Japanese Culture

Japanese is one of the cultures that I know very little about. I have noticed that the women seem very sophisticated and classy. Whether it is first hand knowledge or researched. What can you tell me about this culture?

My exposure to Japanese culture was through my piano teacher. The ARE clean and somewhat xenophobic but there is the overlying culture of demanding excellence from all members of their society and those they teach that was striking. It’s also a very formal culture with a rigid social structure and concomitant expectations for those who inhabit the social slots. Read "Memoirs of a Geisha" to get a taste of the evolution and strict social rules that people labor under. Highly stylized, with expectations to conform are important. The latter wrecked their banking system about 20 years ago and the economy still labors under the "convoy system."

am a Sophmore in college with a major in Anthropology. I really, really love forensic anthropology and wish to persue a career in this field. However, I am aware of the minute possibilities that I will have in finding a forensic anthropology job, so I wanted to back it up with another major. I can’t look away from japanese culture and literature and I want to be able to teach those in school. Does anyone think this is a good idea?

Uh, I majored in Japanese literature and it’s been good. I would imagine it would be difficult to do that and something else though… well, depending how far you want to go with Japanese.

am a Sophmore in college with a major in Anthropology. I really, really love forensic anthropology and wish to persue a career in this field. However, I am aware of the minute possibilities that I will have in finding a forensic anthropology job, so I wanted to back it up with another major. I can’t look away from japanese culture and literature and I want to be able to teach those in school. Does anyone think this is a good idea?

Uh, I majored in Japanese literature and it’s been good. I would imagine it would be difficult to do that and something else though… well, depending how far you want to go with Japanese.

from all over the world?

This site is not only awesome for information (you post questions on a forum, and people get back to you), it has a friend feature too. I, myself, find it a little like a dating site, which is a little creepy, so I don’t use it.
http://www.japan-guide.com/

There’s also
http://www.japanese-online.com/

This site focuses mainly on learning the language, but you can find friends on there too. Post on the forums if you’re looking for a study buddy or just a general penfriend. It’s good because it’s guaranteed they’ll be interested in Japanese culture, and you can also help each other learn the language!

Hope this helps x

Do I need a visa before I go ? I already registered with the department of state. What one thing should I do when I go? Any advice on the Japan culture or anything will help Thanks.
Yes I am a US citizen.
I have my passport too so am I good to go?

If you are US citizen, you can stay in Japan up to 90 days without visa.

Other advices are,

Do not tip at restaurant or other places.
Do not talk on cell phone on train or bus.
Stay at left when you are on escalator for 2 people.
Let passengers exit first when you are about to get on train.

video games and anime in a nut shell

One of the biggest cultural contrasts I notice about Japanese and American society is the attitude towards families taking baths together(specifically the cleaning up your kid portion).

US A: I can’t believe you actually wash your kid that way!

JP B: i can’t believe you don’t care enough about yours to do so!

I know about role seniority takes in who washes up first, and the rather personal moments washing someone’s back for them can create, but I’m curious about the detail of how that all works, as well as other aspects of the Japanese family life and relationship building that may be off putting to more Westernized tastes. Does anyone know/have experience with this?

Traditionally, you should wash yourself before you step into a Japanese bath–you pour a pan of water on yourself, scrub yourself with soap, then rinse off all the grunge (usually using a small pan or scoop to rinse with–you don’t waste water). Only then do you step into a Japanese bath to just soak and meditate. You don’t stare at anyone else. If you must talk, you talk in subdued tones so as not to disturb anyone else.

There are a lot of Japanese traditions that may be off-putting to Westerners. And things are changing in Japan so a lot of traditions are no longer practiced (by the younger folks at least).

ya i just got one in a trade yesterday and it did so ya. it was really cool and it really worked

I’m 3/4 Chinese and 1/4 Japanese. And I really curious because at school these people always ask me about Japan and things related to Japan I have grown tired of this!! I am not eve full Japanese!! I have told them many times!! I am Chinese!!

You see all these Samurai wannabes and Anime freaks at my school ahhh!!!

Nobody really cares about you and the rest of them japs. You are just being cocky. The only reason anybody likes Japanese people is because japanese chicks. Not japanese chicks like you, the hot ones that guys like a lot like on The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
If I were to call what people say to you anything it would be curious, not infatuated. Stop trying to act stuck up like the stereotypical popular kid when your not the popular kid. Another possibility is that everyone in your school has an inside joke about you and they just think it’s funny to see you get mad like this and try to be amazing when it sounds like you’re not. Finally, don’t use big words like infatuated, not because their is some idiots like the stereotypical blonds that don’t know what it means, but because it gives people another reason not to like you. I’m glad I could help you

you begin by talking about how all cultures in every country have something unique to them and how that you can learn so much from a place’s culture…you go on to discuss things that are unique to japan and how interested these things are…. this website may help…(try to grab your audience’s attention with your vivid description of life there)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Japan