[English/Japanese] Things that Surprised International Students When They Came to Japan - Love (1) Some international students have Japanese lover boyfriends or girlfriends. There are also students who have found someone of the opposite sex they like and ask how to appeal to them. In this article, I would like to introduce some episodes of love that have actually happened to international students. I followed a beautiful woman... A male student was approached by a woman at a train station. She was very beautiful and they had a nice conversation, so the student promised to meet her next time. Later, the woman contacted the student and invited him to her house. The student was very excited to enter the house. And found several of her friends there. The woman told him that they were in the same business. The male student was invited to join the business, but he properly refused. Basically, Japanese women do not actively approach strangers. Also, don't immediately go to a stranger's house, even if the person is a woman. When I gave lady first to a Japanese woman There is a story about a Western student who gave a female employee ”ladies first” treatment, and the female staff mistakenly thought that the student liked her. In the old days in Japan, women were taught to walk three steps behind men. That is why Japanese women were rarely treated kindly by men. Today, this has changed considerably. However, we do not have ”ladies first” culture like in the West. Therefore, if you do something to a Japanese woman, such as holding the door open for her, she may think, "Maybe that foreigner likes me. " and this may lead to trouble. Treating women well is a good thing, so you may want to proactively introduce yourself to them about your own culture to clear up any misunderstandings. Sudden improvement in Japanese language skills! Sometimes there are students who suddenly become fluent in Japanese. When I talk to such students, they often tell me that they have found a Japanese lover or someone they are slightly attracted to. It is said that the best way to improve your language skills is to get a girlfriend or boyfriend from the country where you are studying. Of course, there are people whose only love interest is someone from their own country. It is very important to "like" something related to Japan. I hope you can find as many "likes" as possible. In this article, I introduced an episode that actually happened. Next time, I would like to introduce the Japanese view of love. What surprised international students when they came to Japan ~ Love (1) ~ There are international students who can have Japan lovers. There are also students who have a favorite opposite sex and ask for advice on how to appeal to them. This time, I would like to introduce an episode about an actual relationship with an international student of the opposite sex. If you follow a beautiful woman... A male international student was approached by a woman at the train station. She was a very beautiful woman, we talked a lot, and I made an appointment to see her next. After that, I was contacted by a woman, and the student who was invited to the woman's house was excited, and when I entered the house, I found several female friends. I heard that they were colleagues in the same business. A male student was offered a job in business, but he refused. Basically, Japan women don't actively talk to strangers. Also, don't go to the house of someone you don't know much about, even if they're women. If you give Japan women lady first There is a story about a Western student who was mistaken for liking a fellow worker (female) at her part-time job when she responded to her as a lady first. In the old Japan, there was a teaching that a woman should walk three steps behind a man. That's why Japan women were less treated kindly by men. A lot has changed now. However, there is no lady-first culture like in the West. Therefore, if a woman Japan acts like waiting for a woman to open the door, she may mistakenly think that "that foreigner may like me," and that may cause trouble. It's good to treat women with care, so you may want to actively introduce your country's culture and clear up any misunderstandings. Sudden increase in Japanese power! Sometimes there are students who suddenly become good at Japanese. When I talk to such students, they often say that they have Japan girlfriends or people who are a little worried. It is said that the shortcut to improving language is to make a lover of the country. Of course, there may be people who only have a love interest from their own country. It is very important to "like" something related to Japan. I hope you can find as many "likes" as possible. This time, we introduced an episode that actually happened. Next time, I would like to introduce Japan people's views on love.

Higanbana with the onset of autumn When it comes to autumn, we tend to focus on the autumn leaves, but higanbana also tells us the beginning of autumn. The whole area was higan flowers, and it was red as if there was a red carpet on it. This photo was taken at Miyakuyama Natural Forest Park in Gunma Prefecture. It was just evening, and I was able to take the picture at a good time when the red shines well with the gentle yellowish light.

Autumn of Japan Kibana cosmos and dragonflies

I photographed Tokyo Station from near the Kikyomon gate in the outer garden of the Imperial Palace.

Went canoeing in Hagure, Saitama and I managed to turn red thanks to a nice sunburn. Was super tired the next day after a ton of canoeing but still managed to get a good amount of sightseeing done in Gyoda. Visited Oshi Castle (忍城) and the nearby museum, bought some tabi shoes from a shop that’s been in business for more than 100 years (創作足袋千代の松), stopped by a couple of shrines and enjoyed some of Japan’s scenic beauty. Had a total blast, and one of the locals even gave us some incense as a gift for visiting Gyoda!

I went to Gyoda, where my favorite drama Rikuo was filmed! I found a winning insect pattern at a tabi shop! I was just so excited ?.

In September, summer is over, and autumn is about to come, this "higanbana" that blooms just at the turn of the season. When I see them blooming every year, I feel lonely at the end of summer, and I think that it is autumn from now on. This photo was taken at Sakai Ontake Natural Forest Park in Gunma Prefecture. It was just sparkling with sunlight filtering through the trees in the crowds, so I tried to emphasize the glitter.

Autumn of Japan. Yanagitani Kannon's water shed for autumn leaves. It was a moment when I was moved by the fact that the taste of collecting colorful autumn leaves and delighting the eyes of visitors is the very spirit of hospitality unique to Japan people.

In the autumn sunny weather Cosmos swayed by the wind It was gorgeous

At Shioyama in Yamanashi Prefecture. Signs of autumn.

Cut out autumn in Hokkaido with a single-lens reflex camera. The place is Hakodate City Kosetsu Garden. The autumn leaves, which are in full bloom in early November Japan are the latest end point of autumn. I photographed the autumn leaves with a soft fancy filter with a conciliatory expression.

Autumn of Japan In the sun On the passionate crimson bed of Higanbana Colorful persimmon leaves wrapped Color autumn

This is the autumn foliage scenery of Koankyo in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture. This is a canyon formed by the deep erosion of both banks of the Minase River over many years. When you go down the stairs of the rocks, there is a promenade at the end of which there is a "large spout" where hot water and steam of 98°C are gushing out violently. Fresh green in spring, autumn leaves. And in winter, you can enjoy the large icicles "shigakko" that descend into the canyon. This photo was taken from Kawarayu Bridge overlooking the autumn foliage scenery of Koankyo.

Hills and countryside

Higanbana after the rain! It tasted good with water droplets and was very beautiful!

Kita Shinshu has also begun to bloom The sun begins to shine and turns bright red

Autumn landscape in Japan Sparrows were playing in the ears of rice

Hototogisu Unusual autumn flowers blooming in the mountains Lovely ♬

Some more photos I took at Todaiji Temple. The first statue is of Vaisravana (多聞天/毘沙門天), another of the Four Heavenly Kings, holding a staff and some sort of small pagoda,. The second statue is Cintamanicakra (如意輪観音), a bodhisattva. The third photo is a (unfortunately poor quality) photo of Vairocana, the Cosmic Buddha from my understanding. The rest of the photos are models of Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall from 800 and 300 years ago, and Nandai-mon, the Great South Gate. The pagoda is, from my understanding, a replica of one of the lost pagodas that used to be located at Todaiji Temple, but I believe was burnt down? I could be wrong about that though. Then last is a photo of the heads of Virudhaka (増長天)(left), and Dhrtarastra (持国天)(right), two of the Four Heavenly Kings. Lots of cool stuff to be seen at Todaiji! Definitely recommend it. My photos don't do it justice at all.

Higan flowers were blooming and I felt autumn! It was very beautiful and I fell in love with it! ?

I found some photos of when I visited Todaiji Temple. I took a photo of the bronze lantern out front of the temple because I thought it looked really cool, but it's pretty crazy to think that the lantern is around 1,300 years old at this point. I also took some photos of a few of the statues inside the temple, the first being Akasagarbha (虚空蔵菩薩), one of the Eight Great Bodhisattva, and the second (which took me forever to find the name of...) being Virupaksa (広目天), one of the Four Heavenly Kings. I'm not sure what Virupaksa is made of but I think this statue is made of wood, although I could be wrong. It looks like a different material from the other statues inside the temple, although it's been quite a while since I visited and I can't recall exactly. All the statues are really awesome though. I'll have to upload some more photos later!

Higanbana It was a day to feel autumn.

Ears of rice shining in the morning Rice harvesting will soon flourish Fruiting autumn I am grateful

Hitachi-Ota, Ibaraki Afternoon light awn

Some photos I took at Nijo Castle in spring 2018. You can see the cherry blossoms in some of the photos just starting to bloom, but not quite in full bloom, and the rest of the gardens were really enjoyable as well. I really liked the gold decorations/designs on the buildings. The gate was also really cool. I believe it's called Karamon Gate although I'm not 100% sure on that. The moat around the castle was pretty neat as well, I can imagine it was a strong fortification, especially since it belonged to Tokugawa Ieyasu, although I'm not entirely sure about the rest of the castle's history. The photos of the moat and surrounding area were taken from on top of a small vantage point, and I wonder if it was originally some sort of turret, but I'm not sure about that either. Either way, I definitely recommend giving it a visit to anyone in Kyoto or anyone planning to visit Kyoto. I believe it was relatively close to the Golden Pavilion as well, so if you have the chance, why not?

Autumn of Japan Metasequoia avenue It is said to be the best in autumn trees in the Japan, and the tunnel row lasts for about 2.2 km. It is also a place that is certified as a Kansai spot. In Shiga

Yae autumn cherry blossoms and dahlias The flowers are beautiful and nice.