Omiyage: The Never-Ending Gift War
In Japan, traveling comes with an unspoken duty: bringing back omiyage (souvenirs) for family, friends, and coworkers. Unlike typical souvenirs, omiyage is almost always edible—cookies, sweets, or regional snacks—because, in Japan, sharing is caring (and tasty).
There’s a rule of thumb, though: don’t go overboard. If you give someone an expensive omiyage, they’ll feel obligated to match your energy next time. Before you know it, you're locked in a gift-giving arms race. One guy shared how a simple omiyage for his local fruit vendor turned into a daily struggle—free fruit stuffed into his bag, him reciprocating, more free fruit, and eventually, full-blown gift-giving anxiety. Proceed with caution!
Beauty Standards: Where Slim is In
Japan’s beauty standard, especially for women, leans heavily toward petite and slender. Coming from Kenya, where curves are celebrated, I couldn’t help but notice the difference. But it makes sense—Japan’s walk-heavy lifestyle and balanced diet naturally keep people lean. The government even designed cities to be pedestrian-friendly to keep people fit and cut healthcare costs.
Diet-wise, Japan’s secret sauce is portion control and nutrition. Kids are taught to eat only up to 80% full, school lunches are planned by nutritionists, and preservatives are kept to a minimum (which explains why food expires at lightning speed). The result? Japan boasts the world’s highest life expectancy, with 90-year-olds still out here working.
Hair Struggles: DIY or Bust
Being an African woman in Japan means one thing: good luck finding a hairdresser. Salons that cater to African hair are unicorns, and mainstream stores don’t stock our products. Even Amazon Japan barely delivers.
Back home in Kenya, I never had to worry about doing my own hair—affordable stylists were everywhere. But in Japan? I had no choice but to become my own hairstylist. My first attempt at cornrows? A disaster. But thanks to YouTube and my African sisters here, I’m slowly leveling up. Until then, bad hair days are just part of the experience.
