Join Our Newsletter
  • Visit Our Store
  • Come Write for J-List!
J-List Blog
Visit J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
No Result
View All Result

Back in the USA, and ‘cultural bridges’ to Japan.

Peter Payne by Peter Payne
10 years ago
in Your Friend in Japan

I’ve made the top from Japan to the U.S., and now we’re at the Phoenix Comicon, a super fun event that we look forward to every year. If you’ll be at the show, please come see us at booth 4092, or come to our official visual novel panel on Friday at 9 pm in room 221.

It’s always fun being back in the U.S. The trip is 24 hours door-to-door, which includes 3 hours on a bus to Narita, sitting around the airport, and the total flight time. It’s a stressful trip, but at least one of my favorite places (Japan or San Diego) is waiting for me at the other end. As usual, it’s fun to “surf” the reverse culture shock I naturally experience as a result of having been an expat for so long: my surprise at seeing the “small” drink sizes which are larger than any sold in Japan or the giant burritos they offer at Chipotle; the lower level of technology in the bathroom (no toilets that wash your butt for you); and of course, seeing American icons like bacon-wrapped hot dogs on sale in the supermarket. Naturally, getting re-aligned to life in the U.S. — like driving on the correct side of the road — is always just a bit harder because of the jet lag I’m fighting my first few days here.

I’ve always been interested in the idea of “cultural bridges” which act like doorways between countries that are very different, like Japan and the U.S. A good example of a cultural bridge is Okinawa, the tropical Japanese island paradise that became U.S. territory after WWII and was returned to Japan in 1971. (No small number of J-List customers seem to have obtained their fascination with Japan after being stationed in Okinawa by the U.S. military, and we think the bizarre popularity of that Felix the Cat bubblegum over the years is related to this phenomenon somehow.) There are a lot of foods that are “in between” Japanese and U.S. cuisine, such as spam musubi (a spam-on-rice onigiri treat); “taco rice” (taco meat eaten over white rice), the closest thing to Mexican food you can find in Japan; and A&W Root Beer, which is the official drink of Okinawa yet is detested by 99% of mainland Japanese, who think the drink smells like Salonpas, a popular Japanese analgesic patch. There’s another kind of “cultural bridge” of course: the humble anime convention like the one we’re at now, which since 1991 has provided a gateway to wonderful Japanese popular culture. Whether you’re at the Phoenix Comicon or the other two shows we’ll be at this summer, Anime Expo or the San Diego Comic-con, we hope to see you this year!

300,000 Likes on Facebook Sale!

J-List’s Facebook page is a popular place to get updates about new J-List products, as well as enjoy the fanart I post for everyone to share and comment on. We reached an important milestone this week, an amazing 300,000 “likes,” so we decided to have a sale to thank everyone! Take $20 off any order of $100 or more from now through the end of May using code JLIST300! This can be combined with any other offers, too, like our 3x point sale on personal stress toys and cosplay and apparel. Limit one use per customer, and it can’t be used on certain items (iTunes Japan cards etc.).

Tags: conventioncosplayculturefoodJ-Listtoilets in JapanUSA

More Posts Like This

I Raised That Boy
Your Friend in Japan

What Anime Raised You? J-List Customers of Culture Respond!

by Peter Payne
5 months ago

One reason I love social media like X, Bluesky, and Facebook is that I can post questions to my followers...

Camera Angles In Anime
Your Friend in Japan

Yandere Meets Instant Noodles! Anime Marketing with Seiyuu Saori Hayami

by Peter Payne
8 months ago

Last week X lit up with the hashtag #早見沙織, or #HayamiSaori. Being a huge fan of anime voice actress Hayami...

J List Now Does Special Orders And Price Matching

J-List Announces Special Orders, Price Matching!

2 years ago
Thumb 1920 445809

25 Years of Anime Blogging…and American Godzilla?

2 years ago
Jlist Square New Shipping Rates V3

Enjoy Lower Shipping on the New J-List Site!

2 years ago
Jlist Status Report

New J-List Site Status Update!

2 years ago
Next Post
Front Melon Phx2015

The 'Big Tent' of anime fandom, and what's up with $12,000 melons?

Trending Today

Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime Web Cover
News

Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime and Where to Watch Them

4 months ago
The Top 11 Anime Sex Scenes Blog
Your Friend in Japan

Happy Sex Day! Let’s Rank the 11 Most Surprising Ecchi Scenes in Anime

1 month ago
Yandere Dark Elf Episode 1 Featured Image
Featured

Yandere Dark Elf, Episode 1 — Love Heavier than Chocolate Melons!

3 months ago
Haite Kudasai, Takamine San Episode 9 Featured Image
Featured

Haite Kudasai, Takamine-san, Episode 9 — Slippery When Wet!

2 weeks ago
Dengeki Moeoh August 2025 Cover
Anime Magazine

What’s Inside Dengeki Moeoh August 2025? Ecchi Illustrations, Posters, Art, and More!

1 week ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
Screenshot
News

They’re Back: Announcing the Return of J-List Tissues!

by Peter Payne
July 19, 2025

They’re Back: Announcing the Return of J-List Tissues!

3 Horny and Hungry Reasons to Watch Clevatess

Dandadan S2 Pulls No Punches (and the Fight Scenes Hit Hard, Too)

Cultural Exchange with a Game Center Girl — A Kawaii Romance

Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider and Fight Shocker

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Discord
  • YouTube

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.