Japan has a unique calendar system. The Western system is in common use, but many notices and forms use Japanese years, which are based on the Emperor's reign. I was born in Showa 57. It is now Heisei 22. The first year of an era begins the day after the death of the previous emperor, but ends on Dec. 31 as with the common calendar.
1989 is an interesting year in the Japanese calendar. Showa 64 began and ended in January 1989, with the death of Emperor Hirohito (now known as Emperor Showa). Only a few people in Japan can say they were born in Showa 64 as 1989 shortly switched to Heisei 1, which began Jan. 8 along with the reign of Emperor Akihito. Coins bearing a date of Showa 64 are uncommon and collectible.
Some other random Japanese characteristics:
You can rent comic books and CD's
The streets are clean
Rice Krispies go on salads
Chalkboards are still common in schools (at least my school)
When you pay for something, you usually put your money in a tray, you don't hand it to a cashier
When you buy something, it is either stickered or, if it's placed in a bag, the bag is often taped shut
University classes are once a week and 1 1/2 hours long
Japanese drive on the left side of the road
Just about everything you buy is smaller than its American counterpart, except for carrots, which are usually fatter, and manga magazines, which are more or less the size of telephone books
Small fruit/vegetable shops are really common
Muzak versions of pop songs playing in supermarkets (I even heard one from a video game)
I'm pretty much used to all of it by now, to the extent that seeing someone drive on the right side in a movie threw me off for a second!
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