking is still a popular pastime for many Japanese although in recent years the habit has fallen considerably. Cigarettes can be purchased very easily and cheaply in fact there are an abundant supply of vending machines selling the product, it is estimated there are over 600000 cigarette vending machines on Japanese streets. People under 20 are prohibited from smoking and the machines do not pose too much temptation for most. |
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Karaoke is one of Japan's most popular entertainment pastimes with over 50 million people enjoying the fun an over 15,000 karaoke box buildings throughout Japan it is huge business and is used as a good English learning tool. |
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The Japanese Animated artform or Anime dates back to 1917 when Oten Shimokawa created the first film which was a 5 minute feature which was called Mukuzo Imokawa the Doorman. |
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Seeing a sign Dog Cafe you might be alarmed and think Oh No they are eating Fido, well it couldn't be further than the truth. |
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These are one of the more unique lodgings to be found anywhere. They are basically a small cubicle less than a metre square and 2 metres long, usually stacked 2 or three high. |
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Some Japanese toilets are an attraction all in there own with a range of technological features which are sure alarm the first time user. |
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You don't have to be in Japan long before you get exposure to J-Pop it is blaring at full blast from just about everywhere. J-Pop has become a integral part of Popular Japanese Culture, it is used everywhere, from radio, TV, commercials, video games to name a few. |
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Love hotels are so called as they are mostly used by young couples who can't get privacy at home or by Japanese sex workers. Love hotels generally have a discrete reception or even a vending machine reception. The most unique thing about love hotels is that you can choose between a rest or an overnight stay |
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Pachinko is a device used for gambling and is a mixture between a pinball macine and a video poker machine. Pachinko parlors are widespread throughout Japan. |
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Most of the restaurants in Japan have plastic food models of many of their dishes outside the restaurant or in their windows. There are some amazing models which look good enough to eat, and give you a great idea of what to order. There's no problem trying to understand a badly translated menu when you can see a perfect plastic replica of what you can order. |
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Sumo wrestling is a competition contact sport where two usually giant wrestlers or rikishi battle in a circular area. The sport is more than just a sport is is bound in historic Japanese ceremony and ritual.
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The Offbeat 
