I expected that this article would just be another way to feed into negative stereotypes about Japanese. While a lot of it is just the typical raving, there are one or two items which I would say are pretty spot on. Their vending machines _do_ put ours to shame. Also, as an American, you don't realize how much we use sarcasm until you travel abroad and realize people aren't getting it. It's nice, actually. Sarcasm gets old :P.