CLASS #2 Death and Funerals

1. Reflecting about today's class:Today we discussed the Japanese concept of "wrapping". Do you agree with the web site's description?What do you do that can be called "wrapping"? Give examples and reasons for your actions.

It is exactly true. Japanese love wrapping. We especially do that when we give someone a present for the special day like midyear present (otyu-gen). In my case, I of course do that when I give my friends or boy friend a present and even though when I return something to someone. Wrapping makes everyone good feeling, and it is important to show my feeling.


1.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? If not, then how would you express condolences to an American host family if their Grandmother died?

Yes, I do. Bur I have never experience such as this situation. If I need to express my condolences to my friend, I will say "I was shocked to hear of the death of your... I cannot tell you how sorry I am to hear of your great loss. In deepest sympathy,"

b. Have you ever been to a foreign funeral?

No, I have not.


2. The language of Clothes (preparation for next weeks topic):
a.Why are Japanese designer label crazy? Why is what you wear so important?

I don't know Japanese designer label crazy or not. But I'm sure why is what I wear so important because I express my feeling and identity. Also it makes me confidently. Clothes are parts of my life.

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

It means that it is not certain to judge something by appearance. We should be careful to judge something and pay attention to substance.

CLASS #1 Fall 2009

a. Where do you go when you die?

In my opinion, we go to Heaven if we don't do bad things before we die.
If we do something bad, we go to Hell.


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

Japanese have death memorial sercices to remember the deceased with family, relatives and friends and to hope the deceased's hapiness at Heaven. And also, it is good oppotunity that Japanese think ourselves over once more. This cycle (1 month, 1 year, 3 years, 7 years, etc) comes from the teachimgs of Chinese Confucianism.

Working with different cultures and special guests

When I heard Ms. Yano's speech, I thought that just to be able to speak English is not enough as a skill for job. And I also thought that there are not perfectly atmosphere for women to work in Japan yet.



And then, which country does have well-regulated atmosphere more than Japan?I searched on Internet and found that Holland is a great country for women to work.



Work-haring is now popular in Holland, and people can work only 3 or 4 times a week wheh their children is young. Moreover, there is not treatment discrimination between part-time and full-fledged employee. Of course men can do work-haring, so husband and wife take off work on different day of the weekdays, and take care of their children in relays.


I think that it is the most important thing to cooperate each other if we want to achieve a good balance between child-care and business.I wish Japan could adopt the same idea..

CLASS #12 Dating Practice

I made a graph of what I need for my future husband.

umm...how can I get married to a good man like this?! lol

CLASS #7 Names and Addresses

1.Are feelings, emotions and facial expressions universal across borders, happy, sad, etc..?

My opinon is yes. That's why we manage to get through and understand others feelings without words when we go abroad. But there may be some differences how much they express their feelings. I think Japanese sometimes make no sign as cimpared with American.


2. Try to name as many feelings as possible in Japanese. ( 10 minimum) Then, write the English translation.

・幸せな happy
・悲しい sad
・寂しい lonely
・嬉しい glad
・怖い fearful
・イライラする irritated
・興奮する excited
・おもしろい interesting
・つまらない bored
・好き like
・嫌い hate
・落ち込む depressed
・安心する relieved
・きれいな beautiful

I came up with many negative words steadily...omg



3. Are there any feelings in Japanese that cannot be translated into English?

I have no idea...but if there are some, I somehow catch the basic meaning.

CLASS #6 Greetings

1. How do you greet members of your family? (mother, father, older brother, younger brother, grandparents, etc.)

In the morning, I just say "ohayo-" to all of my family. I sometimes play the fool and say "oha-" because I want to start a day by good smile.


2. How do you greet people that are important in society?

I look people in the eye, smile, make a bow and say "ohayougozaimasu". I think that Eye-contact is very important and indispensable when we greet someone.


3. Do you greet people from the opposite sex in a different way?

I'm not aware of doing so, but I may do like with a high-pitched voice.


4. Do you hug anyone? If yes, who and when. If no, why not?

Yes,I do. I always hug my best friend when I meet her at university. I think that It's natural for us to hug insted of greeting.

CLASS #4 World Religions

How do you greet people in your life?

In the morning, I usually greet my family or friend with "ohayou(gozaimasu)" . in the afternoon and evening, I say "konnnichiwa", but sometimes say "ohayou" to people I meet for the first time in the day.

Is it different for different people? How so and why?

Yes, it is. People use many different way of greeting case by case or with individual. I think that the differences are depend on their living environment which they have had. And also, the differences depends on each culture or religion.

Do you touch people when you talk to them? Why? Or Why not?

I sometimes do, but just for close friends. In my view, it is normal to talk as touching my friends, but I don't mean doing it in particular. If I am touched by someone who I don't know well, I don't feel comfortable.