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Tokyo Weekender
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Manga Manners: How Sailor Moon and Eren Yaeger Are Teaching Japanese Etiquette in JR Stations
Sailor Moon, Eren Yaeger and Kaneda from Akira have taken on unexpected new roles as etiquette teachers along Japan's busiest rail lines. From April 24 to June 30, characters from 17 beloved manga series are appearing at major Shinkansen stations to show foreign visitors the ins and outs of Japanese customs in a campaign called 'Manga Manners.' Initiated in collaboration with Japanese comic giant Kodansha and JR East, the project first appeared at Narita Airport last year and has now spread to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka stations just in time for the expected tourist surge during the Osaka Expo. Six new train-specific tips join eleven general pointers on navigating daily life in Japan. List of Contents: From Train Etiquette to Cultural Customs Where to Spot These Manga Guides Related Posts Manga Manners (Waiting Rooms in Kyoto Station) Manga Manners (Shinkansen North Exit in Shinagawa Station) From Train Etiquette to Cultural Customs Walking through these stations, you'll spot familiar faces from Attack on Titan, Cardcaptor Sakura , and Ghost in the Shell delivering practical advice through colorful panels. Each uses a panel from the manga to illustrate everything from essential cultural customs to travel hacks. Some tips focus on train etiquette: The Colossal Titan of Attack on Titan warns against standing too close to the railings, while Migi from Parasyte lines up in a row to remind visitors to wait in line before boarding trains or buses. Others tackle broader cultural differences: Fire Force characters assure visitors that slurping noodles isn't rude (it's encouraged), and Usagi Tsukino and Chibiusa from Sailor Moon demonstrate the correct way to wear a kimono. The advice ranges from practical safety tips to bath etiquette. There's even a tip on how to toast — a panel showing the main trio of Chiikawa raising their glasses with a gleeful 'Kanpai!' Where To Find These Manga Guides If you're traveling on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, you'll find these colorful manga panels strategically placed throughout five major stations. In Tokyo Station, look near the Nihombashi exit gates, inside the waiting room near the Yaesu South exit, and in the second-floor concourse. Shinagawa Station displays panels inside the Shinkansen North entrance, near transfer gates, on the platforms and by the coin lockers near the South exit. Kyoto and Shin-Osaka stations feature the displays in the waiting areas, making them perfect viewing while you're killing time before your train. Meanwhile, Nagoya Station shows the manga guides on digital signage during select periods of the campaign. The displays are impossible to miss with their vibrant colors and recognizable characters, and many are positioned to catch your eye while you're naturally waiting for trains. Some panels require passing through ticket gates to view, but many are accessible in public areas of the stations. If you're passing through, keep an eye out for the limited-edition pamphlets being handed out to international travelers at participating stations. These pocket guides collect all 17 tips in one place — perfect souvenirs that are both useful and uniquely Japanese. Related Posts Tokyo Ghoul Creator Sui Ishida Debuts New Manga Duckweed in Ultra Jump From Nana to Paradise Kiss: Ai Yazawa's Iconic Manga Are Coming to Uniqlo 205 Japanese Manga Artists Contribute to Charity Auction for Noto Earthquake Victims
Japan Today
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Sailor Moon and others teach foreign tourists Japanese etiquette in Manga Manners art series
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24 Manners are important in Japan, and while most of the country's etiquette has its roots in common sense, certain points might not be so intuitive for visitors from other parts of the world. Thankfully, people in Japan are pretty understanding of innocent mistakes, and the locals are often happy to explain the most useful aspects of Japanese etiquette, and those helpful locals now include Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura. Manga Manners is a series of informative poster-style art panels featuring characters from popular series from publisher Kodansha who give quick single-point pieces of advice about Japanese manners and customs. The Manga Manners project made its debut in the international arrivals area of Narita Airport, and now it's come to Japan's rail network. The displays can be seen in the Shinkansen sections of Tokyo, Shinagawa, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin Osaka Stations, with six brand-new designs bringing the total number of represented series up to 17. The complete list of series consists of Chiikawa, Fire Force, The Seven Deadly Sins, Ghost in the Shell, Shota no Sushi, Sailor Moon, Tokyo Revengers, Skip and Loafer, Attack on Titan, Cardcaptor Sakura, Akira, Blue Lock, Parasyte, Cells at Work, Fairy Tail, Medalist, and Kaiji. ▼ There's also a Manga Manners pamphlet, available in limited quantities at the stations, showing the whole group. A broad range of topics are covered, some of which are rules which will cause genuine offense if not followed, such as the explanation that you're supposed to wash your body before entering the communal tub at public baths or hot springs, or that there are places in Japan where you'll be required to remove your shoes before entering. Others are a bit more on the side of advice to help you enjoy your time in Japan to the fullest, like Chiikawa teaching visitors that 'Kanpai!' is what you say as a toast when drinking together with someone in Japan, or Fire Force's Shinra letting you know it's OK to slurp Japanese noodles. The selected manga panels highlight the point being covered too. Sailor Moon for example, is dressed in a kimono on the poster where she explains that the left side of the robe goes over the right, even for women. Likewise, "Ghost in the Shell's" Major Kusanagi raises a sake cup as she informs everyone that the legal drinking age in Japan is 20 (and if you are old enough to drink, you'll know to give the Major a hearty 'Kanpai!' thanks to what you learned from Chiikawa). A few of the panels relate more to safety than etiquette, but are still good to keep in mind. Akira biker Kaneda's reminder that vehicles drive on the left in Japan is especially important if you're visiting from the U.S. or another drives-on-the-right country, since you'll need to remember to reverse your muscle memory and look first to your right to check for traffic when crossing the street, not to your left like you would at home. ▼ In a more manners-related corollary, Japan driving on the left also means that it's the custom for people to walk on the left on sidewalks, in station passageways, and so on. Really, the only point of advice that feels like it might be a little overblown is Cardcaptor Sakura's, which says that 'A bow at 45 degrees is customary to show gratitude.' Honestly, such a deep bow is probably a bit much for the kind of situations most travelers are likely to encounter (thanking restaurant staff at the end of the meal, showing appreciation for someone who pointed you toward the station exit you're looking for, etc.), and a less pronounced bending at the hips is fine, and likely a little more natural. That said, a 45-degree bow isn't impolite, and it is in keeping with Sakura's earnest, pure-hearted personality. The Manga Manners displays will be up until the end of June, but the advice they give will be useful no matter when you're traveling in Japan. Source, images: PR Times Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers -- Japanese Twitter rolls eyes at book teaching 'manners 90 percent of Japanese people don't know' -- Tokyo shrine hosts event for anime fans ready to let go and recycle character keychains, standees External Link © SoraNews24
