Table Manner

①Yes, I have.
I went to some restaurants with my friend in England.
I knew foreign restaurants doesn't give us some water for free.
But I didn't want to pay money to drink, so I have patience. haha


②Yes, I learned about "bill"
Normally in Japan, the bill has in the table.
But in England, I had to say "Could I have my check, please." or "Could you give me my bill?"

Oh, and I didn't know the service charge is included.

Wedding

1.Since Japanese weddings are expensive, do you think having a massive wedding like Korea or UAE is a good idea? Why?



Yes. Japanese weddings are expensive. That is why I didn't want to hold weddings.
But! now, my opinion is change! You should hold wedding and party.
You don't need hold big wedding. It is good for small wedding.
Wedding is good opportunity for us to say "Thank you" and "congratulations"
Japanese people say directly "Thank you " for their parents.
So wedding is good for us, isn't it??




2. What do you think about eloping? Is it a good idea or romantic? Why?


I think eloping will be able to happy without blessing their family.
It is difficult for some people to get marry, like today's movie.
"Family" means "consisting of one or two parents, their children and close relations."
You cannot apart from your parents.






3. Have you ever thought about having a wedding in a foreign location like Hawaii? Would you do it? Why?Or Why not?



Cerebrate in Hawaii.... Wow, sound very nice!!
but, actually, I would like having a wedding in Japan
If I get marry, I want to invite my grandparents.
But It is difficult for them to go abroad, so I will have a wedding in Japan.
It is easy to invite my friend a lot.
Yes, I am Japanese, so I should hold in Japan!! haha.






4.What is your ideal wedding?

I would like to hold western style wedding.
I mean, I want to wear white dress!! haha.
There is a new church on the hill in my town.
So I want to use it!

The food is good, has a cake cut, good performance by my friends.
Oh, this could go on forever!!

5.What would you definitely do, wear or go to on that big day? Why is that important?

I would like to read for parents definitely.
It is the most impressive performance(?) in the wedding.
You know, we don't say "I love you" or "Thank you for everything" to your parents directly.
So reading performance is important for Japanese.

If I am married, and read for parents, I may be a tearful face!!



6. Have you ever been to a foreigner's wedding? What was your impression?

No I haven't.
As far as I know, foreign wedding has a party, like dancing, singing,and so on.
Of course Japan has it. But It is except family.
We call it "Niji-kai"（二次会） Only friends or coworkers.

Superstitions

1.Do you think it is important to talk about superstitions in cross culture communication class? Why?

Yes. I think it is important to talk about superstitions in the class. It is quite interesting, isn't it??
Japan has a lot of superstitions, so I believe that other countries have them a lot, too.
You also can learn about country's history because superstitions is related to the social or historic background.
That is why superstitions is exactly important theme in CCC class.


2.Is communication affected by superstitions?

Yes, a bit.
You know, we don't use superstitions usually, but sometime we need.
So if you talk to non Japanese native speaker and use Japanese superstition, he/she may not understand what you say. Such as 「北枕は死人だけ」(The dead man lay with his head toward the north)
This is one of Japanese custom, so if I warn it, some foreigner can't understand why we mustn't lay toward the north.


3.Do you believe in superstitions? If yes, what superstitions do you believe?Why do you do, use, or believe in them?

Yes, I believe in superstition, but not completely.
I believe this superstition; 「逆剥けすると親不孝している」（if the skin on your hand are chapped, you are treating your parents disrespectfully)

When I argue some trivial things to my mom, or when I lied to my parents, I will often get injured to my fingers.
I don't know why... It is very scare for me.


But I don't believe that "when you cut your nail, a snake will come."
I have never see the snake when I did it!! so I don't believe it.

Time

1. Please explain a time proverb in your culture.

We have a lot of time proverbs, such as
”Sankan-shion”(三寒四温)
"Akinohiha-turubeotoshi”(秋の日はつるべ落とし)

"Sankan-shion" is in winter near the spring, it is said that if 3 days are very cold, 4 days will be warm. It is one of the Japanese superstitions.

"Akinohiha-turubeotoshi" means that Japanese sky at sunset is getting dark soon. This situation is similar to "Turube" (a well bucket in the well)

Those proverbs shows Japanese feelings, aren't they??

We also have "Time is money（時は金なり）"



2. What do the following proverbs mean:

a. Time is money.
Time is very important for us.
It is much important as money.


b. A stitch in time saves nine.
If you sew at once, you don't need to sew nine.
I guess,this proverb means you should do anything as soon as you can.
it is similar to "Korobanu-saki-no-tue"(Look before you leap)

c. There's no time like the present.
This means "it is no more chance, you should do it right now!"
"Senzai-ichigu"(千載一遇) is Japanese proverb.


d.Let's meet at 4. If I'm not there by 5, leave without me at 6, and I'll be there at 7.
....Sorry, I have no idea.. But, I try to guess!

I think "Try to wait for me forever"
It is love proverb!! The girl said this proverb, maybe "can you wait for me until 7? = Do you like me?"

↑it is just my imagination. Don't trust it.


I found Japanese and English proverb site.
Please try it if you want to search.


http://www6.plala.or.jp/yhayashi/jkotowazamenu.html

The language of Clothes

①Do you judge people according to what they wear? Why?

Yes, sometimes.
It will be given my information when I look somebody's clothes.
Like, "Her slirt is cute. I would like to buy some type of skirts!"

If I saw someone who wearing very unique clothes, I will say "Wow, it shows....very personality..." to my friend like that.
Yes, just "very".



②Do you think Japanese society puts an importance on clothing when judging other people from another country?


Yes. Japanese people has more important meaning of clothes than another country.
People, especilally young people judging other people.

If he/she wears very dirty or colorful clothes (I mean very flashily, gaudy, loud) I will recognize "Oh, he/she is immoderate person."

I think we still have "Gentle (well-behaved) is a virtue" so we will chose quiet pattern or color clothes.

When I go to my part-time job, I have to wear well-behaved color and type, and don't wear the sneakers.
It is because my part-time job is cram school. So.


③ What colors are you wearing now? Do they reflect your mood?

I am wearing on indigo-blue T-shirt, cream color short pants, black tights, brown boots and light brown jacket.
They do not reflect my mood. But I have a lot of dark color clothes.



① What are some subjects that you will never discuss with a friend?


I think, I will never discuss "my sirious problem" or "my boyfriend"
Yes, I will say only my besy friend. But if he/she is just FRIEND, I will never say.
For this reason, I am afraid of someone who say my sirious problems to everybody.
It is very shock and rude for me. So first, I will make a well even my friend.
If he/she can break my well, he/she will be my best friend or boyfriend.


② Do you have different friends for different parts of your life? If so, how are they different to you? Do you talk about different things? Go to different places? Give me some examples.


Yes. Depend on my friends.
For example, I love watching baseball game. So I usually go to Zoom-Zoom stadium.
I really would like to go with my friends, but If some of my friends hate watching baseball,
I will never ask "Shall we go Zoom-Zoom stadium?" of them.

So, I will enjoy going shopping to them.

Death and Funerals

a. Do you have any international friends or a host family? If so, how would you express your condolences to them if a family member died?


I have been to England, so I have British friends and host hamily.
If, my friend who is not Japanese, I will send a card to him/her.
I really want to go there, but it is difficult.
So I am going to send a card so that tell my appriciation and my mind.
Telling my heart is not relation to religion or culture I guess.


b. Have you ever been to a foreign funeral?

I have never been to a forign funeral,and I also never expreienced to go Japanese funeral.




a.Why are Japanese designer label crazy? Why is what you wear so important?


Label means brand, I think.
We want to have a famous bag or cloth, like a GUCCI or LOUIS VUITTON.
If I have those brand, I can pride economy even I do not say.
So some people crazy about brand, don't they?


b.What does “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” mean to you?


It mean "You must not buy book without see content"
We may buy book which has cute cover.
But I do not know it is interesting book or not.

So, this sentence tell us to "Don't be cheated to sirface"

Wrapping&Death

①Do you agree with the web site's description?　What do you do that can be called "wrapping"?

Obviously, Japanese likes wrapping compare with other countries.
Yes, I think If we get something gift from friend or acquaintance, I will please gift with beautiful wrapping better than rough gift.
Japanese like "clean". Wrapping makes us gorgeous and politely.
Therefore, we prefer wrapping gift to without things.


② Where do you go when you die?

Yes... very difficult question.
I think, I will go to heaven when I die, first.
Then, God(Buddha) gives me new life.
I do not sure I am able to get human again or not.
I may become dog, monkey or cockroach!!
Buddha calls this thought "Rinne(輪廻）"　←（metempsychosis）


③Explain why do Japanese have death memorial services 1 month, 1 year, 3 years, 7 years, etc. after a person's death?


It is said that Japanese people venerate for ancestor.
We call death memorial sercices in Japanese 「一周忌、三回忌・・・」
Please look diffarent Japanese character, "周忌" and "回忌"
We call "周忌" first year when someone die.
If we can see him next time, it is funeral.
So we can meet him twice.

Death memorial service will be 3 times.
So me call 三回忌。　

Add to my oppinion,
2,4,6 are even number.
We said ceremonial occaion is not good.

so we did death service odd number's year.




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