First Week Observations

[l33tminion]

1. I'm not sure how much my host family represents a "traditional" Japanese family, especially since they don't have kids. Isamu-san does work very hard at his job, though, and Kyoko-san does seem to care a lot about her supporting role (although she works outside of the home, too; she's starting a new job tomorrow).

2. Isamu-san has a Honda motor-trike. I think it's interesting that he wears full safety equipment to ride it (helmet, leg-guards, gloves/wrist-guards), probably because I'm often annoyed to see people riding motorbikes without a helmet. (Is that more normal in Japan? I should pay attention to that.)

3. I'm glad that Japan has such a laid-back attitude towards religion. Nonetheless, Kyoko-san has been very concerned about whatever religious needs I might have. She asked if I had any dietary restrictions on the first day, and asked whether I needed "candles for Friday and Saturday" (took me a few minutes to figure out what she meant). When I explained that I wasn't religious, she asked why I don't follow my parent's religion, which led to an awkward (for me) conversation. I didn't give as direct an answer as I could; I said something about some people wanting religion to be a part of their daily lives, other people just celebrating the holidays with their families. Kyoko-san mentioned that her religion is Shinto (she had a Shinto wedding), but that doesn't tell me much about how religious she is...

4. I think one of the key differences in Japanese vs. American manners is that Americans view emotions as fuzzy and imprecise, whereas Japanese people seem to view emotions as more concrete. "Japanese people are more subtle" doesn't cover it; the Japanese seem to use a different kind of subtlety (more precise and considered). I still haven't figured out an ideal way to say "no, thank you" in Japanese.

5. Isamu-san and Kyoko-san have been hosting students for six years (I'm student number 12). That probably makes things easier for me, but avoiding miscommunication may mean that I miss things I would otherwise notice...

6. Japanese baths are very relaxing, once you get used to the temperature.

Comments

[chiaki777.livejournal.com]

Hmmm childless isn't that odd in Japan these days. A lot of people are taking on careers and putting off children in Japan... Which is primarily why there is a negative growth rate in Japan right now.... Although Kyoko-san being a full time house wife leaves me wondering.

In Japan, a lot of people commute with motor trikes and scooters. Safety, I think is a higher issue, especially with congestion of roads in mind.

As for Japanese people prying, it's their nature to ask often embarrassing questions, so try to brush it off. I was actually asked about having a girl friend or not and was rather shocked I was asked this with little regard for my personal boundaries.

Yeah, saying no in Japanese seldom means no, they also offer something and expect you to turn it down a few times you accept anyway.

That's why you must go out and see the world for yourself to see how you fare! ^0^

Japanese baths were too hot since I was a child, I used showers. XD

[l33tminion]

Although Kyoko-san being a full time house wife leaves me wondering.

I don't know if that reflects the normal state of affairs, since Kyoko-san was between (at least part-time) jobs.

Yeah, saying no in Japanese seldom means no, they also offer something and expect you to turn it down a few times you accept anyway.

In Japan, yes means maybe, maybe means no, and no may well mean yes.

[kihou.livejournal.com]

1. I wouldn't be surprised if Kyoko-san is empowered enough to not want kids (or to prefer periodic American college students to actual kids ^_^); she doesn't fit well into any of Japan's "aah! young people are not being traditional and dooming us all!" groups, mainly because she's married. She's closest to a freeter (someone who instead of working in a company/going to college works a series of part-time jobs, often living with their parents, has more free time, and saves money for personal things (which for women is stereotypically travel/work/study abroad). Not to be confused with NEET, parasite singles, or hikikomori. But yeah, she doesn't seem too atypical, and not having kids is the thing to do these days in Japan, it seems.

2. I think motorcycles are probably different, but no one in Japan wears a helmet when riding a bicycle. The roads are also so narrow that it gets unnerving when a car starts coming the other direction (or a truck that sees you and stops... ^_^).

3. I think Americans have the stereotype of being strongly religious relative to Japan, or maybe some of her earlier students had strong religious practices. Most Japanese people are in effect Shintō and Buddhist without being very religious; unlike America, where many people self-identify as Christian (or whatever) without actually ever going to church, many Japanese don't self-identify as religious but still visit shrines/temples when they're about to take an entrance exam or a loved one is hurt or whatever. Of course, Christmas is also very popular.

Having a Shintō wedding doesn't necessarily exclude also being Buddhist; in Japan, at least, it's very hard to find a Buddhist wedding or a Shintō funeral. The religions have become quite good at not conflicting.

4. けっこうです。[lit. "It's splendid."] is how you say "no thank you" when you're refusing things like more food. It really means something like "The food I've already eaten is so great [that I couldn't handle any more]." In general, "no thank you" phrases leave the actual "no" part implied. For instance, if someone offered you to take you to a movie and you didn't want to go, you might say something like "えいがにいくのはとてもたのしいですけど…" ("Going to the movies would be very fun, but..."), indicating that you really want to go but implying that you can't for some unspecified reason. It saves face for everyone involved and all that social harmony stuff.*

[l33tminion]

1. We talked about that in marketing class. Apparently, if things keep going at the present rate, Japan will have no people by 2900 or so. Of course that's a bit of an absurdity, demographic change would lead to a population resurgence (or alternately some sort of apocalyptic crisis) long before then. Still, I wonder what Japan will be like in 1000 years.

saying "no, thank you"

[solfrejazz.livejournal.com]

Try looking apologetic and helpless; then say "kekko desu (yo)."