Interesting Things

These Subtle Psychological Hacks Keep Japan’s Trains Running Smoothly

Japan’s trains, including local commuter systems and longer-distance routes that span most of the country, are frequent objects of admiration for their speed, efficiency, and almost excessive timeliness. The system’s overall effectiveness depends in large part on Japan’s unique geography and some very smart alignment between transportation and real estate planning. But on a day-to-day (or minute-to-minute) basis,

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Osaka rubbish incinerator Maishima looks like Disneyland but is part of Japan’s waste strategy

It’s been mistaken for a theme park, attracts thousands of tourists every year and even has its own TripAdvisor page. But this strange Japanese building hides a dirty secret. This is actually the Maishima Incineration Plant, where 900 tonnes of rubbish is hauled in from around Osaka and burnt every day. It’s a critical piece

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These photos reveal what it’s like to shop at Walmart in Japan

Even though the store goes by a different name, shopping at Walmart in Japan is a lot like shopping at Walmart in the United States. Walmart first invested in the Japanese grocery chain Seiyu in 2002, taking full control of the chainin 2008. Although the stores still operate under the name Seiyu, the chain is a wholly owned

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Why Japanese Consider Using a Bike Bell Extremely Rude?

Like many things in Japan, cycling habits also differ from what we are used to in the Western World. In any area of conduction, Japanese are well-known for being extremely considerate due to the combination of law and traditional customs. Cycling is no exception. Even though traffic is habitually busy and in majority of the

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Tsunami-proof pods: Japan launches guest-saving floating hotel

A new floating spherical hotel project claims to offer its guests unique protection against tsunamis. The Japanese enterprise is designed to protect its inhabitants from a sudden tidal influx – by simply rising above it. Japan has created its first floating pod hotel as one possible solution to the country’s risk of earthquakes and tsunamis.

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‘Grocerant’ store-restaurant hybrids gaining ground in Japan

Shoppers in Japan are increasingly eating at “grocerants,” the in-store supermarket eateries that first appeared in the United States, which sell freshly cooked meals made with ingredients sold on the premises. The fusion concept provides economies of scale by sharing food items among the grocery section and restaurant divisions of the same shops, while dishes

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‘Easy on the fries!’, Japan scientists tell hopeful bald people

Japanese scientists have warned that eating french fries will not cure baldness, after research was published suggesting that chemicals used in cooking fried potatoes could help fight hair loss. A research team at Yokohama National University succeeded in producing clusters of 5,000 hair follicle germs (HFGs), the base organs that produce hair, with the aid

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