You think you are a polite Singaporean… until you go Japan.
On the MRT here:
Talk loudly ✔
Watch videos without earpiece ✔
Chop seat with tissue ✔
Normal in Singapore.
In Japan… nobody understands what you’re doing.
In Singapore:
Walk and eat = efficient
In Japan:
Walk and eat = not illegal… just everyone wondering why you cannot stand one side and finish
In Singapore:
Trash bins everywhere
In Japan:
Almost no bins
You buy something, you carry your trash
In Singapore:
Stand anywhere also can
In Japan:
Stand at pedestrian crossing to take photo…
people will move you aside
Not angry. Just… you’re blocking the system
Worst part?
Nobody will scold you
Nobody will correct you
They will just… adjust around you
Or quietly move you
Which somehow feels worse
This book explains all the invisible rules you didn’t know you were breaking
My friend is flying to Japan tonight
So I told him,
“Read this before you accidentally become the problem”
If you’re heading to Japan for the first time,
this will save you a lot of unnecessary awkward moments
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