Twenty Six Days in Japan

A few quick observations:

Language:

• Spoken Japanese is probably easier to learn for English speakers because about 10% of the modern Japanese words are English loan words. Nouns, verbs, the whole array.
  
• Chinese folks can read a lot of the old/basic Japanese words and vice versa. Yay Chinese symbols?
  

Western Influence:

• Westernization in Japan is a complex issue.
  
• Nowadays, more of an augmentation to their own style than wanting to be or see westerners. The presence of gaijin actually cramps their style, I think.

New and curious things for me:

• Deep, low, prolonged bowing in the elevator area. (not in my company, btw). Slows things down.
• Japanese jam bands. They exist. I sense a strong Pat Metheny influence.
• Prevalence of curry in Japan. It's everywhere. Better than Indian curry according to my Japanese colleagues. I like both.
  
• I'll skip commenting on the obvious differences from NYC like being polite, courteous to a fault. Waiting for traffic signals vs walking into traffic at will (I think NYC is somewhat unique in pedestrian hegemony).
  

Overall, so far so good. Nihongo benkyo shimas. Ja mata ne...