“I imagine their rooms are covered in that moe anime stuff as well…”

She was right!

“I was so frightened when I saw this guy at karaoke with us had the moves to an anime song down pat!”

“I cannot recognise any creepy guy who goes on about the cuteness of an anime character as a real man.”

"Isn't she the most adorable thing ever?"

“He called a girl in the game ‘my wife’! Even for a cool guy that is not happening.”

This is for real. He actually got married to a DS...

“Guys who grin to themselves whilst reading some saucy moe-manga are just the worst! Like reading porno, they shouldn’t look at that stuff in public.”

An every day sight in a Japanese convenience store

“When he starts using abnormal words like ‘de gozaimasu-zo,’ ‘-narii’ and ‘da-nyaa,’ you can’t help but think he is ota.”

Poor girls haven't a clue

“He was hot, but when he started saying ‘mogyu-mogyu’ whilst eating I just lost all interest in him.”

“Jeez, I was grossed out by last boyfriend wanting me to call him ‘****-pyon’ and ‘goshujin-sama’…”

“I was a bit worried when he started singing in a falsetto voice during an anisong at karaoke…”

The majority of these traits are reserved for only the most dedicated otaku. If anyone manages to fit the description of all nine creepy traits, then they are worthy of the title “otaku king”. Or simply “freak” depending on how you look at it.

Can you add any other traits? Let us know in the comments below!

Skipping grades would only interfere with the education system’s countless rigid rules and regulations.  Students who breeze through all of their homework and exams are destined to remain with their “average” classmates. It’s unfortunate that they aren’t allowed to reach their full potential…

No wonder he aced all of his tests!

#2 Until April of 2002, public schools had a half day of school on Saturdays

Although this rule has now passed, it’s still worth a mention. The combination of Saturday school and cram school spelled complete overkill for students nationwide. Some private schools continue to do so…

I bet students are glad that's gone...

#3 All Universities, most high schools, and some middle schools require entrance exams

Ask any Japanese student what they find morbidly distressing and they will instantly reply, “exam preparation”. However, there is good news for those students with filthy rich families; Some schools have an “elevator system” in which students can move up from Elementary School to University without taking exams!

As for private schools, parents can end up spending half of their salaries...

#4 Students who fail entrance exams  may study at prep-schools and try again the next year

Students unlucky enough to fail their exams are given the name “ronin” (roughly meaning ‘wanderer with no where to go’). This title is considered to be quite shameful within Japanese society and can be disadvantageous when looking for work after finally passing their exams. Their sole purpose is to study the whole year for the entrance exams.

"I've got a year to study so I'll do it later!"

#5 Some schools have rules saying that students must wear their uniform at all times, on or off campus

All buttons must be buttoned down. No folding or rolling up the sleeves. No extra buttons or decorations on the uniform. No dyed hair. No nail varnish. No short skirts. The list goes on. The reason these rules also apply outside of school is because the students represent their respective schools and mustn’t dishonour them. In reality, most students couldn’t care less…

Even the principle has no power when it comes to girl's fashion!

#6 Children who go to public schools go to the school in their local district

Since most school districts are small, school buses usually aren’t used (except for field trips) and parents don’t drive their children. Instead, they walk to and from school, which takes about 5 to 15 minutes in Tokyo. Seems pretty convenient. Except for when it snows…

For some reason, students don't know how to dress for winter...

#7 The only lockers are for the students’ outside shoes, anything else is kept in the classroom

Children walk to school wearing casual shoes and then change into their school shoes at the building’s entrance. They place their casual shoes in open boxed shelves with no worry that they’ll be tampered with.

If this system was in any Western country, you can say bye-bye to your Nikes

#8 Every day students have “Daily Chores”, including cleaning the classrooms, halls, and yards of their schools

“O-souji” (‘honorable cleaning’) is a period of about 15 minutes each day when all activities come to a stop, mops and buckets appears and everyone pitches in cleaning up. Often the teachers get their hands dirty by joining students. During lunchtime, sometimes donning hairnets, students help serve the meals and clear away dishes.

Responsibility is a concept the Japanese learn at a very young age

#9 Almost all students take part in an extracurricular club activity

Activities can include a wide range of sports, culture, music, art, science, cooking, tea ceremony, photography, archery, English, computers, cheer leading, manga, theater and so on. It is considered slightly strange to not be involved in a club.

I guess the English equivalent would be a fist fight in the local park...

#10 Most schoolyards are covered in dirt, asphalt or crushed limestone

In 2006, a decision was made to put turf on 2,000 primary and middle schools in the Tokyo area over the next ten years. The move was made to improve the environment for children’s outside activities and combat the urban heat island effect.

That can't be good for their lungs...

#11 Asking too many questions in the classroom is regarded as shameful for students

Often when a teacher asks for a raise of hands for an answer or opinion, he or she is greeted with silence. The same can apply when asking questions to teachers. They tend not to ask many questions. This is because students may feel it to be embarrassing or shameful to ask too many questions, as they think their classmates will see them as an incompetent person. This is mainly the case with Junior High students.

These Elementary kids have it right! Except for the boy at the back

#12 Teenagers study all the time and have little time left over for fun

Typical middle or high school students arrive home from school at around 4:00pm, has a quick snack and attends cram school classes, often three times a week from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Sometimes students attend cram school classes on weekends too! This is all for passing the looming entrance exams and nothing else. So when do they get to have fun?

At least the principal is having fun!

Which of the above surprised you the most? If you have any facts of your own, then let us know in the comments below!

I took the liberty of creating a short list of the traits which I think are relevant to people living in Japan. Of course not all apply to every foreigner living here! So without due…

It doesn't get more Japanese than this

You’ve been in Japan too long when…

…you find yourself bowing while you talk on the phone.

…you don’t hesitate to put a £50 note into a vending machine.

…you see a gaijin (foreigner) get on the train and think “Wow, it’s a gaijin!”

…you start thinking can coffee tastes good.

…when you squat while waiting or just want to relax.

Squatting and crouching are common terms. I like to call it "the poo stance"

…you think the natural location for a beer garden is on a roof.

…you ask fellow foreigners the all-important question, “How long have you been here?” in order to be able to properly categorize them.

…the TV commercials make sense to you.

…you’re taking a leak in the public toilets and are not in the least bit disturbed by the two old ladies who are cleaning and chatting within aiming distance.

…you think wet umbrellas need condoms.

100% fluid proof

…when you think children should have to walk around in the freezing cold with only short sleeves and skirts (to make them strong!).

…you fully understand the concept of “kawaii” (cute).

…when you believe that the perfect side dish to eat with a juicy, deep-fried pork fillet is a pile of raw, tasteless, shredded cabbage.

…you think that “Lets SPORTS yOUNG gAY CluB” is a perfectly normal T shirt logo for a middle aged lady.

…you run for the train while pushing people left, right and center because you know there won’t be another one for at least a minute.

Apparently, every second counts in Tokyo

…you go to a book shop with the full intention to read all the interesting magazines and put them back on the shelf.

…when you stupidly wait for a “kampai” (toast) at a gaijin party.

…you use the “slasher hand” and continuous bowing to make your way through a crowd.

…back home you patiently wait for the rear doors of a taxi to spring open for you.

…when it all seems normal…

Any of these truths hit home? Which ones sparked an interest?

So let’s take a look at what Japanese guys find cute in a girl along with my thoughts on each point:

#10     They are jealous of your previous girlfriends

Some may agree that this proves their love for you. Others may find this extremely annoying. Apparently Japanese men find this cute so it makes me wonder if they ‘accidentally’ happen to mention one of their ex-girlfriends just to see their reaction. DO NOT get them jealous for heaven’s sake!

Go for the hair pull followed by a nail slash to the face!

#9     They adopt your hobbies

I would love it if my girlfriend was passionate about games, technology and other Otaku related stuff but there’s more chance of a Gyaru becoming a conservative house wife. Adopting your hobbies out of love isn’t the way to go and it could just end up making you go insane. “Variety is the spice of life” is what they say.

Keep dreaming...

#8     They clean your place for you

Can’t argue with this one! However in my situation, it’s the other way around thanks to my mild OCD…

God help this man's girlfriend...

#7     They want to go everywhere with you

Why do Japanese men find this cute? Don’t they appreciate privacy? It’s the complete opposite in the West, as you always hear guys saying they just want a ‘boys night out’.

I wonder if they would follow the guy into a hostess bar

#6     They ask what you did if you don’t see them every day

There’s a fine line between being asked something and interrogation. I think this falls into the later. There seems to be a pattern here where Japanese men like clingy girls. Most likely their answer to them would be either “I was working” or “I passed out on the train after work“.

At least he isn't cheating behind her back!

#5     They always spend the weekend with you

I can kind of understand this because in Japan, men tend to work unearthly hours during the week. The only free time they get is when they sleep and their commute home. Of course they could get home earlier but they’d rather prefer spending their time with colleagues in izakayas!

"Do you still find me cute, dear?" "..."

#4     They ask you if you ‘love’ them on a regular basis

Surely this just shows that the girl doesn’t believe you when you say it! What’s strange about this one is that Japanese men NEVER say “I love you” to their partners or family members. It’s just not part of their culture.

"If I don't ask I don't get"

#3     They help you out with everyday things

Understandable. As previously mentioned, men are usually far too busy to cook and clean due to working shifts which can range from 10 – 15 hours! Most Japanese men are unable to fend for themselves when it comes to cooking. This is exactly why fast food chains such as Yoshinoya and Matsuya are exclusively filled with salarymen.

Japanese couples of the future

#2     They make you lunch (bentos)

Pretty much the same as the above. These lunchboxes however are a bit special. They are called “Aisaibentou” which literally translates to, “Lunchbox made with loving care”. This is considered very special within Japanese culture.

Now that is TRUE love in a (lunch) box

#1     They link arms with you

To be honest, I didn’t see this one coming. Since kissing is not publicly acceptable in Japan, the only things you can do to show of your relationship status is by holding hands or linking arms. The fact that this has placed itself as number one just reinforces the fact that Japanese men are getting more herbivorous than ever!

They must be madly in love

Any of these points ring a bell for you? Maybe there’s something I’ve missed, so let me know in the comments section below!

Number 5: Tekken 4

After the absence of Kazuya from Tekken 3, he returns in Tekken 4 with a vengeance! He is the star of this cutscene as he effortlessly decimates Heihachi’s soldiers bare handed. The best part for me is when he holds the last remaining survivor at gunpoint. Kazuya’s voice is one of the best I’ve ever heard and the fast cuts shown during the final punch really upped my heart rate!

Number 4: Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams

Yet another new hero enters the fray in the most recent Onimusha to date. The sense of scale and destruction in the Japanese village is outstanding. This features great melee combat and reveals that the new hero Soki, somehow has the ability to transform into an Oni. “Who is this man?” I thought.

Number 3: Shenmue

This game is a master piece. There was nothing like this during it’s time of release and the realistic Japanese setting really pulled me in. From the get go, the motives and characters were shrouded in mystery as Ryo Hazuki witnesses the murder of his father to Lan Di. The player is just as confused as Ryo and we can relate to his feeling of despair even though the player had only just switched on the console just a few minutes before hand. A great set up for a hunt and revenge story.

Number 2: Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening

The young Dante is as reckless as ever and boy, did he show those demons a thing or two! I must have stopped breathing while watching the amazing fight choreography as it showed over the top moves one after another. I was left so pumped by the time I gained control of him, which to me is the sign of a great action game!

Number 1: Onimusha 3: Demon Siege

$6,000,000 was spent on the intro cutscene alone! The CG graphics are worthy of any other CG Hollywood movie and it had excellent choreography to match! Seeing the impossible feat of one man destroying an entire demon army is a thing that must be seen to be believed. I watched this intro every time I started up the game because it was that good. I believe a CG Onimusha movie is in order!

What are your top 5?  What was so good about them? Let us know in the comments section below!