Here is a count-your-blessings column for the yearend, reminders of what we may miss but also of what we gain by international exposure. First, a list of what Japanese like best about the West, and then, Western views of living in Japan.
From Japanese who have lived overseas: Low prices, big roomy houses (with swimming pools) . . . eating lots of meat . . . individualism . . . big, convenient kitchens . . . barbecue parties . . . central heating . . . many kinds of cheese . . . less male chauvinism . . . 24-hour supermarkets . . . grocery ads (sales, discount coupons) . . . cheap movie tickets . . . cheap self-service gas stations . . . freeways . . . free parking . . . automatic garage doors . . . no sales tax on food . . . garage sales . . . historic houses . . . low utility rates . . . well-planned towns (easy-to-find addresses) . . . 24-hour ATMs . . . airporters, curb-side check-ins . . . entry courtesies . . . less strict school rules . . . facilities for the handicapped . . . well-mannered children . . . volunteering . . . overpowering and majestic nature . . . friendly but not nosy people . . . low telephone costs . . . right-of-way for pedestrians . . . less heavy traffic . . . age less important in society . . . easy licensing procedures . . . bigger portions in restaurants . . . well-mannered people on trains and buses . . . easy-to-cross frontiers . . . ability to speak more than one language . . . curtsying . . . bag boys to help with groceries . . . choices in restaurants (well-done, medium, rare, choices of dressings), drive-up mailboxes . . . grocery carts that can be taken to your car . . . keeping to the right on escalators so others can pass . . . drive-through teller windows at banks . . . rural mailboxes with flags . . . school buses for children.
There they are. What I noticed most were changes. These appeared first in a 1994 column. Now some are already familiar here in Japan. Next, what foreign women married to Japanese listed as things they like about Japan. Note them well. You will find among them many things you will miss when you leave.