About Japan (Main contents is Hyogo Prefecture's introduction.)

How many lakes are there in Japan? Which one is largest?

2011-11-09T01:11:00.002+09:00

It is hard to give an exact number, but as far as lakes larger
than one square km are concerned, there are about 100 across
the nation. The largest is Lake Biwa.

Lake Biwa is one of the oldest freshwater lakes in the
world. It is believed that this lake dates back 5 million years. It
moved north from its original location in Mie Prefecture to
Shiga prefecture because of diastrophism or crust movement
that occured 1.2 million years ago.

The area of the lake is about 670km2, which is far smaller
than some of the largest lakes in the world such as Lake
Superior (82367 km2) and Lake Huron (59570km2), which span
the area between Canada and the United States.

Lake Biwa Sunset

Galardia--a classic RPG style game!

2011-10-09T21:56:00.002+09:00

Galardia is an RPG game that you can play with Android mobile phones.

Japanese companies have made this game.　
Japanese game company's name is Moco game.

Gailardia Detailed Explanation

If medieval and royalty RPG are your thing,

then this will be a considerably enjoyable experience for you.

It also includes an item completion feature and other fun elements

to keep you entertained!

The English version was created from the original Japanese version,

so no balance changes have been made.

Hence, leveling up and gold acquisition efforts may

require a effort and time.

Gailardia Game Snapshots

If you get this game, please click Gailardia - Android market.
If you can not capture the game, please click Moco Games Walkthrough Forums.

This article was written based on this site.
Galardia--a classic RPG style game!

Through this game, please be familiar with the Japanese game culture.

This book is recommended for those
who seek the correct knowledge of Japanese.

The Google Puzzle

2011-10-05T11:45:00.000+09:00

　　I'm addicted to the Google puzzle.
Here is this puzzle site.

The Google Puzzle
http://www.thegooglepuzzle.com/?hl=en

Please try these puzzle.

This book is recommended for those who seek the correct knowledge of Japanese.

How many islands are there in Japan and which one is the largest?

2011-10-04T09:11:00.001+09:00

Japan is made up of about 6800 islands, some of which are
not inhabited.

The areas of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku can
be called islands, but Japanese do not refer to them as so.
When they say islands, they mean much smaller isles scattered
around the main islands.

The largest of such islands is Etrofu, east of Hokkaido, followed
by the nearby Kunashiri. The next largest is Okinawa in
the south, and then Sado, located north of Honshu in the Sea of
Japan. See the table below for a comparison of the island sizes.

Russia、 the Northern Territories in Japan attributed!

This book is recommended for those who seek the correct knowledge of Japanese.

What is the geography of Japan　like?

2011-10-04T08:53:00.001+09:00

Japan can be described as a mountinious country. Although
it is a little smaller than Carifornia, 67% of its land surface
is covered with mountains, and plains account for only 13%.

RIgers running from the mountains carve numerous valleys
and gorges, and give a great deal of variety to the country's
topolgraphical features. At the mouths of rivers, fan-shaped
deltas are formed, most of which are very small except for the
Kanto, Osaka, and Nobi plains.

The coast line of this island nation is extremely long,
stretching for nearly 34000 km. The complicated coastal line
of Japan is indicative of the scenic beauty that varies from
region to reigion.

Occurred in Japan on March 11, East earthquake tsunami video

Learn more about the Japanese people, this book is recommended.

Has Okinawa been a part of Japan from ancient times?

2011-09-29T10:44:00.003+09:00

Okinawa was not a part of Japanese terittory at the time of
the Meiji Restoration (1868), the dawn of the modernization of
Japan.

Okinawa's former name, Ryukyu, was given by the Chinese.
The Ryukyu Kingdom existed from the beginning of the 15th
century, but since it was a weak country. it sought support
from both the Ching Dynasty and the Satuma Clan of Japan.

In 1872, the Japanese government tried to incorporate
Ryukyu into Japan and in 1879 they changed its name to
Okinawa Prefecture without any protest from the
Ching government.

Visitors may get the impression that Okinawa is both
physically and spiritually a mixture of Japan, China
and South east Asia. The language, however, called the
Ryukyu dialect, is considered to be similar to Japanese,
although it sounds different from the other Japanese diakects.

　I read the book below. And now I'm in great detail about Japan.
This book has been introduced to Japan in English. Moreover,
the book has also been published Japanese translation.
Try to buy what this book ~ ~ V.

My favorite book

2011-09-29T10:41:00.000+09:00

Probably this book is Japanese language only.
But, this book is worth reading for us.

Hoshi Shinichi is born before 85 years ago.

2011-09-06T11:48:00.000+09:00

The Hoshi Library

This web is Hoshi Shinichi Official website.

Recognized as one of Japan’s most influential science fiction writers
of all time,

Shinichi Hoshi published more than 1,000 of his signature
“short-short” stories.

Some call his crisp, no-frills prose the
“Haiku of Science Fiction.”

Please read these books.

Shinichi Hoshi is a recommend writer, who wants to
understand the Japanese science fiction,
especially “Haiku of Science Fiction.”

My today's diary

2011-08-21T18:20:00.002+09:00

It was rainning for two hours ago.And I was tired, because I had gone to chiropractic yesterday.

But, I am fine now, and I hope to update the blog more and more.

People came to see this blog, please come to register for Google reader.Google reader's web site is here.

Master-Artist connected with Kobe 1 (Artist introduction)

2011-08-20T21:32:00.006+09:00

1989 Febrary 10(Friday) ~ March 26(Sunday)
In Kobe City Museum

a picture in Japanese style

Hashimoto Kansetu 1883~1945

Murakami Kagetu 1888~1939

Yamasaki maki 1890~1973
no portrait in internet

Higashiyama Kaii 1908~

Kanayama Heizo 1883~1964
this portrait's left person

Hayashi shigeyoshi 1896~1944
no portrait in internet

Koiso Ryohei 1903~1988

Tamura Konosuke 1903~1986
no portrait in inetrnet

Hasegawa Saburo 1906~1957
no portrait in internet

a sculptor

Yanagihara Yoshitatsu 1910~
no portrait in internet

a calligrapher

Ando Seiku 1893~1983
no portrait in internet

a woodblock artist

Kawanishi Hide 1894~1965

If you want to know these artists, please access.
(Sorry this page is Japanese language only.)
http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/culture/culture/institution/museum/tokuten/told25.htm

When was Japan's present territory determined?

2011-01-30T08:45:00.002+09:00

    In 1945, when Japanese was defeated in World War 2, its land
was reduced to its present size, the same size as it was prior to
the Sino-Japanese War in 1894. Today Japanese consists of four
main islands; Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, plus
the Okinawa islands, and thousands of other smaller islands.

    Okinawa remained under American control even after the
San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951; it was returned to Japan in
1972.

    Until the end of World War 2, Japan owned Sakhalin, the
Kuril Islands, Korea and Taiwan, which were regarded by the
rest of the world as taken by aggression.

    Currently, Japan claims the southern part of the Kuril islands
including the Hagomai Islands, Shikotan, Kunashiri, and Etorofu
as part of its territory, and negotiations with Russia are
ongoing.

Another area in dispute is the Senkaku Islands,which are
under the jurisdiction of Ishigaki City, 160 km north of the
Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, for which not only
Japan but also China and Taiwan claim territorial rights.

Hyougo Prefecture (sorry Japanese only)

2011-01-29T09:25:00.002+09:00

How big is Japan?

2011-01-28T21:40:00.001+09:00

Japan's island area is approximately 378000km2. It is often
said that Japan is a small country. However, the archipelago
stretches some 3500 km from the northernmost end of the
southernmost, which means that climate and scenery vary
greatly from region to region.

A fact that is not very well known is that Japan is smaller
than California in the United States, which has a land area of
about 411000km2.

Land and Nature of Japan

2011-01-28T21:26:00.000+09:00

Land of Japan

Where on the earth is Japan located?

    Imagine a world map with Japan in the center.
In any country, people make maps with their own
country in the middle, and such is the case with the
Japanese.

    If you are in Europe, Japan is the Far East, and
you would get there by heading east starting from the southern
tip of the Italian Peninsula. You would go through Athens,
continue to make your way east along the 36 degree north latitude
to Iran, and then after traversing the Asian continent across China
and crossing the Sea of Japan, you will reach the center of the
Japanese islands.

    If you are in America, go due west from San Francisco and
you will eventually reach Tokyo. New York is on the same
latitude as Aomori Prefecture, the northern part of Honshu (the main
island) of Japan. Paris is on the same latitude as the northern
part of Hokkaido and London is located north of the northernmost tip
of Japan.

Recommendation book (Talking about Japan, Let's talk about JAPAN in English!)

2011-01-14T06:05:00.006+09:00

When we want to know Japan, we will recommend the book "Talking about Japan" and "Let's talk about Japan in English".

Especially, it recommends it to the Japanese who wants to study English.

About making to Japanese 3

2011-01-14T05:58:00.001+09:00

14. Japanese is written vertically from right to left.

15. We can also write Japanese horizontally from
left to right just like English.

16. The subject in Japanese is often left out.

17. Unlike English, Japanese verbs come at the end
of the sentence.

18. Each Chinese character has its own meaning.

19. You can find out the meaning of Japanese
names from their Chinese characters.

20. For examle, Sachiko has two Chinese
characters; The first means "happiness,"
and the second, "child."

One point conversation
A: Are there any other languages similar to Japanese?
B: Korean is the closest language to Japanese.

My one of the best making of Japanese anime is mononoke.
As for this animation, it is worth seeing.

About making to Japanese 2

2011-01-14T05:46:00.000+09:00

9. Each year, in a twelve-year circle, has a
symbolic animal.

10. For example, since 2004 is the year of monkey,
so will be 2016 and 2028.

11. Everyone in Japan knows the animal for the
year they were born.

12. People in Japan all know their blood types.

One point conversation
A: What is hogi?
B: Shogi is a Japanese traditional game which is similar
to chess.

13. You win when your opponent's king can't
escape just like checkmate in chess.

One point Conversation
A: What is go?
B: Go or igo is a traditional Japanese game played with
black and whote stones.
You win when you get more territory made of your
stone than your opponent.

About making to Japanese

2011-01-14T05:38:00.000+09:00

1. Kimonos are now worn only on special occasions.

2. We wear kimonos on weddings, funerals,
Coming-of Age Day, and New Year's Day.

3. Unmarried young women wear kimonos with
long sleeves.

4. A yukata is an informal kimono made of cotton.

5. In Japanese-style hotels, yukata are provided
for the guests.

6. Geisha is a proffesional female entertainer who
performs with traditional instrument and
dances.

7. The best-known origami form is a crane.

8. One thousand paper cranes is a symbol of
peace.

One point conversation
A: What is shamisen?
B: The shamisen is a traditionnal Japanese
instrument, similar to a mandolin.

About the funeral of Japan

2011-01-14T05:24:00.000+09:00

1. Funeral ceremonies are usually conducted by
Buddhist priests in funeral halls or temples.

2. There is a wake one night before the funeral
ceremony.

3. Family members and close relatives burn
incense sticks in front of the corpse all night
long.

4. The dead bodies are creamated in the
funeral halls.

5. The money should be put in evelopes　specially
made for funerals.

6. The enevelopes for funerals have black and
white strings.

7. In this case, new money should not be used.

8. A few months later, family members send
return gifts to the people who attended the
service.

One point conversation
A: What do family members wear for funerals?
B: For funerals, female family members wear solid
black kimonos, and male family members wear
black suits.

About the marriage of Japan

2011-01-09T08:47:00.001+09:00

1. Recently, more couples prefer to make their
wedding simple.

2. There are many couples who hold their
weddings overseas.

3. In wedding halls and hotels there are miniature
versions of Japanese shrines and Christian
chapels.

4. Arranged marriages used to be common in
Japan.

5. Marriages based on love are more popular now.

6. Brides often change from a kimono to a
Western-style dress during a wedding
reception.

7. Instead of wedding gifts, we give money to the
couple on the day of the wedding reception.

8. The money is considered payment for the
wedding feast and for the souvenirs the couple
prepared the guests.

One point conversation
A: How much do people give?
B: People give from 20 to 30 thousand yen.

About Japanese sport 3

2011-01-07T23:04:00.002+09:00

17. Ichiro Suzuki has become one of the top baseball players in the American major league.

18. Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees has the
nickname "Gozilla."

19. Japanese Professional soccer, called J-league,
has been as popular as baseball.

20. The World Cup soccer was held in Japan and
Korea in 2002. Korea's man's Emoticon is <丶｀∀´>.

18.

About Sumo (The strongest national game in the world)

2011-01-07T22:38:00.010+09:00

1. Sumo is the national sport of Japan.
The Japanese studies the sumo wrestling
by this animation.

SUMOU

This is one of the most popular animation in Japan. Eminence in Japan of this animation is the same as the national anthem.

2. Sumo wrestlers purify the ring with salt before
each match.

3. A sumo westler loses when he is pushed out
of the ring or when any part of his body touches
the ground.

4. The Grand Champion, or yokozuna, is the top
wumo wrestler.

Reference animation

1. The strongest national game in the world Sumo

2. Demon matchless series summarizing program

About Japanese sport 2

2011-01-07T22:30:00.000+09:00

9. A sumo westler loses when he is pushed out
of the ring or when any part of his body touches
the ground.

10. The Grand Champion, or yokozuna, is the top
wumo wrestler.

11. Many Japanese bussinessmen are obsessed
with playing golf.

12. Golf is a good way to entertain business
associates and clients.

13. High school baseball is as popular as
professional baseball in Japan.

14. Hideo Nomo is the first Japanese player in the
American major league.

15. Hideo Nomo signed a ree-agent contract with
the L.A. Dodgers in 1995.

16. Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners is
an outstanding baseball player.

One point conversation
A: What is the most popular sport in Japan?
B: Baseball is the most popular sport.

About Japanese sport

2011-01-07T07:24:00.004+09:00

The most popular sports in Japan are baseball and soccer.
The popularity of Japan's national sport, sumo, has been
on the decline in recent years.

1. Japanese martical arts are meant to train you,
both physically and mentally.

2. Judo is the only Japanese traditional martial art
which included in the Olympics.

3. The different color belts in Judo show the level
of skill.

4. Karate was originally for self-defense.

5. Karate is good for improving your concentration
powers.

6. Kendo is similar to fencing, but the sword is
made ofr bamboo.

7. Sumo is the national sport of Japan.
The Japanese studies the sumo wrestling
by this animation.

Strongest combative sports in the world Sumou

This is one of the most popular animation in Japan.
Eminence in Japan of this animation is the same
as the national anthem.

8. Sumo wrestlers purify the ring with salt before
each match.

About the entertainment of Japan 3

2010-12-28T01:51:00.000+09:00

14. The word konpa comes from the English word
"company".

15. Go-kon is a party arranged to find boyfriends
and girlfriends among different groups.

16. Pachinko parlors are full of people and smoke,
and are very noisy.

17. Winnings can be exchanged for items.

18. Comics are very popular in Japan even among
adults.

19. Comics take an important role in the Japanese
media.

20. Japanese comics are also used to explain
academic subjects in an easy way.

One point conversation
A: What is pachinko?
B: Pachinko, or Japanese pinball, is a very popular
game that was invented in Japan.

About the entertainment of Japan 2

2010-12-28T01:45:00.000+09:00

7. Foreign movies and dramas are usually dubbed.

8. Movies are very expensive in Japan.

9. Foreign movies in the movie theaters are
subtitled rather than dubbed.

10. Karaoke is good for releasing tension and
stress.

11. A karaoke box is a place where people can
enjoy karaoke in a small group in a private room.

12. Karaoke rooms are rented hourly and you can
order drinks and snacks.

13. The most popular songs are Japanese pop
songs.

One point conversation
A: When did karaoke start?
B: Karaoke was first created in Japan
in the late 70s.

About the entertainment of Japan

2010-12-20T07:32:00.000+09:00

1. Japanese animated cartoons such as "Sailor
Moon" and "Pokemon" have bevome very popular
in the States.

2. One of the Sanrio goods, "Hello Kitty," has
gained worldwide popularity.

3. Hayao Miyazaki's animated films such as,
"Princess Mononoke," and "My Neighbor Totoro"
have all become nig his around the world.

4. In 2003, Takeshi Kitano won the Silever Lion
award for Best Director at the Venice film
festival.

5. NHK is very similar to the BBC because it is
supported by public money, and has no
commercials.

6. Samurai dramas are an interesting look into
old Japan.

One point conversation
A: Who is Hayao Miyazaki?
B: Hayao Miyazaki is one of the greatest animators in
the world.

About the economy of Japan 2

2010-12-19T08:55:00.000+09:00

7. Economic conditions in Japan have not been
good for the last 16 years.

8. The collapse of the bubble economy brought
about the present recession.

9. Stock prices are goning up.(2004)

10. The ye is going up now.

11. Interest rates in Japanese banks are
comparatively low.

12. Utility bills are usually paid derectly from your
bank account.

About the economy of Japan

2010-12-18T18:13:00.000+09:00

Unemployment has been going up.

1. Lawsaits in Japan are not as common as in the
States.

2. Japan has great strengths in the electronics
industry.

3. The sales tax might be raised soon.

4. Tax reduction may stimulate the economy.

5.Personal consumption is on the decrease
because of the recession.

6. Domestic demand will stimulate economic
recovery.

One point conversation
A: What's the sales tax in Japan?
B: The sales tax in Japan is 5%.

About the politics of Japan

2010-12-18T18:05:00.000+09:00

1. The Japanese emperor is a symbpol of the sate,
and has no political power.

2. Many young people don't care about politics.

3. The Japanese goverment is based on
political parties.

4. The Liberal Democratic Party is the ruling party
in the Japanese government.

5. In 1993, the Liberal Democratic Party lost
power for the first time ever.
And now(2010), the Liberal Democratic Party lost power.

6. While the LDP(Liberal Democratic Party)
is in power, the Japanese prime minister
is chosen from it.

Now(2010), The Democratic Party is in power,
the Japanese prime minister is chosen from it.

7. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and
the heads of ministries.

One point conversation
A: When can people start voting in Japan?
B: The voting age in Japan is twenty.

About Japanese environment

2010-12-15T07:31:00.000+09:00

1. Gabarage disposal is a big problem in Japan.

2. We separate combustible waste from
nonconbusitible waste.

3. Plastic containers or plastic bottles can be
recycled.

4. Exhaust from cars causes serious air pollution.

5. Many buses shut down their engines while
they stop at red lights.

Let's speak environmental problems.

Global warming is caused by the emission
of carbon dioxide.

The destruction of the ozone layer
increases the risk of skin cancer.

Acid rain destroys trees and plants in the
forests.

About Japanese religion

2010-12-14T07:19:00.000+09:00

1. Talking of religion in Japan, not many Japanese
reallyu think that they are Buddhists.

2. Traditional marriage ceremonies are Shinto.

3. Lately, young Japanese want to have their
marrage ceremonies in the Christian way.

One point conversation
A: Do you celebrate Christmas in Japan?
B: Many Japanese celebrate Christmas, but not in
a religious way.

About Japanese company 3

2010-12-14T07:15:00.000+09:00

15. It is commomn in Japan to put a photo on one's
resume.

16. Age and sex are supposed to be written on
one's resume.

17. Business meetings usually start by exchanging
name cards.

18. Usually we exchange name cards using both
hands.

About Japanese company 2

2010-12-14T07:04:00.000+09:00

8. Actually, not many people take their paid
holidays.

9. Many companies require a lot of overtime
work.

10. Generally, a bonus is paid twice a year.

11. Many people want to keep working after they
turn sixty.

12. Recently, many women continue to work after
getting married and having children.

13. Unemployment has been going up.

14. Some young people work freelance, while
hoping to get a better job.

One point conversation
A: When do people retire in Japan?
B: Sixty is the retirement age in Japan.

About Japanese company

2010-12-14T06:57:00.000+09:00

These days, more companies have been hiring employees
based on job ability rather than academic background.
The corporate culture of Japanese companies has been
changing.

1. Japanesesociety is often called a vertical
society.

2. Japanese businessman often go out drinking
with their co-workers after work.

3. Lifetime employment is still common in Japan.

4. The longer they stay in a company, the higher
the salary they can get.

5. Japanese call a company employee a "salary
man" from the English words "salary" and "man."

6. Japanese business men wear dark blue suits,
white shirts, and black shoes even in the hot
summer.

7. Japanese companies usually offer a good
benefit package, such as housing, etc.

About Japanese Education 2

2010-12-10T07:37:00.001+09:00

9. Entrance exams in Japan put too much
emphasis on memorization.

10. Creativity and personality should be emphasized
more.

11. It's hard to enter Japanese universities but
easy to graduate.

12. These days, shildren don't play in groups outside
because they are too involved with computer games.

13. There are many students suffering from bullies
in school.

14. There are even students who commit sucide
because of being bullied.

15. The number of students who refuse to go to
school has been increasing.

16. Some students blow up easily when frustrated.

One point conversation
A: Are there any problems in Japanese schools?
B: Serious behaviour problems can be seen even in
elementary schools.

About Japanese Education

2010-12-09T07:31:00.001+09:00

1. The Japanese education level is pretty high.

2. Six years of elementary school and three years
of junior high schoo are compulsory education
in Japan.

3. Japanese parents usually spend a lot of money
on their children's education.

4. Japan is still a society based on an educational
background.

5. One's academic achievements help a lot for his
or her future career.

6. These days, more companies have been hiring
employees based on job ability rather than academic
background.

7. Many students go to cram schools, called Juku
to pass the entrance exams at prestigious universities.

8. Studying for entrance exams can be stressful
for children in Japan.

One point conversation
A: Is it hard to get into universities in Japan?
B: In Japan, there is a lot of competition to get
into the best universities.

About the event and the crime of Japan 2

2010-12-07T07:32:00.000+09:00

7. Drug control laws are strict in Japan.

8. Drug usage in Japan has been increasing
recently.

9. In Japan, juvenile delinquency has been
increasing thease days.

cf.prosititution among young girls

10. Sexual assault by gropers in crowded trains is
a serious problems.

11. Recently, we've got cars just for females to
avoid sexual harassment against women.

12. The yakuza are known to be involved with
money-lending, drugs, and prostitution.

One point conversation
A: What is the Yakuza?
B: The Yakuza is the Japanese version of the Mafia.

About the event and the crime of Japan

2010-12-05T08:57:00.000+09:00

Japanese public places are safe.
Japan has a low crime rate compared to other countries.

1. The suicide rate of Japan is comparatively high.

2. Increased numbers of the middle aged and older
people have taken their lives because of the
recent economic recession.

3. The number of child suicides has been increasing.

4. The number of victims of domestic violence
has been increasing.

5. The number of victims of child has been increasing.

6. Japan has a low crime rate compared to other
countries.

One point conversation
A: Do Japanese own guns?
B: Not really, because gun control laws are strict in
Japan.

About Japan food 3

2010-12-05T08:51:00.000+09:00

12. Shochu is a distilled spirit with a higher alchol
content than sake and is made from rice, potatoes,
and wheat.

13. Donburi is a bowl of cooked rice with various
toppings.

14. It's okay to make nose when you eat noodles
such as udon and ramen.

15. Okonomiyaki is a mixture between a pancake
and a pizza. (Is it true? )

cf.
Okonomiyaki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okonomiyaki)

About Japan food 2

2010-11-30T00:06:00.000+09:00

6. Many Japanese feel like eating rice at least
once a day.

7. Rice cakes, called mochi, are made from mochi
rice, which is stickier than regular rice.

8. Mochi is usually grilled and wrapped in nori
or is served in a soup.

9. Soy sauce is a basic seasoning of Japanese
food. We pour it directly on the food or dip
pieces of food like sushi into it.

10. Miso soup is basically made with soy bean
paste, fish stock, and water.

11. Rice wine, called sake, is made from fermented
rice and there are many regional types.

One point conservation
A: What is the most popular drink in Japan?
B: Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Japan.
(The most popular alcoholic drink in Japan is beer.)

About Japan food

2010-11-29T23:59:00.000+09:00

1. We use chopsticks when we eat Japanese food.

2. Don't poke your food with chopsticks.

3. Japanese food has less fat and is good for
your health.

4. Our main food is rice.
(Rice is our staple food.)

5. Japanese rice is short grain rice that becomes
sticky when cooked.

A: What is natto?
B: Natto is fermented soy beans.

It is unpopular among foreigners
because it has a strong smell and is
sticky.
(Foreigners don't like natto because
of its smell, and because it's sticky.)

About the social climate of Japan 2

2010-11-13T22:40:00.000+09:00

9. One Hundred Yen shops doesn't become popular now.
(One Hundred Yen shops were growing andsuccessful.)

10. In Japanese-style restrants, they serve
green tea for free and we can drink it as much
as we want to.
(In Japanese-style restrants, green tea is free
and you can drink all you want to.)

11. In restrants, you will receive a hot damp
towel called an oshibori after you sit down at
a table.

12. We can smoke inside of buildings and
westrants as long as we are in smoking
areas.

13. There are a lot of vending machines in Japan
and you can buy canned drinks, beer, sake, cigarettes,
and magazines.

14. Japanese cell phones are small with extra
options like cameras, Internet access and
e-mail functions.

One point conservation
A: How old do you have to be to smoke in Japan?
B: The law prohibits cigarette smoking for those under
the age of twenty.

About the social climate of Japan

2010-11-13T22:30:00.000+09:00

Life in Japan is very convinient.
Prices are high in Japan.

1. Japan has a good public transportation system.

2. Is it true? It depends on the person.
(Japanese people often sleep on trains and
usually wake up at the station get off.)

3. Commuter trains during rush hour are very
crowded and not comfortable at all.
They are so packed that you don't even need
to hold onto anything.

4. There are taxies avaiable everywhere.
(They are many taxies on the streets.)

5. Taxi doors are automatic in Japan.

6. The better apartments are called mansions
in Japan.

7. Housing in the cities is extremely expensive,
because we don't have much land.
(Since land is scarce, housing in the cities is
very expensive.)

8. The typical size 2LDK means two bathrooms,
a combination of living and dining rooms, a
kitchen area, a bath and a toilet.

About the character and the custom of Japan 3

2010-11-11T07:26:00.000+09:00

15 We wash ourselves outside the tub.

16 The tub is quite deep and the water is comparatively hot.

17 You have to squat when you use a
Japanese-style toilet.

18 Japanese men often wipe their faces and necks
with the towels called oshibori, but it's better-not to.

19 When drinking beer and sake, it is a Japanese
custom to serve everybody else rather than
pouring the beverage into your own glass.

20 Japanese businessmen often take their clients
out to drink after work.

21 Ochugen(summer gifts) and Dseibo(year-end
gifts) are a kind of gift sent to close personal
friends or business associates to show one's gratitude.

One point conservation
A: How are Japanese bathrooms different?
B: A toilet is separate from bathroom.

About the character and the custom of Japan 2

2010-11-09T06:36:00.000+09:00

8 To disagree with someone can be sometimes considered impolite.

9 Japanese don't shake hands when they greet other Japanese,
but they bow to each other.

10 We are not used to hugs and kisses when we greet westerners.

11 Exchangeing name cards is an essential first step in making business relationships in Japan.

12 Japanese people take out shoes off in homes.
We leave out shoes in an entry hall called a genkan and
then we step into the house.

13 Japanese style rooms vary in size according to
how many tatami mats they have.
Six-tatami rooms and four and half-tatami rooms are
the most common sizes.

14 Japanese people like taking bathes, and
we also go to hot springs on short trips.

About the character and the custom of Japan

2010-11-08T20:16:00.001+09:00

1. Japan is a coountry poor in natural resources
but rich in hard-working and diligent people.

2. The average size of a Japanese family is between
three and four people.

3. The five most common Japanese surnames are Sato,
Suzuki, Takahashi, Tanaka, and Watanabe.

4. Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world.

5. They celebrate the sixtieth birthday as something
special.

6. Japanese people tend to have a group mentality rather
than an individualistic outlook.

7. The Japanese pay serious attention to harmony and
cooperativeness in the group.

One point conservation
A: How long do Japanese people live?
B: The average life span for men has reached 78 years
and for women 84 years.

About the geography in Japan 2

2010-11-08T20:08:00.001+09:00

7. Japan has a population of about
half of the United States.
The population of the United States
is approximately 305,689,000.

cf. population of united states of america in 2010
http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/population_of_united_states_of_america_in_2010

8. Japan has a temperaten climate and foour seasons.

9. It's hot and humid in the summer and cold in the winter.
(Japan has hot, stickty summers and cold winters.)

10. Japan has a rainy season from mid-June to mid-July.

11. Typhoon season lasts from August to late Setember.

12. You can see beautiful cherry blossoms in March
and April.

One point conversation
A: When is the best time to go to Japan?
B: Spring and Fall are both good seasons to
travel around in Japan.

About the geography in Japan

2010-11-07T23:52:00.000+09:00

Japan is an island nation.
Japan consist of several thousand islands.

Feature of geography in Japan
1. Japan is in the eastern part of Asia.

2. Japan's closest neighbors are Korea, Chaina and Russia.

3. The length of Japan is about 1860 miles or 3000 kilometers.

4. Since there are many volcanoes in Japan,
there are also a lot of hot springs.

5. About 75% of the area of Japan is mountainous and
covered by forests.

6. The population density of Japan is one of
the hoghest in the World.

One point conservation
A: What is the populations of Japan?
B: The population of Japan is about 128 milion(2008).

List of Japanese prefectures by population
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_prefectures_by_population

About this blog

2010-11-07T11:25:00.002+09:00

Nice to meet you. I am Japanese.
I want to become a high school biology teacher.
In teacher's certificate examination,
there is an English subject in the test.

And so I try to write blog in English.
I want the person in the sphere in
English to learn Japan.