What is Japanese culture?

By taking this course, I felt that I did not know what Japanese culture is. Before taking this course, I have thought Japanese culture is only special things such as tea ceremony, flower arrangement, temples and shrines. For example, I thought Japanese culture is just sushi. I have never thought about how to eat, how to order, eat with who and the name of other things such as agari (green tea), gari (ginger). I have thought I have to have knowledge about that special Japanese culture before study abroad. It is actually essential to know about those things before study abroad; however, by taking this course, I could understand that those are not only Japanese culture. It can be represented by not only main stuff, but also all things which related to.

Please look at this picture. Last weekend, I joined a small tea ceremony. I thought not only tea but also view, chair, umbrella, old woman's the way of serving, and all represents Japanese culture.






I g1radually noticed that Japanese culture fills around our lives. For example, I remember the first class of this course. In the class, we saw a picture from an article which has a group of Japanese high school girls’ students and a monkey. When professor asked to students that how this picture represent Japanese culture or what you can know about Japanese culture from this picture. At first, I thought it was a just normal picture and what professor was talking. Then some international students answered that it shows one of Japanese culture of group principle. I must know about it; however I did not realize it because I thought it was not Japanese characteristic but also just normal. So this course is a good opportunity to recognize as what Japanese culture not only from special events but also from daily lives by gaining the idea from international students.

Please look at this picture. They are my friends and I took this picture at the restaurant in Hirakatashi station. A woman holds up two fingers because it is Japanese culture. The other man holds up three fingers. It was also popular pose in several years ago because of the influence of TV drama. It is an interesting picture.

And also we watched about Japanese and American TV show in the class. In the class, some students said that Japanese TV show has many food shows and every announcer says “oishi.” I was really shocked because I have thought it is natural, so I did not know it was strange. I thought I had very provincial point of view.

I was really surprised at the ability of international students. They know about Japanese culture better than me; moreover by using the knowledge of Japanese culture, they can analyze about topic critically. I learned from them a lot of things. This course is really useful for Japanese students because we can spread our own view, especially about own culture. I think Japan is very nice country and protected safely therefore people tend to think Japan is the best country and what Japan do or Japanese government says is correct and nicer than other countries. So we need to be wide our view and gain the knowledge of thinking critically. If people become to do that, I think more Japanese can see different world.