5:30 PM - Okayama, Japan

When: March 9th @ 5:30 PM (March 10th @ 8:30 AM)

Where: Okayama, Japan

Who: Mari Sawa

Mari told us that in Okayama it is 8:30 AM on March 10, 2023. She told us that her favorite part of living in Japan is the cleanliness. Everywhere you go, you take off your shoes inside buildings. Whenever she would come to the US, she would notice how much cleaner it is Japan. In Japan, there are no yearly exams, but instead there is an entrance exam for both high school and college. Many students participate in after school activities. Another aspect of Japan that Mari greatly appreciates is the safety of Japan. She never feels like she is in danger when she is outside.


The culture in Japan is also different from the United States. Cosplaying is a common thing to do and never really ridiculed as it might be here. Another common part of Japanese culture is reading manga and watching anime. Here in the United States, if you watch anime, then it is more of a style that you like, while in Japan, it is just something that everyone does. The currency that they use is the Japanese yen. Their biggest holiday is the New Year. There is a big break during the New Year, which allows everyone to spend time with their family and friends in celebration. Public schools all have uniforms from elementary school through high school. Individualism is a big part of the American school system with things like school awards, whereas in Japan that doesn't happen. Group projects and team awards are more popular. Major parts of American culture originate from Japan. Things like Pokemon and Nintendo Games are from Japan and have become popular in more places than just Japan. The three most popular sports in Japan are baseball, soccer, and volleyball. McDonalds is very popular in Japan, but it is far cleaner and has much better service than the McDonalds in the United States.

The national bird of Japan is the crane. It represents longevity and prosperity. Shintoism is a common religion. It believes that there is a god for everything and there are over 80,000 differnets gods. Japan is far more modern and forward than what most people believe, and Mari highly suggests visiting if you get the chance.