10 Interesting Differences Between Japan and Cape Town From ubers to wine culture

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Word Misaki Uchida

I love Cape Town very much. It’s rich in culture with friendly people, incredible landscapes and delicious food.  I chose the journalism internship program to allow me to experience different cultures and see how others interpret the world. Here are a few things I’ve observed during my stay in Cape Town.

1 Diversity of Racial Composition 

98.5% of population in Japan is Japanese. However, the racial composition of Cape Town is: 42.4 %, coloured 38.6% Black African, 15.7% White, and 2.5% Asian. It’s probably one of the most ethnically diverse countries, I’ve ever visited.

2 Comfortable Temperature in Winter 

I feel Winter in Cape Town is the best season to visit. Japanese winter is freezing cold. It’s always funny to hear Capetonians complain about the weather when it’s 15 degrees Celsius. They resort to heavy coats, beanies, and gloves to arm themselves against the “bitter cold”.

3 Volume of  Voices

I feel South African people speak and laugh in a loud voice. When I spoke to an Uber driver in the usual volume in Japan, he couldn’t catch what I said. However, I like the way South Africans speak. There’s a kind of rhythmic melody to it – it’s animated and exciting.

4 Usefulness of Uber 

I installed the Uber app after I came to South Africa. In Japan, Uber X is illegal because drivers have to take a license to earn money by transporting people by car. I used Uber a lot in South Africa and I love its convenience and price. Uber drivers are very conversational which was something I had to get used to as it’s not something I experienced in Japan.

Uber drivers have many stories to tell.

5  Each town feels like another country

It’s fascinating how everything is included in one province. Beaches, mountains, deserts, cobbled streets, European infrastructure with an African infusion. One moment you’re in Greenpoint which feels like a villa in Italy, the next you’re deep in a lush forest in Newlands. I went hiking up Lion’s head, but it was very different from how I imagined it. My image of hiking was walking a long way and slope for a few hours, so I didn’t expect to have to grab and climb up the rocks without fences. It was so tough for me but the landscape from the top of Lion’s head was amazing!

6 Bilingual 

There are 11 official languages in South Africa. On average, Capetonians can speak two, sometimes three languages depending on their culture. As I said before, about 98% of the population is Japanese, so many people can’t speak other languages although we learn English at school from 11 years old.

7) Rule breakers

People start crossing the road even when cars drive at their usual speed. Pedestrians dodge cars like it’s a thrilling game. One of the locals joked that the reason why they do it is that they don’t trust the drivers to follow the traffic lights.  When I saw it for the first time, I was confused. I usually wait for the traffic light even when there are a few cars. 

No one waits for the little green man 🙂

8) People start random conversations with you in queues.

People in Cape Town are friendly. For example, they usually speak to me when I take an elevator. If you’re waiting in a queue, don’t worry- in time someone will start a conversation. Hopefully, it will be an interesting one and not one that you desperately want to get out of 🙂 In Japan, most people seldom speak in a train, a taxi, or an elevator. I am not really used to talking to strangers but I love this custom because I can sometimes gain interesting information from them.

A popular budget-friendly store in Cape Town where everything is R10. Literally everything

9)  Lovers of meat

Every day, my host mother gives me chicken or beef! I think Capetonians like meat very much because there is such a variety; ostrich, pork, beef, lamb, kudu, and springbok to name a few. The vegetarian movement is gaining traction but its usually popular among the upper middle class.

10) Strong wine culture

Cape Town is famous for its wine production. South African wine has a history that dates back to 1659. Once they had access to international markets, it became one of their strongest exports.

Most Capetonians go Winetasting during weekends, especially during Winter. You’ll always find at least two people in a group that’s a wine connoisseur.

There is a street, a store or a restaurant that offers everything a traveler needs to have a memorable experience in Cape Town. I can enjoy the beautiful sea and mountains simultaneously. Moreover, the culture and the cheerful people always makes me feel welcome. I feel at home here and will be sad to leave this place.

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