July 18th, 2008You Might Be In Japan If …
Jeff Foxworthy had audiences around North America laughing several years ago with his “You might be a redneck” jokes and, while the jokes themselves are quite dated, the setup is not. So, as a tribute to the retired comedy act, and to oddities seen around Japan, here’s my rendition of the classic joke:
- If you have a steaming-hot cup of coffee and no steam, you might be in Japan
- If girls wear skirts high enough to show their underwear, but cover their ass when going up stairs, you might be in Japan
- If the posted capacity is 60 people and you call 90 “a slow day,” you might be in Japan
- If English is the unofficial second language, but nobody can understand it, you might be in Japan
- If a large coffee is 300 mL, but a regular beer is the size of a mini-keg, you might be in Japan
- If six people are walking down a crowded street, and insist on walking shoulder-to-shoulder, you might be in Japan
- If you’re paid for five days and expected to work six, you might be in Japan
- If you see someone who looks amazing in a dress, then later find out it’s a man, you might be in Japan
- If you’ve got 15 Louis Vitton handbags, and teeth more crooked than a Ferengi, you might be in Japan
Okay … Some of these are pretty weak. That said, I’ll open the floor to you. Can you think of any good “You might be in Japan” jokes?















































The Ferengi reference was brutal.
Ok, here goes. You know you’re in Japan if 2 of the female residents in your apartment building are found dismembered and the reclusive guy who lives upstairs from you gets a 3-year sentence for abandoning a corpse and then moves back into the building when he gets out.
The dress thing applies to loads of Asian countries though…notably Thailand. But the androgyny thing is pretty classically Japanese.
I’ve never been to Japan so I can’t really add any, but having read many of your other posts, I did find it fairly humerous!
If your taxi driver speeds through downtown and uses his emergency brake to stop at a stoplight, then proceeds to turn off the engine, you might be in Japan.
The Louis Vuitton comment was my favourite and how true it is, what’s up with spending all that money on bags yet having a disgraceful set of fangs??!!
If, despite living in the world’s safest city with the most efficient lost and found, you still lock up your UMBRELLA.
You might be in Japan if you notice someone in your office speaking on the phone and bowing at the same time.