That's Japan! (Volume 7)

What is that? That rare poetic beauty, that contrasting burning complexity. That historically deep and bright futured place? Well, of course- That's Japan!
1. Chonmage - You've seen it before. If you have ever watched a samurai movie, or a sumo wrestling match-- then you have seen this beautiful hair style. It's great that the Japanese, never one to shy down from a challenge- were challenged to come up with an answer for the worst hairstyle contest held annually in Luxembourg. They needed to dethrone the reigning champion, the mullet- and hold off the new challenger at that time- the mohawk-- and they did a pretty good job at it.
2. Salt - There is a funny little bit in this video when they get to the tradition involving the salt you can find outside of sushi-ya's. A side note, you probably get it, but don't listen to the advice in the video, they don't really use their fingers- or soak the sushi in soy... About the salt, the truth of the matter is that it stems from an old Shinto tradition- the salt is meant as a way to purify-- so the plates of salt bring purity and cleanliness to the restaurant.
3. Rakugo - This may be a dying art form now in Japan, but there still seems to be some popularity of this type of Japanese entertainment. The performers sit throughout the show and usually will tell a long humorous story using no props- merely a wooden fan. This format of show has a very Japanese feel- as the performer is usually wearing kimono and is considered by most an art form.
Edit: Here is an English Rakugo performance coutesy of Yoube.
4. Omelet Rice - Take all the wholesome, filling goodness of rice and add in the delicious fluffiness that is eggs and you get what the Japanese affectionately call "Omu-Raisu". It's like those old Reese's peanut butter cup commercials- "Hey- you got your omelet in my rice"; "No, you got your Rice in my omelet!" It's actually quite a pleasantly filling meal and is often served with a not so tempting ketchup sauce. I had a good one at a restaurant served with demi glace, and sometimes the wife concocts a nice little combo- most recently with a nice sweet miso sauce. Definitely is a great example of Japanese western fusion cooking.

The beautiful view from across the street of my house every Tuesday and Friday

5. Garbage dumping spot - Back home if you have garbage to put out, usually on the designated night you leave it in your garbage can out back of your house. But in Japan each neighborhood has it's own designated spot- the gomi okiba where you are to dump your garbage- and in areas like mine, where there is no shelter built for it- you can only do it early that morning. Luckily mine is just about 10 meters from my front door...
Bonus: This video in it's humorous weirdness says a lot about what the Japanese experience is, watch it if you dare...

As Godzilla once said... "Sore wa Nippon desu!" , Which roughly translates to-- "That's Japan!"