JapanUp! magazine

In the US, kids get toys for Christmas. In Japan, they get something even better on New Year’s Day: Cold, hard cash. This tradition is called “Otoshidama.” Relatives (grandparents, uncles, and aunts) give money to children. For Japanese kids, January is the most profitable month of the year, sometimes collecting hundreds of dollars in total!

View More Why Do Japanese Kids Get Rich in January? (The “Otoshidama” Rules)

Walk through any parking lot in Japan, and you will notice a striking pattern. 99% of cars are parked in reverse, facing outward. It looks like a car dealership display. If you see a car parked head-in (front first), it is almost certainly a foreigner or a very new driver.

View More Why Do Japanese Drivers Always Back Into Parking Spaces?

You buy a simple Onigiri at a convenience store. The cashier says something fast. You panic. What did they ask? They likely said: “Pointo kaado wa o-mochi desu ka?” (Do you have a point card?). It happens at convenience stores, drug stores, and even electronics shops.

View More Why Does the Cashier Ask Me a Question I Don’t Understand? (The “Point Card” Culture)

In the US or Europe, your handwritten signature is your legal proof. In Japan, it often means nothing. Instead, you need a “Hanko” (or Inkan). This is a small personal stamp carved with your last name. From opening a bank account to signing a rental contract, if you don’t have this red stamp, you don’t exist in the system!

View More Why Can’t I Just Sign My Name in Japan? (The Power of “Hanko”)

You are at a party, and someone asks, “What is your blood type?” Don’t worry, they are not planning a transfusion. In Japan, blood type is believed to determine your personality, similar to horoscopes in the West. Over 90% of Japanese people know their type, and asking yours is a common icebreaker.

View More Why Do Japanese People Ask for My Blood Type?

While it is not in every building, in some older hospitals or hotels, you might occasionally notice that the button for the 4th floor is missing in the elevator. Why? It is because of “Tetraphobia.” In Japanese, the number 4 is pronounced “Shi,” which sounds exactly like the word for “Death” (死). It is considered extremely unlucky.

View More Why Is There No 4th Floor in Some Japanese Hospitals?

In the US, Valentine’s Day is when men give flowers or dinner to women. In Japan, the roles are completely reversed. On February 14th, only women give chocolates to men. Men do nothing but receive. If you are a guy expecting to buy flowers, stop! You will confuse everyone.

View More Why Do Only Women Give Chocolates on Valentine’s Day? (The Reverse Rule)