Nebraska and Japan are two different areas of the world. Both have their own cultural nuances, but do they share any similarities to each other while being separated by thousands of miles? Or is everything completely contrasting between the state and the country?
“The Wave”
You know “the wave.” The thing you do while driving as a way of saying “hello” or “thank you.” I know in Nebraska we do this all the time, even in a bigger city like Lincoln. I know that smaller towns such as Grand Island or Kearney do this as well. It’s our way of communicating while driving around.
But what do people in Japan do? Do they do “the wave?”
It turns out that most drivers in Japan actually flash their hazard lights as a sign of saying “thank you.” That seems like a lot of extra work to display an expression of gratitude. Other drivers in Japan also honk their horn. Honking a horn to say “thank you” would seem completely out of place here in Nebraska. Here we usually only honk if we want to say, “I’M READY TO GO! GET YOUR ASS IN THE CAR!” or, “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? YOU NEARLY RAN ME!” But sometimes us Nebraskans honk as a way of saying “goodbye.” We have a wide range of honking uses.
Driving
Speaking of honking, I realized I take driving for granted. It’s so ingrained into my brain that when I drive, sometimes I drive on autopilot. Then two minutes later after my daydreaming session, I snap out of it and wonder how the hell I haven’t crashed my car. It’s easy to slip into daydreaming mode while driving because when you have been driving for over 10 years, it’s so easy that even a caveman could do it (Ha.)
However, if I get the chance to travel to Japan, that easiness I have while driving will be decimated. Why? BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS OPPOSITE! The driver side is on the right instead of the left. You drive on the left-hand side of the road, not the right. Driving in Japan is completely incompatible with every aspect of how I drive in Nebraska. I would be so utterly spazzed out from the contrasting driving conditions that I might not even be able to drive.
Let’s start with the first problem: getting into the car. Instinctively without thinking I would walk to the left-hand side of the car and open the door. And then to my absolute bewilderment, there would be no steering wheel. No dashboard. Just a plain ‘ol seat. And then my brain would finally snap out of it and be like, “Oh yeah. I’m in Japan.” I’m sure this would repeat itself at least 30 more times each time I try to get into the car. Change is hard.
Second problem: actually driving the car. Driving on the left-hand side of the road would be like an out-of-body experience. It would be so contradictory to everything I know about driving. Even looking in the rear-view and side mirrors would be different. All the cars would seem normal, but since I’m physically driving in what would be the passenger side in Nebraska, switching lanes would drive my anxiety through the roof. Especially if it’s rush hour or if there are just a ton of cars on the road.
I already have anxiety when the lanes are bumper-to-bumper. Add on top of that that everything I would know about driving is flipped on its head would be a recipe for disaster.
Shoes in the House
In Nebraska it’s common for us to walk inside the house while wearing our shoes. Depending on the person, after a long day we might want to take our shoes off as a sign of “I’m done for the day.” Some people still wear shoes in the house because the shoes give them extra support for their feet. Or sometimes we just plain forget to take them off when they’re full of dirt and grime and then the carpet is all slathered in mud.
Basically, wearing shoes in the house in Nebraska is not a big deal.
But don’t you DARE wear your shoes inside the house in Japan.
Shown below is what is known as a genkan, meaning entrance. The genkan is an entryway with a raised platform leading to the rest of the house, and it is found in every home in Japan. Beyond this point is where no shoes are allowed. Only bare feet, socks, or slippers can be worn past this area.
Tim Franklin Photography
Why is it a forbidden rule to wear shoes in houses in Japan? Because it is a way to keep the rest of the house from getting dirty with outdoor shoes. It is proper etiquette to remove your outdoor shoes in the genkan and to keep your socks or slippers from touching the lower section of the genkan before stepping to the upper area.
Some homes in Japan have tatami mats, which are made out of straw. These mats are comfortable and durable, but shoes can easily damage them. This is another reason why shoes cannot be worn inside the house.
So if you travel to Japan, remember to take off your shoes. Japanese are known to be quite civil and kind with new visitors, but if you don’t take off your shoes, there’s a high chance you’ll receive a scolding. “KUTSU O NUIDE KUDASAI!” “TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES DAMN IT!”
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