Interesting Things I Have Learned or Remembered About Japan(ese)

This is a list in no particular order of importance.
1. The Japanese often run. Not for exercise or to catch a bus...they just run. Suddenly and for no reason except to get somewhere fast.
2. 40 percent of all Japanese smoke. Smoking is permitted in restaurants but discouraged. There are general designated smoking corners outside in commercial areas.
3. Japanese are rule followers. The rules are presented as "suggestions" but you darn well better follow them!
4. Japanese women wear black leggings even when it is over 100 degrees.
5. There are an extraordinary number of people in Tokyo.
6. Almost everyone on the subway falls asleep immediately upon boarding and sitting down. In fact, lots of Japanese take advantage of the opportunity to sleep every chance he or/she gets. We have seen someone sleeping standing up in a corner os the subway, someone sitting on a bike at an intersection waiting to cross the road, someone sitting in Starbucks with a cup of coffee in front of him before going to work, have managed to get a few pictures unobtrusively.
7. It is quiet in Japan even when there are lots of people around. 20 people were eating breakfast today and nary a peep.
8. Children in any culture tantrum the same.
9. This is a very clean place. People are constantly cleaning escalators. And everything else. I have never seen anyone cleaning an escalator in the U. S. although Andi sees it occasionally in NY.
10. Many Japanese like to practice their English on people who speak English.
11. Not all the roads in Tokyo are named. This makes getting around a challenge. Not even cab drivers know how to get places. This morning Andi and I went to a local fish market to watch the tuna auctions and got a cab at her hotel (more about that later). The concierge called the cab and gave the driver the directions and showed him on the map. Half way there the driver asked Andi for the map again. The fish market is not but a mile away and a tourist attraction, one would think he would know it. If a cab driver doesn't know where your destination is and you don't speak Japanese he won't let you in the cab.
12. Japanese like to help you. If you ask for directions on the street ask at least 3 people. You may get 3 different answers but if 2 people tell you the same thing it's probably correct. I know this from personal experience. Carry at least 3 maps at all times. There is no such thing as having too many maps. The subway is the easiest thing to get around in.
13. Bidets are wonderful.
More later....
10.