I recommend to try Japanese bathing culture to Filipinos coming to Japan.
Japanese housing have a bathtub in the bathroom except for Okinawa prefecture where the climate is close to the Philippines. In Europe and the US, bathtub may be a place to wash our body. However, Japanese fill warm water that around 40° C into the bathtub, and soak for minutes. We wash our body at outside the bathtub.
You will not get used to soak in warmed water at first. But please try this bathing method before going to bed especially autumn and winter. The cold climate in Japan would be unbearable for Filipinos who come to Japan for the first time. But if you aoak in the bath, your body warmed up and you can sleep soundly on cold nights.
Also, bathing has a relaxing effect to adjust autonomic nerves. I am sure that you like it.
A Filipino woman my acquaintance who just came to Japan this summer says, “I miss Green Cross alcohol.” She often used it in her home country.
This item is rarely distributed in Japan. You can buy it at a few import shops. However, the price of the 500 ml bottle is about 1,000 yen. Too expensive. It is certainly about 70 pesos in the Philippines, right?
Therefore, you should obtain it in the following way.
Buy yourse it when you return home, and bring it
Ask an acquaintance who return home temporarily or visit Japan from now
Ask the local family to send it by international delivery service *
*Â Please check the regulations. Liquids may not be transportable.
In Japan, gel is more common than liquid. If you want a liquid type, this item may be easier to obtain.
There is an automobile inspection system in Japan. This is to inspect the condition of the car every few years and encourage maintenance if there is a problem. Therefore, inadequate cars do not run on public roads in Japan, and the smell of exhaust gas is mild compared to other countries.
Thanks to the automobile inspection sysytem Japanese car exhaust gas is relatively clean.
Also, since the automobile industry is important, the Japanese government is promoting the replacement of cars by automobile inspection system.
There is a sales tax in Japan. The current tax rate is 8%. In other words, when you buy a 1,000 yen item, you need to pay 1,080 yen.
Although it was scheduled to be raised to 10% from April 2017, it was postponed to October 2019 from the economic trend.
The increasing of the sales tax is a heavy burden on low income people. Moreover, it surely stagnates consumption activity. Therefore, it may be postponed again depending on economic circumstance and election results.
Japan has been a generous country for smokers for a long time. Even now, smoking free policy is not enforced even at many restaurants unlike other countries. It is said that JT (JAPAN TOBACCO INC.) has made a large contribution to many members of the ruling coalition party and postponed legislation. However, in recent years the smoking rate has fallen to 18-19%. And the problem awareness about passive smoking is rising.
In addition, the area where smoking on the street is prohibited is increasing in Japan. In many other countries, indoor smoking is prohibited, but smoking is permitted at outdoors. However, it is the opposite in Japan. Because there was the reason for the above. There is no industry group outdoors, so legislation was possible. By the way, cars with poor maintenance status can not run on public roads in Japan, so the smell of tobacco will stand out even outdoors.
And in 2020 the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held. The host country of the Olympic games is required to enforce smoking area limitation from the International Olympic Committee. Therefore, in Tokyo, the ordinances will be implemented before that. And it will spreads to other preferences. By doing so, both outdoor and indoor except for designated areas are expected to be smoke-free.
In Japan it will be thorough as regulation begins, Because Japanese tend to do the same. The number of people who are going to quit smoking increases, and the smoking rate may decrease suddenly.
Common non-smoking notation in Japan.I heard that strict smoking cessation is being studied in the Philippines by the President Duterte. Japan is also changing. If you are a smoker and you live in Japan in the future, I recommend that you quit earlier dependency on tobacco. Otherwise, you will have a hard time.
By the way, The tobacco is over 200 pesos per box. It is sold only in boxes in Japan. You can not buy it individually.
I am sorry to break your dream. In a fact, Ninja appearing in manga or anime etc is fiction. The role of a ninja was not a warrior but a spy. Therefore they did not wear ninja costumes. For excample, they disguised themselves as a farmer, and engaged in secret maneuvers at the war or a power struggle. They do not use the magic called ‘ninjutsu’, and had not super natural power.
However, the demand for ninja as entertainment is high, Therefore, we sometimes see a ninja recruitment advertisement. You will may be ablet to get a job as a ninja.
Well, I want to correct it. There is a village of ninja somewhere in Japan, and ninja tribe may live in secret.
The statue of Dr. Jose Rizal is built in Hibiya Park in Tokyo. It is a memorial that he came to Japan in 1888 and stayed at a nearby hotel.
Well, the other day, the event “Philippine Festival 2017” was held at that Hibiya Park. 90% of the visitors are Filipino residents in Japan. The event is exciting with singing, dancing and parades by Filipino entertainers.
I heard that Rizal is a hero of the revolution and a historic great man for Filipinos. So I thought that many visitors would do a commemorative photograph in front of his statue. However, most people did not care. I felt a little unexpected. You guys are not interested in the monument of your hero who stands in a foreign land?
But later, when I asked an acquaintance Filipino about that, she said “Because we are familiar with his monuments, we are more interested in Japanese-style things.” I see.
Karaoke is originating in Japan. However, not everyone sings.
And the place to sing is limited a karaoke studio, pub, or home, not the roadside.
Moreover, karaoke in Japan is a little expensive leisure. In many karaoke studios, we need to pay entrance fee per hour and order something to drink. After that it is all you can sing until time limit. There are also many Philippine songs.
But karaoke service is also evolving. There is a karaoke service that can be absorbed alone was appear. It’s called ‘Hitori Karaoke’.
There is no geepney and tricycle in Japan. Alternative transportation is train, route bus, and taxi. Needless to say, taxi fares are higher than trains and buses. Incidentally, Japanese taxi has a automaticaly door.
Perhaps if you will live in Japan, you need to walk longer than in the Philippines. Because trains and buses have routes and places for getting on and off.
By the way, there are substantial trains and bus networks at near urban areas, but it is not in the countryside. If you consider to live in the countryside in the future, please check the necessary transportation. You may need to depend on someone’s driving.
When you live in Japan, you may feel alienation and discrimination. Sometimes a Japanese who is meeting for the first time will observe you from top to bottom. But that is probably just curiosity.
Today, international exchanges are increasing, but some Japanese are not used to foreigners yet, because Japan is almost a single racial country. Chinese, Korean, Mongolian are close in appearance to the Japanese, but Filipino people are a little noticeable. Most Japanese do not feel discrimination against Filipinos.
However, some elderly people mainly have stereotypes that “young Filipino women are working in pubs”. Because it is difficult for Filipinos to obtain working visas in Japan yet, it has been easier for entertainers. So many Filipino women came to Japan as dancer or singer and then worked as a hostess in a pub.
From such a background, if you are a young woman, you may get sexual harassment from elderly men who have not been able to renew their recognition, so let’s avoid it well.
