Don't walk and drink...

...or smoke or eat 

Every time I come to Japan, there are subtle differences I notice about our cultures. This trip made we realize how little oral restraint we have. 

In the mornings, the streets of Tokyo are busy with business men and women. Despite the volume of traffic, I have not spotted a single person walk around drinking a cup of coffee, eating breakfast, or smoking cigarettes. (The last one may be against the law). I stopped at Starbucks but I couldn't resist the urge to walk back to my hotel and drink my tiny cup of coffee. I felt like a deviant. 

In Japan, there is an overwhelming feeling of citizen's patrol - everyone is watching each other. If someone acts in an errant manner, they get dirty looks. No one needs to say anything because the look is enough. It's similar to mom shutting you up with her look of death in the museum or at the movies. 

I saw one woman eating a typical fast food meal on the train - fries, burger, and a soft drink. She started discreetly by popping fries in her mouth once every few minutes. Then she proceeded with her burger. She unwrapped it just enough that she could take a bite with the wrapper covering her face while she did it. Metaphorically the wrapper seemed to shield her actions and emotions. Throughout the meal, her neighbor would occasionally side glance a dirty look at her.

In New York, it's a regular occurrence to see people walking around with coffee or a cigarette their hand. On subway in NY, people are always eating - fries, a leftover pork chop from dinner, a sandwich, or just chewing gum. You're probably saying, "Our commute is longer," but it's probably about the same. Those who live within the city have about a 30 min commute. Those living in the outskirts, spend over an hour each way. Instead of eating, the Japanese usually sleep or read. Breakfast is usually consumed at home or a quick bowl of noodles before catching their train.

The only time you see public eating is on the Shinkansen. At the Shinkansen station and during the ride, bento boxes are sold. The boxes often usually contain rice with accompaniments like pickled or stewed vegetables, fish, or meat. They also have sandwiches with the crust cut off.

From an American point of view, the Japanese appear to have great self-restraint. From childhood, they endure rigid structure - school 6 days a week with tutoring on Sundays. An athlete, would require additional training. With so much structure, refraining from eating and drinking on the commute is probably a cinch.