It Was Quite a Shock When the “Mamasan” Wheeled Her Cart into the Boy’s Restroom When I Was in There

Japan is a fascinating place

I remember the night we arrived in Japan for the first time. My mom and my siblings flew to Tokyo. My dad who was an Enlisted man in the Air Force was waiting for us at Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

There was a lot for a fifth grader to get used to. It was an interesting experience living in Japan as long as my family lived there.

It was fun to experience the customs of the people and the interesting sites

The Japanese have many customs and ways that are different from Westerners. It was fun observing the differences. There were a couple of things that took some getting used to.

The obvious things like topless women stripping on late-night TV. I had heard about that. I discovered it was true when I came home from a concert in Tokyo. My parents were waiting for me, and they were watching the strippers on TV.

There were other weird things. There were things we never saw in the States.

You don’t see that in the States, but you will see it in Japan

We all have been on long road trips. We’re accustomed to stopping at a rest area and using the restrooms. In Japan, that’s not a concern. It’s a common thing to see men on the shoulder of the highway urinating.

There is no attempt to walk further away from the road. They would be there in front of God and everybody. It’s a good thing they were facing away from traffic.

It’s quite a shock when you’re a teenager in the school restroom and the mamasan wheels her cart in to clean the toilets

The thing that warped my preteen head was the mamasans. They weren’t mamasans in the strictest definition. They were older Japanese women and grandmothers.

The mamasans and papasans were janitors. In the States, we were accustomed to janitors knocking on the restroom door. That’s how they announce their arrival.

In Japan, they don’t do that. They wheel their cart into the restroom and get to work. I remember giving the mamasan a startled look the first time it happened to me.

After a while, I didn’t notice the mamasan

In no time at all it stopped bothering me. Like the men lined up urinating on the side of the highway after a while didn’t get a second glance or a comment.

I loved Japan, I hope I can go back someday

I enjoyed my time in Japan. I always wanted to go back and experience it as an adult. It looks like that will not happen. I’m glad I have the memories.

I loved Japan and I love the people. I hope I’m wrong and I can go back and show my wife around Tokyo.

Final Thought:

If you get the chance to go to Japan and spend some time there, take it. It’s a fascinating place and the people are wonderful.