Publishing a book 005

Knowing Part 1 makes it twice as fun!

Cigarette Packs and Water Guns: The Secrets of Shinkansen Design 013
Why Japanese Taxis Have Automatic Doors 024
The Story Behind Ugly Compact Cars Sweeping the Top Sales Rankings 034
Japanese city bus 050, boarding from the back and getting off at the front
Comparing Eastern Japan and Western Japan: Two Regions So Different
Since when have Japanese residential alleys been so clean? 073
The dirtier the store, the more popular it becomes? 092
How many coins can a Japanese vending machine hold? 100
When did the hot springs symbol appear? 113
Narrow as an 'eel bed', traditional Japanese house 129
Is there a castle made of food? 145
Why Geishas Wear Pure White Makeup 161
170 Porcelain Wrapping Papers That Fascinated Western Impressionist Painters
Japanese job seekers wear uniforms 180
A must-have for Japanese elementary school students: the Randoseru 190.
197 Reasons Why People Line Up During the Holiday Season
206 Yume with a picture of Mount Fuji in a Tokyo public bathhouse
216 Japanese Convenience Stores That Grew Up with Triangular Kimbap

If you know the second part, it tastes twice as good!

Train Travel Delicacy Ekiben 239
Ramen 252 is delicious when you slurp it down.
From tonkatsu to croquettes, 261 Japanese people are obsessed with fried foods.
Should I sprinkle it on or eat it plain? The Karaage Debate, No Less Than the Tangsuyuk Debate 272
The Story Behind How I Got Fried Chicken on Christmas Day 280
Japanese people are known for their love of food. (286)
The history of eating alone wasn't built overnight. 293
Japanese Dining Table, Sushi 305
Taste doubles when you drink it with knowledge: Japanese sake 316
If you want to see the real face of Japanese people, go to Kitsaten 333
Why does Japan's national drink, Ramune, have marbles in it? 349
Chopsticks are enough! Japanese dining etiquette 361
8% for takeout, 10% for dine-in? The confusing consumption tax of 368

Reference 375
Image source 382

A strange Japan that we may not even know we don't know

Japan has always been called a "close yet distant country" due to its close proximity and the resulting close exchanges, issues related to invasion, colonial rule, and reflection on past history.
Nevertheless, one cannot deny the appeal of Japan as a travel destination that is sought after by so many people.
Many Korean travelers visit Japan repeatedly because of its proximity to the country, the similar yet different nature and streetscapes, and the food that suits Korean tastes.


One of the charms of Japan as a travel destination is that, at first glance, it seems to have similar scenery, culture, and food to Korea, but the more you look, the more you discover similar yet different points.
Because of our similar nature, close interaction, and deeply intertwined history, every time I think I know enough about Japan, something unfamiliar suddenly catches my eye.


Why is the lead car of Japan's proud high-speed Shinkansen trains so pointed? Why are the minicars that dot Japan's roads shaped like milk cartons? Why are only Japanese taxis equipped with doors that open and close automatically, of all taxis in the world? Do geishas paint their faces white to look pretty? Why do Japanese elementary school students always carry such large and heavy bags? Why are there pictures of Mount Fuji painted on the walls of public bathhouses? Why has Japan become a paradise for solo diners? What is the difference between a kissaten and a cafe? Why do Japanese restaurants only serve chopsticks?

If you list these trivial curiosities like this, Japan will soon become a country you know but don't know.
Tabi Publishing's new book, "Japan, a Country You Know But Don't Know - The Little Details of Japanese Culture That Will Make You Curious When You Go There," is a book that talks about this unfamiliar Japan that we may not have known about.


For a journey that is as fun as curiosity, and as much as you know.

This book is divided into two parts: Part 1, which deals with the seemingly familiar yet unfamiliar Japanese lifestyle, and Part 2, which deals with the seemingly familiar yet unfamiliar food culture.

The thirty-one questions covered in this book, which have puzzled you at least once while traveling in Japan or watching documentaries or dramas about Japan, but have never been fully answered, were questions the author himself had first posed.
The author, who went to Japan as an exchange student, went on to graduate school to major in international studies, and now teaches Korean language and culture to Japanese students at university and has lived in Japan for over 10 years, said, “It’s good to learn about history and traditions from books, but what I really want to know is why Japanese taxis have automatic doors, why the head of the Shinkansen train is shaped like a kingfisher’s head, the identity of the sad music coming from pedestrian signals in Kyushu, and the circumstances of eating tonkatsu right before an exam. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a book that can completely scratch this itch.”
Eventually, I found myself researching papers and books, asking people, and actually experiencing and feeling my way through them, and I was able to piece together the puzzle of Japan, which was different from ours and different from what I expected.

As you follow the author's guidance and resolve your sometimes trivial and sometimes trivial curiosities, you will soon come into contact with Japanese history and the emotions of the Japanese people.
Then, the Shinkansen doesn't feel like just a fast train, the geiko you meet on the street doesn't seem like just a photo object, and a glass of Japanese sake at an izakaya doesn't just make you drunk.
The more you know, the more you see, and the more you see, the more fun your trip to Japan will be.