Brilliant Japanese Ideas That the World Should Adopt

Most visitors to Japan fall in love with the country and its distinct style almost immediately. It isn't easy to pinpoint exactly what makes that place so magical: the food, the culture, the politeness. For us, there was one thing in particular that stood out and demanded that we write about it: the amazing Japanese items that seemed so foreign to us but are completely normal to the people there - and they're a pretty genius.

Cotton T-Shirts that are Compressed and Comfortable

One amazing feature of this product is its ability to maximize space in such a creative way. Rather than having to sort through rows of clothing racks to find their next shirt, this compressed t-shirt makes clothing shopping as simple as picking up a cube from a bin. It's not like these are scratchy or low-quality shirts; one such one-of-a-kind shirt can sell for nearly $20.

Single Coffee Filter Packs

Most coffee connoisseurs agree that the best way to enjoy this caffeinated beverage is to make it using a technique known as the pour-over method. The pour-over method entails using a filter, then slowly pouring a kettle of boiling hot water over the top of the ground coffee beans. This helps the coffee release its natural flavors, but it is time-consuming. Fortunately, the Japanese have a solution.

Smartphone Cleaning with Toilet Paper

It's only called toilet paper because it comes in rolls like the toilet paper we see in bathrooms, but it serves a very different purpose. This toilet paper was created specifically for cleaning cell phones, so you won't have to worry about smudges and other bits of dirt on your screen while browsing the web or texting your friends. The best part is that it even includes instructions for connecting to local Wi-Fi.

Flights demonstrate what the pilot sees

We're probably used to seeing screens that show us where we are as we fly around the world. But have you ever considered what it must be like for a pilot to have that incredible view while flying a plane? You can actually share in their experience as you watch them soar over the Earth on this Japanese airline. Those breathtaking scenes almost make us wish we had gone to flight school.

Houses with Family Name Plates

People in Japan appear to be proud of their surroundings, and this extends to their homes. Families putting nameplates on the front of their houses has become commonplace in Japan. This custom is thought to have started after the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923. Many people were forced to rebuild after losing their homes. People used nameplates instead of numbers because it took cities a long time to mark homes with numbers.

Hotel Capsules that are Small and Private

No other country in the world can compete with Japan in terms of convenience and space. Whereas we're used to having plenty of open space and large hotel rooms to stay in in the United States, the Japanese had to get a little creative. As a result, they created the private pod capsule, which includes television and Wi-Fi for all stays. The best part is that it is extremely inexpensive, which will appeal to budget travelers.

Drivers Who Are Concerned About Passengers

The Japanese have a deep respect and service culture that they extend to both locals and visitors. As seen here, the driver made a point of stepping out of the bus and opening his umbrella so that passengers would not get wet as they exited the bus and opened their umbrellas. Meanwhile, in most parts of the world, bus drivers will simply yell at you for not getting off quickly enough or will abandon you in the cold.

Create Your Ideal Pillow

Whereas most hotels have a "you get what you pay for" mentality, Japan is anything but. There, you can choose from a wide variety of pillows based on your personal preferences. That includes everything from how tall, dense, bouncy, or filled your pillow is to what color you want it to be. As previously stated, the Japanese place a high value on customer service, so you can rest assured that you'll get a good night's sleep.

Noodles With a Pringles Flavor

Noodles are a tasty dietary item that is popular in Japan. There's no doubt that no matter where you go in this vast country, you won't be able to find a cafe or restaurant that doesn't serve a bowl of delicious noodles. This item is great because it looks like Japan and the United States are meeting in the middle. Pringles, an American company, decided to collaborate with a local Japanese company to provide us with delicious Pringles-flavored noodles.

Compared to Godzilla, Bridge Heights

Godzilla was a huge hit in both Japan and the United States when it first came out. People waited in line outside movie theaters to see this massive monster emerge from the depths and destroy some of Japan's most beloved landmarks. Even though the original film is nearly 60 years old, it is still popular in Japan, and here we can see a bridge height that is referenced by the height of this iconic national movie monster.

Glasses for anyone who requires them

Anyone who wears glasses knows how frustrating it is to realize you've left the house without them. Fortunately, there is a solution in Japan: leaving extra pairs out to help people cope with their all-too-common errors. This is such a small and simple gesture that the Japanese are probably used to, but it would completely blow most Americans away. That spirit of helping one another is something we should all strive for.

Bread with pre-cut crusts

It's difficult to say how many people prefer their sandwiches with or without the crust. That could be an interesting poll to conduct to determine where people's preferences lie. It appears that they felt there were enough people in Japan who would prefer to eat their sandwiches without the crust. Instead of shrugging and saying "too bad" to those who prefer their sandwiches without crust, the Japanese decided to sell them for their convenience.

Lovely Manhole Covers

Many people believe that attention to detail is an extremely important quality. Rather than leaving an ordinary manhole cover on the ground that does not look particularly appealing, the Japanese would prefer to carve a beautiful design into them for people to enjoy.

Anyone Can Use Strollers

Many times, parents are walking around with their children when they encounter a problem: they still have a few errands to run, but their children are completely exhausted. Rather than making everyone uncomfortable by dragging their tired children from store to store while they cry and beg to go home, Japanese malls provide strollers for people walking throughout the mall. That means there must be fewer crying babies over there.

Cold Foods on Dry Ice

We can't believe such a simple and brilliant idea hasn't been brought back to not only the United States but the rest of the world. We've all purchased cold products only to return home to find that they've already melted. In Japan, you can always go to the dry ice dispenser and get a few dry ice balls to ensure that everything stays cold and nothing melts.

Employees of an airline bow to passengers

The amount of respect that Japanese people have for their customers cannot be overstated. In the United States, we may believe that "the customer is always right," but in Japan, that mentality is taken to a whole new level. As an apology for a delayed flight, the crew of an airplane rose from their seats and bowed to their customers. The most remarkable aspect is that the late plane was most likely not their fault.

Carts to Transport Heavy Objects

Imagine seeing something like this in America. Moving all of these boxes up those flights of stairs would most likely require four or five people. They'd all be sweaty and tired by the end of that difficult task. If Japan is known for anything, it is its love of technology and innovation. In this case, they have an ingenious cart that can assist a single person in carrying heavy objects up flights of stairs.

You Can Learn While You Eat

This lunch is not only delicious and actually quite healthy, but it is also educational. The map on the box in front of the food shows where in Japan all of the food in your tray originated. This probably helps people appreciate what they're eating because they know it came from all over the country and ended up in a tray for them to enjoy. It also serves as a reminder to be more mindful.

Nature's beauty and appreciation

Imagine if each apartment building had its own beautiful plant that was provided by the city. Knowing that we are not only caring for a plant, but also for the beauty of our city, may make us feel more connected to where we live. Unlike large grassy lawns found in suburban areas, these plants require far less water and maintenance, making them far more environmentally friendly.

Keep a Fitness Journal

Have you ever debated whether to take the stairs or the elevator? In Japan, for example, they try to encourage their citizens to do small things that can help them burn a few calories here and there. As a result, they actually paint how many calories you burn per stair on the stairs! While it isn't much per step, about 0.1 calories per step, if you do that every day, you will have burned quite a few calories.