Japan is a country that likes consumption. As an example of it, I mention the umbrella. Most people have the transparent umbrellas. They makes us difficult to find our own umbrella and easy to steal them. When I do not have an umbrella, I often steal someones umbrella. Someone steals my umbrella too. However, if our transparent umbrellas are stolen, we would not care, because it is very cheap. Therefore, we waste many umbrella. It shows the high consumption of Japan
Most Japanese is bad at speaking English. I think there are two main reasons for it. First, Japanese language does not have pronunciation as American has, for example, "r" and "th". Since we do not speak these pronunciation in Japanese, they are hard to pronounce. Second reason is in the Japanese character. It is said that Japanese are shy. I think so too. Japanese think that Japanese can not speak English well because the reason I wrote above. By these reasons, Japanese do not try to speak English.
Japanese are the people who are interested in fashion very much. Many young people spend a lot of money for their clothes. I guess this tendency comes from the economic growth in Japan. Japan lost the war and people found the hope in the economic growth. When Japan became a prosperous country, people enjoyed spending a lot of money, because they could not do it in the war time. This tendency of enjoying the consumption still exists today. I think that it is not bad to spend a lot of money for clothes or furniture. Now, putting on the different shoes on right and left feet seems popular among young people. I think it is too unfashionable.
According to the research, Japanese is the worst people in speaking English in Asia. We study English from junior high school. Why did the research show such a result. The reason is from the past national isolation called "sakoku". Japan closed the door to Western countries in the Edo period. After the abolishing "sakoku", Japan sent some experts to West to get the information of West. When they came back, they translated the information into Japanese. In this process, they did not need many people could speak English. Instead of them, Japan made students learn the translation into Japanese. This education system still exists today. We can translate English into Japanese but we are bad at speaking English and communicating with foreigners.
It is said that Japanese have shorter legs than Western comparatively. Two main reasons of it are in Japanese traditional culture. First, Japanese did no sit on the chair in the far past. They sat on the floor called "Tatami" with the way of sitting called "agura" or "seiza". By sitting like these ways from childhood, the growth of their leg's bones were prevented. Second, Japanese mainly are grain and vegetable, and did not eat meat much. Grain and vegetable are more difficult to digest than meat. Therefore, the intestine of Japanese became longer than that of Western. However, western life-style is introduced in Japan recently. We usually sit on the chair and eat meat. There are many young people have long legs now.
I went to Wakayama prefecture and took some pictures. I went to "Kouyasan". There is a mountain track in it. It is said that this track was made by Japanese priest "Kukai", and it played an important part in developing his religion. This track begins from "Jison in"(the lower photo) to "Daimon". Its length is about 20km, and its altitude is about 1000m. There is two gate(the upper photo) in the middle of the track. Even though I wanted to go "Daimon", I gave up there.
I went to Wakayama prefecture and took same pictures.These photos are the shrine in wakayama.This is called "Niutsuhime shrine" .This shrine was registered on UNFSCO's World Heritage list.On this shrine, 11 events are held every year. In this season, two festivals are held, "Reisai" and "Niinamesai". "Reisai" is held on October 16th. This is a solemn autumn festival in this shrine. "Niinamesai" is held on November 23rd. In this festival, people appreciate the harvest of rice that is harvested in the year.
These two photos are photos of Universal Studio Japan. I went there by bicycle but I did not enter and play there. I did not have enough money to enter. Universal Studio is an amusement park that have many attractions and lovely characters of movies and comics. All these movies and comics are made in America. Universal Studio was established in America originally and introduced to Japan. It is same as Disneyland. As these examples, Japanese is liable to yearn for American movie, music, fashion and culture.
Many foreigner in Japan use chopsticks very well. However, do they know taboo of using chopsticks? Now, I will tell you some of them. Look at the left photo. This is one of the taboo called "tatebashi". We must not stick chopsticks into rice and stand it. I was told it is bad because it looks like a grave. Moving a dish in front of us by using chopsticks is also bad act. It is called "yosebashi". These acts are rude even in our own home. Look at the right photo. This is named "sashibashi". It is taboo but it is often done even by Japanese. Therefore, you should refrain from it in the Japanese traditional restaurant.
