Something a foreigner would think is weird in Japan?

Question:

Hi there!

I'm wondering, what are some big differences between Japan and the western (like Europe and America.) I read somewhere that Japanese people don't have a general practitioner, but that they go straight to the hospital. (general practitioner = is doctor where you go to and he decides if you have to go to the hospital or whatever.) This is something I think is pretty weird...

Anyway.. is there other stuff? Tell me about it! Doesn't matter what it is. Maybe you could tell me your own experiences when you moved to Japan/Tokyo. Or when you're Japanese you could tell me some interesting stuff. Or maybe you never visited japan but you just know stuff.

Please Tell Me!!

Thanks!

Answer:

The definition of weird is something that is: "Very strange; bizarre"

I don't think not having a general practitioner is very strange/bizzare or even weird in the United States.

It depends on where you live, even in places in America many people don't have general practitioners and go direct to the hospital or clinic, especially true in the big major cities. The same applies to Japan, it depends on where you are, some people always go to the same doctor their family has always gone and do not go strait to the hospital. Of course if it is an emergency you go strait to the hospital. Honestly I don't think this is something weird about the Japanese, and I come from the US.

It is really difficult because it depends on the "westerner's" cultural background. Someone who is exposed to more culture and international people (say living in a major city like New York City) might not find things to be as weird as someone who say lived on a farm in North Dakota.

Even in "Western societies" mix match, Americans don't exactly match Europeans either. For example, extreme violence is common on American TV but you can't show nudity. So in America it is ok to show people getting shot, but showing boobs is bad. This is in contrast to places in Europe, where nudity is shown more on TV but extreme violence is not so.