Why People Love Japan

I LOVE Japan. There are many reasons why I do. Some of these reasons are similar to the reasons of other people. Some of them may sound strange and unusual, but perhaps only because others cannot articulate them, hence they sound so uncommon. There are others who surely have the same reasons though. And then again, some of these reasons are just unique, and springing from my own nature and how I see things and experience life. 

Enough of me though. Many people love Japan. Many people love Japanese people. Many people love anything Japanese. Let me share with you some things about Japan that people love, based on what I have read so far. These are just a small fraction of all the things there are to love about the country. Feel free to post a comment and share what you love about Japan ;->

10 of the Many Reasons Why People Love Japan:

1. SUSHI!

Sushi is a favorite of many. People visit authentic Japanese restaurants and spend for carefully prepared sushi to enjoy it. It is so good to eat and very refreshing. The Japanese are very particular about the quality of the food that they serve and how they present it, so the sushi are always arranged on a plate in such a way that is very pleasing to the eye. When it comes to the flavor, people love tasting the freshness of the ingredients and their perfect combination which produces a very excellent dish.

2. Japan is So Clean.

Needless to say, people like clean places. Of course there are many other clean places, but the country’s neatness and order are among the things people love about it. Glass windows are so clear that they seem to be not there at all. Take a walk at any time of the day and it would be very unusual for you to see litter lying around or resting on an inconspicuous corner on the pavement. Even the old, tiny homes and stores with patched up walls or roofs have their entire areas tidied up and very presentable.

3. Kawaii Culture

Cuteness is in the culture! Anything can have cute faces or lovely and colorful prints on it - food, bags, hats, phone cases, antyhing! Doodles and drawings are also a common element in messages - including some corporate presentations. These drawings and cute illustrations are actually useful means to clearly convey an idea, thought, or process. Colorful pictures, fonts, and tools are also common to make things interesting, attractive, and effective. Cute characters and designs are not limited to the kiddie and teenage market. Making things charming and appealing is part of how the Japanese people and the Japanese businesses make their products and services presentable and attractive to the market. 

4. Music

Though many people who love Japan, including Japanese music, hardly speak or understand the Japanese language, the country’s music is among the common things that people love. Many are introduced to a particular kind of music or a certain Japanese singer or artist through the original soundtracks of the anime that they watch or the games from Japan that they play. Sometimes, they simply love how the music sounds, partly due to its association with the anime or the game. Once they identify the artist or the album, they listen to more of it and discover other types of music similar to the one they have just discovered. From there, their range of favorite Japanese music expands. 

Of course, as people do some research about their favorite Japanese songs and music, they naturally wish to have a good idea what the lyrics are all about, so they look for English translations. A common thing about popular Japanese songs is that, when they are translated into English, they are expressed in terms that show the perfect balance between a person’s intense emotions about an issue or another person, and the person’s own strong connection to or sense of self. Hence, Japanese songs are often seen as perfect expressions of one’s emotional state or personality, since they are very expressive and real, without being too needy and overly dramatic. 

5. Anime

While a lot of people see anime as “cartoons for kids,” people who have grown to love anime know that this is not the case. One of the things that make anime highly entertaining across all ages is that they are able to capture the emotions, thoughts, and personal issues of the viewer, regardless of the age group of the characters or the reality of the situation in the anime. The dilemmas, fears, joys, and ideals expressed in anime are so honest and real to most people, making anime lovers identify with certain characters and see how their life experienes are so analogous to one another. This is also why anime characters are so appealing to them. 

6. Cute Boys and Cute Girls

Cute boys. Read: Half smiles, interesting hairstyles, fashionable clothes, posing for the camera with a look that seems to send a message to every girl looking at the photo that he is posing for her. Cute girls: Often synonymous to school girls in knee-high socks or young office ladies in stockings, all of them with pretty eyes and adorable smiles, their hair perfectly framing their charming faces alongside the traditional peace sign. 

7. Cosplay

Cosplay is now a common practice in various anime, manga, comics, and gaming conventions in various parts of the world. In Japan though, cosplayers can be ordinarily seen in places like Shibuya and Harajuku. Most of the characters portrayed are based on Japanese manga ang games, as their looks are very attractive and interesting to put on. Cosplaying is a serious occupation for many people. It is not just about dressing up like their favorite characters; it is also about being able to project their personality as best as they can so that the spirit of the character also “emerges” from the costume. Otherwise, the person sporting the look will simply be himself or herself, in “somebody else’s clothes.” Japanese cosplay has inspired so many people which is why it is very popular now.

8. There is a place for everything.

Things are generally very orderly in Japan. Their culture and traditions are so ingrained in the Japanese people that even though they are very modern in their methods and way of life, there are very basic things that are not lost to them. The continuously developing fast-paced way of life is never an excuse for not being able to maintain the home, prepare a decent meal, deliver excellent service, or produce high-quality products. In fact, their natural way of doing things helps them adapt to the changing times so that regardless of what happens, they are still able to provide what they need to as best as they can. For example, though many women or wives now have jobs like their husbands, they do not use their job as an excuse for not being able to keep the home neat and the meals prepared. Because of their nature of being able to serve and nurture their families well, they become able to balance their working lives and their home responsibilities. Another example is the quality of food being served in ramen places along the streets. People come and go to eat, most of them in a hurry, which means they do not have time to spare just sitting around, waiting for the freshly cooked ramen to be served. Though most customers are in a hurry to eat and leave, the quality of the ramen being served does not suffer. The excuse that “food has to be served really quickly so there is no need to make it presentable because it will take time,” is not acceptable to those who are preparing the ramen. Because of their nature to provide the best service to their customers, they are able to adapt so that they get to serve the ramen much more quickly, but with the same excellent quality. Most of them are able to think ahead of what a customer might need, so they prepare and create everything in such a way that will be easy for anyone. 

9.  Martial Arts

Japanese martial arts such as karatedo, naginatajutsu, judo, and kendo are among the popular martial arts that originated from Japan which are being practiced by many today. Of course, martial arts from other countries are also practiced and followed by many, but for several who love Japan, the country’s martial arts are among the reasons they admire it even more. Until the present time, most dojos for various practices display the exact solemnity and seriousness of the dojos of long ago. Though some dojos are made up mostly of children or young students, an observer can still clearly see the commitment and determination being developed in each of the students through the training. Students are being groomed not merely to be able to do the practice, but to be highly skilled and to deeply understand the martial art they are being trained for. 

10. Akihabara

With all its gadgets, games, collectibles, manga, and anime, need I say more?

Again, this list runs in no particular order and only names 10 of the many reasons why people love Japan. Tell us what you love about Japan (^^,)