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開智国際日本語学校(Kaichi International School of Japanese)
Nov. 29, 2021
[English/Japanese] Can we see Japan through the contents of Japanese people's bags?1) What do Japanese people carry in their bags? I would like to introduce you to the life and culture of Japan through this. 1)Wallets Compared to other countries, Japanese people probably carry more cash in their wallets. Although electronic payments have been increasing recently, there are still many stores that do not accept electronic settlements or credit cards. Keep a little extra cash in your wallet when you are living in Japan. 2)Folding umbrella What percentage of chance of precipitation do you take an umbrella with you? Half of Japanese people carry an umbrella even when the chance of precipitation is 30%. 3) Hand cream and eye drops It is very dry in winter in Japan. When you try to open a door, you may feel static electricity, which can be painful. Also, contacts tend to dry out in winter. For this reason, I use hand cream and eye drops to prevent them from drying out. 4) Eco bag In Japan, plastic bags have been charged since last year. As a result, more and more people are carrying eco-bags. 5) Anti-infection goods To prevent infection by the new coronavirus, more and more people are carrying a small size disinfectant. Some people also carry spare masks in their mask cases. Recently, fashionable mask cases are being sold and are being adopted as a new fashion. It would be nice if we could have fun while preventing infection. I will continue to introduce the contents of Japanese people's bags next week. Can you see the Japan from the contents of Japan's bag? ① What do Japan people carry in their bags? From there, I would like to introduce life and culture in Japan. (1) Wallet Probably more cash in your wallet than in other countries. Recently, electronic payments have increased, but there are still many stores that cannot perform electronic settlement or do not accept credit cards. When living in Japan, put in a little more. (2) Folding umbrella Do you take an umbrella with what percentage of the probability of precipitation? Even if there is a 30% chance of rain for Japan people, half of the people carry umbrellas. (3) Hand cream and eye drops Winters in Japan are very dry. If you try to open the door, static electricity will occur, and it may hurt. In addition, contacts are also easy to dry in winter. Therefore, hand creams and eye drops prevent dryness. (4) Eco-bags In Japan, plastic bags have been charged since last year. Therefore, more and more people carry eco-bags. (5) Infectious disease control goods In order to prevent infection with the new coronavirus, more and more people are carrying small size disinfectants. In addition, some people carry spare masks inside their mask cases. Recently, fashionable mask cases have been sold and are being adopted as a new fashion. I hope you can enjoy infection prevention. Next week, I will introduce the contents of Japan people's bags.
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Dylan Gibson
Nov. 5, 2021
Some photos I took while passing through the area. Lit up trees ready for Christmas near Toyocho Station! I also spotted these pandas around a Christmas tree at Ueno Station as well and thought it was cute. It's funny how fast Halloween ends and almost immediately we start to see Christmas decorations lol. It's not dissimilar with the US though. Every time Halloween ends it's like someone flips a switch and suddenly all of the Halloween decorations become Christmas decorations. Speaking of Halloween though, I actually saw children trick or treating in the streets this year which was really nice considering all the restrictions over the past 2 years. It also seems like the culture of Halloween has started to become a bigger part of Japanese culture over the last 5 years or so. I still love that Christmas is a dating holiday in Japan though. It feels like a romantic holiday anyways, I think it's better this way personally.
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開智国際日本語学校(Kaichi International School of Japanese)
Sep. 20, 2021
[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.
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開智国際日本語学校(Kaichi International School of Japanese)
Jul. 26, 2021
[English] The Olympics have finally arrived in Japan. Although the atmosphere is quieter than usual because of the Corona disaster, the people of Japan are excited by the heated competition every day. In this article, I would like to introduce the unique "event" culture of Japan. Normally quiet people turn into different people! Traditional Festivals In Japan, festivals are held all over the country in the summer. Festivals are popular events among foreign tourists, but it is often said that foreigners who see the festivities see something completely different from the usual Japanese. At Japanese festivals, people walk around the city lifting a small house of God called a "mikoshi" with many other people. The people walking with the mikoshi keep shouting loudly and sometimes collide with other mikoshi, to the point where it looks violent. Men, who normally wear suits, participate in the festival in only their underwear, almost naked. Also, perhaps because Japanese people feel more relaxed on festival days than usual, their manners become more lax and many people get into fights. A similar phenomenon is "Halloween". In the last decade, the number of people enjoying Halloween events has increased in Japan, but the bad manners have been in the news every year. It is said that Japanese people are usually very stressed. Festivals may be an outlet for that stress. Let's be careful when we participate! Valentine's Day: The Chocolate Wars In your country, who do you give Valentine's Day gifts to and what do you give them? If you ask our students the same question, they will answer, "I send a bouquet of flowers to a woman on Valentine's Day. This is not the case in Japan. In Japan, it is different. In Japan, Valentine's Day is a day for women to give chocolates to men. Therefore, from the end of January, department stores start to sell high-end chocolates. Men get nervous and restless on the morning of February 14th. Do you think men who get lots of chocolates are happy? Actually, I can't say I'm happy. What's more, there is a day on March 14 called "White Day" when you have to return the gifts you received on Valentine's Day. It is implicitly understood that on White Day, you should prepare a gift that is three times the price of the chocolate you received on Valentine's Day. Do you still want to receive chocolates? Who do you spend Christmas with? In your country, Christmas is an event to spend with whom? In Japan, it is popular as an event to spend with your lover. Also, Japanese people eat fried chicken instead of turkey on Christmas. And most of the people who celebrate Christmas are Buddhists. Christmas in Japan must be full of discomfort for foreigners. Then, on December 26, all the Christmas atmosphere in the city disappears, and all at once it becomes New Year's mode. “Obon" to welcome the dead In the middle of August, there is a day called "Obon" to welcome the dead. During Obon, families wash the graves and welcome the spirits of their ancestors into their homes. There is a mysterious doll that is made at that time. One is a "horse doll" with chopsticks attached to a cucumber, and the other is a "cow doll" with chopsticks attached to an eggplant. It is said that the spirits of the dead ride these "horses" back to their homes and "cows" back to the land of the dead. In some areas, lamps called lanterns are floated down the river to mourn the dead. The scenery is sad but beautiful. In your country, what do you do during Obon? Have you learned anything new about events in Japan? In our school, we have seasonal events and activities. Learning about Japanese events is also a way to learn about the Japanese spirit. Please try to participate in them. The Olympic Games have finally been held in Japan. Since the event is held in Coronavirus pandemic, the atmosphere is quieter than usual, but the people are excited about the heated matches every day. This time, we will introduce Japan's unique "event" culture. People who are usually quiet have changed! Traditional festivities In Japan, festivals are held in various places in the summer. The festival is also a popular event for foreign tourists, but it is often said that foreigners who see the festival see a completely different appearance from ordinary Japanese people. In Japanese festivals, people sometimes walk around the city while lifting a small god's house called a "mikoshi" with a large number of people. People walking with mikoshi keep shouting loudly, and sometimes they collide with other mikoshi, so much so that they look violent. Men who usually wear suits also participate almost naked, now only in their underwear. Also, on festival days, Japanese people are more liberated than usual, so their manners are sloppy and there are many people who fight. A similar phenomenon is Halloween. In the last 10 years, the number of people who enjoy Halloween events in Japan has increased, and their bad manners are in the news every year. Japanese people are usually stressed. Festivals may be an outlet for that stress. Be careful when participating! Valentine's Day Chocolate Sales In your country, who do you give Valentine's Day to? If you ask our students, the answer is, "Valentine's Day sends bouquets of flowers to women." Japan is different. Valentine's Day in Japan is a day when women give chocolates to men. Therefore, from the end of January, the high-end chocolate sales season begins in department stores. Males become fidgety and restless on the morning of February 14. Do you think a man who gets a lot of chocolate is happy? Not really. On March 14th, there is a day called "White Day" when you have to return the gift you received on Valentine's Day. On that White Day, it is an unspoken agreement to prepare a gift that is three times the price of the chocolate you received on Valentine's Day. Do you still want to get chocolate? Who do you spend Christmas with? Who is Christmas with in your country? In Japan, it is popular as an "event to spend time with lovers". Also, the Japanese eat fried chicken instead of Christmas turkey. And most of the people celebrating Christmas are Buddhists. Christmas in Japan must be full of discomfort for foreigners. And on December 26, all the Christmas atmosphere in the city disappears and you go into New Year's mode at once. "Obon" to greet the dead In the middle of August, there is a day called "Obon" that welcomes the dead. Obon washes graves with families and welcomes the spirits of ancestors into their homes. There is a mysterious doll that is made at that time. There is a "horse doll" with chopsticks on a cucumber and a "cow doll" with chopsticks on an eggplant. It is said that the spirits of the dead ride home on this "horse" and return to the land of the dead on a "cow". In addition, there are areas where lamps called lanterns are poured into the river to mourn the dead. The scenery is sad but beautiful. What do you do for Obon in your country? Have you learned anything new about events in Japan? Our school conducts seasonal events. To know Japanese events is to know the heart of the Japanese people. Please join us.
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