For Europeans, Japan is associated with something mysterious and incomprehensible, because until recently this country was completely isolated from the rest of the world and developed autonomously.
Thanks to the possibilities of the Internet and the development of tourism in the Land of the Rising Sun, the whole world had the opportunity to get acquainted with the culture and traditions of Japan. However, this fact could not stop the numerous stream of misconceptions, rumors and stereotypes about this amazing state and its inhabitants.
Japan is an expensive country
Not all products in Japan are expensive. And in small shops food prices can be 2-3 times cheaper than in a supermarket. Seafood, pasta, seasonal fruits, vegetables and rice are cheaper here than in Russia. Compared to high Japanese salaries, food is inexpensive. Housing prices, as in all countries, depend on the location of the apartment and its area. Although medicine is paid, there are medical insurance. Moreover, the Japanese are most often insured against all possible cases.
Japan is a country of robots
Japan is considered one of the most technologically advanced countries, and many innovations are invented by scientists and developers from this country. However, robots can be seen here only at major exhibitions or presentations. They do not walk around the city and do not work as waiters and housekeepers for wealthy Japanese. Most likely, tourists will be more surprised by the versatility of some household devices and things, from wardrobes and bags to Japanese plumbing fixtures in public toilets.
Japanese is the most difficult language in the world
Many are intimidated by the Japanese characters and the complex tonality of pronunciation. However, learning a language is more than realistic if you pay attention to the alphabet and grammar, which is easier than in Russian.
Overpopulation in Japan
According to the latest data, the population of Japan is more than 125 million people. However, there is a demographic crisis in the country, so there are no such problems as in China. The population density of Tokyo is even less than that of Paris. Many people think that there are a lot of skyscrapers in Japan, but this is not true. If you leave downtown, the houses will not be more than five stories high. And outside the city you can see picturesque landscapes with endless fields, forests and lakes. Moreover, three quarters of the entire territory of Japan is occupied by mountains and volcanoes that are not adapted for life.
Japan is a land of sushi
Despite the fact that in the Land of the Rising Sun sushi and rolls can be called a national food, the Japanese themselves do not so often indulge themselves with this delicacy. In addition to seafood, the Japanese table will certainly have a variety of salads, meat, rice and noodles with sauces. Since it takes a lot of time to prepare rolls and sushi, most often this dish is ordered at home or goes to a restaurant. In addition, many Europeans think that the Japanese eat all dishes with chopsticks, including soups. However, this is nothing more than a delusion, and in Japan, as well as throughout Asia, people from childhood know how to use a spoon and fork, as deftly as chopsticks.
There is no army in Japan
After the abolition of the army and the abandonment of hostilities, Japan retained the means of self-defense and an excellently trained army of contract soldiers. Therefore, no one is called to serve in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Japan is a country of suicide
Suicide news in Japan leads Europeans to believe that the country has an extremely depressed population. However, the statistics of Japanese suicides is lower than in South Korea, Kazakhstan, and in some years in Russia, and the country itself is not included in the top 10 states with a high suicide rate.
Everything is ruled by the Japanese Yakuza mafia
Compared to the last century, the influence of the mafia in the country is no longer so noticeable. Most often these are businessmen who run brothels and shadow markets. However, one should not expect from them the most brutal scenes with reprisals, as from popular films. Moreover, the police are always ready and pacify all violators. In addition, during the 2011 earthquake, the Japanese mafia actively helped the people to clear the rubble and donated money to those in need. According to statistics, Tokyo is recognized as one of the safest cities in the world.
