Yuko Morimoto Yoshida - Culture Shock! Tokyo: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette

This edition published in 2008 by:

Marshall Cavendish Corporation

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2003 Times Media Private Limited

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ISBN 10: 0-7614-5502-7

eISBN : 978 981 4435 91 8

Please contact the publisher for the Library of Congress catalog number

Printed in China by Everbest Printing Co Ltd

Photo Credits:

All black and white photos from the author except page xii (Corel Stock Photo Library), page 13 (Japan Tourism Bureau).

Colour photos from Getty Images pages a, i, jk; Photolibrary pages bc, de, fg, h, lm, no, p Cover photo: Corbis

All illustrations by TRIGG

Culture shock is a state of disorientation that can come over anyone who has been thrust into unknown surroundings, away from ones comfort zone. CultureShock! is a series of trusted and reputed guides which has, for decades, been helping expatriates and long-term visitors to cushion the impact of culture shock whenever they move to a new country.

Written by people who have lived in the country and experienced culture shock themselves, the authors share all the information necessary for anyone to cope with these feelings of disorientation more effectively. The guides are written in a style that is easy to read and covers a range of topics that will arm readers with enough advice, hints and tips to make their lives as normal as possible again.

Each book is structured in the same manner. It begins with the first impressions that visitors will have of that city or country. To understand a culture, one must first understand the peoplewhere they came from, who they are, the values and traditions they live by, as well as their customs and etiquette. This is covered in the first half of the book.

Then on with the practical aspectshow to settle in with the greatest of ease. Authors walk readers through how to find accommodation, get the utilities and telecommunications up and running, enrol the children in school and keep in the pink of health. But thats not all. Once the essentials are out of the way, venture out and try the food, enjoy more of the culture and travel to other areas. Then be immersed in the language of the country before discovering more about the business side of things.

To round off, snippets of basic information are offered before readers are tested on customs and etiquette of the country. Useful words and phrases, a comprehensive resource guide and list of books for further research are also included for easy reference.

Tokyo is a place of continuous renewal. Its landscape has been altered several times during the course of its history by fire, war, or natural disasterbut the people of Tokyo (Tokyoites) have turned each occasion into an opportunity for rebirth, and the metropolis has bounced back bigger and better than before. Even during the two centuries when Japan was technically closed off to foreigners and travel within the country was somewhat restricted, people of the capital eagerly adopted new trends in thought, technology and fashion to which they were exposed. Today, Tokyoites are still attentive to changing trends and eager to latch onto them. To fall behind would be unbearable. However, they are apt to grow weary of new trends quickly and constantly seek new targets for their attention.

What are the origins of this ability to recover from adversity and this appetite and passion for things new? Perhaps they come from deep within ancient Japanese traditions. Shinto, the countrys indigenous belief system, offers the idea that destruction and rebuilding are rites of purification, like a cleansing of the soul. Buddhism, a religion introduced to Japan from China, offers the idea that life is transitory, so people should not get too attached to the things of everyday life. To this day, Tokyoites appreciate traditional but fleeting seasonal events, and participate in a variety of rituals and celebrations with ancient rootsall with the latest technical gadgets tucked away in their pockets.

This contradicting, unique character of the society can be better experienced by people who live in Tokyo than by those who simply visit the city. Residents can easily see what is the leading trend. People dress according to the latest fashion style; in restaurants and entertainment spots come and go; the latest electronic gadgets rapidly sell off the shelves; popular actors and actresses appear in every magazine and television show. When one trend changes, everyone shifts to the new one. At the same time, enjoyment of seasonal events gives rhythm to peoples lives and participation in traditional rituals and celebrations connects them with the past. In time, newcomers learn to appreciate both the subtle and not-so-subtle contrasts of this ambivalent culture; this appreciation is a sure sign that Tokyo has become home.

As you read through this book, please note the following:

Throughout the book, Japanese words are written in romaji (Japanese words transcribed into the English alphabet; also known as romanisation).

The prices mentioned in this book are estimates and are generally stated in Japanese yen.

Many of the resources listed in this book include website addresses, all of which have English language pages. If you go to these websites and encounter a Japanese language home page, though, please be patientlook for a little icon that says English and click on it.

Every effort has been made to ascertain that the information in this book is accurate; my apologies if you find that places and websites mentioned have changed or disappeared. This is just a fact of life in this ever-changing metropolis that is at the same time very international and Japanese.