---
title: 'How Much Do Americans Actually Know About Japan?'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=5ronoigfbMM'
video_id: '5ronoigfbMM'
date: 2026-07-21
duration_sec: 1300
channel: 'The Anime Man'
---

# How Much Do Americans Actually Know About Japan?

> Source: [How Much Do Americans Actually Know About Japan?](https://youtube.com/watch?v=5ronoigfbMM)

## Summary

In this social experiment, Joey (The Anime Man) quizzes random people in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo on their knowledge of Japan, covering geography, language, landmarks, history, and pop culture. Participants who answer all 10 questions correctly win a prize from a local store.

### Key Points

- **Setup of the social experiment** [00:01] — Joey is in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, to test how much Americans know about Japan by asking Japan-related questions to random people.
- **Question 1: Tallest mountain in Japan** [01:14] — Most participants correctly answer Mount Fuji, though one person guesses Mount Everest.
- **Sponsor segment: Sakuraco snack box** [01:55] — Sakuraco is a monthly subscription box of authentic Japanese snacks, including traditional items and tea, supporting local makers.
- **Question 2: How to say goodbye in Japanese** [04:37] — Participants struggle with 'sayōnara' and informal variants like 'jā ne' or 'mata ne'.
- **Question 3: Famous landmark in Tokyo** [05:33] — Most correctly identify Tokyo Tower, though some guess Tokyo Skytree or other names.
- **Question 4: Japan's life expectancy ranking** [06:29] — Many believe Japan has the highest life expectancy, but the correct answer is false—it's second after Hong Kong (as of 2023).
- **Question 5: Busiest crosswalk in the world** [08:42] — Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo is correctly identified by most participants.
- **Question 6: Japanese car manufacturer** [10:08] — Lexus (luxury brand of Toyota) is the correct answer; Hyundai and Kia are Korean.
- **Question 7: Electric town called anime city** [11:33] — Akihabara is correctly named by several participants, especially anime fans.
- **Question 8: Park with special deer biscuits** [12:18] — Nara Park is identified by some, with mentions of deer feeding experiences.
- **Question 9: Military leader in Edo period** [13:27] — The correct term is 'Shogun'; some guess 'daimyo' or 'samurai'.
- **Bonus questions: Anime creator names** [14:38] — Participants are asked for full names of Naruto (Kishimoto Masashi) and One Piece (Oda Eiichiro) creators; many struggle.
- **Question 10: Japanese food originally from Japan** [17:20] — Udon is the correct answer; ramen and gyoza originated in China, tempura from Europe.
- **Winner announced** [20:03] — One participant answers all 10 correctly and wins a giant Hatsune Miku lucky bag.

### Conclusion

The experiment reveals that while many Americans know basic facts about Japan (Mount Fuji, Shibuya Crossing), they often struggle with history, language, and specific cultural details. Anime fans tend to perform better on pop culture questions.

## Transcript

man today I'm here in Little Tokyo here in Los Angeles California and we are going to do a little bit of a social experiment I want to find out with the amount of weaves that are living in Los Angeles as Anime Expo is living proof of
it I wanted to know just how much about Japan Americans really know I'm going to go around asking a bunch of Japan related questions to random people here in Little Tokyo and see who knows the most about Japan let's
most about Japan let's go how's it going good what's your name Mike I'm Laura Scott David Alice Melissa Xavier Jonathan Ivon Lynn Victor jockie pry Jan my name is love we participate in the uh National Japan quiz Bowl
learning stuff this year Jaden uh David Dustin my name is Darin I'ma diis efine efon two two beautiful names all right if you manage to answer all 10 questions correctly then I will buy you one thing of anything in Little Tokyo oh my gosh
you know hopefully you'll go home learning a little bit more about Japan the name of the tallest mountain in Japan Mount Fuji Mount Fuji Osaka Final Japan Mount Fuji Mount Fuji Osaka Final Answer uh no no Mount Fuji M Fuji M Fuji
I tap out I'm like is it Mount Fuji uh Mount Fuji I like is it Mount Fuji uh Mount Fuji I believe yeah that was so quiet Mount Fuji that's probably the yeah M Fuji Mount Fuji final answer yes yeah yeah
yes like Consulting the boys like are we sure about this uh Mount Fuji Mount Fuji I would have to say Fuji Mount Fuji Mount Fuji that immediately no hesitation right there all right that is correct I think I've heard of Mount ever
no is that your final answer yeah that is incorrect it's it's Mount Fuji Fuji Everest is in Nepal all right question two how do you say goodbye in Japanese two how do you say goodbye in Japanese sorry no yeah no I'm sorry okay yeah
Joey just just give me a second here okay because it's my time to shine hi every everyone I'm Jonathan the manga boy here to let you know about today's sponsor Sak Rocko Sak Rocka is a monthly authentic Japanese snack subscription
box that supports local Japanese snack makers each box coming with 20 traditional Japanese snacks including Japanese teas and a special Japanese table wear oh my what do we have this month you might ask oh Jesus well it's
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wait getting your sakurako box coming from a certified Nihon Jin like myself experience Japan from the comfort of your home with the Sako snapbox so head description below and use the coupon code on screen right now to get yourself
to sakurako for sponsoring this video now let's go back to Joey the anime man I guess talking about something that's probably not even anime related I I don't know man like he's he stopped watching anime years ago bro like what
just seriously what the hell hongo J all right question uh Sara English and like you know but like I'm I'm looking for the Japanese Sara one
more time I can't pronounce it s I can't pronounce it you know what you were close enough I'll give you the point s Nong I mean Jan as well Jan more like is more like SE I think it's s or the informal way I think what's your final
answer uh sa ex just like Johnson is carrying me yeah he got me say say there's multiple ways uh say [Music]
final answer uh yeah that is correct it Isa don't do thatu bro oh my goodness all right you got it man at my work we usually just say what's SC some of this that is more correct actually so you want to know all
right question three what is the name of this famous landmark in Tokyo Tokyo Sky this famous landmark in Tokyo Tokyo Sky dream to Sky tream SK Sky Tower Sky Tower so your final answer is Tower Tokyo sky tower I don't know the name
why don't you have a guess no I don't no nothing no oh God that's a Tokyo Sky that I don't think it's right though oh I've seen it but I don't know what it's called I have a guess it's t building that's the name of a tall
building yes it's very tall so a tall building all right question three what building all right question three what is the name of this landmark in Japan uh Tokyo Tower Tokyo Tower God damn you're on fire today holy three for three
on fire today holy three for three all right uh the little uh Tokyo Tower all right uh the little uh Tokyo Tower watch some Planet oh yeah all right good in a manga oh my God what is it that's Tokyo Tower right me on your backr I'm
recesses of my mind I'm like what is that uh I think the Tokyo Tower uh Tokyo Tower Tokyo Tower you're on fire right now that is correct it is Tokyo Tower is Tokyo Tower Tokyo Tower Tokyo Tower that would be a Tokyo TV tower it is Tokyo
Tower not TV tower but you were close enough so I'll give you the point true has the highest life expectancy of any country in the world true actually no no
know that the elderly generation live a lot very long time I'm going to go with lot very long time I'm going to go with true that is incorrect uh it's actually second place after Hong Kong true correct I believe that yes that is
to Hong Kong Hong Kong oh that was just came up about a year ago yes true true that is incorrect it's actually false oh my God that seems so true to me this is
according to 2023 2023 okay I honestly feel like they're more advanced than most of the world in terms of like healthcare feels like it would either be Japan or Germany that has the the highest uh life exper Francy for me it's
so cheap to go to the doctor there isn't it and also there's so much like older how as the younger generation doing and you also have to think about the food over there so it's like it's a it's a healthier lifestyle over there overall
so you'll final answer is true I want to say true why do you say that from what I people I'm going on on a whim here but there's well from what I've seen there's not a lot of like fast food joints around there in America like there's an
obese problem um I haven't really seen any like fat Japanese people I would some I wouldn't say like they're overweight we got the summer wrestlers that's true that is true so your final answer is true uh yeah true okwa
specifically right it used to be you are correct on Okinawa but recently now Japan is second after Hong Kong uh I want to say true true why do you say that is just very clean nation and like they care a lot for the elderly and so
they respect their Elders a lot more than any other place it's by far one of the one of the highest for sure Japan is the highest life expectancy of any Jeopardy little on my head I'm going go false
why' you say that cuz I know the the the the death rate is very high too okay that's why I'll say false that is correct Yeah question five this is not only the busiest crosswalk in Japan but in the entire world which city is it in
Tokyo where in Tokyo specifically a shabuya that's a recovery right there watch the G anime oh yeah yeah yeah that was in sh Crossing yeah perfect in aabra another chance that's the only thing I know Akihabara crosswalk is that your
final answer I think I'll go with that one shabuya Crossing shuya cross yes o shabuya that's correct all right very good all right working together I see good is Shibuya crossing right what city is Shibuya the city we got we got
the council weaves right here discussing the answer uh shuya Final Answer akih the answer uh shuya Final Answer akih Habu or Final Answer yeah yeah or uh shinoku is it shinoku yeah I'll go shinoku that's Tokyo where specifically
in Tokyo Tokyo Street that is incorrect the answer is Shibuya Crossing as easy Shibuya Crossing it's the Shibuya crosswalk that is correct Shibuya Crossing I don't know but I'm
going to say uh Shibuya this is not only the busiest crosswalk in all of Japan but of the entire world which city is it in shabuya there you go you got it you know that one this is not only the busiest crosswalk in Japan but in the
entire world which city is it in should we acrossing has me that hell yeah dog you got it you were just like come on bro give me a real question dog shuya you're on fire right now that is correct it is Shibuya Crossing question six
which of these car manufacturers is Japanese a Lexus B Hundai C Kia or D scota Lexus cuz it's the the luxury brand of Toyota that is correct oh my
God you are killing it right now Lexus is owned by Honda right or is it Mazda I answer you why do you say that sounds Japanese H andai why do you say that because of the name it just sounds Japanese that's
Lexus why' you say that cuz that's the luxury brand for Toyota Hyundai Hyundai is actually Korean oh oh my God okay Lexus is owned by Toyota yeah you're right of course I'm right I made the question I stick with the Corolla so I'm
going to go with uh D D scota final answer no no no no no uh Hyundai final answer no no no no no uh Hyundai final answer yes Le I say Lexus Lexus uh see I know it's not it's incorrect the answer was Lexus I'm going to go
with Hundai you said Kia in the in that list as well that's Korean scota I don't know Lexus IS German I believe process of elimination hindai I have to go with Lexus cuz the other choices are I recognize the other ones only because
they're not Japanese car brands I'm going have to go the same I don't really know I'm just following my boy it's all good question seven what is the name of the famous electric town that is now affectionately called anime City aih
you're godamn right there's a certified wee right here that's uh I don't know that one to give me something shabuya I'll just go shuya akih Habra akih Habra oh akih Habra damn there's only weees in Little Tokyo right now dog akih Habra oh
akih Habra I don't know why I thought of like what's that thing called Gundam I don't know why I'm thinking of akih my neurons are firing up like all of my three neurons yeah I guess might as well just say What's it Aki what akih Hab you
are correct the answer is Akihabara no like I'm out me don't tell me Akihabara oh my God isn't Akihabara all right question eight in this park in special deer biscuits what is the name of the park no I was watching a video on
this last night damn it I'll give you a clue it's something Park oh cool cool man uh oh Nara Park you're absolutely correct it's Nar Park Nara you got it that's the true Nar Park experience if
they don't bite you then it's not Nar Park Deer Park Final Answer uh you know the deer feeding park that is incorrect Nar Nar n there
you go you got it you got it Deer Park I don't know the name but I've seen it on don't know the name but I've seen it on YouTube videos oh man uh Deer YouTube videos oh man uh Deer Park Nara Deer Park Nar Deer Park yeah
God you're on fire today all right that is correct uh no clue got nothing I nothing I'm going to have to pass you got anything uh not a got anything uh not a park to go yeah I can see I can see this
that Park I've seen videos about it I don't know the park I'll give you a clue it's something Park Park Deer question nine what is the Japanese name given to the military leader of Japan that Samurai were hired to protect in the Edo
period I actually I'm going to say I don't know this one I'm not going to don't know this one I'm not going to guess uh I don't know no oh gosh that I be mashi you know what it was a samurai
that is a good one I'm I'm just going to go with mashi okay incorrect the answer was Shogun Shogun I studied this I should know it D final answer final answer that is a very good guess the answer is actually Shogun
but Dao also so I'll give you a point for that one actually just purely like Japanese history and taught American history not Japanese history I in Japan you might know this I mean I
dating Sim where like you date those like Samurai girls or whatever true true I mean it does appear in that Oda you're talking of Oda noaga right yeah he was a Shogun bro I see I don't know those kind of all right that's all right that's all
think I'm drawing a blank right here I don't know why I can't think of are you guys a fan of one piece at all I know of one piece but I haven't watched anything Naruto question then what is the full name of the creator of
Naruto don't be me on the spot the only thing that comes into my mind is a cirat Kishimoto Masashi I have a couple friends that are into one piece I want just the sze of it you know over a thousand episodes so yeah what about
favorite cuz I started with Naruto so I'll just say that all right then here's a question for you since you're a Naruto fan what is the full name of the creator of Naruto Kishimoto Miaki I know it's Kishimoto uh what's his first name I
thought you were a Naruto fan bro Kishimoto S I mean that is also correct but unfortunately that is incorrect the answer is Kishimoto Masashi what is the full name of the creator of Naruto ooh anybody said what that one piece I would
well then bonus question what's the full name of the creator of one piece I don't know the full name I I know his name is OD you literally just said I know the full name if it was one piece did I yeah I have terrible memory I'm sorry play
I have terrible memory I'm sorry play the replay that replay of Naruto o any said one piece I would have guess it right away I don't know questions what is the full name of the Creator one piece or Naruto order I mean
one piece order okay one piece what I need his first name order as you are so godamn close is it you are so godamn close the answer is order a Ichiro what fairy tale well then let me test your fairy tale knowledge what is the full
name of the creator of fairy tale her mashima damn you got that I thought I could stump you with that one what is the full name of the creator of One Piece like Oda something see a lot of One Piece
fans know Oda but what's his first name I'm saying it starts with s I'm saying it starts with s Sugar
happening in the city bro what was your final answer SAR suar o Oda Shar OD unfortunately that is incorrect it is Oda a are you a one piece or Naruto fan one piece more than one piece fan yeah I actually think that Naruto is uh kind of
trash this is not an anime hot takes video this is a Japan I know I know like but I think that like my take on it is just simply Naruto sort of fell off after the the uh Zabuza fight I think after that it's just like you know what
on that then I'm going to put you on the spot as a one piece fan what is the full name of the creator of One Piece OD or OD icho Sensei what is the full name of they go like Oda something but that's that's the only thing I got I'll tell
you the letter it starts with starts with e I don't spot what is the full name of the creator of one piece air I don't I don't
name or something like that you're a one piece fan you got it that is correct here is your final question out of these four Japanese food which one was four Japanese food which one was originally from Japan a Ramen B GZA C
udon or D tempor say Udan what' you say that the frying technique come came from Europe Ramen came from China GZA also came from China that is correct all everything that's comes like from scratch or noodles I feel like it's come
from straight from Jaan well you actually got that one correct Ramen I actually got that one correct Ramen I think originated in China first I think I'm going to say udon not all from Japan no I know Ram is not from Japan uh it's
in kakana my gut saying either Tempa UD Al Just Between the them I like Al Just Between the them I like udon so is your final answer to udon oh when he says that we've been wrong don't don't don't read into it too
much follow your heart what do you think UD that is correct very I want to say it's tempura a lot of them have like Chinese fruits I go with yosa Ramen I don't udon's kind of the one I'm kind of shaking on but I'm going to say uh temp
tempura that is incorrect oh you were so close temper Ramen kind of sounds like a curveball yeah I don't I don't think Ramen it's game right now kind of leaning towards tempora tempora like fried foods I'm
going to go something different like udon yeah I'm going to go UD so you're from Japan Final Answer yeah I think I'll go udon I he can pick something else all right I'll go temp for then well one of you is correct and it's you
because the answer is Udon 100% not Ramen Ramen is Chinese R yeah I think it's UD yeah I agree I'm going say udon why do you say that because I vaguely remember a trash T thing damn it he's he's playing The Meta
game right now Jaden help me out which one is from Japan let's thanks for I going say D temporo I'm going just say that in my opinion why do you say d temporal it sounds like it's Japanese e that or is
ramen you pick one of them one of I'll just say udon you just completely disregard your friend it's like no actually no I'm should have stuck to your guts because the answer is Udon oh my God okay here
is your final question what is the Japanese name given to the military leader that Samurai were hire to protect in the Edo period my brain is blinking right now I don't know oh you're so close he's so close do you give up no I
close he's so close do you give up no I don't no sh Shogun Shogun is that your final answer yes Shogun that is correct oh God I was for the longest correct oh God I was for the longest time oh my God oh God congratulations oh
my God you are the first person to win this game yeah I don't know what we're waiting for she'll go get you something all right let's go let's go let's do it all right let's go let's go let's do it [Music]
this one all right you're getting the giant Hots Miku lucky bag then gotta fans they can't resist yeah got gotcha fans be like are the one and only winner of this video you got yourself a giant hotaki bag how do you feel uh so nervous
why are you nervous I get really nervous So like um yeah enjoy the gift and uh being in the video appreciate thank you you're like such an inspiration oh thank you thank you so much guys I hope you enjoyed this video as well let me know
below and hey if you want me to do more of these like kind of Street interview do some more so leave a like on this video appreciate you guys for watching I'll see you guys in the next one joh great yeah yeah what you say do that all
right [Music] JN [Music]
[Music] ch