The thing I like about Japanese customer service culture is that, if e.g. a cafe serves breakfast until 11:00 AM, and you ask them at 10:59 AM whether they will make breakfast, this is a silly question. Of course they will. The thing I hate most is when you ask at 11:01 AM.
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A Japanese-speaking friend told me that the phrase normally translated into English as 'follow the rules' is actually 'defend the rules' in Japanese!
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Once arrived to check-in to a hotel in Kyoto at 2:45pm. Check-in time was 3pm. Check-in clerk politely told me to take a seat in the lobby. At 3pm exactly there was suddenly a line of 18 people waiting to check in

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I tried to order an espresso at a speciality coffee place in Fukuoka. They don’t have espresso. What? I’m standing next to the machine, I can see them making espresso. Sumimasen, only latte :( I negotiate, while they recruit more panicked baristas.
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In the end, I was able to secure a latte with milk on the side. I watch her brew the espresso. Then pour milk into a separate cup. And then froth that milk. After which, she looks at me, shakes her head questioningly, pours out the milk and hands me the espresso portion.
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It's been blowing my mind lately in London having people take custom orders. "Oh, that dish, but with an egg on top? No problem!"
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In Japan the same would provoke frowns, "I'll see what I can do", a trip to the manager or kitchen, then a firm "no I'm sorry, we can't do that"

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I love how everyone is waiting outside the shopping centre for it to be 9am and open the doors. Everyone prepares for the event 10-15 minutes early and waits on either sides of the doors so they can open perfectly on time.
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My Japanese is possibly not good enough to do it correctly, but my personal boondoggle is "can I get x with <minor modification>", to which the answer always seems to be *sucking air through teeth*
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Sounds, quite literally, like dealing with computers.
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Of all the things that might baffle me in Japan, this is one that I would have no trouble with despite occasional disappointment.
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