Home Architecture Talk

Who knows about Japan?

I know this is very long and extensive, but I would appreciate any and all answers from well informed people. If you live in or have lived in Japan I would REALLY appreciate it if you could take the time to help me out. I'm writing a paper for English class on Japan and would like to obtain as much information as possible. Thanks!! 1.How much Japanese can you speak? Are you fluent? Can you hold a conversation? 2.Can you read and/or write it? 3.What are some of your favourite Japanese words or phrases? What do they mean? 4.Have you lived there or been there? For how long? 5.What areas and places have you been to or are familiar with? 6.What is the weather like? 7.Explain the differences and similarities between rural and urban areas, including the aspects of: Industry, architecture, transportation, people’s appearances, attitudes, dress, schools, churches, shopping centers, customs, food, art, music, and anything else you can think of. 8.What are the most commonly found religions in Japan? What can you tell me about them? How do they affect daily life for people? Describe any customs/foods/holidays/festivals that go along with them. 9.How is the government run? What are the names, positions, and job descriptions of important people? 10.How much control does the government have over the people, daily life, the market, the economy, industry, religious practices, and entertainment? How extensive is censorship of books/internet/music etc.? 11.Are there any laws or rules that are a 180 of those in America? Are there any that Americans would find crazy or unethical? 12.Is abortion legal there? Is marijuana? Gay marriage? 13.What are the most common forms of entertainment? 14.What kinds of music are most popular among the different age groups? 15.“” movies “”? 16.“” books “”? 17.“” TV shows “”? 18.“” anime “”? 19.“” manga “”? 20.“” sports “”? 21.“” toys “”? 22.“” luxury items “”? 23.Are celebrities idolized like they are in America? Do they make as much money for whatever it is they do? (sports stars, movie stars etc.) 24.What are classic dishes? Drinks? (both alcoholic and non alcoholic) Snacks? Fast food chains? 25.What are your favourite? How do the old compare to the new? What would be considered classy and what would be considered cheap? 26.What is the general attitude towards the war in Iraq? 27.How are Americans perceived there? Other foreigners? 28.Is the traditionalism and honour we see on TV still prevalent in modern Japan? Has it died out? Where can you find it? 29.Explain a typical home life in Japan. 30.How do families interact? 31.What kinds of pets are kept? 32.What kind of activities to people from various age groups participate in during their free time? 33.Describe an average daily schedule for different age groups from different areas. 34.Are there any stereotypes you would like to speak out against? 35.Are people aggressive there? Is there as much crime and violence? Is there a wish for world peace? How is war viewed? Nuclear weapons? 36.Do the Japanese see themselves as superior to other countries? 37.How are schools run? What kinds of classes are offered at public and private schools? Colleges? What languages are taught? 38. Is there anything else you would like to add? Random facts or stories?

Public Comments

1. Whoa too long to read.
2. I am an American and I live in Japan -- Here are my answers: 1) I can hold a convorsation, but it is my second language, so I am not perfect. 2) Read/ write to an extent. It is hard. 3) My favorite is "Ego-ga wakarimas ka?" It means "Do you speak English?". It is so much fun to say. 4) I am an exchange student and I have lived here for a year. 5) I am farmiliar with Tokyo and the surrounding towns. 6) The weather is like America; 4 seasons. Summer is very rainy. 7) City- Very high fashion. People are fast paced. Country- More traditional. People are very kind. 8) Buddism and Shinto. Very important. 9) Look it up, I dont have enough room. I will e-mail you the rest.
3. 1)I can speak Japanese, fluently, and I have no accent whatsoever(I only spoke Japanese as a child) 2)I can read at a lower high school level, and write at a middle school level. 3) Uzai (slang for "that's annoying") or, baaaka! (Exaggerated "stuuuupid!") 4)I lived there when I was going to pre-pre-K, pre-k, and kindergarten, and when to public school every summer vacation I had here until 12th grade(high school was private), and every winter for about 2 weeks. 5)I'm familiar with a large part of downtown Sendai, and anywhere the senseki line goes from Sendai station. Also some of Nagoya, a considerable part of Narita, and much of the Ueno/Tokyo area. 6)It depends on what part of Japan you're in. Hokkaido(even Aomori, too) is as cold as a witch's tits, while Tokyo pretty much 4 seasons and is a little warmer than the Sendai area, and I'm sure Okinawa is hot as crap...everyone I've met from there is so tan I mistake them for Hawaiians. 7)Rural-usually not a lot of activity goes on...just local grocery stores and schools, with people traveling out to/coming in from Urban areas. 8)A majority of Japanese people claim Shinto and/or Buddhist. The only major reasons that people identify themselves with this is for funerals, weddings, and new years. I personally believe that the Japanese are mainly agnostic. 9)The government is a "constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament." Whatever. It means we have an Emperor and royal family, but only for old times sake. Their only purpose is tradition. Japan has a prime minister and stuff. A lot of higher positions are elected only by people who are in the government, and many are also elected by the people. I'm not sure which is which, I'm not 20 yet, so I don't give a crap about voting yet. 10)The government has a lot of control, but they don't make you feel like they do. Censorship is moderate...Japanese kids cartoons show butts and privates, but no real human parts are allowed on TV and stuff. Police officers are always very kind, and will listen to what you have to say. They're the perfect example of what police officer should be like. 11)Smoking and drinking age is both 20....I think Americans would find it annoying that the smoking age is higher. And a little excited that the drinking age is lower, lol. 12)Abortion is legal(I think), gay marriage is not, most Japanese people have no idea what the heck pot is, and if they know, they're probably yakuza or have visited foreign countries. 13)Going out to sing karaoke 14)crappy pop singers are popular for kids, rappers and boy bands for teens, songbird men for the middle aged, and enka(traditional Japanese folk music) for many in the older generation. 15)American movies are popular, always. 16)Comic books and comic novels....for kids and teens, the newspaper for adults, lol I don't know. 17)TV is not on 24/7 with a bazillion channels....kids watch kids shows, adults watch news and tons of soaps...and american movies and old shows(Like full house and the one with Alf) 18)Anime is for nerds. Even in Japan. Those people are called "Otaku" 19)Manga(like comics?) is just the Japanese word for cartoons...like on TV. 20)SOCCER! and baseball. 21)Toys...I don't know whats popular now, but if you can imagine it, they have it. And it's better than what you imagined. 22)Central air/heating in the house, jeez. Everyone has kerosene heaters and little stand-up fans or a fancy little wall fan in the living room. Also, a large house or a backyard big enough to put a trampoline in is pretty much unheard of. 23)Yup 24)I dunno...dishes involving fish. Sushi is considered pretty traditional. Melon soda has always been a popular drink. everyone drinks tea(no sugar!), and Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage. And chu-hai is delicious. Snacks...edamame, dried squid, potato chips, haichu, senbei(rice crackers), gummies....fast food chains? Hmm. KFC, mcdonalds, moss burger, and...more KFC. 25)Favorite foods? I love sushi, melon soda, chuhai, edamame, senbei, moss murger, and their kfc is so kickass. 26)They think it's retarded. They think we're retarded. They think America loves war and our president has the brain of a squirrel. 27)They think Americans are kool(aside from that war-loving thing). Half American/half Japanese kids are super awesome(like me!). English is a required language to learn in schools. 28)It hasn't died out. Come to a funeral, wedding, or on new years. Plenty of tradition. 29)Kids go to school, do well, study until their brains are fried, mom cooks and cleans and waits hand and foot on dad, dad is a businessman and usually is not seen unless it is sunday or late at night. Dad probably is having an affair with a stripper at a filipino bar. (I'm not joking) 30)Like picture perfect families. 31)If any, a small dog or single cat. Most people don't have pets, though.....they're very expensive, and expensive to keep. And not a lot of room to keep them. 32)Kids go to p