We were lucky enough to see a traditional Shinto Wedding was being held when we were in Meiji Jingu Temple in Tokyo. Note how the bride and the best man are looking at Andy instead of the official photographer!There are some weird traditions too, the salarymen work incredibly long hours and slump on trains en-masse, catching a nap whenever they can. They are expected to party hard too and bars & restaurants are packed with suits until late. In a noodle bar in Kyoto, a group were out with their boss. One approached Jim, our tour guide and wanted to lick salt off his shaved head for a 10,000 Yen bet. Having negotiated a 3,000 Yen share of the wager - Jim agreed! The Japanese separate drunken nights from the workplace and provided nothing illegal is done, any faux-pas are forgiven and never mentioned again. Lucky really, as apparently one was playfully bashing a colleague with a bar stool at one point!
Tanuki (a racoon-dog type animal)
Another weird one: For reasons unknown, statues of tanuki with an enormous scrotum and holding a bottle of saki are very popular in Japan, especially in front of restaurants! As you can see in the picture - those are not his feet!
