They Might Be Giants

When we first moved to Japan,

I often felt like a large, loud, lumbering American.

(thank you David for demonstrating this)

Americans like our products to be BIG.

For example, our MILK

( I took this photo in America, to see the comparrison.

In Japan you can only buy milk in quart size, even at Costco)

We like our PARMESAN CHEESE BIG too

(the large size we brought from America, the small size we purchased in Japan)

and YOGURT

(American sized yogurt on left... in Japan this is probably "family size")

Even their ORANGES are smaller

(okay kidding... the tiny one is a kumquat) 

Japan's JUICE boxes for kid's lunches are smaller

And their SODA is smaller

(the regular size can I purchased at the International Import Market

 and the small can I purchased from a local Japan grocery store)

Japan sells almost zero CEREAL, but the few boxes do sell are TEENY TINY

( the large box was purchased from Sam's Club in the states)

In Japan, space is a comodity and compact is a necessity.

For example, CARS

BIKES that actually fold up

(my American sized bike is on the right)

Even the HOUSES are small....

You thought that was small, but check out the HOUSE on TOP!

(about the width of 3 futon mattresses)

Or this HOUSE

About the width of a bicycle... I would love to see the inside.

Tiny DOORS

(I have wondered if this is because of space or aesthetics)

You often see children's tiny TOILETS

that are even too small for Jonas

However, Japanese ART is BIG

And so are their paddles for spanking spoiled children....

Okay, really it is a giant sized paddle for serving rice

(the sign underneath probably claims it to be the world's largest rice paddle)

Yes, Americans might be giants....

if nothing else, we are BIG in Japan!