bjorn.again.

The japanese service culture is amazing. Me and just about everyone I have talked to agree that the service in Japan is amazing. Actually, you notice it even more if you speak some Japanese, since many japanese are shy around foreigners since because of the language barrier that exists in approximately 96.5% of all foreigner-meets-japanese-person-cases. Those who have travelled back to Europe after having lived in Japan for some time are also very much in agreement that service back in Europe sucks bigtime.

An example: I was recently in London, and going into just about any shop or restaurant would get me a sullen “Whaddayawanthere?” look from someone working there. Not because I looked like a homeless person (I didn’t), but rather because (and this is my own humble opinion) me being there would lead to them having to work.

Let’s fly ourselves back to Japan, and we will have cheerful service everywhere, even in the sloppiest fast-food places (say Yoshinoya, Matsuya and Sukiya). At McDonalds, a large portion of the staff greets you as you walk into the place (unless there’s too much people). They smile at you, speak in a clear voice (though in Japanese, of course) and give you a fresh and hot (!) burger, without fail. In most other countries, this only happens if it’s your lucky day.

Another example, and this is one that I would love to see back in Sweden. At a clothes store in Shibuya, today, as I was paying for what I had bought, the sales clerk asked me (translated from Japanese):

“Excuse me for being rude, but would the honored customer like me to put all his things in one bag?”

This, coupled with, in many stores, the person handling your sale will often carry the bag for you and hand it over at the door of the store, while bowing deeply. See if you can beat that, everyone in Europe!