JAPANESE CULTURES BACK TO TOP
Non-tipping society.
Japan is basically a non-tipping society.
So, Japanese don't customarily pay tips for services.
In Japan, most guidebooks refer to how to tip when traveling overseas.
For example, you should pay one dollar to a bellboy when he carries your bags,
and about 15% to a taxi driver. You should put one dollar on the table
or add 15% tip in the check when you finish a meal in a restaurant.
The guidebooks say, "The tips are necessary for them, because their pay
is too little for them to make a living.
In Japan, there was one episode when a foreigner used a taxi, and he paid
a tip to the driver, but the driver said "I don't need a tip."
The passenger misunderstood what the driver said. He thought the driver
meant the tip was too little, and he got angry.
Many Japanese, especially old age people have a sense that their services
are not replaceable to money because the job are their pride which is
valuable than money.
So they make services with whole their mind even without money.
The satisfaction of the customer is their pleasure of the jobs.
They think that if they make to adjust their services depending the payment,
that is their shame.
This principle has kept from long time ago as worker's pride in Japanese society.
I think that some Japanese practice to pay tips as copy of foreign in Japan,
It is regrettable.
Japanese wives.
That is a saying in Japan that " A woman is weak, but mother is strong."
This saying means a woman who has a child can endure diverse difficulties.
I think that this is common for all women in all countries.
There was a saying in Japan that "Women and stockings became stronger after
the 2nd World War."
This saying means after the "2nd World War, American culture spread into
Japan and women began to have same the status as men.
The stockings before the 2nd World War were made from silk, but the
material was changed after the war to nylon which was stronger than silk.
Now many Japanese wives control all money in the home. Many husbands often
call their wives "The Finance Minister."
The Finance Minister has the authority to decide all spending allowances
in the family.
Therefore the husbands entreat their wives when they want a raise in their
pocket money. It's usually difficult to obtain.
The wives watch the supermarket fliers very carefully.
They're looking for some of the cheapest prices, checking differences of
even one yen.
But they are generous to pay educational expenses for their children.
So, in Japan, cram schools grow to be a huge business.
Bad Custom in Japan
I don't like to drink alcohol. But in Japan, people at parties
obstinately say "Drink more." By the time the party is over, many people
have given me a hard time.
This abominable custom exists in the oriental countries, for example
Japan, Korea and China.
The drinkers often say with flushed faces, "Why don't you drink more?"
I refuse the stupid person because I'm a strong, stubborn man.
But some people who don't have a strong mind, can't refuse the drink.
They drink too much and they are extremely inebriated and nauseous.
In America I enjoy all parties because the participants never say "Drink
more." It is a nice custom.
In Japan the new college students often get welcome parties.
They persistently have to imbibe alcohol given by the senior students.
Sometimes they have to call an ambulance for acute alcohol poisoning.
Occasionally someone is killed because the ambulance is too late.
This is unfortunate. It's a foolish custom.
I said to my son, "Be careful about welcome parties."
Yesterday he sent email to me that said, "I don't like parties and alcohol."
"Only regarding this, I very much agree with you."
He agreed with my opinion. That's a very rare case.
English education in Japan
In Japan 95% of the students study English for least six years which is in junior high school
and high school.
However, Japanese people can't speak or understand the English which is
used in America.
The one reason is that they study English only for the examinations of
high schools or colleges.
After the examination they soon forget the vocabulary and the grammatical
rules, because they don't use the language in daily life.
Another reason is that they learn English pronunciation by Japanese
teachers who talk Japanese English. Foe example R&L, B&V are pronounced the same.
English words exist only on the papers.
One more reason is that the teachers check grammatical mistakes of the
students extremely harshly.
When they find a little mistake of the students, they practice their job.
For example, they focus on correcting whether verbs or nouns include s if necessary
because this is important for the examinations.
Most students can't feel pleasure about learning English.
They are afraid of grammatical mistakes in their writing and speaking.
Many people in the English educational field say that Japanese English
education is responsible for the lack of fluency.
But they don't want to try reformation of the English education because
if the system were changed, they would ruin their jobs.
Difficult Pronunciation
Many Japanese say the most difficulty of English learning is
pronunciation because there are some sounds which are not used in Japanese.
It is true, there are 5 vowels only in Japanese. They are A,E,I,O,U.
They are very simple, but in English there are many sounds even A only and
other also.
English consonants are difficult also because in Japanese there are not
sounds of L, R, V and Th.
Especially "L" is most difficult. We can't listen it nor pronounce it.
I tried saying "literary" "lyrical" "labyrinth" and "laurel"
but many American couldn't understand my pronouncings without writing.
The words "bull" "burr" "bore" and "bar" are a same word in my ears.
The words "sucker" and "soccer" are same also.
I heard that a capability for realizing elements of consonants is made
until 5 years old in native speaker. Therefore we can't listen the sound
"L" and "R."
Americans also can't listen a sound "L" by Japanese.
But many Japanese who have lived in America for long time can be
understanding the difficult sounds because they have special intuition
for realize the words fruited from long time listening and practice.