Yeah, fruit and veg is expensive! It's not uncommon to eat alot of meals in Japan with no vegies (beside cabbage)- rice and meat/ fish are the staples. I paid around $2 Australian for an apple once
And I must say it was the best apple I've ever eaten.
Japan is not like Australia, America or England where nearly every person is of mixed descent. It's just the norm for us, to see different looking people speaking in different tongues every day.
However, in Japan, it's a real spectacle for native Japanese to see a person from another country for some reason. So if you arent Japanese be prepared to be stared at wherever you go! This is good for the outgoing attention lovers, and I loved it at first~being "different"~ but after living there for 10 months it was a little tiring, I just wanted to fit in.
I think the saddest part about Japan, however, is suicide. Suicide happens everywhere but Japan's suicide rate is higher than that of any other country, and not just adults- children are taking their own lives too. It's totally incomprehensible for me as to why 12 or 13 year olds would do such a thing. Surely they could talk to someone if they were troubled? If they were being bullied at school, why can't their parents talk to them and reassure them and tell them they are special and loved? Why do they want to end their lives when they haven't even lived yet?
When you take a look at the Japanese psyche and way of life, it becomes a little more understandable. Still incomprehensible, but more understandable, if that makes any sense at all. I think it boils down to pressure. Pressure to be the best academic, the best sportsman, to always put in 100% in whatever they do. School, club practice and cram school take up a typical students life, it IS their life, so if one of those aspects falls apart, its easy to see that the student may feel their life is falling apart. They may feel they have nothing to live for. If a student is bullied, then they have to keep all of that negativity on themselves. Japanese people on the whole are reserved people. They don't say directly what they are thinking or how they are feeling, so it's difficult for most people to confide in someone if they are having troubles, even if that someone is a family member.
Also, because suicide is something that occurs frequently, alot of kids would see it on the news and start to think that it's a valid option out of unhappiness. It's so sad, and something that can't be solved easily, if at all. I think we can all play a little part though, just by taking the time to talk to Japanese people, Japanese kids and by opening up ourselves, make them see that it's okay to open up, confide in people and ask for help. Not just in Japan either, but the world over.
All the world needs is LOVE.
Peace
xx