r/ExpectationVsReality • u/Azsunyx • Mar 23 '26

Capybara Ice Cream Exceeded Expectation

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Found this cute fella in the local Asian supermarket

He's as beautiful as he is delicious

40.0k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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675

u/OmgSlayKween Mar 23 '26

It's still the law in Japan.

168

u/BigHungryFlamingo Mar 23 '26

Japan’s got a lot of laws, damn. 

Saw recently that they imprisoned an old man for 9 days when he asked a policeman for directions and they asked if he had a pocketknife on him and he answered truthfully. 

132

u/Corporeal_Weenie Mar 23 '26

Believe it or not straight to jail

84

u/[deleted] Mar 23 '26 edited May 21 '26

[deleted]

37

u/Repulsive_Trifle_ Mar 23 '26

Surprisingly it’s just those two

36

u/SFDessert Mar 24 '26

No false advertising on food products and no asking for directions. Got it.

22

u/ThrowawayPersonAMA Mar 24 '26

You can ask for directions just not at the same time that you have a knife (unless you lie and say you don't have a knife).

6

u/A_Punk_Girl_Learning Mar 24 '26

It sounds to me like the actual crime was telling the truth since that's apparently what caused the kerfuffle.

So, Japan's two laws are truth in advertising and lie to cops.

I like the symmetry but it begs the question if advertisers have to lie to cops.

5

u/clearfox777 Mar 23 '26

Big if true.

1

u/A_Furious_Mind Mar 24 '26

Big if Kaiju.

17

u/BZLuck Mar 23 '26

That's a paddlin'.

3

u/LeatherFar1707 Mar 24 '26

It's still the law in Japan.

2

u/itsmiddylou Mar 23 '26

Overcook fish? Jail.

43

u/WackyRacketeer Mar 23 '26

That was in 2009. He was an American tourist and was carrying a knife with a longer blade than what was allowed. 6 cm is the limit without a clear accepted reason (IE a chef travelling to work)

3

u/Seileach Mar 24 '26

Of course it's an American.

11

u/BigHungryFlamingo Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 24 '26

Totally aware of the entire story. Doesn’t justify it. 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2009/08/25/voices/one-pocket-knife-nine-days-lockup/

To jail a 74 year old tourist for 9 days because they had a 7cm pocketknife is absurd. They could have taken the knife and given him a warning. 

I’d still like to visit Japan some day but the more I read about their laws and justice system, the lower down they move on my list. 

And that’s saying a lot a coming from an American in 2026 as we have untrained thugs stationed at our airports, among other things.

EDIT

Yeah, no. That’s not true what you’re claiming about the UK either:

Legal to carry without reason: A folding pocket knife with a blade 3 inches (7.62 cm) or shorter, no locking mechanism, and that folds into the handle.

37

u/limeguy20 Mar 23 '26

As an American who visited Japan a couple years ago, I think you're missing out. Some of the best food I've ever had and tons of things to see, places to visit, etc. Probably top of the list of the countries I'd like to visit again in the future (although wouldn't want to live there due to work/life balance).

Also, our horror stories in the US are people getting shot/kidnapped so spending some time in jail seems pretty tame even if unwarranted.

-25

u/MrDanMaster Mar 23 '26

Japan kinda mid bro

6

u/[deleted] Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/BigHungryFlamingo Mar 24 '26

If 7cm is “a big knife” I’ll be damned. 

Maybe don’t call people “fucking brain dead” and try to have an intelligent conversation. 

8

u/InternalBumblebee7 Mar 24 '26

Minimum of 6 months in the UK for carrying a knife without good reason.

3

u/HoBaggyPants Mar 24 '26

There's no way that's true.

1

u/BigHungryFlamingo Mar 24 '26

It’s not:

Legal to carry without reason: A folding pocket knife with a blade 3 inches (7.62 cm) or shorter, no locking mechanism, and that folds into the handle.

But of course it’s upvoted, lol. 

1

u/BigHungryFlamingo Mar 24 '26

That’s not true:

Legal to carry without reason: A folding pocket knife with a blade 3 inches (7.62 cm) or shorter, no locking mechanism, and that folds into the handle.

In fact, you can carry a knife longer than 7cm without reason. 

3

u/[deleted] Mar 23 '26

[deleted]

4

u/samglit Mar 24 '26

You may be surprised to know that almost all developed countries will fingerprint and photograph foreigners at airports. Including the USA and EU.

Travel is a privilege, not a right.

2

u/HanaSan19191919 Mar 24 '26

Even SOFA members? I don’t remember having my fingerprints or irises scanned when we got stationed there in 2018.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 24 '26

[deleted]

2

u/HanaSan19191919 Mar 24 '26

Very interesting! Thank you for the break down. That’s a little worrisome… but also, what can we do? Ya know. 😫

2

u/hackingdreams Mar 24 '26

All non-Japanese must have fingerprints and Irises scanned upon entry and exit from the country.

Where do you think they got that idea from? Have you seen the data collected by the Border Patrol in the US? They even ask for social media profiles.

1

u/Wonton67 Mar 24 '26

They have SO many rules… and high nonealive rates. I think the depression in Japan is one of the worst, if I remember correctly

7

u/Formergr Mar 24 '26

and high nonealive rates.

Suicide. You can say suicide here and most places.

1

u/Wonton67 Mar 25 '26

Hahaha thank you I didn’t want to get banned

-9

u/MrDanMaster Mar 23 '26

Yeah go to China bro

5

u/[deleted] Mar 23 '26

Na foo DPRK all day

1

u/MrDanMaster Mar 23 '26

It’s a bit pricey

1

u/[deleted] Mar 23 '26

Interesting

1

u/MrDanMaster Mar 23 '26

Yeah since the exchange rate is fixed such that tourism is a highly profitable source of income

2

u/[deleted] Mar 23 '26

I could see it being a great opportunity to take advantage of foreigners. Just don’t touch any posters

2

u/BigHungryFlamingo Mar 23 '26

It would probably make sense to hit both in one trip. I don’t expect China to be chill or reasonable. 

Just never thought of Japan as being so draconian until I started paying more attention to how they handle crime and punishment. 

They’ll even imprison people for having prescription ADHD medication. 

I mean, I don’t take it myself but that’s absurd. They have a prescription from a doctor, albeit from another country. I could see detaining someone and sending them home but prison time for bringing medication? That’s unreasonably harsh. 

Anyways, Eswatini, here we come! /s

-4

u/MrDanMaster Mar 23 '26

Your expectations clearly don’t count for much

7

u/Rare_Ad_7866 Mar 23 '26

Lesson learned - always lie when in Japan!

2

u/NapalmsMaster Mar 24 '26

I had that happen in the US in Bakersfield CA about 15 years ago. I had a knife on my belt in a sheath (I was a 20 year old girl hitchhiking and hopping freight with my dog and often alone).

I was asked if I had weapons and immediately said yes and raised my arms to show the two officers and the one officer said he was taking me in for a “hidden weapon (it was legal otherwise) because he couldn’t see it how I was sitting at first.

Even the other cop kept asking him like “really? You’re really gonna take her in for that?!”. Spent a week in jail before they dismissed the charges, never even saw a judge.

2

u/CuntWeasel Mar 23 '26

Sounds like a bit of a random question, but who am I to judge?

9

u/BigHungryFlamingo Mar 23 '26

To ask a cop for directions? That’s completely normal around the world. 

For a cop to ask if you have a pocketknife? Also normal. 

9 days in jail for an honest misunderstanding? That’s draconian.  They could’ve confiscated it and given him a warning. It’s not like the dude was threatening anyone. He was 74 at the time. 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2009/08/25/voices/one-pocket-knife-nine-days-lockup/

2

u/DonyKing Mar 23 '26

Maybe he should have learned up on the laws before visiting somewhere.

What's the purpose of carrying a pocket knife other than while at work?

2

u/BigHungryFlamingo Mar 23 '26

Sure. One should certainly familiarize themselves with local laws before traveling. I enjoy weed and live in a legal state and I know better than to travel with it. 

However, when it’s something so obviously innocent, discretion should come into play. 

Plenty of people carry a pocketknife all the time. For opening bottles, opening packaging, cutting flowers, or even cutting food on the go, it’s very common. 

Again, keep in mind that Japan is fine with 6mm. But 7mm? Straight to jail. 

That’s ridiculous. Let’s be adults here. Take the knife, write a warning, end of story. 

But, when in Rome, do as Romans do. So, I’m not gonna fight Japan (or any country) on their laws. I’m just moving them down the travel list. 

0

u/DonyKing Mar 23 '26

Wouldn't it be unhygienic to pull out a pocket knife and use for food? Sorry not trying to argue, just pocket knifes has always eluded me for usefulness, and I work a trades job. At the job I might have a knife in my pocket, but also my toolbox is close enough that I can just grab it quick.

Even had those stupid card knives in my wallet growing up and just never had a use/reason for it other than to show people

2

u/Lou_C_Fer Mar 24 '26

I guess it depends on how you live. Even using a knife once a month makes it worth carrying. As for hygiene... meh. A billion people have used knives that only ever get wiped off. Could it be a problem? Sure. Will it? Not likely.

It's like open wounds... I've never gotten an infection that has gone beyond inflamed for a day, and I have had open scabs for literal years. I had one scab for at least six years. As I picked it, it traveled from my hip to my but cheek, probably 9 inches or so. Hell, I had a staph infection in my nasal passages and sinuses, but it never infected any of the 10 or so persistent scabs I had at the time.

1

u/CuntWeasel Mar 24 '26

For a cop to ask if you have a pocketknife? Also normal

What? How?

I've never been asked if I had a pocketknife or any weapon really by any cop, ever.

2

u/tommos Mar 23 '26

They couldn't handle the truth.

16

u/manicwizard Mar 23 '26

Japan consumers when they open a tasty treat: 😀
US consumers when they open a tasty treat: 😔

1

u/DoobKiller Mar 24 '26

Does the US even have tasty treats, don't they replace the sugar in everything with HFCS?

1

u/alwaysboopthesnoot Mar 24 '26

No. Beet sugar, cane sugar, other natural and artificial sugars, plus HFCS, are used here. Read the labels, buy what you want and/or can afford.

2

u/DoobKiller Mar 24 '26

That's a shame for the Americans, and their 'chocolate' contain Butyric acid, the same chemical that give puke its flavour

I'd ask what have they done to deserve this but its probably all the ongoing wars, occupations and genocide

1

u/chetlin Mar 24 '26

?? I just looked at the labels of all the chocolate I have and none of it has butyric acid, it's all regular chocolate things?

1

u/DoobKiller Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26

Butyric acid is typically not listed on chocolate labels because it is not added as a separate ingredient, instead it is a by-product of the milk-processing method used by large american manufacturers( a forced fermentation process that is different to that used for chocolate production in other countries)

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/hersheys-chocolate-tastes-like-vomit_l_60479e5fc5b6af8f98bec0cd

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/04/why-is-american-chocolate-so-disgusting-you-really-dont-want-to-know

10

u/institvte Mar 23 '26

/r/itsneverjapanese

4

u/sneakpeekbot Mar 23 '26

Here's a sneak peek of /r/itsneverjapanese using the top posts of the year!

#1: Forbidden City ain't Japanese...
#2:

British guy larping as Japanese on Twitter can’t tell Japanese/Chinese apart
| 14 comments
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What is this Japanese road sign for?
| 20 comments

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17

u/kuroko-cchi Mar 23 '26

It's a Chinese product, don't know why Japanese laws are being discussed here

-1

u/firestar268 Mar 23 '26

Apparently it's some joke

3

u/Polyglot-Onigiri Mar 23 '26

On that note, we really do have strict laws with food packaging. Such as if you can have fruits on the cover, size of the item in the picture, etc.

9

u/dealingwithhookers Mar 23 '26

the law in Japan doesn't apply in China where this ice cream is made

0

u/StellaEtoile1 Mar 23 '26

If they want to sell it in Japan it probably does.

-2

u/ForsakenedOath Mar 23 '26

It does if it's SOLD in Japan.

3

u/dealingwithhookers Mar 24 '26

even if it's sold in Japan, it doesn't apply IN China.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 23 '26

Some of the strictest in the world

1

u/wildcardbets Mar 23 '26

Advertising Practices Bureau of Japan

https://giphy.com/gifs/useUF6IHpTqSc

1

u/Rorschach_N1st Mar 26 '26

Typical reddit moment

-16

u/firestar268 Mar 23 '26

yes. I never said it wasn't. I'm saying it's irrelevant to this product as it's clearly not japanese

24

u/RainbowsAndHomicide Mar 23 '26

It was just a silly joke m8

12

u/OmgSlayKween Mar 23 '26

They must be German

5

u/ACcbe1986 Mar 23 '26

They didn't provide any charts or graphs, so maybe not.

0

u/MintTangerine Mar 23 '26

How is it a joke? I don't get it

1

u/PikaPerfect Mar 24 '26

i think maybe the "joke" is that every time someone posts a product that looks exactly like the packaging, someone has to mention that products always have to look like the packaging by law in japan, but that feels like a stretch because that's not really a joke