In an Aloha shirt and khakis, Ken Yamada doesn t exactly look like a Buddhist minister. But put the boyish 47-year-old reverend of Berkeley s Higashi Honganji in a roomful of folk-dancing parishioners, and he fits right into the sights and sounds of Obon, a Japanese tradition steeped in deep religious meaning and cultural celebration. There s more coming,he…
1 GEOGRAPHIC SETTING AND ENVIRONMENT Japan is an archipelago (chain of islands) made up of about 3, islands. About twothirds of the land is too mountainous for development, so almost all the people live in cities, most of which were built on the country s flat land (plains area). The country sometimes experiences natural disasters, such as typhoons (huge storms…
Japan is a nation known for its fantastic festivals and annual celebrations , but perhaps none is more famous than the festivities that accompany the arrival of the cherry blossoms each spring. From late March through early May, cherry blossoms bloom across Japan, welcoming spring with a burst of color unlike any other. For those teaching English in Japan, the…
10. “Why Are Some People Wearing Surgical Masks?” This may be the first thing you notice on your visit. Don’t panic! There’s no disease going around. The Japanese wear surgical masks to avoid colds and other bacteria, but usually they’re worn if a person is already sick and wants to protect others. If you have a cold or catch one in Japan, be respectful and wear…
During the New Year’s holidays, many Japanese eat osechi ryōri, a collection of traditional foods developed during the Heian Period (794-1185). It originally consisted of fish or vegetables simmered in soy sauce and sweet mirin but, as the years passed, other foods were incorporated into the compendium of dishes, including those that had symbolic significance…
Japanese elementary schools strive to instill those values in their students, placing a premium on their transmission that exceeds their zeal to teach reading, writing and arithmetic. This heavy emphasis on socializing children is the bedrock of Japanese society and is credited, at least in part, with producing the low rates of juvenile crime rates, teenage pregnancy…
Japan Table of Contents Contemporary Japan is a secular society. Creating harmonious relations with others through reciprocity and the fulfillment of social obligations is more significant for most Japanese than an individual s relationship to a transcendent God. Harmony, order, and self-development are three of the most important values that underlie Japanese…
The other answers I ve seen here are all correct, or at least they jibe pretty well with my observations. There are a couple of things I have noticed that others have not mentioned. In 1975 I was on a Fulbright and the main objective was research for a year in Taiwan, but there were some experts on my topic in Japan as well, so I spent the summer in Kyoto. I…
LONDON – “Sushi” is probably the most widely known Japanese word in Britain today. “Manga, ” “karaoke” and “sudoku” are also much used, but speakers may not realize their Japanese origin. Not so long ago the most common Japanese words, which “the man in the street” knew, were probably “geisha” and “sayonara.” Popular vocabulary and culture have changed Japan’s…
The Japan Information & Cultural Center (JICC) is the cultural, educational, and public affairs division of the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco serving Northern and Central California, and the state of Nevada. Helping people gain a deeper understanding of Japanese traditions, customs, history and contemporary culture is the primary purpose…
Simply put, Japan is a fascinating destination. Here, you ll find a seamless blend of old traditions and new technology. You ll also discover gorgeous natural landscapes just a short train ride from sparkling, sprawling cities and loud, jarring outlets a short distance from quiet areas full of nuanced rules. It s the kind of place where people will wait patiently…
Japan Guide Japan Travel Culture & Food Japan hasn t always been cute. The obsession with kawaii culture first began in the 1970s at the height of Japan s economic growth.It was in the 70s that Japanese advertising agencies perfected the fine art of mass marketing. Getting into customers hearts, minds and wallets with cute lovable characters. If you choose…
In this I can only give my own experience but I think it is telling enough. I have traveled in Japan for most of a month in 1994, with no Japanese at all and traveling by train and hostels, using English as my native Dutch is not understood there at all. I had arranged my first week with a short tour Tokyo/Kyoto, but did the rest without any reservations made…
Hosts: Ichiro Fukatsu and Oksana Shtyk Date :, Thursday Time: 19:00 h, duration 1 h 30 min Venue: Varna Games – 10 Kotel Street, Varna Bulgaria Entrance: FREE Together with are new hosts, we are planning a series of topical talks presenting aspects of Japan through a more in-depth approach to take place when we return with Breakwater Talks in the autumn. In the…
Rule of thumb: at the end of the meal, return all your dishes to how they were at the start of the meal (minus the food) Drinking Do not start drinking until everybody at the table has a drink and the glasses are raised for a drinking salute, which usually is kampai . When drinking alcoholic beverages, it is customary to serve each other, rather than pour your…
Guide to Japan Welcome to our helpful guide for Japan. Should you be looking to travel, live, relocate or do business in the land of the rising sun, we will give you a helpful head start on understanding the country and its cultures. Facts & statistics Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea…
Japan Guide Japan Travel Culture & Food Japanese houses didn t use historically use glass, resulting in some interesting methods of natural lighting. A shoji is a sliding panel that is made of translucent paper in a wooden frame. They are used for both interior and exterior walls. They help to give Japanese houses their character by allowing diffuse light…
Although customs procedures include various operations, the operations performed at airports mainly for foreign tourists visiting Japan for short periods of time will be explained in the following pages. Major operations include the customs declaration procedure, the duty-free procedure, and the regulation of prohibited articles for import or export. For more…
Establishing meaningful international business relationships means that you must go further than just understanding the language. When doing business in Japan, you must look to identify with the local customs and expectations of your clients and employees to effectively grow your relationships. Currently, the Japanese economy has a strong outlook for future quarters…
Japan Guide Japan Travel Culture & Food Daruma are papier-mache dolls designed to look like a 6th monk known as Bodhidharma. They are traditionally sold with no eyes. You fill in one eye with a black marker when you set a goal and then fill in the other eye when you meet your goal.Teru Teru Bozu are simple ghost-like dolls crafted from white cloth or…