A ru-ru is a ru-ru is a ru-ru.

My pal from Jamaica, (or was that South Africa?) well, nonetheless he mentioned aboot the idea of repetition and job duty ingrained in Japanese culture. So I did some thinking and thought to add to his perplexion at being given 8 business cards by the same guy. Personally I would draw some less than pleasant comments and hand them back to him on the next visit...

A Study:

It must be Japanese are born to waste. being on an island, one would hope that conservational impulses would be ingrained but no no no that is not the case. Riddle me this batman, if Japan runs out of paper it can get more from Canada, Russsia or some other non-cemented place or so goes the urban legend found on www.bigdaikon.com
(among others, most of which are circulated by us non-Japanese sans perspective, but anyway...)

Ever bought a pack of gum? Well you get a bag. Want a bottle of tea? Here's a completely unrecyclable bag for ya! It is a social norm, all purchases must be bagged. Same goes for receipts. It is the law. Sometimes I feel as though I was back in Bushville and just bought some Periodicals from a special bookstore and a fifth of Jack Daniels from the corner store.

But, legit or otherwise Japan bags its consumer goods like no other place I've been. 100% recyclable (Plastic bags are usually High Density Polyethalyne or HPDE #2 or #4) but here in the archipeligo it is 100% burnable. Its a rule and that is the sticking point. They clerks get so nervous when I refuse a bag, as if it some sort of test of their abilities, as if someone will fire them for not forcing a bag upon me. To them I say, learn something from our unusual and suspicious non-Japanese ways.

Japan has ciggy shops and vending machines across Japan. Tobbacco is cheaper and more readily available here than anywhere (from a limited number of places I've been). The age to smoke is 20 years old, the same threshold for alcohol and becomming a bonified adult.
But lately a freind witnessed a student being busted for smoking by two teachers, themselves smokey joes. So how can two teachers who are chimneys themselves punish a kid for following their bad example? Well the rule says not to smoke, not because it is dangerous and an public scourage that kills millions annually, but that it is the rule. A rule is not open to discussion in Japan, rules are to be obeyed while keeping mum. And the cycle of wasted chances for social reform, for longer lives and for teachers to set good examples, wasted. All because of an inability to summon up the courage to speak up for what is logical and better for everyone.

I really need a smoke. Luckily, there is a cigarette vending machine across the street from school! Location, location, location. And the bonus is they are only about $1.25 a pack.