EXPLANATIONS THAT JAPAN IS A STRANGE AND INTERESTING PLACE

IN 1997, 685 KIDS WERE RUSHED TO HOSPITALS

AFTER WATCHING AN INTENSE POKÉMON

EPISODE THAT CAUSED DIZZINESS, VOMITING

AND SEIZURES. THE EPISODE IN QUESTION WAS

38 FROM SEASON 1. ON THIS EPISODE, PIKACHU

USES AN ELECTRIC SHOCK ON A MISSILE,

CAUSING THE SCREEN TO FLASH RED AND

BLUE RAPIDLY.

JAPAN USES 24 BILLION PAIRS OF CHOPSTICKS

EVERY YEAR

IN JAPAN, "RONALD MCDONALD" IS CALLED

"DONALD MCDONALD" BECAUSE OF THE LACK

OF A "R" SOUND

IN JAPAN, PEOPLE TYPICALLY EAT KFC ON CHRISTMAS

EVE. PEOPLE SOMETIMES PRE-ORDER BUCKETS

MONTHS IN ADVANCE

DUE TO FEARS OF YAKUZA ASSOCIATION, MANY

PUBLIC BATHS DON'T ADMIT PEOPLE WITH TATTOOS

MAGLEV TRAINS CAN TRAVEL AT SPEEDS OF OVER

500 KM/H (300 MPH) BY HOVERING OVER THE TRACKS

USING MAGNETS

SPEAKING OF MAGLEV TRAINS, JAPANESE TRAINS

ARE AMONG THE WORLD’S MOST PUNCTUAL

AVERAGING ONLY AN 18 SECOND DELAY

THE LARGEST JAPANESE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE

OF JAPAN IS IN BRAZIL