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The world of Japanese snack bars

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Re: The world of Japanese snack bars

#91

Post by embedding-shape »

defen wrote: post #53
gyomu wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Oddly only the French did understand the sentiment French culture is a rare culture where shop owners won't be afraid to tell off/talk back at customers that don't show a basic level of politeness. You, as a customer, are in the shopkeeper's "home", so to speak, and you should behave accordingly. Someone who doesn't use the customary "bonjour/merci/au revoir" is likely to be met with some response like "tout d'abor…

> French culture is a rare culture where shop owners won't be afraid to tell off/talk back at customers that don't show a basic level of politeness. My favorite French shop anecdote (I'm American): Went to a bakery in Paris. Tried to order "Un croissant, s'il vous plaît". Shopkeeper responded (in very lightly accented English) with "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're saying". I wasn't mad or offended, in fact…

The French's and their language is a funny one. We constantly get French tourists here in Spain who approach you and try to talk to you in French, assuming somehow because you live in the North of Spain of course you'd understand at least the basics of French.

I'm sure it happens in a lot of places around borders though, not sure that's unique to the French.

Re: The world of Japanese snack bars

#93

Post by petercooper »

while_true_ wrote: post #68
petercooper wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got to thinking how difficult a micro business like this would be to run in the UK. You'd have council hygiene inspectors, insurance, alcohol duties, zoning limitations, music licensing, and the business rates folks all over your back for starters.

Same here in California. Zoning, permits, food inspections and handicap access requirements would make a small snack bar economically infeasible.

From being in California often and reading social media, I get the feeling California and UK share a lot of similarities in planning bureaucracy. Residential areas are sacrosanct and the idea of anyone running even a small public facing service business from the home is onerous (though, curiously, it's very common for dental or GP surgeries to be in converted residential property here).

Re: The world of Japanese snack bars

#94

Post by soupfordummies »

NalNezumi wrote: post #26

My British friend that lived in Kyoto had his favorite snac bar. He was accepted as a local and even had a whiskey bottle saved for him (privilege for the regulars!) Another snac bar that he brought me to had an interesting story. The snac bar was in an apartment complex (due to Japan's funny zoning laws) at the nightlife district, could maybe fit 5-6 max. The place was filled with blues and jazz LPs! When we went th…

I wandered into a place like that. It was the highlight of my trip :)

Re: The world of Japanese snack bars

#95

Post by scottyah »

shimman wrote: post #74
scottyah wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It truly is, I recently read a great article about the coffee shops being run out of a room in people's homes- I would love to sell coffee out of my garage for a few hours before work.

Happen to have that article? Sounds like a good read.

It was here on hn not too long ago, I think this one (but it appears to be down or deleted) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44356248

Re: The world of Japanese snack bars

#96

Post by antfarm »

wink wrote: post #90
antfarm wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know what you mean. I once worked at a Berlin games company with many international and US colleagues. Even after three years, I still couldn't figure out why even people I barely knew greeted me with an enthusiastic "Hey [Name]! How are you?". It always felt like a very awkward handshake.

The first time that happened to me I went on a small rant about some minor health issues and the state of the world in general and that settled the conversation with an overseas colleague. It was later that I found out that "how are you" is a perfectly valid answer to "how are you" and it still boggles my mind 20 years later.

Haha, I had that same epiphany, also too late.

Re: The world of Japanese snack bars

#97

Post by soco »

antfarm wrote: post #89
LM358 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>as a kid it shocked me that a customer in the US could get away with "I'll have a coke" as their only utterance to a waiter - no hello, please, thank you. As a Norwegian who's been visiting the US for quite a few times now (as we speak), I've always appreciated the "hello, please, thank you", but what really gets me are the incessant "how are you"s.

I know what you mean. I once worked at a Berlin games company with many international and US colleagues. Even after three years, I still couldn't figure out why even people I barely knew greeted me with an enthusiastic "Hey [Name]! How are you?". It always felt like a very awkward handshake.

"how are you? No no, stop, I don't care"
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