In the past we’ve written a bit about Google Image search and how it’s useful for Japanese learning. For example, if you don’t know what a Japanese word means, or if you just aren’t sure about the translation you’re getting, put it into Google Image search and see what pops up. That’s all well and good for practicing Japanese language learning, but searching for images in Japanese will also tell you a lot about the Japanese society as a whole. The results will be different from your language’s search because that culture will be reflected.

I thought it would be fun to go through a bunch of image searches like this. First in English, then in Japanese. Afterwards there might even be some commentary.

*I’m using incognito mode to hopefully offset any past search bias on Google’s part. They might be using my location though, so results may vary!

Puppies

Let’s start with something adorable: the word “puppy,” or 子犬 in Japanese.

You can see that there are some similarities here, but the Japanese version has way more Japanese dogs (shiba inu). When a “dog” comes to mind in Japan, I think the image of a shiba inu (or another Japanese breed) comes to mind. Of course, there are other dogs too, but you can see the difference clearly here.

Dinner

When you put in the English word “dinner” and the Japanese word 晩ご飯, you get two completely different  results.

I think what you see here is the idea of what a “traditional” dinner is.  Of course, there are a lot of small plates and bowls on the Japanese side and there is a lot of meat and turkey on the English side. It really highlights the difference between our perceived ideal “dinners.”

Anime

When you type in “anime” and アニメ, this is the result.

I’m not sure what this says about anything, but the difference is kind of interesting. Seems like the English results produce way more fan art whereas the Japanese one produces actual anime. Maybe in terms of ratio fan art is more prevalent in English-speaking places just because of how saturated “official” anime is in Japan?

Monkeys

If you type in “monkey” in English and 猿 in Japanese, here’s what you get.

In English, you get a smattering of monkeys and apes. In Japanese, you almost exclusively get the Japanese macaque. Some of them are the infamous “Snow Monkeys” as well.

Letters

If you look up “letters” in English (talking about the kind you write and send to people in the mail) or 手紙 in Japanese, you’ll see a big difference.

Notice how the Japanese side is almost entirely handwritten and the English side is almost entirely typed out? I think that really highlights how important letters are in Japanese culture compared to how they’ve become in places like America. In fact, you might remember my earlier article “How To Write Letters In Japanese: An Introduction” where I mention the importance of hand writing (personal) letters.

Beer

Let’s see what “beer” and ビール come up with.

As you already know if you read Tofugu, there isn’t a ton of variety when it comes to Japanese beer types. You have your Sapporo, Kirin, Asahi, and Yebisu. Everything else is tiny in comparison. With the English image results, you still see some of those light beers, but there’s wayyy more variety. This basically just parallels the actual beer situation in Japan and in the West.

–

I’m sure that’s just the tip of the iceberg, too. As you can see, though, you can gain some cultural insight into a culture just by looking at the Google Image Search differences. Beer is lighter. Monkeys are more homogenous. Dinner is completely different… you get the idea.

For this kind of thing, though, one person can’t think up all of the good comparisons. So, I need your help! If you post up an English (or whatever your native language is) and Japanese Google Image Search comparison in the comments, I’ll add your name to a raffle and pick out three of your names. The winners will get Tofugu stickers because we just got some new designs in.

Yum, looking good stickers. So, three of you could win both a crabigator and a Tofugu, just for contributing your image comparisons in the comments of this article. Deadline is Friday whenever I decide to choose someone, PST. So… get it in before then. I look forward to seeing all the creative comparisons that you come up with!

Want the wallpaper version of this article’s header image? Here it is in 2560×1600.

Pankun & James

The thing that’s so entertaining about this pair is that one their TV shows they are often having to do “human” tasks. While it’s pretty cool that a chimp can do a lot of these things, it gets better when Pankun has to take care of his bulldog buddy. For example, in this video Pankun and James go to a firestation to become firefighters. I for one would trust him with my life.

Pankun always seems to be pretty good at the physical challenges. In this one he goes to a school and does sit ups. James is lazy though. James can’t do any.

But, they don’t always give Pankun easy tasks. In this video, they make him cook udon. I feel like someone switched out his udon with someone else’s. If not, then this chimp can cook better than me.

But how’s Pankun’s memory? What would happen if you told him to go get a cake? Let’s find out what happens.

Sadly for us audience members, sometimes Pankun goes it sans his lazy bulldog friend. Obviously, though, he’s the star of the show. You couldn’t have a James-only spinoff because James basically just lays around most of every episode. Of course, even when Pankun goes it alone it is also quite entertaining. Usually this just means more human-Pankun interaction.

So, the question is… how smart is he? Does he understand magic?

If you thought Pankun was about to go into monkey-strength mode and tear that magicians face off three or four times, be sure to let me know in the comments. I know I can’t be the only one suspicious of supposedly “humanized” chimps… Don’t trust ‘em. I mean, they can’t even draw properly.

Pankun was born in 2001, which means he’s 11 years old right now. In captivity, chimps can live around 60 years. Perhaps we’ll be seeing more of Pankun in the future. Currently (if you want to see Pankun in person) he is doing shows at the Cuddly Dominion in Kyushu. Have you seen him before? What’s the show like?

So what do you think? Is Pankun a genius? Will he become the iron fisted monkey ruler of our future? I kind of hope so. With that, I’ll leave you with Pankun riding on a segway. You’re welcome.

♪ Chimpanzee riding on a segwayyy ♫

One of the things I most want to see someday are the snow monkeys living in Japan. If you haven’t heard of the Japanese Macaque, you’re in for a great surprise. These monkeys are… shall we say… very “human” in a couple of ways. That, and they’re totally weird.

The “Snow Monkeys” of Japan live in the mountains of Honshu (that’s the main island), and can survive in very cold temperatures of 5 degrees fahrenheit (-15 degrees celsius). Luckily, they fairly recently discovered that they can spend time in natural hot springs to keep nice and warm.

The really interesting thing about their “chillin’ out in hot springs” lifestyle is that it didn’t happen until fairly recently. There are several things they’ve done that show how smart they are, and even pass these behaviors on to the next generation.

• It was only in 1963 that the Japanese Snow Monkeys started going into the hot springs. A young female monkey went into one of the hot springs to get some soybeans that were thrown in there, liked how it felt, and soon other monkeys joined in. The funny part is that only the younger generations of monkeys did this at first, and the old (“darn those youngin’s”) resisted as long as they could. Now you’ll see all the monkey’s hanging out in the hot springs.
• Another thing they’ve learned is how to roll snowballs. Of course, the next step will be to learn how to throw them at the perverted tourists trying to take naked pictures of bathing monkeys.
• In another area of Japan (Kagoshima), one Japanese monkey started washing potatoes. She figured out that she could get the dirt off by dipping it in the water (rather than brushing it off with her hands), and this caught on with the rest of the troop as well. Even better, they figured out that by washing their potatoes in the ocean water, it was tastier from the sea salt.
• The same potato washing monkey also discovered how to was wheat. She’d make a ball of wheat and sand and throw it into the water. The wheat would float to the top and the sand would sink to the bottom, giving her sandless wheat to eat. (source)

If you want to see the Snow Monkeys in action, check out the livecam – if you catch it at the right time (i.e. right when this post was posted) you can see a ton of monkeys hanging out talking to some tourists.

Visiting The Snow Monkeys In Japan

If you did decide to visit the snow monkeys in Japan, just know that there seems to be a ton of other things to do in the area as well (especially if you love hot baths and certain winter sports). To get to the snow monkeys, you’ll want to go up to Jigokudani (Hell’s Valley), in Nagano. Other neat things in the area include several great onsens (Japanese bath house) and ski / snowboarding resorts.

Someday I’ll definitely be heading up here. I don’t know what it is about monkeys, but they’re just so fascinating. Even the obese, fed-too-much-by-tourists monkeys in Osaka seem pretty neat. Were they being fed KFC?

Anyways, if you’re as smart as a monkey, you should follow Tofugu on Twitter.

[Header Image]