Jaunted

Culture

Octopus-Qualified Guides Wanted

March 21, 2007 at 1:00 PM | 0 Comments

If you hire a tour guide in Japan, you'd better check their credentials. Chambers of commerce across the country hold voluntary exams for anyone who wants to study enough--a hard concept to wrap your mind around, we know--and award those who pass with a certificate in the subject of the test. Originally introduced to increase the knowledge of tourism industry workers and taxi drivers, the weird thing is that now all kinds of people take these tests, just because they can.

One of the oldest and most popular tests is the Kyoto Sightseeing and Culture Test (10,000 candidates a year), while other more specialized tests are also growing in popularity, like the Akashi Octopus Test (since octopi are a special product in the Akashi region) and the Sakaiminato Goblins Test (of course). Apparently there are nearly a hundred different tests you can take and none of them sound too easy to pass. So don't just let any ol' Japanese guy guide you around the country: check how many tests they have under their belt.

[Photo: bebot]

Related Stories:
· Thousands in Grip of New Exam Fever [Japan Times]