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Showing posts with label Article. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Article. Show all posts

May 06, 2022

Global Consumer Trends 2022: 🌸 over 65+ in Japan expected to be 35% of the country’s population by 2040

 
bus stop in Japan #japanesecustomer

Photo: Bus stop in Japan 





"The older populace in Japan has been expanding, and those aged 65+ are expected to account for as much as 35% of the country’s population by 2040.''



Source: Global Consumer Trends 2022, Digital Seniors: Lessons Learned from China and Japan












#Japan #japanesecustomer #trends2022

May 05, 2022

Three benefits of Japanese Green Tea 🌸

japanese green tea #japanesecustomer

Japanese green tea #japanesecustomer
Green Tea is a part of daily Japanese life. It is a popular drink that is consumed hot in winter or cold in summer. Green Tea has some amazing qualities!
History
The Chinese Emperor Shen Nong first discovered green tea about 4700 years ago, who as legend says discovered it by accident?
He was boiling a pot of water when some leaves from the tea bush strayed into his pot”.
Source: Zittlau, Jorg (1999) Green Tea – for health and vitality, Sterling Publishing Co, New York. USA, p13
Why Japanese Green Tea is different?
There are three kinds of tea made from the tea plant: green tea, oolong, and black tea...Green which is more lightly processed than the other varieties is favoured in Japan”.
Source: Packer, Lester and Colman, Carol (2002) The Antioxidant Miracle, John Wiley and Sons, New York, USA, page 181
Japanese Green Tea
Green tea comes from two major sources, China and Japan. In each country the tea is processed differently, therefore changing the nature of the tea and its benefits to the drinker.
In Japan, immediately after picking the leaves, they are steamed. This stops the activity of the fermenting enzyme and the leaves stay green. When you brew Japanese tea the color is somewhere between lemon and yellow-green”. 
Source: Zittlau, Jorg (1999) Green Tea – for health and vitality, Sterling Publishing Co, New York. USA, Page 10
 What are the nutritional components of Japanese Green Tea?
Green tea when analyzed chemically contains the following:
Polyphenols, Catechins, Falvanols, Caffeine, Complex sugars (Glycosides), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Carotene, Saponia, Flouride, Zinc, Selenium, and Magnesia”,
Source: Udall, Kate Gilbert (1998) Green Tea, Fight Cancer, lower cholesterol, live longer, Woodland Publishing, Utah, USA page 7
Three benefits of drinking Japanese Green Tea every day?
1. “Tea contains only half the caffeine of brewed coffee
Source: Packer, Lester and Colman, Carol (2002) The Antioxidant Miracle, John Wiley and Sons, New York, USA. , page 182
2. The health benefits of tea include, “acting as a strong antioxidant, protecting against cancer, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, working as an antibacterial and antiviral agent and reducing blood sugar
3 “Green Tea may be the most valuable substance you can take to protect your health
Source: Udall, Kate Gilbert (1998) Green Tea, Fight Cancer, lower cholesterol, live longer, Woodland Publishing, Utah, USA page6
Recent research
Green tea is one of the most promising of the cancer-fighting foods
Source: Mitscher, Lester and Dolby, Victoria (1998) The green tea book: China’s fountain of youth, Avery Publishing Group, Garden City Park, NY, USA.p53
Cancer has been steadily gaining ground during the past few decades. In Japan, however, the numbers are much lower. The main reason for that difference is Green Tea”.
Source: Zittlau, Jorg (1999) Green Tea – for health and vitality, Sterling Publishing Co, New York. USA, Page 53
"Supplementing the diet with antioxidants, such as green tea’s polyphenols, lessens the likelihood of wrinkles
Source: Mitscher, Lester and Dolby, Victoria (1998) The green tea book: China’s fountain of youth, Avery Publishing Group, Garden City Park, NY, USA. P128
Useful links Japanese Green Tea 
Sencha Japanese Tea
Organic Sencha Tea Bags
Green Tea with Matcha
Learn more about the different types of Japanese tea here
#japan #japanesecustomer #antioxidants #polyphenols #matcha #sencha #japaneseculture #greentea #healthbenefits

May 04, 2022

What I learnt working for a Japanese company

 Japan was the second-largest economy in Asia with an annual gross domestic
product of US $4.15 trillion dollars, a population of 126 million people, and a GDP

per head of US $32,700 in 2004.
Why Japan

As a kid growing up in Australia, watching Japanese anime cartoons on television after school was a daily ritual along with eating a slice of bread spread with Vegemite and jumping on the couch. Drawn by the mystique of Japanese cartoons, we acted out the stories after school. These experiences created an interest in Japan that lead to an opportunity to live and work in Japan for a Japanese company.

The job

My key responsibilities were customer satisfaction and business development, for a privately owned company in Kyoto. The company which began in 1972 had its own publishing division, travel agency, and an annual turnover estimated at 75 billion yen.

The hiring process

The interview process consisted of three interviews with three interviewers. It was customary for two interviewers at a time to ask questions while a third would observe and take notes. This was real psychological interviewing, where every word was recorded, questions were repeated and your answers were checked for accuracy. It felt like you were being totally dissected. 

Your ability, mood, qualifications, experience, personality, and character were all thoroughly analyzed over and over again. Interviews lasted an average of 40 minutes at a time. In between interviews you were asked to perform a range of practical tasks. Tasks were written on a piece of paper and once issued had to be performed with no preparation. You had a few seconds to read the scenario, collect the materials you required to perform it and then start the task. For example: "What would you do in this situation?

At the end of each day, attendees were paid for their attendance in cash and given a phone number that had to be called at a certain time that evening. It felt like a 007 movie. This was to ascertain if you had passed the day's training. If you were invited the next day your interview continued, if you were not it ended abruptly on the phone, a phone call that you paid for. After three eight-hour days of interviews, impromptu activities, and secret phone calls, five out of three hundred and fifty were selected to enter Japan Inc.

Arrival in Japan.

On arrival in Japan at 10 pm on a Sunday night, we were met at the airport by the head of the region and individually escorted to our hotel. After checking in we went to dinner at a local restaurant where we met the staff and managers of our section. The next day, the manager met me at the hotel and escorted me to the office where I was allocated a workspace, work schedule, and seventy-five clients. I started work immediately.

Organization

Japanese companies are known for their long-term plans, scheduling months in advance, and planning minute details. My impression was that Japanese companies aim to improve their operations by continuously fine-tuning their approach as they better understand the market and their customers. For example, the sales process at my company was as smooth as a well-oiled machine. 

How did it work? Simple advertising with a clear message and a genuine money-saving offer, exceptional customer service (phone or drop-in inquiries), and benefits presented in a casual but convincing way. Sales interviews took up to six hours, at which time the manager would call out for lunch and the presentation would continue. The result of the system was that 95% of new business was signed.

Time

Punctuality is everything in Japan and is a skill you learn very quickly if you want to get ahead. Being early isn’t rude but lateness is inexcusable. In my company, if you were late more than three times you were not eligible for a promotion that year.

Punch-in-time cards were the norm and head office analyzed each imprint on your card. In Japan, you can't say the train was late as it is a rare occurrence and if they are, your manager will call the station and check. If a train is late, an employee must get a statement from the station staff that explains the situation officially. A chiensho meisho. This note must be given to your manager and will account for your lateness on your work record.

My office was in a small ten-story building over two floors; our seven staff had to share one toilet which was a traditional hole in the floor, squat toilet... Using a squat-style toilet while wearing a business suit is an acquired skill. In Japan, it is customary for people to bang on the door to let you know they are waiting. If you happened to stay in the toilet too long the manager would come in and ask what was wrong and when you would be returning to work. Time was accounted for like money, very carefully.

Loyalty

As an employee of a Japanese company, you put in extra hours each day as a sign of respect and loyalty to your employer. My job started at 12noon but I was expected to be in by 11 am and use the hour before to prepare, making sure I was 100% ready for the start of business. The same applied at the end of the workday. We officially finished at nine but stayed on until 10 pm doing our individual paperwork and after that helping other staff. We all took turns cleaning the office, reporting information to head office, and undertaking management requests. 

On top of this, we all had our only daily routines for setting up and packing away business materials. In return, the company paid for our transport to and from work, subsidized our rent, and paid for our health insurance and annual health check-up (Where you visited a local hospital and had twenty separate tests done in one hour. Normally a blood test, ECG, X-ray, urine test, height, weight, BMI, etc. Results were sent out the following week and you had a summary on a one-page sheet that could be easily compared to the following year's check and pick up any changes very quickly)

Importance of money 

Money in Japan is sacred. As there is no welfare system as we know it, you work to survive. No middle ground. Money is your key to life in Japan and is taken very seriously. Contracts you write are checked by three or four people for errors before being approved, refunds are tripled checked before being issued and your change is repeatedly counted in front of you in stores. When you eat at a restaurant, it is custom for everyone to pay for what they ate, this is known as betsu betsu.

In terms of sales performance, every yen must be accounted for. During a normal workday, head office would telephone constantly asking for our sales figures. Long faxes would stream throughout the day motivating us to sell more and meet our targets. They would be pinned up around the office, so all employees could see them.

Management style

The management style of the company could be best described as close. All staff worked together to ensure customers' needs were met. Every day I would report seven or eight times to my manager and at least once a day with the branch office regarding sales, customer preferences, and progress in relation to targets. A typical day would start with a meeting in Japanese, to ascertain the goals and schedule for each person for that day. Every member of staff would report what they planned to do that day, for example, which customers they would speak to regarding re-signing their business, targets set and the number of sales they hoped to make. This was recorded and questioned by management and by the other employees.

A large part of my job was to manage seventy-five clients and to ensure that they re-signed their business with the company. This included using a range of techniques including phone calls, postcards, entertaining them, visits to their office or home, and anything innovative that kept them satisfied and happy to renew their business. My manager knew all the four hundred plus customers and had all their details memorized including their likes, dislikes, children’s names, etc, and knew when their contract would expire and the value of their business. As a team, we worked at maximizing satisfaction and ensuring high retention.

Customer service

Customer service started with how the phone was answered, how walk-in customers were greeted and made to feel comfortable with a fresh cup of green tea and it continued when you called clients at their homes if they were running late or missed an appointment. We lent customers an umbrella if it started to rain outside or walked them to the station. Customer service in Japan means 120% focus on anticipating and meeting customer requirements, even if they are unrelated to the business at hand. Any chance to make a favourable, lasting impression is sought.

Mental discipline

The Japanese have a skill that allows them to focus on something so well that they can block everything else out. For example, the pressure you are put under in Japan is enormous, for example, you must always be on time, be polite, be well presented, remember the company rules, think of others first, work with others in harmony, work long hours without complaint and get things right, (what you say, what you do and your paperwork with no mistakes). To do this every day, six days a week is a powerful skill and they do it very well.

Work-life versus private life

Japanese people are often described as being unemotional. My experience is that they have the same emotions like you and me; the difference is how and when they show their emotions. Work takes up a lot of your time in Japan and because you’re expected to perform at your best at all times, to show your emotions at work would detract from the skills required to do your job, so it is understood that you don’t show your emotions at work. After work, it is common to go out with work colleagues for dinner, karaoke or drinking. At these times you get a chance to talk more openly and build relationships.

Simple life

In Japan, my daily life consisted of working, eating, bathing, and sleeping. Visiting a bathhouse on the way home from work is a customary way to relax and relieve stress before going home. I had no computer in my office, no lunchtime rush to pay bills, no lines at the bank, and no problems with poorly trained staff. Using my mobile phone I could order a pizza in English, change my mobile phone plan, surf the Internet and send emails in 1999.

Vacation

Vacation time in Japan is precious. The amount you get per year is based on your rank and years of service with the company. My annual leave first year was 10 paid days plus national holidays. To take a paid vacation day you have to put in a formal written request. To start the whole process I had to check the dates and times of my vacation with the other staff in the office.

As a new employee, I had to respect the plans of older more senior staff whose vacation requests superseded mine. This took over a week as we had a mix of full and part-time staff. After checking and confirming the dates I could then submit my request to the manager for consideration. Once approved it would be sent to head office. All requests had to be submitted 30 days prior to the date requested. Rules required that no more than four days at a time could be taken at once for my level. As part of the process, I had to be aware that the next time I applied for leave I couldn't take the same day of the week off. For example: If I took Wednesday to Saturday off this time, I had to take off Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday in my next request. 

It is easy to see why Japanese honeymoon couple only stays for four days when they travel abroad as it is very difficult to organize time off. 


Copyright JapaneseCUstomer.com. 1999. All rights reserved.

#japan #japaneseculture #business #innovation #japanesecustomer #work #job #lefstyle #pressure

April 22, 2022

Article: Business Lessons from a Japanese 🌸 bath house

 
japanese bath house #japanesecustomer

Photo: A typical Japanese bath


Copyright Japanese Customer.com 2015. All rights Reserved.

As a small-business owner, I have found business insights or
'light bulb' moments can arrive anytime: lining up at the
supermarket check-out, driving and listening to the radio or
– rewardingly - when you are experiencing something new for the first time.

Insight hits with a flash. You walk away feeling enlightened, empowered, with a different mindset. I had such a moment on a recent trip to Japan when I visited a local bathhouse.

"The business side of a bathhouse is fascinating"

In fact, I had many such moments. History is full of stories of inspiration hitting in the bath but at this bathhouse, it was not just the bathing – it was the whole elaborate ritual (and commercial) experience that provided insight into what makes a successful business model.

Japan has many public bathhouses and they can be classified into two main types, onsens, which derive their water from a natural source, and sentos, which use regular heated water. In Japan, it is common for people of all ages to visit a bathhouse, as a way to relax or unwind after a busy day or as a leisurely day out.

At the start of the 19th century, many homes in Japan didn't have baths and a whole industry of providing bathing services began and it has grown into a lucrative business. Although many modern houses now have baths, people still like to visit a bathhouse with a natural spring. It is an experience and many say the water has a different quality on their skin.

Venturing to use a bathhouse for the first time is a unique experience and one that takes patience, curiosity, and perseverance. There are very precise rules and etiquette. When taking a Japanese bath you wash before you enter the bath.

The business side of a bathhouse is fascinating. When you pay at many bathhouses, the transaction is processed by a vending machine. Inserting notes and pushing a few buttons, your admission tickets are delivered along with your change (And the machines always work).

This automation is replicated throughout the bathhouse with vending machines for drinks, snacks, and restaurant meals.

Insight 1:

Automated processes can provide seamless convenience for customers.

With a vending machine, you can create a receipt, buy multiple tickets at a discounted rate and reduce the need to wait and carry money.

As my Japanese father-in-law often says when using vending machines, “totemo benri desu" - they are very convenient!

That's another obvious but often forgotten insight:

How can you enhance and add value to your customer's experience?

Something which strikes you immediately when you visit a bathhouse is how happy the customers are. No glum faces here. The same feeling is often found when visiting a bustling sushi shop.

As a customer, you can't ignore this positive atmosphere which slowly becomes contagious.

Insight 2:

What are the touchpoints in your business that can make your customers happy and really satisfied?

With all this automation I bet you're wondering why do they need staff at all? Well, believe it or not, there is still plenty of staff on hand within a bathhouse. Staff is busy at the front reception desk watching customers using the vending machines, roaming the rooms, and in a variety of other positions throughout.

Insight 3:

Having visible staff provides reassurance to customers that 'help and service' are just a few steps away.

Cleanliness is an important value in Japanese culture and at a typical bathhouse the floors, walls, facilities, and baths are immaculately maintained. Staff constantly roam and mop up any spills, silently and quickly with no fuss.

Insight 4:

A clean environment conveys to customers and attention to detail that words can't.

My impression is running a bathhouse seems like a very complex business, as they must create an intimate place that allows people to relax. No easy feat! How can you do this when people have such busy lives, limited time, and pay a modest price for the service?

My sense is the key to a successful bathhouse is the ambiance, and how you set the mood.

Insight 5:

How can you set the mood and ambiance for your customers?

On a typical afternoon, a bathhouse can attract many customers. Yet as the number of new customers increases, the flow and movement are still calm, orderly, and for the most part, silent. How do they do this?

Insight 6:

Good systems can control the flow and interaction of customers. What systems do you have in place for really busy periods and how do your customers feel?

When you visit a bathhouse you quickly learn there are no written rules on the walls of what 'to do' and what 'not to do' but everyone seems to know what to do. If you're a new customer, you just watch what others do and copy. How do you use a vending machine to pay, how do you operate a massage chair, and how do you put away your shoes? In Japan, this system, like so much else, just works.

Insight 7:

Is your way of operating easy to follow? How do new customers learn your procedures? Do you have a way to let your existing customers educate your new customers?

After leaving the changing room during my recent visit, I grabbed a cushion and sat down on the reed flooring in the cool-down room. My father-in-law gave me a small bottle of chilled milk. It is customary to have a cold drink after a bath to replenish lost nutrients and fresh milk is a popular way to do this. Bathhouses provide a range of unrelated services that all contribute to the overall customer experience including massage chairs, complimentary toiletries, restaurants, cooling down rooms, massage therapists, steam rooms, and even shoehorns.

Insight 8:

What additional products or services could enhance your product or service?

Bathing is an ancient custom in Japan that provides a chance to take a few hours out of your day to really relax. The natural heat from the bath relieves the built-up stress stored in muscles and allows your body to recharge. The real way to discover the impact a bath has had is the new feeling you leave with. For many Japanese customers, a bath is a time to reflect and in my case, a chance to gain some new business insights.

ANZ Blue Notes

#bath #japan #japaneseculture #culturalintelligence #business #cx #japanesecustomer 

April 20, 2022

A brief introduction to the 🌸Japanese language

This is a very brief introduction to the structure of the Japanese language

Japanese has five vowels which are A, I, U, E, O

Japanese Word


Okonomiyaki

English meaning

Savoury pancake

Pronunciation

O/ko/no/mi/ya/ki

Written

お好み焼き

Sentence construction

English: 
I am looking for the book

Subject: I

Object: book

Verb: looking 

Japanese: (Watashi wa) hon o sagashite imasu

Subject: I

Object: book

Verb: searching

💥 You will notice the order is different


Scripts

1. Hiragana - 50 symbols

Words of Japanese origin are written in this script, for example:

a, i, u, e o
あ、い、 う、え、お

ka, ki, ku, ke, ko
か、き、 く、け、こ

sa, shi, su, se, so
さ、し, す、 せ、そ

Learn more about Hiragana here 


2. Katakana - 50 symbols

Words of foreign origin are written in this script, 

for example:

a, i, u, e, o
ア、イ、ウ、エ、オ

ka, ki, ku, ke, ko
カ、キ、ク、ケ、コ

English word

Ice Cream

Pronunciation

aisukuree-mu

Written in Katakana as

アイスクリーム

Learn more about Katakana here 


3. Kanji - thousands of Chinese characters

Characters of a Chinese origin are used to convey sounds, words, pictures, and ideas, 

for example:

English Word

Dog

Japanese word

inu

Written in Kanji as



In Japanese, many Chinese characters have more than one  meaning,

for example:

On'yomi 音読み: 

Readings derived from the Chinese pronunciations.

Kun'yomi 訓読み: 

The original, indigenous Japanese readings.

For example:

The character 城 has many meanings

* Onyomi or Chinese reading is JOU which means castle

* Kunyomi or Japanese reading is SEI

* Japanese reading which is Shiro or white

To simplify the Chinese characters in Japan multiple meanings are applied to the same character which reduces the number of characters learners need to memorize but increases the number of meanings one has to remember and try when reading the character.

Learn more about Japanese Kanji here


4. Romaji - This is when Japanese words are written in English characters, for pronunciation, using a dictionary and for teaching non - Japanese.

Writing

* Written Japanese combines the three scripts 
Katakana, Kanji, Hiragana together.

English Sentence:

Do you like ice cream?

Romaji:

Pronunciation

Aisukureemu wa suki desu ka?

Written in Japanese as

アイスクリームは好きですか

Katakana = アイスクリーム

Hiragana = は  きですか

Kanjii = 


💥 Note in Japanese:

There is no spacing between words and the reader must identify the grammar, nouns, and verbs to correctly read the characters and therefore the right pronunciation.

* Japanese is written in columns starting at the top right-hand corner of the page and continuing to the left-hand side of the page.

* Newspapers, books, and magazines are read from the back page to the front page.

🌸 Hope you found this useful! 


#japaneselanguage #overview #japanesecustomer #insight #innovation #japaneseculture #reading #writing #scripts #simplified #japanese #introduction 




April 09, 2022

🌸 Why Cherry Blossom is an important part of Japanese culture? 🌸

 

japanese hanami party under the sakura #japanesecustomer



Cherry blossom is the blooming of sakura flowers all over Japan from large cities to small towns.


People celebrate the sakura by having a party under the cherry blossom, which is called Hanami, 花見 or flower viewing. There is a real science to watching and viewing the flowers.

As they open at different times based on weather across Japan.

There is a whole language to describe the level of blooming, for example: mankai, means full bloom

* It is an important ritual for Japanese customers
* It gives people hope
* Allows people to interact and appreciate the beauty of nature
* It signifies change (in nature and often personal change)
* It shows the fleeting of time and how precious it is
* It reveals to individuals the preciousness of life
* It allows the celebration with friends (shared experiences)
* It allows people time to reflect on their own lives and be grateful
* Its a chance to have fun, relax, laugh and enjoy oneself
* It buys people some space from the hustle and bustle of modern life
* Provides a chance to refocus, realign, re-energize

Please share your own insights as a comment below


#cherryblossom #sakura #flower #viewing #nature #celebration #culture #change #beauty #japanesecustomer #花見 #hanami

March 27, 2022

Awards: Japanese 🌸tourists awarded the worlds best by Expedia




Picture: Ready to travel #japanesecustomer


"Japanese tourists - seen as clean and tidy, polite, quiet and uncomplaining "

Source: BBC News
https://lnkd.in/ggqCVp7z

#japanesecustomer #award #worldsbest #expedia #bbc #news #tourist

December 26, 2019

Quote: ''Japan once offered a cautionary tale of how macroeconomic mismanagement could transform a juggernaut into a laggard'' The Economist



''Japan once offered a cautionary tale of how macroeconomic mismanagement could transform a juggernaut into a laggard. As weak growth and low-interest rates have spread to the rest of the world, however, it looks more like a window into the future. '' The Economist



Source: Japan’s economic troubles offer a glimpse of a sobering future, Dec 7, 2019.

October 06, 2015

Article: Visiting a dentist when you travel in Japan


Visiting a dentist when you travel in Japan




Japanese dental visit copyright Peter Hanami 2012
Picture: Japanese dental visit




Copyright 2015. All rights reserved

When you visit Japan you may want to experience some slices of real Japanese daily life and not be a tourist for a day. Visiting the dentist for a check and clean maybe just the thing to allow you to see inside real Japan from the customers view. 

If you don’t reside in Japan but want to access Japanese dental services, as a foreigner you can often just pay direct without the need for insurance which is a higher price than what residents with insurance pay but may often be substantially cheaper than what you pay in your home country for dental treatment.

Cleaning is called shi seki tori which is pronounced shi-seki-tori and can be written in a number of ways including hiragana しせきとり and Chinese characters (kanji) 歯石取り.

To research a clinic and to book you can ask for assistance at your hotel. Ask to visit a local clinic that is close to where you are staying. Before asking Japanese staff for help make sure you have all your questions clearly worked out and dont forget to reward them for their assistance.

For Example:  I would like to visit a dentist for cleaning, could you help me find a local clinic and to book an appointment? Have the days and times you are available written out clearly, for example, Monday 1pm to 5pm, Tuesday 10am to 3pm. If you just want cleaning and no other services, state that you just want cleaning only. Ask if a clinic is close by, how much for cleaning and do they have an appointment available to meet your schedule.

When visiting in person it is best to prepare for your visit by writing out all your questions in English, and then have a friend to translate them into simple Japanese, preferably hiragana because it is easier for multiple people to read you may also include Chinese characters.

Be prepared that staff at the clinic may have limited English and may get nervous and flustered at your visit - this is ok.To help them to feel at ease smile, talk very calmly and wait patiently for their responses. It is a good idea to allow plenty of time for your visit. For example: If you have a 2pm appointment, it would be good to arrive at 1.50pm (so allow plenty of time to get to the clinic) and then allow time for treatment and time afterward for you to return back to the hotel. An estimate of say four hours for the whole process or really a half day.

If you want to be fully prepared it would be useful to take a Japanese English dictionary, a pen and paper. Remember that unless you speak fluent Japanese it is best to speak in English because once you speak in Japanese staff will answer in Japanese and you will miss what they are saying which will confuse you and often slow things down.

A dental visit in Japan is a great way to see the real Japan, real people and how they live their daily life. For example:  When you first enter the dentists you often have to remove your shoes and put on slippers and put your shoes in a shoe rack. You also may get to see in action some medical equipment that you don't see at home and best of all you are out of your comfort zone, so your attention level is very high. Be prepared to be the center of attention during your visit, for other patients may be very surprised see a foreigner. A big smile from you will reassure them.

Cleaning usually takes an hour and may start from 10,000 yen. On the day of your appointment it is always good to get to the dentist early to allow time for removing shoes, visiting the toilet and for filling out forms. When you arrive walk up to the reception and give your name and the time of your appointment

Let’s take a look at some Japanese language that may be useful:

Words

Tooth = Ha
Mouth = Ku-chi
Pain = I-tai
No pain = I-ta-ku-nai
Gum = ha-guki
Tongue = shi-ta
Appointment = ninmei

Phrases

Konnichi wa  = welcome
Please sit down = Su-watte  kuda-sai
Open your mouth = hi-raite  kuda-sai or  ake -te   kuda-sai
Close your mouth = shi-mete  kuda-sai
Rinse your mouth = o-ku-chi susu-ide  kuda-sai

Please note even though a number of words and phrases have been given, staff may use other words andf phrases or speak in polite language meaning you that will not be able to pick up any of the above, don’t worry.

Once you are in the chair, if you are tall like me you may find that you will often slide out of the chair which is built for Japanese body sizes and your feet may touch the floor.

As  afirst time vistor, it is your first visit, staff may want to take a number of xrays to check the state of your teeth to be able to fully advise you. If you do not wish this to occur just ask for cleaning only

I would just like to have a clean with no x-ray please
Sumimasen, shi-seki-tori dake, x-ray iranai onegaishimasu

A real convenience during the treatment is not only do you get tinted glasses but they also put a towel over your face during treatment which blocks out all light and keeps water spraying on you. It is a bit uncomfortable the first time you experience it but it soon becomes very comfortable and you wonder how you survived all those prior visits.

The steps in a typical cleaning treatment may include:
1. A check with a dental tool which they use and drag across each tool
2. Use of a tool that digs into the gum and blood will be drawn during this procedure and it will be mildly painful
3. The use of a type of sand paper on teeth to file any rough edges
4. Brushing – The assistant brushes your teeth using a special brush and cleans each tooth individually
5. Each tooth will be flossed
6. Plaque will be removed using a tool and you will experience a dragging, scraping sound for extended periods from upper and lower teeth
7 Polishing of each tooth
8. A type of mouth guard with a bubbling liquid will be placed in your mouth and will be left for four minutes or so.
9. Finish

Note that steps 3 through 8 is when you may have the towel placed over your eyes and be prepared to spit and rinse after each step.

The dentist may ask you not to eat or drink for 30 minutes after the treatment so that the treatments have their best effect on your teeth

It is typical in Japan to pay for treatment at the end of your visit at the reception desk. Depending on your dentist you may be given a gift bag which contains a toothbrush, toothpaste and a cleaning tool at no charge to ensure you keep your dental hygiene routine after your visit.

A big smile and domo arigato gozaimashita to the assistants, dentist and reception staff with a half bow from the waist tilting your whole upper body forward thirty percent forward with your arms by your sides and your head looking down at the floor with be a nice way to thank everyone who has helped and supported you on this visit. If you need a receipt for your records just ask for a ryo-shu-sho.

Note: This is a summary of my experiences and may be different to yours, please check carefully before undertaking treatment to ensure correct procedure and cost before starting so that it meets your needs and budget. If unsure do not proceed.



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