9 Crazy Things Possible Only in Japan

There are some things in Japan that are really shocking. Before you go to Japan, make sure that you are not overweight, that you carry your trash with you, and remember that only some people are allowed to swim in pools.

Bright Side has made a list of the most unusual things that there are in Japan. At the end of the article, there is a bonus about the weirdest trend in Japan.

9. You can’t buy some medications.

Most medications which can easily be bought in other countries can be bought only by prescription in Japan. For example, inhalers and some allergy medication can be bought only if it is prescribed by a doctor.

8. There are severe restrictions on how you can name a child.

In Japan, there are very severe rules on how you can name a child because the Japanese believe in the strength of the name and the fact that it influences a person’s fate. Parents don’t have the right to choose a name that can seem ambiguous or sound negative. For example, in 1993, some parents wanted to name their child “Akuma” which can be translated as “devil.” The parents were sued, and the baby was given a different, a more “positive” name.

7. You can’t be overweight.

Since 2008, there has been “The Metabolaw” in Japan. This way, the government is trying to fight against citizens being overweight. According to the law, people from 40 to 75 years old have their waist measured. For men, it shouldn’t be more than 34 inches, for women — not more than 35 inches. In case a person is more overweight than that, the Japanese are prescribed special medical support to control the weight. There are no penalties or fines.

6. You can’t throw away money.

This is a very strange rule: in Japan, it is prohibited to throw away or damage money. Otherwise, the person may be sentenced to one year in jail or a $2,000 fine.

5. Dumpsters in public places are prohibited.

You won’t see a dumpster in a public place in Japan. This rule is connected to the culture itself: since childhood, the Japanese are taught to sort the trash and throw it away at home. And another reason is that there was a terrorist attack in the Tokyo subway in 1995 and the government decided to get rid of the trashcans where a bomb could be planted.

4. You can’t dance in night clubs.

The Japanese law says that you can’t dance in places that are smaller than 710 sq ft. And in order to open a dance club, you need to get a special dance license.

3. You can’t go fishing without a license.

This rule works only with the fugu fish. The thing is if you cook it wrong, it will become deadly for people. That’s why only the people who have a special license can catch this fish and cook it.

2. You can’t visit pools and saunas if you have tattoos.

There is no formal law about the prohibition of tattoos. However, there are signs in public places which prohibit the people who have tattoos to visit swimming pools and saunas. This rule extends to both the Japanese and tourists.

1. Women have to wear bras.

Women in Japan have to wear bras in the buildings where there is an air conditioner. This law was designed to avoid sexual harassment at work.

Bonus: the poop trend

There are a lot of poop-themed things in Japan, for example, a cafe where you can eat food that resembles poo or even vomit. Or even an actual museum of poop! There you can see all kinds of poop — even poop from animals. You can buy a hat that looks like poop. There is even a chorus of singing toilets! Who might want to see something like this? People in Japan are not embarrassed to talk about things like this so it’s not a big deal for them.

Would you like your country to have such rules set in place? Tell us what you think in the comment section below!