Japanese Change Trays • Hacker News Board

Re: Japanese Change Trays

#121

Post by sparkzilla » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 2:37 AM UTC

bryanlarsen wrote: post #14

Someone1234 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This comment only makes sense if you know what "gaijin" means, it appears to mean roughly "foreigner" (or more literally "outside person").

"alien" more correctly captures the connotation. "gaijin" is very much a derogatory word. "gaikokujin" (person from a different country) is more neutral.

I lived in Japan for 20 years. The problem is that gaikokujin is too polite. Only dicks like Arudo Debito want to force everyone to use it, for reasons of political correctness, when in most cases the word gaijin is much more natural, and is not meant offensively. When Japanese people get to know you better they use your nationality as an identifier. Of course, the word gaijin is also used by gaijin to identify themselves.

Re: Japanese Change Trays

#122

Post by lovemenot » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 2:40 AM UTC

deciplex wrote: post #112

ernie_ wrote: post #111

Wait, what countries don't use these? At least in Canada every restaurant that isn't fast-food is going to give you the receipt and change on a tray or in a leather booklet.

How about at the counter of a 7-11?

Funnily enough I was just at a 7-11 in Tokyo about 30 minutes ago, just as you were writing this comment, and before I had read this thread. I happened to notice that such a tray was not in use there, which felt more efficient. Of course 7-11 is mostly a franchise business, so it may the store owner's decision.

Re: Japanese Change Trays

#123

Post by lovemenot » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 2:45 AM UTC

beloch wrote: post #93

Question: Is money considered "dirty" in Japan? In North America, women keep bills and coins in their purses next to used tissues, and studies have shown that men's wallets have an even higher concentration of bacteria than women's purses. We sit on and, on hot days, sweat on our money all day. Let's face it, the stuff is pretty disgusting. However, if somebody hands you a twenty, your first reaction is usually not,…

>> Question: Is money considered "dirty" in Japan?

To slightly change the context, but directly answer the wording of your question - Yes, historically, commercial enterprise was always the lowest of the four classes in Japan. Up until the Meiji restoration in the 19th century, trade (hence money) was considered dirty. Echoes of this attitude survive in the culture today.

Re: Japanese Change Trays

#124

Post by lovemenot » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 2:48 AM UTC

hasenj wrote: post #46

When I was in Japan, I would always put the money in the tray, but the cashier would always return directly to my hand. I didn't understand why.

When this has happened to me ( rarely ) I sometimes recall feeling a slight tickle. Such as a palm reader might use to promote trade.

Re: Japanese Change Trays

#125

Post by deciplex » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 2:50 AM UTC

lovemenot wrote: post #122

deciplex wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How about at the counter of a 7-11?

Funnily enough I was just at a 7-11 in Tokyo about 30 minutes ago, just as you were writing this comment, and before I had read this thread. I happened to notice that such a tray was not in use there, which felt more efficient. Of course 7-11 is mostly a franchise business, so it may the store owner's decision.

Which one? I think it is more likely you just missed it. I've never noticed a convenience store without one, though now I guess I will be looking out for it.

Re: Japanese Change Trays

#126

Post by ImprovedSilence » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 2:50 AM UTC

microcolonel wrote: post #119

We have these in Canada, I'm pretty sure I've used these in Pennsylvania and Michigan as well, not sure where these aren't used actually.

Yeah, when I was a kid I remember them being pretty common in restaurant/diner type places. (I suppose more rural type places as well) Now that credit cards are a pretty prevalent payment method, and a lot of the older establishments have gone by the wayside, I don't see them as much. Interesting you should mention Pennsylvania, that's where I'm grew up. I wonder if they weren't as ubiquitous as I had assumed...

Re: Japanese Change Trays

#127

Post by fenomas » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 2:54 AM UTC

sparkzilla wrote: post #121

bryanlarsen wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"alien" more correctly captures the connotation. "gaijin" is very much a derogatory word. "gaikokujin" (person from a different country) is more neutral.

I lived in Japan for 20 years. The problem is that gaikokujin is too polite. Only dicks like Arudo Debito want to force everyone to use it, for reasons of political correctness, when in most cases the word gaijin is much more natural, and is not meant offensively. When Japanese people get to know you better they use your nationality as an identifier. Of course, the word gaijin is also used by gaijin to identify thems…

Hear hear. The worst part is I occasionally see Japanese people self-consciously using "gaikokujin" because they heard somewhere that foreigners will take offense if they say gaijin. It's manufactured and it's damned silly.

Re: Japanese Change Trays

#128

Post by jeemusu » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 2:55 AM UTC

lovemenot wrote: post #124

hasenj wrote: post #46

When I was in Japan, I would always put the money in the tray, but the cashier would always return directly to my hand. I didn't understand why.

When this has happened to me ( rarely ) I sometimes recall feeling a slight tickle. Such as a palm reader might use to promote trade.

I've found the cashiers will often stroke the bottom of your hand when placing change directly in your palm. Feels very reassuring.

Re: Japanese Change Trays

#129

Post by fenomas » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 3:03 AM UTC

FfejL wrote: post #27

ingsoc79 wrote: post #2

Pro tip: if you want to review the correct pronunciation of the word "gai-jin," skip the tray and hand your cash directly to the clerk.

Can verify, have done. The clerk looked horrified and shook her head vigorously while pointing at the coin tray.

I've been here 15+ years and never seen or heard of such a thing. Japanese people ignore the change tray all the time, or they don't, without issue.

Re: Japanese Change Trays

#130

Post by ghaff » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 3:09 AM UTC

err4nt wrote: post #120

shinymark wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure. One thing I can say from experience though is that bills in Japan are newer and cleaner than they are in the US. My impression is that it would be unthinkable in Japan to write on a bill with a pen or to crumple it up. Also, I'd guess bills that start to get worn are taken out of circulation much earlier. Compare that to the US where I've seen a supermarket teller draw a line with a pen across a bill af…

In canada you can have five coins in your pocket and still have $10 for lunch, but what strikes me weird is visiting americans' homes and seeing crumpled $1 bills stuck in the couch! Where I live the smallest bill is $5 and is worth picking up, but to the Americans I know it almost seems like all change and $1 bills are worthless. Very foreign!

I don't treat US change as worthless (except maybe pennies) but I mostly toss it in a bucket at home and very occasionally feed it into a machine at the local grocery store that converts it to an Amazon gift certificate or whatever. $1 bills fit into my wallet just fine so nothing wrong with them although I don't use cash much day-to-day.