Japan, Korea, or Both? Comparing cultures.

SUMMARY

Paul, a 20-year-long Japanese resident, and Clinton, a 9-year Korea expat, compare unique aspects of Japanese and Korean societies, cultures, and daily life in a "Japan or Korea or Both?" game.

CORE INFORMATION

Paul kicks off the discussion by highlighting Japan's four distinct seasons, but Clinton counters that Korea shares a similar climate to Tokyo, with winters slightly colder in Seoul and occasional snow, making it a "both" rather than unique to Japan. They note the climates are comparable, with Korea a bit warmer eastward, emphasizing how both countries experience spring, summer, autumn, and winter distinctly, fostering a shared seasonal pride.

Clinton then introduces the Korean hagwon system—after-school academies where students attend classes in subjects like math, English, and science until 8-10 p.m., starting as early as elementary school for most kids, especially in core subjects. Paul explains that in Japan, such programs are less common in elementary and ramp up in junior high to prepare for high school entrance exams, with only some elementary students participating formally; his own child used online kits at home until junior high. This reveals differences in educational intensity, with Korea's system affecting daily routines more pervasively from a younger age, though both cultures prioritize academic preparation.

Shifting to social norms, they compare queuing etiquette: in Japan, people line up orderly for trains, waiting for passengers to exit first, though elderly men sometimes bypass it; in Korea, rushing to board is more common, especially among older folks, but queuing is improving in busier areas. Politeness levels in apologies vary similarly—Japanese has multiple expressions like "sumimasen" for casual sorry and more formal ones, often combined in a "triple apology" that's unusual in English; Korean adjusts grammar endings for politeness, from informal "mian" to formal "yeonmida." Tiding up after eating in cafes shows conscientiousness in Japan, where people stack dishes and wipe spills, contrasting Korea's context-dependent approach, like self-busing at Starbucks but leaving messes at barbecue spots, as illustrated by an Irish friend's ice cream spill where staff insisted on handling it.

Healthcare access is strikingly efficient in both: Clinton describes walking into a Korean clinic for a cold, getting seen in 20-30 minutes, prescribed meds, and even minor surgery like cyst removal in one 75-minute visit, costing about $7-8 USD with national insurance. Paul concurs for Japan, with similar quick visits for illnesses costing around $15 USD including meds and tests, rarely needing specialist referrals, contrasting America's unaffordability. On child discipline, Japanese kids are notably well-behaved, with parents ignoring misbehavior or quietly consoling, avoiding public fuss; Korean kids are more rambunctious, with varied responses from ignoring to scolding or physically corralling, though hustling kids away to avoid bothering others aligns with both cultures' harmony emphasis. Confrontations are rare in Japan, avoided to prevent "meiwaku" (trouble for others), while Korea sees more public arguments and occasional alcohol-fueled fights, unlike Japan's subdued public interactions.

IDEAS

Japan's four seasons mirror Korea's climate closely, with Seoul winters slightly colder and snowier.
Korean hagwons start after-school studies in elementary, extending days until 10 p.m. for academics.
Japanese cram schools intensify mainly from junior high for high school exam prep, less in elementary.
Niche fashion like Gothic Lolita thrives more in Japan than Korea's uniform street styles.
Korean youth fashion appears in specific areas like Hongdae, but lacks Japan's costume-like variety.
Train queuing is orderly in Japan, waiting for exits, unlike Korea's initial rush to board.
Elderly Japanese men occasionally skip queues, similar to older Koreans ignoring lines.
Japanese apologies have multiple levels, often tripled for emphasis, rare in English.
Korean politeness adjusts sentence endings, from casual "mian" to formal "yeonmida."
Japanese diners tidy tables post-meal, stacking dishes to ease staff burden.
In Korean fast-casual spots like Starbucks, self-busing trays is common, but not at restaurants.
Korean staff may insist on cleaning spills themselves, rejecting customer help as in ice cream incident.
Healthcare visits for colds in Japan cost $15 USD, seen quickly without American-style barriers.
Minor Korean surgeries like cyst removal happen same-day in clinics for $7-8 USD.
Japanese children display exceptional public composure, walking silently in groups.
Korean kids are more rowdy and vocal, requiring varied discipline like scolding or ignoring.
Public confrontations are avoided in Japan to prevent causing "meiwaku" to others.
Street arguments occur frequently in Korea, often without violence, unlike Japan's rarity.
Alcohol fuels occasional fights in both, but more visibly in Korean public spaces.
Japan's cultural norm favors invisibility in public during personal disputes, suppressing visibility.
Paul's 20-year Japan residency provides deep insider cultural insights for comparisons.
Clinton's 9-year Korea life includes hagwon teaching, revealing student daily stresses.
Both expats acknowledge irony of Westerners analyzing East Asian cultural nuances.
Educational pressure in Korea affects middle and high schoolers with long hagwon nights.
Japan's exam-focused system delays intense after-school prep compared to Korea's early start.
Fashion subcultures in Japan emphasize individuality through exaggerated, costume-like outfits.
Korea's fashion trends uniformity among youth, with exceptions in performative districts.
Queuing reflects broader courtesy: Japan's patience versus Korea's evolving assertiveness.
Apology customs highlight linguistic politeness hierarchies in both languages.
Table-tidying in Japan embodies conscientiousness, reducing staff workload proactively.
Korea's service culture sometimes views customer cleaning as inappropriate intrusion.
Affordable healthcare encourages prompt visits in both nations, unlike costly U.S. systems.
Well-behaved Japanese youth puzzle returnees, suggesting strong early socialization.
Korean parental discipline ranges widely, from passive ignoring to active intervention.
"Meiwaku" avoidance in Japan minimizes public disturbances, even in child misbehavior.
Korea's rowdier public interactions include heated exchanges without escalation.
Personal quarrels stay private in Japan, contrasting Korea's occasional public visibility.
Expats note physical altercations are rarer in Japan, tied to harmony priorities.
Both countries share climate similarities, influencing seasonal cultural celebrations.
Educational systems in both prepare for competitive exams, but timing differs significantly.

INSIGHTS

Cultural similarities in seasons and healthcare reveal shared East Asian accessibility values.
Educational intensities differ by age, reflecting societal priorities on early achievement.
Fashion variety in Japan fosters subcultural expression, unlike Korea's trend conformity.
Queuing and politeness norms underscore Japan's harmony emphasis over Korea's assertiveness.
Apology multiplicities show linguistic adaptations for social harmony in interactions.
Table-tidying habits indicate Japan's proactive courtesy versus Korea's contextual service.
Affordable care promotes health-seeking behavior, contrasting Western financial barriers.
Child discipline variations highlight Japan's subtle control against Korea's direct approaches.
Public confrontation avoidance in Japan preserves group harmony more than in Korea.
Expats' perspectives bridge cultural gaps, revealing nuances outsiders might overlook.

QUOTES

"Japan has four seasons."
"Korea is very proud of that, too. Their climate is very similar between Tokyo and Seoul."
"In Korea they're called hagwon and that's like uh it just literally means like after school like you know studies."
"For most Japanese, it starts in earnest from junior high."
"Japan has a lot more in the way of niche fashion looks things like the Gothic Lolita."
"To a much lesser scale. I'd say I do see it from time to time, but mostly it'd be in like Hongdae."
"In Japan, you're going to get in a line, you're going to wait for everyone to get off and then you're going to get on the train."
"In Korea, no, you just if you get to those doors and they open, you're trying to slam your way through as soon as possible."
"Sumimasen is like the real I'm sorry. But you'll sometimes hear people use all three in succession."
"The first time I heard that, I remember thinking that would be like in English, I'm sorry. I'm very sorry. I'm terribly sorry."
"Japanese people... will make a actually concentrated effort to kind of tidy the space where they've been eating."
"In Korea... if it's a place like Starbucks... you'll kind of put it all together and take it there."
"The Korean staff was like, 'No, no, no. This is our job. You don't clean this up.'"
"In Japan that'll cost you like at maximum like 2,000 yen which is what $15."
"In Korea... it's probably going to run you 10,000 won. So, $7, $8 USD for the whole thing."
"You don't see it very often. Uh, I don't know what they put in the water here to make kids so well behaved."
"Korean kids are generally a little more rowdy. I'll put it that way."
"Japanese so much want to avoid any kind of confrontation like the all the talk around tourist bad behavior."
"In Korea, like it is very common to see people just arguing out on the street."
"A couple's quarrel would never be public like that."

HABITS

Attending hagwons daily until 8-10 p.m. for Korean elementary students in studies.
Starting cram school preparations earnestly from junior high in Japan for exams.
Queuing orderly for trains in Japan, waiting for passengers to exit first.
Rushing to board trains immediately upon door opening in Korean public transit.
Using multiple apology phrases in succession when expressing regret in Japan.
Adjusting sentence endings for politeness levels when saying sorry in Korea.
Tidying tables by stacking dishes and wiping spills after meals in Japanese cafes.
Self-busing trays at fast-casual spots like Starbucks in Korea without wiping.
Visiting clinics immediately for colds due to low cost in both Japan and Korea.
Ignoring misbehaving children publicly to avoid drawing attention in Japanese parenting.
Scolding or physically corralling rowdy kids in public settings in Korean families.
Avoiding public confrontations to prevent causing "meiwaku" to others in Japan.
Engaging in loud street arguments without escalation in everyday Korean interactions.
Keeping personal disputes private and subdued even indoors in Japanese culture.
Participating in after-school math and English programs from early ages in Korea.
Using online study kits at home for elementary education in some Japanese families.
Observing niche fashion trends like Gothic Lolita in youth subcultures in Japan.
Following uniform street fashion styles predominantly among Korean young people.
Insisting on staff handling customer messes like spills in Korean service settings.
Hustling misbehaving children away from public areas in both cultures to maintain harmony.

FACTS

Tokyo and Seoul share similar climates with four distinct seasons and mild differences.
Korean hagwons extend student days until 10 p.m., starting in elementary for most.
Japanese after-school programs focus on junior high for high school exam preparation.
Niche fashion like Gothic Lolita is more prevalent in Japan than in Korea.
Hongdae in Seoul hosts occasional unique fashion amid college party scenes.
Train queuing is standard in Japan but evolving slowly in busier Korean areas.
Elderly Japanese men sometimes bypass queues, akin to older Koreans.
Japanese language has several apology levels, often used in triple combinations.
Korean politeness primarily changes via grammar endings in sentences.
Japanese diners proactively tidy eating spaces to minimize staff cleanup.
Korean barbecue restaurants expect waitstaff to handle all post-meal messes.
Clinic visits for colds cost $15 USD in Japan, including meds and tests.
Minor surgeries like cyst removal occur same-day in Korean clinics for $8 USD.
Japanese preschoolers walk silently in groups, impressing cultural returnees.
Korean children exhibit more rambunctious behavior in public than Japanese peers.
Public arguments are common on Korean streets, rarely turning violent.
Alcohol involvement increases fight occurrences in both countries' public spaces.
National health insurance enables quick, affordable doctor access in Japan.
"Meiwaku" concept drives Japanese avoidance of bothering surrounding people.
Paul has resided in Japan for 20 years, Clinton in Korea for 9 years.

REFERENCES

Exjapter YouTube channel for videos on Japanese society and culture.
Clinton's Instagram @paperthinhere for e-sports broadcaster updates.
SakuraCo gift boxes of Japanese snacks with code EXJAPTER for $5 off.
Patreon page /exjapter989 for direct support of Yokohama videos.
Japonin online Japanese lessons with code exjapter for discounts and free trials.
Etsy shop PrintsyGalore for genuine Japanese woodblock prints.
Exjapter Instagram @exjapter for personal updates.
Hagwon system as experienced by Clinton during his teaching in Korea.
National health insurance card used for clinic visits in both countries.
Returnee student's interview on Paul's channel about Japanese child behavior.
Baskin-Robbins incident in Seoul involving Irish friend and staff.
Shanghai subway couple's quarrel observed during Paul's China trip.

HOW TO APPLY

Observe seasonal changes in Japan or Korea to appreciate shared climate influences on daily life.
Enroll children in hagwons early if in Korea to match academic intensity norms.
Delay intensive cram schools until junior high in Japan for balanced early childhood.
Explore niche fashion districts in Japan like Harajuku to experience subcultural expression.
Visit Hongdae in Seoul for glimpses of unique Korean youth fashion styles.
Practice orderly queuing for public transport in Japan to respect cultural courtesy.
Adapt to faster boarding habits when using Korean trains to blend with locals.
Use layered apologies like "sumimasen" repeatedly in Japan for polite interactions.
Modify sentence endings for appropriate politeness when apologizing in Korean contexts.
Tidy your table after eating in Japanese cafes to show conscientiousness to staff.
Return trays at Korean fast-casual outlets but leave restaurant messes for waiters.
Seek immediate clinic care for minor illnesses in both countries due to low costs.
Ignore minor child misbehavior publicly in Japan to encourage self-correction.
Employ varied discipline like scolding for rowdy kids in Korean public settings.
Avoid initiating confrontations in Japan to uphold "meiwaku" avoidance principles.
Engage calmly in potential arguments in Korea without expecting quick escalation.
Keep personal disputes private in public spaces following Japanese invisibility norms.
Use national insurance for quick healthcare access, visiting doctors for colds promptly.
Hustle misbehaving children away from crowds in both cultures to maintain harmony.
Follow expat channels like Exjapter for insights into long-term residency experiences.

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

Comparing Japan and Korea reveals shared East Asian values with nuanced cultural differences.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Visit clinics promptly for illnesses in Japan or Korea to leverage affordable care.
Start after-school studies early in Korea to align with hagwon educational norms.
Delay intense academics until junior high in Japan for childhood balance.
Explore Gothic Lolita fashion scenes in Japan for unique subcultural immersion.
Check Hongdae for rare fashion variety amid Korea's uniform youth trends.
Queue patiently for trains in Japan to embody cultural courtesy standards.
Board trains assertively in Korea while respecting improving queuing practices.
Layer multiple apologies in Japanese interactions for heightened politeness.
Adjust grammar for politeness levels when using Korean in social situations.
Tidy cafe tables post-meal in Japan to demonstrate staff-appreciating conscientiousness.
Let staff handle messes at Korean restaurants to follow service expectations.
Observe silent preschool groups in Japan to understand early socialization techniques.
Use direct scolding for rowdy kids in Korea to manage public rambunctiousness.
Suppress public confrontations in Japan to avoid causing "meiwaku" to others.
Participate in street discussions calmly in Korea without fearing escalation.
Keep quarrels private in public per Japanese norms for personal invisibility.
Use online kits for elementary learning in Japan before formal classes.
Engage with expat content like Exjapter for residency cultural preparation.
Insist on staff cleaning spills in Korea to respect service role boundaries.
Hustle children from disruptive scenes in both countries for group harmony.

MEMO

In a engaging video on the Exjapter channel, long-term Japan resident Paul, with 20 years of immersion, teams up with Korea expat Clinton, a 9-year veteran and e-sports broadcaster, to dissect cultural quirks through a "Japan or Korea or Both?" game. Their outdoor chat under the sun highlights shared traits like four distinct seasons—mirroring climates between Tokyo and Seoul, with Korea's winters a touch snowier—while underscoring differences in education. Korea's hagwon after-school academies plunge elementary kids into rigorous math and English sessions until late evening, a stark contrast to Japan's later start in junior high for exam prep, revealing how both nations prioritize academics but at varying intensities.

Fashion emerges as a vivid divider: Japan's streets burst with niche styles like Gothic Lolita and rockabilly, resembling costumes and celebrating individuality, whereas Korea leans toward uniform trends, with outliers confined to vibrant spots like Hongdae. Social etiquette further illuminates contrasts in queuing—Japan's orderly lines for trains embody patience, occasionally flouted by elderly men, while Korea's rush to board is softening in crowds. Apologies, too, showcase linguistic nuance: Japanese speakers layer phrases like "sumimasen" into triple expressions, an overkill in English, as Korean tweaks grammar endings from casual to formal, both systems fine-tuned for situational politeness.

Daily conscientiousness shines in post-meal habits, where Japanese patrons stack dishes and wipe tables to ease staff burdens, a proactive courtesy absent in Korea's barbecue joints where waiters handle chaos, as seen in a tale of an Irish friend rebuffed for cleaning his own ice cream spill at Baskin-Robbins. Healthcare accessibility unites them, with quick clinic visits for colds costing mere dollars—$15 in Japan, $8 in Korea—including meds and even same-day minor surgeries, a far cry from America's barriers that discourage prompt care. This affordability fosters a health-conscious populace unafraid to seek help early.

Child discipline and public interactions paint behavioral portraits: Japanese kids' eerie composure in silent preschool marches baffles returnees, managed by ignoring misbehavior to avoid "meiwaku" (troubling others), while Korean youth's rowdiness prompts scolding or corralling, though both hustle kids away from crowds. Confrontations are Japan's rarity, suppressed for harmony—even tourist faux pas go unchallenged—versus Korea's frequent street arguments, often alcohol-tinged but non-violent, with occasional public spats unseen in Japan's subdued sphere. These insights, drawn from expat lenses, invite viewers to share experiences, bridging cultural gaps through informed dialogue.