First, when referring to the fascinating culture of modern Japan, there are NO basic rules or guidelines, meaning that there is nothing basic about them. When traveling for pleasure, perhaps in a large city that is familiar with tourist interaction, the standards of proper protocol are slightly more lax. To the natives that actually live in the city, they are every bit as prominent as anywhere else in Japan, but a city-dweller is more likely to recognize and accept your ignorance to their customs.

Some things, however, they will most likely hold you responsible for knowing despite how ignorantly foreign you may appear. The as-basic-as-its-gonna-get survival guidelines are as follows:

1. In Japan, cars drive on the LEFT side of the road. If you, for any reason, feel the urge to avoid Japan's fabulous, fuel-efficient and cost effective public transportation system and pilot a car for yourself, you are not likely to be easily forgiven if caught barreling down the highway into oncoming traffic, shaking your fists and cursing at the other crazy drivers going the “wrong way.” Most locations have a wide variety of inter-city travel options, such as busses, trains, trolleys, and subways designed to provide maximum mobility for even the most culturally impaired of tourists.
2. Carry a dictionary. Yes, language is an important tool for communication in pretty much every form, and no, not every member or every other country in the world knows English. If you find yourself lost, or in need of any other vital information, it is not always wise to walk up to just anyone and start asking them where stuff is in English. It is true, most Japanese citizens were required to take English as a language at some point throughout their high school education, but a surprising few have actually retained it or are exceptionally willing to use it. Japanese people may appear to be very friendly and overwhelmingly helpful, and most all of them are, but if they cannot understand what you are saying, then you are both likely to only end up frustrated and further confused. In some horrifying and rare instances, Japanese people have been known to shake off insistent, ignorant tourists by simply pointing them in a random direction without having the slightest clue what anyone was asking, just to get rid of them (*raises hand). If this happens, and you find yourself stranded in a shady part of town after dark, find a police officer (they often patrol on most major streets in large cities, making them easy to find) and ask directions from them. Most have had extensive training in English and handle confused-tourist woes all the time. Normally, if you can feed someone a few key words from your dictionary, they'll be able to figure out what you need, but the trick with that is understanding what they're saying when they've accurately assessed your needs and then try to offer help.
3. Japanese money is not American money. In Japan, they use Yen, and it is exceptionally important to become familiar with the exchange rates of Yen to dollars and reverse, and what the Yen value of certain products and services is. If you don't go in knowing what you SHOULD be paying for something, it is easy for merchants to take advantage of you and try to sell you a pack of gum for the equivalent of five American dollars.
4. Try to have a plan and know exactly where you're going before you try to get there. That's pretty much standard anywhere you go, but is especially important when navigating yourself through some of Japan's uniquely maze-like cityscapes.
5. Avoid the subway at rush hour. You will be literally “packed in” with an impossible number of sweaty strangers. It is not uncommon, quite seriously, for limbs to be broken during the transit or for babies to be smothered. If your destination is within a mile or two, do as the Japanese do and walk. You will see much more of the city that way and experience a lot more of the colorful, pleasing bouquet that is Japan. If you wish to travel a considerable distance, take a bus, trolley, or cab, if available. WOMEN!!: The subway is one of the few places where it is important to be exceptionally aware of yourself and the people (men) around you. Understanding that most men are very proud, mostly quiet and reserved, while Japanese women are meek, passive, and non-confrontational, can give you a better insight into why certain things Americans deem inappropriate, such as groping strangers on the morning transit to work, does not appear to seem inappropriate to many Japanese men. Many female tourists get violated on the trains, and if this should ever happen to you, treat the situation exactly as you would in America. Slap, kick, mace, do whatever it takes to get the point across and draw as much attention to the offending pervert as possible, and then alert the nearest authorities.
6. Avoid eating while walking. It's considered very rude. To be safe, try not to eat in public at all.
7. DO NOT LITTER. You should notice pretty quickly how amazingly clean and virtually litter-free most places in Japan are, even the big cities. They take a lot of pride in their cleanliness and frown heavily upon those who disrespect their clean streets. In Tokyo, it can be hard to find trash cans out-of-doors, as they give a bad appearance to the layout of the sidewalks, so keep that in mind while walking around.
8. Don't tip the waitress. I know that sounds off, but in Japan, waitresses will normally not accept tips, and some will consider it an insult if you try. They are paid like any other employee, so additional money is not considered a part of their fair wages. If one truly desires to show their gratitude to a waitress in a tangible manner, leave them a small gift, but it is certainly not required or expected.
9. Some tourists live and die by the way they wield their chopsticks. You probably won't be expected to know all the rules right away, but some basic ones include (1) no sucking on the chopsticks (2) no pointing at other people with the chopsticks (3) no sticking the chopsticks in rice (4) no passing food from chopstick to chopstick and (5) no serving food or passing food to another plate with the eating end of a chopstick. If you are uncomfortable with your chopstick skill level, carry your own fork with you. Not many restaurants can readily provide them, but I have never known a Japanese person to be offended by their use.
10. Some personal products are not so easily available in all of Japan. Certain items that can sometimes be tricky to find include deodorant (don't ask me why), tampons, and specific shades of makeup. Bring your own. Also, many of the hair products available, such as shampoos and conditioners, are designed for Japanese hair, which is often considerably coarser than what most Caucasians have, the result being that the Japanese products will often make your hair much more oily than what you may deem comfortable.
11. Just eat it. Don't always feel like you have to ask what's in a specific dish. Sometimes, you may not like the answer. If you open yourself up to simply try as many things as you possibly can, you are more likely to find unusual, unique dishes that you enjoy.
12. Respect the shrines. Tokyo is dotted with innumerable shrines and temples. Most of these are open to the public, but be respectful when visiting these landmarks as they are often historical and hold some religious value to many citizens.
13. Don't mess too much with the buttons on the toilets. Unless you have a taste for adventure of an unusual breed, some of the functions of the toilet require some mental preparation. Before actually “using” the toilet, fiddle a little with the control panel to find out which button does what, and mark the symbol for the button for “flush” somewhere where you can refer to it later.
14. If you are involved in an international incident of any kind, have the number to the American Consular on speed dial. If you lose your passport, or require legal assistance, they'll be your best friends.

Japan is a fascinating, beautiful, and thoroughly enjoyable country for those who have the proper common sense to survive out in the general public. Try not to let the rules and customs overwhelm you or make you hesitant to experience the country to its fullest potential. Japan has so much to offer to those who are genuinely interested in making the most of its hospitality.

The eunuchs, also known as the “impotent ones'' or Hijras, are men and boys who have been castrated through a genital reassignment surgery where the penis and testes are removed. This process is usually done through unsophisticated means, without the use of anesthesia or antibiotics. Some of the Hijras go through this process voluntarily while others are forced into it. The “lucky” ones are the intersexual ones, who do not have to go through any surgery to become Hijras.

This tradition has been in India for generations and as of 1990, studies say there were 50,000 Hijras. Their exact number today is unknown but they still live in some parts of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Modernization of the Indian society has, however, reduced their chances of getting decent jobs and some have turned to prostitution as a means of livelihood.

Another similar tradition occurred in China, before the Sui Dynasty, where eunuchs worked with the Imperial Service and gained a lot of power in the society.

The Fulani Sharo Tradition

“Sharo” means flogging. It is a public ceremony that demonstrates to the society that a young man has come of age, and may take a wife. The young participant is continuously whipped by someone else, called a challenger, but he must show no signs of pain. Blood and injuries are usually sustained. Many have died in this ceremony and survivors are deemed courageous.

The tradition is common amongst a group of people known as the Fulanis and they can be found in Mali, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and some other parts of Africa.

The Sati Culture in India

Sati is an ancient culture that existed amongst the Hindus in India, where a woman would burn herself on her dead husband's funeral fire. It was considered an honorable act and the widow was believed to enter straight into heaven, as a reward for her sacrifice. She became a goddess and statues were built in her honor.

The act was banned by the British Government, but in the late 1980s, an instance was reported. Another case was also reported in 2002.

The Prevention of Sati Act now makes it illegal to aid, glorify or commit Sati. All offenses are punishable under the law.

Chinese Foot Binding

This was an ancient and extremely painful tradition practiced by the Chinese. An estimated 5 billion Chinese women were subjected to excruciating pain in a bid to make their feet look elegant.

From as little as the age of four, a young girl would have her feet bound tightly with bandages by elderly women. These bandages were kept on, but were changed regularly and increasingly tightened. The general aim of foot binding was to keep the foot at a desired size of 3-4 inches.

After years of agonizing pain, toe deformation and tight bandages, the girl would end up with a pair of tiny, folded feet.

Some of the women, who didn't die in the process from infections like gangrene, lost the convenient use of their toes.

Despite the fact that walking and running were almost impossible for these women, those who didn't take part in the tradition were deemed disrespectful. They were ostracized and it was difficult for them to find husbands. Their toes were considered ugly and unattractive.

Even though the tradition was outlawed, it still continued until the 1930s.

Now that I have tempted you into booking a flight to the USA immediately, its only fair that I inform you of what you will be treated to before you arrive…the flight. To demonstrate just what is in store, I would like to recount a recent flight I made to New York before catching a connection to Washington DC.

I set off for the airport early with the weather cool. The airport was blissfully quiet and after an uneventful check in, I was given "the forms". The forms provide, in my eyes, the first section of in flight entertainment! They consist of two pieces of bureaucracy. The first inquires about the value of the goods I am bringing into America and the other is the Visa Waiver. Basically, the waiver allows me to enter the US for 90 days to do whatever I want…except get a job, file for welfare, claim a pension or commit any crime (spoil sports). Furthermore, I have to swear that I'm not a terrorist, a communist, a spy, a criminal and that I've never been a Nazi. I have to wonder whether anyone has ever said "yes" to any of these questions. I'm always tempted to say "yes" in an attempt to be funny, however American immigration control…especially in New York, is famous for having large firearms and very little humour!

The flight was actually rather pleasant. The movies were poor, but it didn't matter as I was fortunately sat next to a very nice American lady. We chatted for several hours and after a while, I managed to forget that the seat in front of me had jammed my knees behind my ears and there was a baby screaming behind me.

Since the flight was a connection, I had a 90 minute layover in NY. I sat and read, listening to the permanently annoyed drawl of the New Yorkers rambling around me and boarded my flight at 5pm, heading to Washington DC. It was mercifully under booked and I had a window seat above the engine. I relaxed for nearly five minutes when the captain informed us that an emergency light had flickered to life as he was about to fire the engines and we had to pull off the runway. Suddenly, the window seat over thousands of gallons of jet fuel seemed less appealing. Still, I got a beautiful view of the clouds as we climbed through them and I was happy to be alive for the short flight. Landing in DC, I was amazed that I wasn't anally probed by customs...again, and I headed to the Metro stop, slightly disappointed that Customs had spared me my usual welcome to the US. It's not so bad when you get used to it!

So what have we learned about flying to America? Strike up a conversation with the person next to you whether they like it or not, try and enjoy the probing and never say you are a Nazi…even for a joke!

During the New Year, a special selection of dishes called osechi is eaten. Many of the food items in these dishes represent prosperity, good fortune and health. A soup called ozoni, consisting of miso, glutinous rice dumplings and vegetables is made for the holiday, too. More popular foods are knotted boiled kelp, fish cakes, mashed sweet potatoes with chestnuts, simmered burdoek root, and sweetened black soybeans. Sashami and Sushi are also enjoyed, as well as some non-Japanese food. Many of these meals are sweet, sour or dried so they can be kept without refrigeration. On the seventh day of January a seven herb-rice soup is made, to let the over worked stomach rest. If you're into munching out during the holidays, Japan is defiantly the place to be.

In Japanese culture, it is a custom to send postcards for the New Year to friends and relatives. The original purpose of these traditional cards is to give far away friends and relatives tidings of yourself and of your immediate family. They are sent so they arrive on the first of January, no sooner or later. But it is customary not to send a card if one has had a death in the family that year. In this case, a simple postcard is sent instead, to show respect for the deceased. Cards have always been a good way to the spread holiday cheer, from here in Canada all the way to Japan.

A holiday just isn't a holiday without fun and games. Although some of these games are less popular than they used to be, Japan has not completely forgotten. Young children, and even some adults indulge themselves in a good game of Hanetsuki, which is Japanese badminton. Takoage is kite flying, and karuta is a type of card game. Both of these games bring smiles to the faces of many people celebrating. A spinning top, called a Koma, is also used for fun. But the most traditional game of all is Fuku warai. In this game, a blind folded person is given paper cut outs of facial features. They have to try to put them all on a paper cut out head. It is sort of like the Japanese version of the North American game called Pin The Tail On The Donkey. Without games, the New Years just wouldn't be the same.

Celebrating the New Year includes paying attention to the first time something is done in a new year. Many Japanese people will drive to the coast or climb a mountain on January first so they can see the Hatsuhinode, which is the first sunrise. Hatsumode is the first trip made to a temple or shrine, and is usually done just after midnight on January first. If the weather is good, a lot of people will wear their kimonos to the shrines. Other firsts that are important to the Japanese are Shigoto-hajime (first work of the new year), keikp-hajime (first practice of the new year), and hatsu-yume (first dream of the new year). To the Japanese, the firsts of a new year are very important and are rarely ever missed out on.

Overall, the Japanese New Year is a festive celebration. Traditions are important, and they show this while they celebrate. Foods, postcards, games, and special firsts are customs that will be rejoiced for years to come. In my opinion, the best time to travel to Japan would be during Shogatsu. A little bit of culture never hurt anyone.