Japanese Rule of 7 uses cookies to ensure you have a great web experience. The famous coffee chain Starbucks was found in 1971. Destinations Food & Drink News Stay Video How do you navigate daily life. Let me know when you give up on that one. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Starbucks, the global coffee chain company is starting to try and do things a little differently. “So you would like a coffee in Grande size?” she asked. You choose to live there because you love those little quirks, right? Later, I learned that it’s often possible to have a credit card purchase broken into two or three separate charges. Certainly there will be slight differences. I wonder what the world was like before McDonald’s and KFC? Which is to say that even if you know zero Japanese, you can easily handle interactions simply by knowing what to expect. Laptop bags are supposed to be flat, but I still have the image of mine shaped like a dirigible on my way home from the supermarket. Try them as they come, or try customizing using our flavored syrups. The response was a question somehow involving “ikkai” and “nikai” – “one time” and “two times”. Like you and most people reading this, I love Japan, but sometimes we need the occasional ranting space, and the fact that you do so in full awareness of the irony of the situations you creatively describe to us doesn’t come across as mere expat-whining to me, Clay Clay Gary’s angry “only I respect Japan” rant against “ranting” aside. While Starbucks is fairly uniform with what they offer drink-wise in countries across the world, the Japanese with their love of limited-time promotions get some drinks that may never see the light of day in other countries and have certainly never been offered here in the U.S. I’m always nodding and either saying hai, sumimasen, or arrigato gaizo masu. There’s probably only a dozen things that a person working a register could ever possibly say to you, and once you figure those out . Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Japanese Starbucks cafes also have a quiet and peaceful ambience when compared to other global locations. For years, Starbucks had little competition both at … Playing a little dumb, after I bagged my groceries, I went towards the exit and with a sneaky movement I dropped the coin in one of those shopping baskets stacks near the entrance door. Starbucks Japan Geography Series offers tumbler, mug and stainless bottle with limited designs collaborating with 18 cities in Japan including Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hokkaido and Okinawa. Most notably, their specialty product Frappuccino has attracted us with brand-new and familiar lineups. I was totally at a loss, and the cashier simply repeated the question. Sakura Blossom Cream Frappuccino, inspired by Japanese symbol cherry blossoms, tastes not only sweet but unique. Hats off on you Mr. Seeroi, you are on my “I’d sell my soul to meet this person and have a conversation” list. Also, in California and many countries in Europe, bringing your own bag is now a very common environmentally-friendly practice. I’m in kanmecho visiting with my family from US and i went into Starbucks yesterday in Shinjuku an i so tried to figure out what was being asked of me. I dunno, I felt pretty humorous and lovey when I wrote it, but maybe that didn’t come across. What this means is, “Do you need a plastic bag or can I just affix this tape sticker as proof of purchase?”  So yes, Seal okay. You know, the real trouble is I can only think straight after I have a cup of coffee, but to get one requires me to think straight. As much as that sucks, going back to the cashier and asking for a bag would be to admit not having understood Japanese perfectly, so that’s clearly out of the question. 1165 of those shops are in Japan (data from December 2015). The Tokyo Roastery was built “from the ground up,” in collaboration with Japanese architect Kengo Kuma; the coffee cask is the largest Starbucks Roastery cask ever, at 55 feet tall. There’s no substitute for experience. The fact that they offer free gift-wrapping is still an amazing concept to me, as is the fact that pizza delivery doesn’t charge for delivery!? I laughed bad when I read that “yes” was your default answer to every question you don’t understand, I think we all went through the automatic “はい” phase. "The Japanese love American brands." Kane means “bell” in Japanese and the scenic street gets its name from a bell tower that is just next to the Starbucks location. Probably the best thing to do is ask a Japanese person, What are they saying? It was in front of a Starbucks in a subway station. And in the U.S., when you walk into Starbucks, you order a cup of coffee and that’s what you get, at least after the employee finishes updating her Facebook page on her iPod. It’s pretty easy, really. Starbucks Infused With Traditional Japanese Culture. “I mean, you gotta make a profit, so keep up the good work. Was she calling a supervisor? It’s pretty easy, really. Make friends with someone at a table, take your coffee outside, stand by the garbage cans–it’s entirely up to you. You also made me remember that day when I bought a box of those delicious soda flavored ice-cream bars. Japan’s waiting for you. I was at someone’s house once, and the mother was serving dinner. . Tatami mats, silk cushions, a Japanese garden. Light, sweet, and … But maybe that’s why Japanese people are so thin, I don’t know. It can be a frustrating place to live sometimes with all of the procedural compulsions, but why not have a little more humor and love in your tone? System hacked! I know, sometimes I look at a sign and I’m like, say what? I need to get into a Japanese class and learn some conversational language to help while I bumble through the situations I don’t understand yet. The clerk asked me, “Is this for your home consumption?” and I was like, Well if I say “yes,” he’ll know I’m a drunk, so how about I just say “no.”  At which point he proceeded to wrap it like a Christmas present. We’ve been living in Okinawa for just over 2 months now, and I always get tripped up at the stores. But instead of saying “Welcome,” she blurted out, “Right now, all the seats are full,” in Japanese. 10 Starbucks Japan Fun Facts. The collection features famous sights and motifs from each city such as a geisha girl in Kyoto, the great Buddha statue in Nara and Takoyaki in Osaka. At restaurants, the dry cleaner, the gas station, there are dozens of these types of patterns in Japan, as there are in every country. the police? Famous for introducing its stores with their similar style and operations across the globe, with increasing competition, the company has had to think about how it can move with the times and have a wider offering of store types. A bit late to the party I know, but I’ve actually just been to that exact same Starbucks and found this article while trying to find out where I went wrong. I went against my own default answer the first time I bought a bottle of sake in the basement of a Japanese department store. Okay, so maybe it’s just me. If so, I’d suggest you inject a little more love in your rants–it will make them funnier and more fun to read. Commander. “You do understand that our seats are full,” she said. My direst moment was when I first arrived and ventured out to buy a toaster oven. They’ll gesture, grunt, or repeat the same phrase over and over, whereas if they simply used, uh, words and sentences, you’d get it. Best Match. Maybe you can do a post on holier than thou expats who feel the need to showoff their level of cultural acceptance and immersion, typically by contrasting themselves to “those other, less invested” expats. So I know I obviously will not do without. But, what if you were in Japan? Your email address will not be published. Across Japan, Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing partners studying Japanese Sign Language (JSL) have been creating more ways for their customers to connect with the Deaf community through sign language, including signing classes at their local stores, as well as coffee education seminars presented in sign language. Go to next slide - Best Selling. Like, how about this hotel name: シェモア . You like living there, right? There are over 1,400 Starbucks locations in Japan. The menu will of course be in Japanese and hopefully English too, but it will smell the same, taste the same, and if I get homesick I can close my eyes breathe it all in and make believe I'm home. Or just go to more stores. I think it describes reality as a foreigner in Japan very well. “Modern Japan” – Kawagoe’s Starbucks Marries Traditional Japan! As of June 2015, the company has 22,519 shops around the world. In Japan I often stick with option number 3, and so I did that time. It is horrible that I actually considered changing our housing plans because of that. Designers of the Kyoto Nineizaka Yasaka Tea House store embraced the local culture of historic Kyoto. In my imagination, I was sure some zealous worker with a super-tidy apron would have solved the issue during his/her overtime and put the coin back to the place it belonged. My Japanese communication partner interpreted this as me being a clueless foreigner (as is custom in Japan). The espresso based Starbucks beverages such as Starbucks latte and cappuccino are blended with "Espresso Roast", the heart and soul of Starbucks. That is Starbucks in Japanese. Whatever, once I make a plan, I stick with it. Thanks much. Ordering coffee at starbucks is almost always a hassel even in English. Oh, and you do know that だいじょうぶ generally means “no,” and not “yes,” right? It’s not just Japanese folks, of course, although they do have a tendency to switch off all communicative ability when they encounter someone different from themselves. I was so confused the first time walking into a packed starbucks and waited 20mins in line of actually knowing nothing abt wut I wad doing….and with a wrong order …. However, no more ice-cream boxes since that day. Architecture. well, then it won’t be as much fun anymore. Over 680,000 kilograms of coffee beans roasted here will be supplied to the Japanese market. Your email address will not be published. I understood the words all right, but why was she saying them? Foiled again. Still, I survived my first hair cut yesterday and it’s not a complete disaster, so だいじょうぶ must be OK. Yeah, I’ve probably made every mistake in the book. . So as Steve Jobs said, Stay hungry, and stay ignorant. Anyway, that’s what I thought. Starbucks arrived to Japan in 1995, but has already gained a great amount of popularity due to Japanese people's obsession with the magic bean drink. I remember it clearly because it was a sunny day and I was sweating like a Shiba, having just walked back from a sushi lunch in Tsukiji wearing a suit. And the rice never came, which was disappointing. Translation for 'Starbucks' in the free English-Japanese dictionary and many other Japanese translations. I looked behind me, like maybe she was talking to someone else, but it was like the Sahara back there. 3) Use some creative expedient. Starbucks Delivers en exclusivité avec Deliveroo Faites-vous livrer vos plats et boissons préférés à votre porte ! It was also my first time buying some frozen food and that procedure was totally new to me. So after a few years I had pretty much everything figured out customs-wise and language-wise. Okay, Starbucks too. Oh how strangely alike we are! The moment I stepped through the door, a young lady in black and green greeted me. For example, if you buy a single pack of gum at a 7-11, the cashier will almost certainly ask you, “Seal okay?”  It’s a simple question, but even after years of studying Japanese, I didn’t understand it the first time I heard it. The interior of this new Starbucks Japan however, boast modern elements of concrete and steel, paying attention to Japanese furniture. Since I’m in US now for 6 months and feel a lot like you when I’m in Starbucks to buy a cup of coffee. Problem solved. And around we went. I wish Id read this earlier. Pathetic. “Is it okay that the seats are full?” she asked. Santa Bearista is here to sacrifice himself for your taste buds. It’s a no-no if you have to walk for 10 minutes on tiny (or inexistent) sidewalks. Japanese consumers already drink canned coffee drinks sold in machines. Building on 22 years of service to Japanese customers across the market, and Starbucks 47-year history of sourcing, roasting and brewing the finest coffees from around the world, Starbucks today announced it will open the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo on February 28, 2019 in the upscale Nakameguro district. Starbucks fifth Roastery globally, the Tokyo Roastery will be the first of … But Japanese etiquette dictates that Starbucks customers be called by the items they order, not their names. Find your favorite. You know, it’s pretty hard to tell if an elevator is actually moving or not. The bottom line is that, no matter how good your Japanese is, it won’t help you a bit until you’ve figured out the flow of things. I am panicked because our next duty station (or the current one I don't live at right now, rather) doesn't have one on post. Coffee’s just about all they sell, so they’ll definitely figure it out. The chips just come out a bit smaller, but it’s definitely doable. Navigating a Japanese Starbucks The first time I walked into a Japanese Starbucks, I thought I was ready. So your referring to this as a “bizarro Italian-English-Japanese-word hybrid” from your first paragraph reveals a bias of yours that undermines your credibility from the start of your rant. You’ve clearly spent a lot of time in Japan (I’ve spent 20 years myself) and since you’ve bothered to learn Japanese, I assume you like it. Required fields are marked *. I think that’s what he said anyway. I could have paid cash, but handed over my credit card. Sight in Tokyo Starbucks Roastery Tokyo. Whew, glad those days are behind us. Before they serve you a cup of coffee, they want to be sure you aren’t confounded by the lack of chairs. Starbucks has grown from a small Seattle coffee company to a massive global chain, and while you can get the Starbucks classic drinks all over the world, there are a few items that are exclusive to one country - and some of the best are found in Starbucks Japan! Over 680,000 kilograms of coffee beans roasted here will be supplied to the Japanese market. see all line-up: The very cool, refreshing tastes of Starbucks Frappuccino® beverages. 5 out of 5 stars (3) Total Ratings 3, $55.06 New. Starbucks Japan has exploded since originally launching its first coffee shop in Ginza in 1996, with now well over 1,000 stores across the country. Your language ability only helps you so far. My default answer is “だいじょうぶ”. Starbucks arrived to Japan in 1995, but has already gained a great amount of popularity due to Japanese people's obsession with the magic bean drink. hahaha that is to funny, so if you would have just said you were fine with the seats being full could you have gotten your coffee and left. I also had to go through this kind of learning. 1. But my default phrase isn’t that great when they’re not asking a yes/no question such as the time they asked if I wanted something gift-wrapped and I had no clue what they were saying. Okay, well this week it is. Since opening its first outlet … Sakura Blossom Cream Frappuccino’s indisputably won the first place in the 2017’s Starbucks ranking. The full word in katakana is スターバックス, but colloquially people usually leave out the -クス . This story and (almost) all of the comments made me laugh so hard. Don’t forget the “atatamemasu ka” (“do you want it heated up?”) that you hear every time you buy some heatable food from a convenience store. Actually, Starbucks is one of the more complicated interactions you can have in Japan, especially considering all you’re trying to do is order a cup of coffee. We're passionate about the Starbucks Roast. When I was in Japan, they wrote nice things on my cups, too. Pretty sure it was at the point I got on that plane for Narita. I once failed to successfully operate an elevator that only went to two floors. Japan, I mean, not Starbucks. If it’s packed, they may line you up to wait for a seat, unlike in the U.S. where you’re free to circle the coffee shop and snatch up the first seat that becomes available in an adult version of Musical Chairs. But, to be honest, I prefer that tone to the unapologetic but even firmer Chinese variant, which is basically a shrill and highly visible argument in your broken attempts to communicate as onlookers gather to enjoy the spectacle about as quickly as flies gather on a carcass. Parenting Illustrated with Crappy Pictures. Opened in March 2019, the flagship store designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and Starbucks Chief Design Officer Liz Muller, sits alongside the Meguro river, the prime spot for cherry blossom viewing in Tokyo. I like this post very much. All the while I was learning Japanese of course. I, being rather smug about my Japanese ability, was very pissed at his insolence and admonished him in no uncertain terms, that yes, sir, I do speak Japanese quite well, I just don’t know how to do this thing, so please stop treating me like a fucking pre-schooler and explain it to me, like you would any sane adult! By the way, did you know you can fit a large can of beer and a bag of potato chips into the pockets of your jeans? The Sakura latte is inspired by the cherry blossoms of Spring, and is a hot creamy drink flavored with cherry blossom and topped with a rice cracker and pink strawberry chocolate. That’s all well and good for you,” I continued, “but I’d still like a cup of coffee.”. Starbucks outlets in Japan do not ask for the customer name while placing order as privacy is highly valued in Japanese culture. First of all, I’m no novice to Starbucks, having invested the monetary equivalent of a college education there, one addictive cup at a time. Subscribe to Japanese Rule of 7 and receive notifications of new posts by email. I think like you said, experience is the best teacher so you’ve just gotta make the mistake once (or a few times, in my case) before you know what they’re asking. In addition to tumblers and mugs, Starbucks Japan also offer a wide range of merchandise such as coffee presses and espresso machines. If you answer “yes” (my default answer to every question I don’t understand), you’ll be stuck having to carry your groceries home in your hands. Interactions starbucks in japanese by knowing what to expect, stand by the lack of chairs once and! 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