About Japan 日本

1. About Japan 日本

2. General ～こんにちは～ • Japanese people are mostly organized and punctual. • Japanese people bow when they greet each other rather than a handshake. • Japanese people like to be vague in answering- they rarely say “no” out right. • Japanese people like harmony- people are reluctant to disagree. • Japanese technology is advanced. • You don’t see much rubbish in Japanese streets. • Japanese people always care about hygiene.

3. Houses-家 • Japanese people usually sleep on futons instead of beds. • There are Japanese style toilets (和式）and western style toilets (様式） • Floors are not carpet. • Houses usually have a tatami room which a Japanese style room. • Entrances are low. • Houses are usually smaller than NZ houses. • Local phone calls are not free. • Entrances are low. • Houses are often straight on to the street.

4. Habits in the house • People always take off their shoes at the entrance. • You are not allowed to step on the entrance porch with bare feet/ wearing socks. • People wash themselves first before they enter the bath • You are not allowed to release the plug of the bath because other people need to use it. • Guests usually have a shower first. If not the oldest person in the household usually does it first. • You wear toilet slippers when you enter the toilet. • The father often has his meals with his family during the weekends.

5. Continue… • Japanese people use chopsticks, instead of knife and fork during meal time. • You are allowed to sniff at the table but never blow your nose. • During meal time, you hold the rice bowl when you eat rice and the bowl of the soup when you’re drinking soup. • You are not allowed to wear slippers in the tatami room. • You usually wear slippers inside the house. • The mother is the boss of the household. She is in charge of financial things.

6. Being a Guest • Guests usually have a shower first. • There is a special room for guests to stay. • Guests are usually offered green tea (お茶）or cold drink. • You bring presents for the family. • There is a special place for the guest of honour to sit, so you wait to be told where to sit. • Must obey the house rules all the time.

7. In the Street- みち • Streets are clean, you don’t see much rubbish. • Public transport is excellent. • You can buy a variety of products from vending machines eg. Drinks, beer, tobacco etc. • Young people spend a lot of money on driving lessons before they get their driver’s license. • It is considered as bad manners if you eat or drink as you walk down the street. • People often rent a parking space which may be further from their home. • Cars drive on the left hand side, same as NZ. • Streets are narrow.

8. Greetings-　挨拶 • Surnames only are used • First names can be used with children or your friend. • Within the family you usually call someone by relationship instead of their name. • Words are often used by or for one sex only くん、ちゃん • You bow when you greet. • You do not have to bow to someone who is younger or to your friend.

9. Shopping-　買い物 • Department stores are expensive in Japan. • Department store hours are usually 10-6 • Most shops have a “closed” day during the week. • Change is put on a plate, not into your hand. • Shopkeepers and staff greet as you enter. • Cash is still the most widely used choice of payment. • Most shops do no accept any credit cards. • Japanese people usually go grocery shopping everyday. • Japanese people take their own baskets when they’re going shopping because it is to save pollution and environment.

10. Restaurants etc- レストランなど • You have to pay the side dish separately. • Green tea usually accompanies Japanese food. • You are served with a hot/cold towel おしぼりand a glass of water. • You can have satisfying snacks at the train station. • Many restaurants serve with one type of food. • Cakes and deserts are usually bought at a cake shop and not on the menu. • Japanese restaurants use wooden chopsticks わりばし. • There are rooms in the restaurant where customers have their meal.

11. Sports- スポーツ • Baseball is the most popular sport in Japan. • Soccer is also highly popular. • Many people watch sumo every night on TV when there is a tournament on. • Golf is the most played sport. • Every year, there is a sports day at school 運動会 • Martial arts such as karate, kendo and judo are also played.

12. School- 学校 • Children start school at the age of six. • Only one in-take for school and that is in April. • There a only three terms in a school year. • Grounds are less spacious and are not grassed. • Lots of stairs. • Schools use blackboards instead of whiteboard. • You are allowed to eat in the classroom. • You have to clean the classrooms after school.

13. Other… • Usually, Japanese children have bath with their parents. • Japanese students sleep very late at night. • Japanese graveyards are more compacted together than NZ ones. • Japanese children sleep with their parents when they’re still old. • Western foods are similar.

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