Growing up in the U.S., I had always been pretty jaded with customer service. At best, I’d get a cashier thanking me for my patronage (in response to which I would sometimes awkwardly say, “You too!”), and at worst I’d have to remind the cashier s/he was on the clock just to get them to lazily punch in some numbers and ring up my diet coke.
Things are different in Japan. People in retail and customer service jobs practically fall all over themselves to help the customer – when they aren’t busy taking Twitter photos of themselves in ice boxes, anyway. But this Family Mart employee may put them all to shame; he’s got the whole ringing someone up routine down to superhuman levels, snatching cash out of customer’s hands and tossing it into the register with ease and confidence like he’s some kind of teetotalling flair bartender:




















Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Street Fighter Hadouken Churros to be launched and eaten in Tokyo, Okami pudding on offer too
Japanese avoiding domestic travel as foreign tourists increase, possibly creating vicious cycle
This Nara workshop has been making deer crackers for more than 100 years and offers tours【Photos】
Starbucks opens special telecommuting branch in Tokyo’s Ginza neighborhood【Photos】
Our male reporter transforms into a beautiful Japanese courtesan at Tokyo photo studio
The perfect work out equipment for your fingers is waiting inside Japanese toy vending machines
Aichi senior and former fraud victim arrested for fraud
Ghibli anime theme park unveils real-world Catbus, will start recruiting for Catbus drivers soon
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
This hot springs town in Japan sets fire across a mountain every winter in a beautiful tradition
Gundam and Reebok team up for new GQuuuuuuX Pumps【Photos】
More Shinkansen trains being added to Japan’s “golden route” to meet traveler demand
Japanese man who didn’t know how banks work defrauded out of 21 million yen
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
U.S.A. now the fastest-growing market for Japan’s high-tech toilets, now selling quicker than ever
Kyoto samurai house wants to share its history of seppuku, torture and gold coins with visitors
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
A guide to visiting Sagamiko Illumination, one of the three biggest light-ups in Kanto
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Starbucks opens special telecommuting branch in Tokyo’s Ginza neighborhood【Photos】
Our male reporter transforms into a beautiful Japanese courtesan at Tokyo photo studio
The perfect work out equipment for your fingers is waiting inside Japanese toy vending machines
Aichi senior and former fraud victim arrested for fraud
Ghibli anime theme park unveils real-world Catbus, will start recruiting for Catbus drivers soon
“Bear” voted Japan’s Kanji of the Year for 2025 in extremely close race
Japanese Cabinet to officially announce new romanization spelling recommendation next week
One Piece ship to anchor at Japanese theme park
More people in Japan quit sending New Year’s cards and many have started to regret it
Evangelion credit cards mean you will (not) need to carry cash
The etiquette rules for visiting Shinto shrines in Japan
The day our male reporter used a women’s restroom with other dudes and they learned about otohime