The Energon Pub

Neko wrote:Not a fan of the Calimari. And most sea food in general.


One thing I always wanted to ask was why do women alsways cover their mouth when they laugh? Is it a custom or something?

Because it's cute.

Very interesting topic. I want to visit Japan one day, too.

So - women aren't allowed in capsule hotels, correct? What other places aren't women allowed, either? And they HAVE to become housewives and disappear forever into the kitchen after they get married and have kids, too?

How about manga cafes? Are they cool or what? Ever been to a hostess club?

Is such a rigid life in Japan the reason why anime and manga is so popular? A pure fantasy of such carefree, laughing youth dancing and running all over the clean, safe surburban streets of Japan in cute little pleated skirts and knee stockings while the real-life students sit bowed over at studies all day long? And is that why some young people are locking themselves up in their own rooms to hide from such a demanding world? Interesting.

AfterImage wrote:Anyway, some time this spring, the Aikido Dojo I attend is going to be playing host to a number of Japanese students, along with a very high ranked instructor (Ths son of Gozo Shioda, founder of our style, if that means anything). Is there anything in particular that an average Westerner might be prone to say or do - casually or otherwise - that they might find offensive? I'm led to believe that the majority of them will be young-ish women, in particular.

i had some japanese students come over from japan because of this program in my toen and we hosted them. i had to live with one of them for 3 weeks. it was ok

Neko wrote:Not a fan of the Calimari. And most sea food in general.


One thing I always wanted to ask was why do women alsways cover their mouth when they laugh? Is it a custom or something?

I personally love Calimari. I'm 1/2 porkchop so I've grow up on eating crazy **** like squid stew and calimari. Shrimp also.

So how big is Godzilla over there?

Neko wrote:Not a fan of the Calimari. And most sea food in general.


One thing I always wanted to ask was why do women alsways cover their mouth when they laugh? Is it a custom or something?

I've asked the same thing. I was told that it's "lady like" to cover your mouth when you laugh. The Japanese don't like cackling women.

On that same theme, sometimes you will see men and women covering their mouths when they chew. On the otherhand, picking your nose on a train is perfectly legit.

AfterImage wrote:Excellent info so far. That whole school system bit gives me the shivers, though.

Anyway, some time this spring, the Aikido Dojo I attend is going to be playing host to a number of Japanese students, along with a very high ranked instructor (Ths son of Gozo Shioda, founder of our style, if that means anything). Is there anything in particular that an average Westerner might be prone to say or do - casually or otherwise - that they might find offensive? I'm led to believe that the majority of them will be young-ish women, in particular.

Not many things offend them. Japanese people are generally happy when foreigners make conversations with them. They might be shy in speaking, but when they return to Japan they will rave to their friends that a foreigner spoke to them.

DISCHARGE wrote:So how big is Godzilla over there?

He's popular along with the other rubber suit characters Ultra Man and Gamera.

The other popular icons include: Pokemon, Doreimon (sp?), and Kaimen Raider.

Screambug wrote:Very interesting topic. I want to visit Japan one day, too.

So - women aren't allowed in capsule hotels, correct? What other places aren't women allowed, either? And they HAVE to become housewives and disappear forever into the kitchen after they get married and have kids, too?

How about manga cafes? Are they cool or what? Ever been to a hostess club?

Is such a rigid life in Japan the reason why anime and manga is so popular? A pure fantasy of such carefree, laughing youth dancing and running all over the clean, safe surburban streets of Japan in cute little pleated skirts and knee stockings while the real-life students sit bowed over at studies all day long? And is that why some young people are locking themselves up in their own rooms to hide from such a demanding world? Interesting.

Sometimes there are special capsule hotels for women. But in general men get more special treatment than women. It's taboo for a women to go out with male co-workers for a drink unless there are other women that can join them.

The housewife really gets shafted in my view. They cook, they clean, they take care of the kids, and men can go out drinking every night. The men often come home late at night drunk and the wives must stay up to feed them, give them a bath, and put them to bed.

The manga cafe's are pretty interesting. You pay by the hour and have access to mangas, computers, movies, video games. You get your own booth that comes with a couch, tv, computer, and stereo. Because the mangas cafes are open 24 hours, they become a cheap alternative for a hotel. Some of the manga cafes even include a shower for the morning.

Yeah, I personally believe that manga and anime are popular because of the rigid life style. It's their version to escape from reality. There is very little time to be carefree. All they can do is read mangas or watch animes that show others doing it. It's kind of sad. Many Japanese students who go abroad are amazed to see a lifestyle that is so different than theirs.

So anyone know if a Sake bomb is something you can order in Japan, just like in this song?

And what's the beer like there, is it all imported, or do they brew their own there?

Stormrider wrote:

DISCHARGE wrote:So how big is Godzilla over there?

He's popular along with the other rubber suit characters Ultra Man and Gamera.

The other popular icons include: Pokemon, Doreimon (sp?), and Kaimen Raider.

Any word on a Spectorman? I used to watch as a kid but never found any real info on it. Looks like Ultraman

Powersurge wrote:So anyone know if a Sake bomb is something you can order in Japan, just like in this song?

And what's the beer like there, is it all imported, or do they brew their own there?

I haven't heard of a sake bomb before. It's a drink, right? Do you know what's in it? I am curious.

Yup, they brew their own beer, which is a light pilsner. Kirin, Asahi, Sopporo, Suntory, and Yebisu are the big names. You can probably find Kirin, Asahi, and Sopporo in the States.

Powersurge wrote:Any word on a Spectorman? I used to watch as a kid but never found any real info on it. Looks like Ultraman

Ah, this guy:



I have seen the old toys but no new movies have been made.

As far as i know its just Sake tipped into a glass of beer, there is a small Wikipedia entry on it, but it doesn't go into much detail.

Powersurge wrote:As far as i know its just Sake tipped into a glass of beer, there is a small Wikipedia entry on it, but it doesn't go into much detail.

I haven't seen that here. I wonder if it's a Western concoction like a Black&Tan.

Yeah, that's him. I thought the show was better than Ultraman.
Unfortunately I must be the only one. But come on, The show had gorillas flying around in a spaceship.

Stormrider wrote:

Screambug wrote:Very interesting topic. I want to visit Japan one day, too.

So - women aren't allowed in capsule hotels, correct? What other places aren't women allowed, either? And they HAVE to become housewives and disappear forever into the kitchen after they get married and have kids, too?

How about manga cafes? Are they cool or what? Ever been to a hostess club?

Is such a rigid life in Japan the reason why anime and manga is so popular? A pure fantasy of such carefree, laughing youth dancing and running all over the clean, safe surburban streets of Japan in cute little pleated skirts and knee stockings while the real-life students sit bowed over at studies all day long? And is that why some young people are locking themselves up in their own rooms to hide from such a demanding world? Interesting.

Sometimes there are special capsule hotels for women. But in general men get more special treatment than women. It's taboo for a women to go out with male co-workers for a drink unless there are other women that can join them.

The housewife really gets shafted in my view. They cook, they clean, they take care of the kids, and men can go out drinking every night. The men often come home late at night drunk and the wives must stay up to feed them, give them a bath, and put them to bed.

The manga cafe's are pretty interesting. You pay by the hour and have access to mangas, computers, movies, video games. You get your own booth that comes with a couch, tv, computer, and stereo. Because the mangas cafes are open 24 hours, they become a cheap alternative for a hotel. Some of the manga cafes even include a shower for the morning.

Yeah, I personally believe that manga and anime are popular because of the rigid life style. It's their version to escape from reality. There is very little time to be carefree. All they can do is read mangas or watch animes that show others doing it. It's kind of sad. Many Japanese students who go abroad are amazed to see a lifestyle that is so different than theirs.

Speaking of Videogames I know they mainly love RPGs but has God of War made an Impact over there or is it skillfully hidden in stores like they did with Dead Rising, or is it even over there?

Powersurge wrote:So anyone know if a Sake bomb is something you can order in Japan, just like in this song?

And what's the beer like there, is it all imported, or do they brew their own there?

I have no idea who said it, but if you don't have a native beer you're not a real country.

Unchrasimatic wrote:

Powersurge wrote:So anyone know if a Sake bomb is something you can order in Japan, just like in this song?

And what's the beer like there, is it all imported, or do they brew their own there?

I have no idea who said it, but if you don't have a native beer you're not a real country.

OOOOOOOOO CAAAAAAANNNADAAAAAAA!!!

We do something the same to the "sake bombs" here in Canada, but we call them "Irish Car Bombs"

I don't know abut in Japan, but you can definatly get sake bombs here in New York, i drink them at the sake bar in town all the time, not sure if it's the same drink or not, but here it's a cup of sake balanced on top of 2 chopsticks over a glass of sapporo beer, you pound the bar until the sake falls in the beer thn chug it down while getting glomped by the cute asian bargirls. to be honest, I almost choked to death from that, both the sudden fizzing, and getting tackled while trying to drink it down...

Grendel wrote:I don't know abut in Japan, but you can definatly get sake bombs here in New York, i drink them at the sake bar in town all the time, not sure if it's the same drink or not, but here it's a cup of sake balanced on top of 2 chopsticks over a glass of sapporo beer, you pound the bar until the sake falls in the beer thn chug it down while getting glomped by the cute asian bargirls. to be honest, I almost choked to death from that, both the sudden fizzing, and getting tackled while trying to drink it down...

That sounds pretty fun. There are two types of bars in the big Japanese cities: Japanese bars called, Izakayas. And foreigner bars often called, Gaijin bars.

The Gaijiin bars are often where foreigners go when they are looking for a good time. The food and drinks are usually Western, everyone speaks English, and there are many Japanese women that looking to meet a foreign guy. I think someone had asked earlier if it's easy to meet Japanese women. If you go to Gaijin, you're bound to meet Japanese girl.

The Izakayas are a completely different style. They're usually set up so a group of people have a booth to themselves. (Japanese rarely go to Izakayas by themselves - always a group thing). Some of them can be really cool and they're typically cheaper than a Gaijin bar).

A Izakaya (Zen style)



Here's what some of the bars and restaurants might look like from the outside. A bit deceptive.

Sun Runner wrote:Speaking of Videogames I know they mainly love RPGs but has God of War made an Impact over there or is it skillfully hidden in stores like they did with Dead Rising, or is it even over there?

I have seen a little bit of God of War in the Japanese hobby magazines, so there must be an interest here. You are right, the Japanese do love RPG though.

This thread is so awesome and informative! If I ever visit Tokyo, can you be my guide Stormrider?


Have you ever been to Kyoto? Have you ever seen a Geisha? Or an Oiran (are they in Kyoto. I can't remember)?


Also, are Japanese? You said you've lived in Japan for 2.5 years.

Or maybe...

Gaijin desu ka?

so that must mean that hes american right?

Down_Shift wrote:

Unchrasimatic wrote:

Powersurge wrote:So anyone know if a Sake bomb is something you can order in Japan, just like in this song?

And what's the beer like there, is it all imported, or do they brew their own there?

I have no idea who said it, but if you don't have a native beer you're not a real country.

OOOOOOOOO CAAAAAAANNNADAAAAAAA!!!

We do something the same to the "sake bombs" here in Canada, but we call them "Irish Car Bombs"

I was thinking that the two seem similar.

A shot dunked into a pint, glass and all, that must be chugged.

Boilermakers: The drink of the Gods

Ninja Sixshot wrote:so that must mean that hes american right?

Dunno. For all we know he could be British.