Wednesday, April 14, 2010

culture shock

If you've ever passed by a shop that has recently opened in Japan, you will see lots of flower arrangements.

These arrangements are given by family, friends, sometimes other businesses to wish the new shop luck.

Unfortunately, the older women in Osaka feel they have the "right" to take the flowers from the arrangements.

Not sure if they feel that the luck will be divided with them but when I first saw this I was quite shocked, I mean isn't like going into someone's yard without asking and taking their veggies/flowers or something like that?

Actually, it still shocks me to this day.

13 comments:

Thistlemoon said...

That is pretty funny! I would be shocked too. Why is that?! LOL!

jalna said...

Wow, that is kinda shocking to me . . . so unJapanese. You can leave your valuables unattended, but your flowers get stolen.

KirkK said...

Hi Kat - That is kind of strange.... I would think stealing someone else's good luck would be bad luck.

Sara Mari said...

Wow, that's rather gutsy imo. I would never do that, like you said that's taking personal property ><

Lindsay-Jean said...

Can't say I'm too surprised, but it just seems SO rude!

Dennis K. said...

They are the fearless Obatarian's! We all must resist hard to become one one day... haha

Deb in Hawaii said...

That is pretty funny--I can't imagine people doing that here. ;-)

Admin said...

Those are actually the flower vendors. Another shop will be opening and they will sell what they took from them. ROFL.

K and S said...

Not sure Jenn DZ, wish I knew though :)

Shocking is right Jalna :)

Definitely Kirk :)

I would never have that much guts to do something like that Sara :)

So true Linny :)

Obatarian...I should write about that one day Dennis :)

That would be so wrong in Hawaii Debinhawaii ;)

You are too funny Mikuru :)

Take care everyone!
Kat

Anonymous said...

I actually laughed when i read this. Unfortunately here, in Indonesia, it's even worse that ppl feels that they have a right to grab flowers from their arrangements in weddings. And, though it's far from polite, some ppl just dun care and grab away!! They even feel they have a right to it since the wedding parties paid for them ( yhea I know make no sense, somebody else pay a huge amt and so u as a guest have the rights to take whatever u want?)

K and S said...

wow that is interesting Anon! at weddings?? I guess every country has their different "culture shocks" :)

Take care.
Kat

Rowena said...

I'm wondering if these ladies just go right in as soon as the flowers are put up, or do they "wait" until the bouquets start to look ratty. I guess they be needing some luck really bad to steal flowers...whoa!

K and S said...

no way Rowena, they don't wait until they are ratty, they take 'um while they are fresh! crows, I tell ya!

Take care.
Kat