1. At what age is a student no longer required to be in school?
Elementary 7-12

Jun. High 13-15 (after j.h. no longer required to be in school*)

High 16-18

College 19-22 (usually don’t take longer than 4 yrs)

Almost all students go to HS. Some students may not go on to college but it’s harder to get a job that way. Free public education, but there are private schools you pay to attend. If student goes to JH they can go to HS w/o exam. Students have to take an exam to get into HS. In America it’s easier to get into uni, but harder to graduate. In Japan it’s harder to get in, but easier to graduate.

2. What subjects are covered in school?
Elementary--Japanese, calculation class, social study, chemistry & biology (combined), music, workshop, PE, art

Junior High--Japanese, math, chem. & bio. (comb.), social study, PE, music, art, English

HS-- Japanese, English, math, Japanese history, world history, biology, chemistry, PE, electives: art, music, calligraphy (Ai chose art); oral, reading, listening

2^nd gr in HS took art, 3^rd gr. in HS oral class

3^rd gr had choice b/n Japanese and social studies OR math, biology, and chemistry. English is mandatory. So students should have some idea of college major. Either liberal arts or math/sciences. Also, sewing and cooking in elementary and jr high (co-ed)

6 grades in Elementary. 3 in JH. 3 in HS. 4 yrs of college.

3. Is it common for most students to attend a university?
It is common among the younger generation. But even with older generation not going to college has affected their ability to get a better job, the college degree are more likely to get promoted. Ai’s dad is a banker. Ai’s mom was a banker for several years, but quit due to illness. Her mom did customer service and her dad worked extra hours, interacting with clients. It’s harder for women to get paid what men get paid.

4. What reasons would a student have for attending a university?
Otherwise you won’t get a good job. Ppl straight out of HS might work at places like bank… Ai’s friend works at a bank, maintenance, farm company, really depends on person. Also depends on HS. Some HS’s have different types of study.

After HS can also go to technical school--2 yr degrees. These are jobs that pay well, more practical, but a company might choose someone who might hire a college degree over tech. degree. It depends on job. If you want to go with company you’re better going to a university.

Ai wants to go on a working holiday after she graduates, but it’s harder to get a job that way. She would have to get a job 1^st. After 2 or 3 yrs from graduating from university it becomes harder to get harder by a company. Also talked about paying for school. The Japanese have a system similar to the American where they fill out a form like FAFSA to determine whether or not they’re eligible for loans or grants. In her case she wasn’t eligible for a grant, only a loan. As soon as she graduates her parents will have to start paying as is common in Japan b/c recently graduated students can’t afford to pay the loans. It’s hard to get a grant (need-based) very few ppl do. Others can get scholarships based on academics and some sports.

5. Do most or all schools require students to wear a uniform?
JH and HS require uniforms.

6. Do you think requiring students to wear a uniform helps maintain discipline?
In Japan there’s a debate whether uniforms are a good thing, but most schools still require them. She liked wearing a uniform. Her JH school it was strict, so once a month teacher would check uniform. In HS wasn’t as strict, could change colors. Bought uniforms at the department store. In JH had to wear certain types of shoes, but not in HS. Private schools are stricter about uniforms, so students have to wear EXACT same uniform, inc. socks and shoes. Depending on person wearing a uniform could make it more affordable. In Ai’s case it helped b/c then she didn’t have to change her clothes every day. She could wear the uniform all day then.

7. What extracurricular activities are common in a public school?  A university?
University--tennis club

JH--tennis club

High school--cheerleading for baseball club, tennis

Elementary--chorus, volleyball club

Tennis, baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, track, music programs--chorus, band, art, drama club

She thinks it’s important that students are involved extracurricular b/c it helps friendships, experiencing together. Also important to belong to an academic class, volunteer work, etc. helps students stay focused. Outgoing ppl joined sports usually. Drama club are usually creative, maybe a little “weird”, shy ppl. Band was not as popular, something students who love music might form for themselves. Japanese trad’l sports not popular, but next to her HS there are a lot of sports like judo, karate, Shinto (this is another HS close to hers).

8. How old were you when you started to learn English?  What grade?
13 yrs old typically. Cram school, extra school, where she studied English in elementary school at the age of 11. In cram school they teach other subjects. She also learned calligraphy, abacus, Japanese, calculations, social studies. It’s common for students to go to cram school, particularly in JH and HS b/c they‘re studying for exams. In elementary school it’s more for calligraphy and the abacus than to study. Then started to learn English in school at 13 in the 1^st yr of JH.

9. How is English taught in Japan?

Differently than America. Focused on grammar and writing, not speaking. Was usually a Japanese teacher who taught it, sometimes had an ALT (assistant language teacher) in JH and HS, someone who spoke English, usually America, England, Canada. Usually only one class a week and don‘t have that class last yr of HS and JH didn‘t take b/c of exams. Exams focused on grammar and reading.

10. Is this different from the way English is taught to foreign language learners in the

U.S.?
Coming here was more challenging. Because she went to foreign university, Kansaigaidai University (region Kansai, gai-foreign, dai--university) there were a lot of exchange students who she could interact with using English. The entire purpose behind Kansaigaidai is foreign study… English, Spanish, and international relations are the only 3 majors offered at this university.

Chose this uni b/c she liked language and wanted to study abroad and this uni has a lot of programs for studying abroad.

11. What differences do you see in a Japanese university and an American university?
At Kansaigaidai: Don’t have a lot of assignments, just need to join class and don’t have semesters, take class throughout one year. Can’t change class. Have to take particular class entire year. Then take 2 exams twice a year. Don’t have to take notes. Less likely to get kicked out of university for grades than it is in the US. Don’t even have a syllabus for some classes. A position such as TA doesn’t even exist for undergrads.

12. Do you think attitudes toward education are different in Japan from America?
Yes. Am. Uni tend to focus on specific topics whereas Japanese unis aren’t as specific. Tend to focus on general topics. As an English major she takes classes with native English-speaking teachers, English lit, sociology, religion. Most students have grammar, writing, listening, but Ai didn’t take those classes. Hers focused more heavily on culture. Most students don’t have classes w/native speakers so they’re taught English by Japanese teachers. Had to take TOEFL before she could take those classes. Higher score could then entire that class--Intensive English Study (IES). Other class is ELI class with native teacher, but only twice a week. And the regular class is taught by a Japanese teacher based on TOEFL score, but can also decide whether or not they wanted to take TOEFL. If they don’t take TOEFL are placed in the regular class.

13. If you could change anything about education in Japan, what would it be?

Change English classes so that students can focus on speaking more. Need to have more opportunity to speak English in Japan. Students might have some speaking skill, but it’s more difficult b/c they’ve never had to practice, focus being on grammar instead.

14. Do you feel that girls and boys are treated differently in school?  Why do you think

this is?
Sometimes, like in PE. Also based on skills such as boys typically being better at math and girls being better at Japanese. Nothing that is considered obvious.

15. Is it common for young women to attend a university as it is for young men?  Is this

something that has changed in recent years?  How do you see this pattern changing in the future?
Not a big gap between women and men attending university, they just go into diff majors. In recent years more women have started attending uni. In the future it will be possible to go to specific university with specific major that someone needs.

16. Is it common for students to study?  How much does the average student study?
Ai mentioned that she thinks cram school is important in Japan b/c it encourages to study. This isn’t a concept shared around the world, she doesn’t think, as most other countries don’t have cram school. Even tho th Japanese education system’s getting better, it’s still helpful to attend cram school to keep the student focused on studying.

Yes, in elem need to study to enter jr. high. In jr. high study a lot to enter HS. HS is much harder to enter. Also v. difficult to enter university. Can only take one exam to enter public HS. More than one exam to enter private HS. So if you fail exam for public HS that’s it. Only one exam for university--the Center exam, which is the general exam. If attain app 500 can apply for higher universities. A lower score means students apply for lower uni. 2^nd stage there is diff exam for each university. Ex, University A won’t let you take 2^nd exam if you don’t get “500”. Univ B will let you take 2^nd exam if you do. Private uni might use Center exam--some have their own. Kansaigaidai takes English exam. 2^nd exam Ai took Center exam. Some students can enter w/o exam if they interview.

17. Is academic accomplishment highly praised? In what way?
If students do really well they don’t typically receive rewards. They can receive plaque or certificate possibly. In HS if you receiver higher than average grades you can apply for scholarships via an interview. In uni can also apply for scholarships w/higher gpa.

Am ppl have more focus on education. In Japan have less focus on education system. Ai thinks Am system better b/c Japan they can graduate from university easily but it’s difficult to enter. Here’s it opposite (easy to get into university, harder to graduate) b/c once entering uni in Japan don’t need to study and don’t usually study hard, and can still pass classes easily. This is the biggest problem with Japan’s educational system.

18. How is discipline enforced?

Elem thru HS is more strict with discipline. They have a system similar to detention. In HS Ai received punishment--sent to quiet room separated from other students. They gave extra work, needed to stay in computer lab that was never used. Couldn’t join clubs for 5 days. Drinking at friend’s house. Even tho this didn’t happen on school campus the school can punish. Ai’s friends quarreled w/teacher and left in middle of class, hitting a wall on the way out. Teacher had the student punished also by suspension. Ai describes these friends of hers as being very smart, yet having a “bad boy” reputation.

19. What types of employment can one find without a H.S. diploma?  With a H.S. diploma?  With a college degree?
It’s almost impossible to find work w/o a HS diploma. Ai had a friend who had a PT job in HS--her family she said couldn’t afford her going to HS. She needed to save money to go to university. They have to ask school if they can have PT job. If she didn’t tell school and teacher finds out, students can be punished. But students will have PT and not tell school even tho this is “illegal”. It’s common for students to work during summer for personal money or to help family.

20. Is there discrimination toward those with less education?
Yes, esp in the workplace. For example, Ai’s dad in his job, b/c he doesn’t have a university education can’t be promoted.

21. Is it common for students to learn a 2nd language?  What is the most common 2nd language chosen?  Why do you think this language is so popular?
Yes, it’s common. English. Because English is now a major language it can be used in the workplace and can communicate with more ppl in English. Sometimes English is too popular so we need to study another language. Sometimes it’s an advantage to learn another language other than English. After English, Chinese is really popular, and Korean is also becoming popular. The Chinese economy is getting better so learning Chinese will help get a good job. Learning a language has a lot to do with what jobs you can use it for. Japan invaded Korea in 1904 so now they try to become familiar with Korea culture so they try to learn Korean, which is not really related to the economy there or the job situation. Koreans are more likely to learn Japanese than Japanese are to learn Korean. This is a new development with Koreans popularity, when Ai was in jr high wasn’t popular, more about the time she entered university its influence was growing.

22. What is your college major?
English.

23. Why did you choose this major?
Wanted to study abroad. University has a lot of programs for studying abroad, is an international university for study. However, English is so popular in Japan right now that an English degree is not necessarily advantageous. After getting a job, Ai then wants to do a working holiday.

24. How would you like to use this major in your life?
Interested in translating. If she takes exam in translating, will get certification. Can use it even if she’s getting old. If she speaks English she can communicate with a lot of ppl and can travel a lot more than she could otherwise.

25. Have you considered graduate school?
Yes, before entering university, and her parents rec’d grad school, but now that she’s in university she can’t afford it. Doesn’t want to go to grad school in Japan, but if possible would like to go to grad school in the US. Her biggest problem right now is money.

26. Is it common for students to pursue graduate school?  Is there a gender gap in grad school?
It used to be common, but now isn’t so common b/c the Japanese economy isn’t good so ppl can’t afford it. A lot of ppl are in the same situation as Ai, not having the money. More men tend to enter grad school b/c they tend to like math, chem, biology, etc and they need to research/study chem, biology. If they go to grad school they have more opportunity to follow up on that, so that’s why more men go. Grad school disciplines dealing with language, like the applied linguistics program here, are not as common, more on the level of undergrad studies. It would be easier to get a grad degree in the US than Japan b/c in Japan they believe students should go to school straight through. Once you get a job you’re not expected to go back to school. She believes that MA she earns here could be applied back in Japan in getting a job, b/c they’re recognized as being more experienced.

27. What is the main reason you feel that students choose a particular major, i.e. money, job security, prestige, enjoyment, etc?
Enjoyment’s the main reason. Most of her friends going to university are really interested in their majors, e.g. most of her friends are interested in English or foreign studies and that’s why they major in English. One of her friends wanted to be a teacher so she chose education major. So, sometimes it is related to enjoyment. In Japan it’s more important to discover what you want to do b/c once you get into a job it’s harder to get out of that line of work. Some of her friends who went into university who didn’t like their majors quit university and then studied another major at a different university, but it’s not so common to change major in Japan. When one of her friends changed his major from French to anthropology and b/c it’s not common to change majors, she and her friends were surprised.

28. How common is it for a student to change his/her major?
See #27

29. At what age do students typically know what they want to major in?  Do you think family or society influences the decision?
Usually by high school age, between the ages of 16-18, esp by the age of 18, so when they enter university they can already declare their major. General ed must be taken through all four years. 8 classes she had with a native American teacher b/c she was in IES, but she 2 or 3 other classes that she took w/n the program w/this teacher. Those 8 classes, as a freshman, she’s already taking classes related to her major. As a sophomore she took classes with a native American teacher and an Australian teacher. B/c this is a foreign language university they try to setup the classes in the lecture style of the classes in the US. She took classes with Japanese teachers who didn’t have syllabus or a lot of homework, just final exam and/or midterm. The IES classes had homework, reading, writing, so more similar to US style college classes.

She thinks society and family plays a role in a student’s major decision. One of her friends whose dad’s a doctor tried to get into pharmacy university. Esp society like the university that only has 3 majors, one of which is “international language” which they try to promote as being very important in society even tho there’s no “international language”.

30. What do you think are the most common majors?  Why?
Depends on person. Foreign language and education are very important right now, and economy is also popular. Economy is popular b/n men and women both. There’s a large degree of choice in where they work with a degree like that. The foreign language degrees have a lot to do with the English influence which she thinks will maintain popularity. She doesn’t feel English is trendy b/c it is a large language that needs to be learned and is also related with culture, in that the Japanese economy is related to the US’s economy, that the cultures are related.

HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

1. What are the most important holidays in Japan?
New Year’s

Obon, August 13-15

Golden Week, which is a series of holidays. May 3, Constitution DayOmisoka, Dec 31

2. What is the significance of each?

--Constitution Day: May 3 started to practice the constitution

3. In what way are holidays observed?
Most Japanese have no real religion so they will celebrate some holidays in a certain way, but there is no real religious significance such as the Christian Christmas or Shinto New Year’s. They have some holidays like April Fool’s which are taken after Western tradition.

4. Do schools/universities/jobs dismiss for important holidays?
Something like Obon takes place during the summer where they already have a summer holiday. Tho they don’t have dorms, some universities have student apts and unlike the dorms here during the breaks students don’t have to leave during those breaks like students would have to leave during the break in a dorm.

5. How do you usually celebrate each holiday?
Family getting together and enjoying the holiday. New Years Day is important, but so is New Years Eve.

6. In what ways are birthdays celebrated?  Graduations?  Weddings?
In Japan it’s not as common to invite friends for birthday or graduations, plus family. Birthday parties are celebrates with close friends/girlfriend/boyfriend. They don’t mix the two. They celebrate separately. Family will have birthday cake, family gets together, special dinner. Her friends get presents from parents, but she says she doesn’t. Graduations are also celebrated separately from family then friends, and these are generally close friends or boyfriends/girlfriends. In Japan when you go to a graduation party it won’t be like an American party where you may not know people. When you go to a graduation party you will know everyone there, all the friends will be connected. Weddings are celebrated with friends, coworkers, family. After wedding party, have reception, where its common to have reception with coworkers and friends, and maybe family. She went to her uncle’s wedding. They did it in Japanese style, their were parents, relative, coworkers, the majority is coworkers b/c her uncle got married to his coworker for the same workplace. After trad’l wedding party, they have Christian style wedding style… wedding dress. In trad’l, they were kimono, then they changed and he wore suit, she wore wedding dress. After that, they had wedding reception. There were a lot of coworkers and family, friends, relatives. After wedding reception they had 2^nd party but she didn’t go to that one. There were probably a lot of coworkers and close friends, maybe went to karaoke.

7. Are there any other significant events that are celebrated, i.e. promotions, other particular accomplishments?
Kanreki--ppl who are 60 yrs old celebrate it. This means the 12 zodiac signs time five=60. When s/he turns 60 this person returns to the same zodiac sign. This is a traditional celebration.

Kinkonshiki--Golden Wedding 50 yrs after getting married

Ginkonshiki--Silver Wedding 25 yrs after getting married

8. What is the biggest difference between the way holidays are celebrated in Japan from the U.S.?
In the US holidays are always related with religion. In Japan while the holidays are related to religion, but most Japanese aren’t religious so the holiday doesn’t have the same religious significance, I.e. celebrating Christian Christmas and Buddhist/Shinto New Year’s. They have a lot of holidays, but the holidays are more for the nation and workers, no religious meaning other than that.

9. What is your favorite holiday?  Why?
New Year’s Day b/c family gets together and we’ll stay home and share time together. Also, they take a lot of rest. On New Year’s Day they send post cards (nengajyo) to friends or parents, relative, coworkers, kind of like a Christmas card here. Don’t send Xmas cards to others. She’s always looking forward to getting nengajyo from others. She enjoys spending time with her family. Other days of the year it’s not hard to spend time with family, but it’s rare to spend time with relatives. New Year’s is the chance to get together with relatives, ppl she doesn’t see very often. When she was a kid, she went to gps house on New Year’s Day every year.

10. Do you have any special memories of a holiday?
When I was a child, always going to gps house with family. Every year grandmother made Osechi Ryori and they ate rice cakes. And every year she goes to Shinto shrine and in her home town there are a lot of famous Shinto shrines and she’ll go there with her friends every year to pray. There she gets a charm. Depending on color, it has different meanings (study, health, happiness, safety).

11. Why do you think it's important to celebrate holidays?
In Japan we can get together, during holidays. This is the best chance to get together with family and relatives. In Japan holidays are not so related to religion so it’s meaning is more for family togetherness. Sharing time with friends, family is the most important meaning.

12. Do you think holidays give a sense of national identity?
She thinks so, but sometimes we celebrate in different ways so sometimes no. But mostly she thinks it does, in certain holidays we see certain arrangements or special stuff so it encourages to recognize national identity.

13. What holiday traditions are important to you?  Why?
New Year’s b/c the holiday is long she can spend a lot of time in her hometown, and she can see her friends from HS and Jr HS. It’s hard to see her old friends so this gives her that chance. While Golden Week is the biggest Japanese holiday, she needs to work PT at that time and she doesn’t have the chance to go back to her hometown. Since pretty much everyone goes home on New Year’s she then can see most of her old friends.

14. How important is tradition to celebrating a holiday?
Keeping traditions helps recognize national identity. Like with Obon, they clean grave and change flowers, then pray for ancestors. It’s important to do this and such as going to shrine on New Year’s. These are major aspects of the holiday to be kept and observed.

15. What holiday traditions would you like to start/keep when you have your own family?
“I should be creative?” she asks me and couldn’t think of anything.

1. Do you think people are judged by their appearance?  Why?
Yes. Girls who wear short skirts try to be attractive to men so they’re more interested in men. When I see men who wear big t-shirt and jeans, I think they might be into reggae. I judge ppl. More or less it’s easy for ppl to make judgments. Also, I judge ppl on their appearance so I think by their appearance I have a prejudice, so I try to go to ppl who have almost the same style (as myself). I try to choose my friends by appearance.

2. How does a man ideally dress?
Men usually wear jeans and t-shirts/shirts, caps. In Japan, all men wear business suit to work. In Japan men don’t wear casual clothes to work so when she saw casual clothes being worn at bank was surprised. Offices they were suit, a place like the library they wouldn’t. Her dad works at bank and he always wears a suit and tie, and leather shoes.

3. How does a woman ideally dress?
Women’s the same in that they wear jeans, skirts, t-shirts/shirts. But women tend to be more fashionable than men. To work, women tend to wear skirt more than pants (from what she knows). Sometimes they have uniform in working place, where it’s more popular for women to wear skirt and women to wear pants.

4. Do men or women have more pressure to look a certain way, or both?  Why?
Both. In the old days women needed to wear skirt more, but now women can choose wear skirt or jeans or whatever. When I entered my uni in Japan I bought suit (when enter uni they have ceremony), my 1^st time and went to the store and shopkeeper rec’d, “You should buy skirt”. She said, It will be more useful for job hunting b/c you look more professional. So she said it’s better to buy skirt than a pants suit.

5. How does the average person view those who don't dress according to mainstream

fashion, e.g. such as those who dress "goth"?
We think it’s difficult to communicate with ppl who don’t dress according to mainstream fashion, so sometimes we try to ignore them. If they’re fashion is so diff from us we think we cannot understand them. We even don’t try to understand them. Like sometimes we recognize them as different.

6. How often do you see people who dress in a way outside of the mainstream?  Why do you think they dress that way?
In Japan maybe ppl try to be the same, try to have the same fashion so it’s not so common to see ppl who wear diff clothing, compared with the USA. I see some groups, ppl who wearing short skirt or girls who wear tight t-shirts, but here it’s more common to wear different clothing. Here ppl are more independent than in Japan so they don’t care so much about their own fashion as much as Japan. Japanese care about their fashion so much sometimes they try to have same fashion as everyone else.

We are not so independent. Japanese tend to be group-oriented so in the same group they try wear the same fashion. It’s not a bad thing to be noticed for your clothes, but it’s not a normal thing.

I think it’s diff with the media. If the media try to present American fashion we try to follow it. I see more ppl wear camisoles than in Japan, sometimes we try to wear the similar clothes, styles, as Americans, but we are diff and short, diff body frame so the same clothes can’t be worn. On Winter break went to NC, host family asked shopkeeper what size fits me (Ai), and these were clothes for maybe jr high students.

7. Are people categorized by the clothes they wear?
Yes, I think so. Also I see a lot of magazines and they have a lot of diff styles. Ppl try to buy magazine with the same fashion. Men who like reggae music they try to wear baggy shirts, so we categorize them as ppl who like that kind of music.

8. Does fashion give a sense of identity?
Yeah, kind of. We choose clothes by ourselves and then we recognize us, ourselves, by our fashion. So it means fashion gives a sense of identity, I think.

Yes, I think so. Even when I in Hs and we wear uniform, but someone wear short skirt or longer skirt, then we can recognize what type of person they are. Girls who wear longer skirts study hard, they follow school rules, also they tend to join academic clubs. Girls who wear short skirts they tend to join sports clubs, they don’t like school rules, they not to follow the rules. Ai cut her skirt and it was short.

9. Do you like wearing makeup?  If yes, at what age did you start wearing makeup and why do you like it?  If no, what do you dislike about makeup?
Yes. Junior high school started wearing. Likes wearing it for self-satisfaction. In my case it’s for myself. I like how it makes me feel.

10. What is the common age for girls/women to start wearing makeup? Why is this age okay?
Junior high is about the normal age. In jr high school rules are more strict than in high school or university, so they try to hide it. HS wear makeup obviously. Jr high students not so obvious. Why jr high to start wearing makeup… they start buying fashion mags and when they were in elementary school and bought mags we didn’t see anyone with makeup. But in HS days we saw a lot of ppl with makeup in magazines so that’s why it’s more popular in jr high or high school.

11. What kind of look do you find attractive in the opposite sex?
When men wear accessories it looks attractive. Also ppl can arrange used/old clothes and I think they’re attractive. If man can use caps or necklace or bracelet and can wear them well, it’s more attractive. Sometimes it looks good. Doesn’t really like guys who are too muscular but who play sports

12. What look do you think men find attractive in women?
American style. Camisole, short skirts. If I want to look attractive I try to arrange my hair, wear makeup. Wear accessories.

13. Do you think women dress a certain way to attract men?  Vice versa?

Shorter skirts, tighter tops, “sexy”.

I think men dress to attract women, but I don’t know what type of clothes. Some men who have a certain style wear cologne, but not all, though it’s getting more common.

14. Do you wear certain fashions to reflect your personality/mood?

Yes, more to my personality. Altho if I go to a club I will wear tight clothes. When I go out with friends who I’m not so familiar with I try to wear neat clothes b/c I don’t know them very well. I wear clothes so I can relax and talk, satisfy and be proud of myself. If I feel uncomfortable I’ll change clothes.

15. What fashions do you find most appealing?  Why?
I like casual style, but I don’t like too casual style so I will seem intelligent and beautiful but cute. I care what others, if I don’t wear my favorite clothes, I guess what do they feel. What their judgments are about what I’m wearing.

16. How many times a year do you wear a kimono?
Not often--it’s rare to wear kimono for me. In summertime, just sometimes, I wear yukata, to go to festival with my friends. It’s common, but it’s not kimono. Last time I wear yukata was seijinshiki, over a year ago. My mom and grandma have yukata so they lent me their yukatas but it was short so before I came here bought my own yukata. So I didn’t need my own yukata, but I thought I’d have opportunity here as a Japanese traditional.

17. What is the significance in wearing a kimono?
When I wear kimono I can feel like I’m Japanese. It’s Japanese traditional style. I want to keep Japanese tradition. On a special day I wear yukata so I can recognize that day as special. It’s part of the national identity.

18. What other types of traditional Japanese clothing are still worn?
Kimono, yukatas (men and women both wear). Jinbei is another type of kimono. Hakama, the top is the same as kimono, the bottom is longer. Some Japanese men buy jinbei as souvenir. Not sure why as souvenirs. We gave jinbei to an Australian prof as a junior, not sure if he wore it. He was tall and it’s short.

19. Do you think wearing traditional clothing will ever be a lost custom?  Why or why not?
For festivals and holidays they will keep wearing trad’l clothing but in daily life they won’t wear. Right now the only ppl who wear in daily life trad’l clothing are some elderly, altho most wear modern clothing.

20. Do you like wearing traditional clothing?  Why or why not?

I like wearing trad’l clothing b/c on special day I wear kimono or yukata, so it’s special for me. I like trad’l festivals. Trad’l clothing shows nationality. I’m proud of being Japanese so I like wearing trad’l clothes.

1. How do you usually greet your friends? Family? Teachers?

Friends: There’s more personal space in Japan. Her friends she never hugs, you wave and maybe pat on shoulder. She does hug friends in America. We can hug b/n just boyfriends and girlfriends, we recognize them as girlfriend and boyfriend. I think so b/c of personal space. If we are girlfriend and boyfriend we can stay much closer, but we cannot do that b/n my friends.

Family: “Good morning.” Just greet.

Teachers/Higher Ups: Bowing. Most common to bow. Sometimes in workplace when we greet boss or higher person, shake hands.

2. Is there a difference between how men and women would address each other as opposed to men and men, and women and women?

I think so.

Japanese don’t often debate/discuss. We don’t like it. Here ppl it’s important to keep individual privacy, but in Japan ppl try to agree with others, so we don’t like debate. They think if we debate/discuss it’s going to be.… We have a lot of indirect expressions in Japanese. Don’t really discuss politics. Here it’s common to here, but in Japan it’s not.

3. What level of respect must you show your elders?

It’s important to show respect to our elders. We have honorific words when we talk to elders we need to speak an honorific first. Here ppl can say this is my friend, even tho he/she is elder, but in Japan we cannot say that. We say this is my friend, it means usually ppl of the same age. I belong to tennis club and I say, ppl younger than me, I call “inferior” or “junior” and ppl who are older than me I call “senior”. Even one year age difference this applies. It’s not common for someone to be a year younger than others in the same grade level. Japanese think its common to go to school straight. I didn’t often see older person in my class. (what if someone fails?) when I was 1^st gr in HS my friend couldn’t go to school b/c of her fever or something, she failed classes so she’s the same age but younger grade. Sometimes it happens but it’s not so common.

4. How long do men and women typically know each other before marrying?

Depends on person I think, but I think its common to get married to person in the same work place.

5. Is it okay to disagree with your teachers/professors? How about your parents?

I think its okay to disagree with them, teachers/profs, but it doesn’t happen. We respect elder ppl so we try to follow them, so sometimes we can discuss with them teachers/profs, but not so much. I think its common to having discussion w/my parents. We have close relationship. We can understand each other. If I have quarrel with them I can disagree.

6. Do women and men speak differently?

I think so. Women tend to talk softly, calmly. I see a lot of women talking loudly. Esp when women and women talk, or something like man, loud voice. It’s common to hesitate, trying to gather thoughts.

“Men seem to talk w/o knowing what they’re talking about.”

I agree.

7. Is it common for boys and girls to play together?

It often happens. It’s more common for boys and girls to play together, than men and women. When I was in kindergarten I didn’t often play with boys, but I played a lot with girls. When I was in elementary school I played with boys and girls together, like dodge ball, kickball.

8. If someone doesn’t like another person, how do they usually express their dislike?

We try to hide the expression. We try not to hang out with them. I think it depends on person, but I try to remain polite. I can’t say something directly. I try to ignore what they said. But I think Japanese try to remain more polite.

9. How do you address strangers?

We introduce by ourselves and shake hands. Or someone introduces to a stranger. Japanese like to talk about weather, “It’s a fine day.” We try to keep talking, but we can’t find any topics. “It’s a fine evening, isn’t it?”

10. Do you think there are groups of people who prefer to hang out with each other, “cliques”?

During winter break I went to HS with my host family and my host family and they work at a HS, and I went there together. I saw some students, “ah, there are some groups.” I agree with this question. My answer is yes. When I was in Japan ppl a lot of my friends belonged to the same tennis club. Circle members are always together. Actually, I didn’t like very much b/c I wanted to have diff relations with others. I wan tto have relationship with ppl from PT job, from my hometown, HS, junior high. I didn’t like that very much, but ppl who belong to the same tennis club they were *always* together. And I belonged to officers and we worked together so we could have closer relationships so we are always together. Also when I was HS student I had close relationship with ppl from the same tennis club, classmates. When I was in 2^nd gr of HS, my class was so great so someone said let’s play with fireworks. So everyone went there. So when I was in 2^nd gr of HS I didn’t have any groups in my class, I could go to other group. We didn’t have any groups. It’s not common. It never happens I think, but yeah we had that.

1. Why is it important to work?

“Working means learning.” “I need to keep learning.” I communicate with others, it’s a social place. I can meet ppl with different ways of thinking, also I can get knowledge at work. I meet others and get new knowledge at work. That’s why its important. Growing from it.

2. Why is it important to play?

Relations w/others, so it’s important. If I am always working I will stress out so it’s important to relax.

3. Can you have fun at work?

I hope so. (is it common to have fun or work or does it depend) it depends. If ppl do work then they are interested in it, they can have fun. (what about ppl who go into a job they really love, do you think it could be considered play for them or is it still work?) It could be considered play, but not exactly, it’s still work. (do you think there’s a real distinction b/n what’s work and what’s play?) I have an img of working as inside and play as outside.

4. What types of activities do you consider “play”?

I said playing is outside. If I’m with friends or others it could be play. This is also just my img, working is alone. Play is together. (Do you see play as being more social?) Yes. (how do you think other Japanese feel about it?) It depends on the person.

5. Are young children (elementary school age) encouraged to work more or play more?

Compared with the old days, they’re encouraged to work more. When they grew up they must work more, also when they grow up they play less, when they are small they are more encouraged to play more. The situation is changing. (when you were in elem. School do you think you played enough?) I think my teachers encouraged me to play more. (what did you do as a kid for play?) Volleyball, playing ball. (The dance troupe is a kind of play?) Playing. (why is that play?) b/c I have fun with dance and there are a lot of of my friends in dancing. I don’t need pencil… just have fun. I think club is part of play. That’s why this club provides me dancing… I think club is part of play and dancing is part of club so dancing is play.

6. Is there a difference between what men and woman consider work?

Men consider work outside and women consider work inside and outside both. The situations changing, but women we have stereotype I think that women should work inside. My mom quit her job b/c she was sick but the reason doesn’t matter. Now she works only inside home. Her work is inside work, household. Even ppl who work outside, they (women) also do household work. Women tend to consider work inside and outside, but men think work is just outside. (so it’s not common for men to work inside the house?) Actually my friends dad works inside and her parents owned candy co. but they closed their company and they tried to find job but her mom got job and dad couldn’t. So her mom is still working outside and her dad (I don’t know now what he’s doing) but he was doing household work. It’s okay but everyone thought it was strange. If women work outside we consider women as active person, and women who work inside is common, but men work inside we think it’s strange. We consider him a kind of lazy person. So we tend to think that men should work outside and women should work inside, I think there’s a diff b/n man and woman.

(when you get married what do you want to do? Keep working outside or inside?)

I want to keep working (outside). My friend says she didn’t care, her work, “I will get married w/someone, I don’t care about my job, I will depend on him”, so it depends on person.

(why do you want to keep working?)

I don’t know why I need to stop working. It’s my job, I want to develop my abilities. If I stop working then I stay in my home I can’t communicate w/others who I can see and work with.

(do you think women who don’t work outside the home will be bored later or have more problems developing their abilities?)

Depends on person, but I think when I stay at home it’s bored. I know my mom stays at home and she’s always busy she’s taking care of my grandmother and she always says, Housewives are busy. Everyone says they’re not busy, but we are busy. She always says, so I can understand her. I think if I stop working and stay at home I will lose opportunity.

7. What about play?

Men spend a lot of money for play. Women like chatting. Also women like going shopping so they spend a lot of money but they have more expensive hobbies, just my image.

8. Do you think Japan values work more or play?

I think Japan values work more. Like I’m not sure, but Japanese say In the West play and work are separated. InJapan they are mixed. After work, in the case of my dad, he goes out w/his boss and he cannot feel comfortable, sometimes he goes out w/his boss who he doesn’t like. Also, b/c of work he has to go to play golf, but he doesn’t like golf. So we mix work and play. We value work more, Japanese try to relate play and work, I think so. Basically we value work more. I don’t think my dad can express how he feels so he just goes along with his boss.

9. Is play as important at school as it is at work?

I think so. I don’t know what everyone thinks, but I after school I think that clubs are part of play, so I think it’s important to join club. We can socialize in class but in clubs it’s easier. And it’s something we all have in common. When I was in 2^nd grade of HS some kids wanted to play with fireworks after school and about 30 students went to a park to play with fireworks and then after we went to karaoke. It was fun.

10. Which do you think is more important, work or play? Why?

I like play better *laughing*. I think playing could be working. Working could be playing. I said working means learning, so when I play with someone I can learn something new. So playing could be working. If I communicate w/someone, I can hear some story from others I can get some info, new knowledge, I think it’s good to be growing, developing myself. Playing could be learning. Esp in Japan, they’re the same, I can go out and meet someone, speaking English but also having fun. Like going out here, it’s important for me, going out to have fun.