Luna’s Self Awareness Blog

Before coming to Japan, I thought I understood what “normal” meant—how people talk, behave, respond. But being here has made me realize that “normal” is actually something we carry from our culture without even noticing.

In India, things feel faster, louder, more immediate. If you ask for directions, someone will answer instantly, sometimes even walk with you. Here in Japan, people are extremely kind and respectful, but there is a pause. A moment of thinking. Sometimes it’s the language, sometimes it’s the carefulness. At first, that silence made me uncomfortable. Now, I see it differently—it feels like respect.

Even small things made me reflect. In India, we keep emails short and direct. Here, greetings matter. There is a softness before the message even begins. It made me realize how differently warmth can be expressed.

Food, too, says a lot about a culture. I come from a place of spice, sweetness, and intensity. Here, it’s about balance—aroma, subtle flavors, different kinds of tea. It feels calmer, almost like the food reflects the personality of the place.

But what impacted me the most is the discipline. Clean roads, organized spaces, people following rules without questioning them. It’s almost invisible, like everyone just agrees to take care of the space. Coming from India, where resources are abundant but systems sometimes fail, this contrast feels both inspiring and a little painful. Especially knowing Japan rebuilt itself after such destruction.

At the same time, Japan is not perfect. The idea of overwork, even to the point of death, feels heavy. And it’s interesting how a culture that avoids physical touch still has something as intimate as onsen bathing.

I think what I’m learning is that every culture has its beauty and its struggle. And somewhere in between these differences, I’m slowly understanding not just Japan—but also myself.