外国の人からこんなことを聞かれるのではないかというので、Our Customs and Culturesというページを作りました。日本の文化や習慣を英語で説明します。
Questions Foreign Visitors to Japan Are Likely to Ask
1 While Moving 移動中(バス、電車からの車窓、歩行での誘導中)に目にしたものについて
4 At a Shopping Place ショッピングする場所で
6 In a Public Bathroom トイレのある場所で
8 Everyday Life (I saw, I heard, I learned, I read) 普段の生活、習慣で /どこかで見た、聞いた、知った、読んだ
Except Ones About Each Sightseeing Spot
1 日本語で疑問文を作りました。冒頭の数字をクリックすると、英語の答えに飛びます。
1 While Moving 移動中(バス、電車からの車窓、歩行での誘導中)に目にしたものについて ・なぜ車が左側を走るのか ・街路樹の木は何か ・横断歩道の鳥の電子音の鳴き声は何か ・歩道の黄色の線は何か ・車の色が白色が多いのはなぜか ・車のナンバーが四桁で大丈夫なのか ・学生が軍服みたいのを着ている。男が士官風、女がセーラー風、だが、なぜか ・バスや電車が時刻通りなのか、もしそうなら、なぜか ・エスカレーターで片側に乗っているのはなぜか ・着物を着ている人がいないのはなぜか ・ビルのガラスの赤い三角のマークは何か ・焼き鳥屋、焼肉屋、鰻屋、ラーメン屋の前を通り過ぎた時、この匂いは何か ・あの家の庭に生えているきれいな花は何か。 ・Pachinko と書いてある店で、駐車場に沢山の車が止まっているが、あれは何か ・庭の高いポールに布の大きな魚がぶら下がっているのは何か ・ガソリンの値段はどのくらいなのか、なぜ、値段が???と書いてあるのか ・どう見ても全く車が来ていないのが分かっているのに、赤信号で待っているのはなぜか ・ホームレスの人はいないのか ・どこにも桜が咲いているのはなぜか ・車のテールランプが点滅しているのは何か ・コンビニはどのくらいあるのか ・アパートの家賃はどれくらいなのか ・食べ物屋のドアに掛かっている四角の布は何なのか ・店の前に塩が置いてあるのは何なのか ・桜の木の下で、パーティーを開くのはなぜか ・自動販売機が多いが、盗難とか、大丈夫なのか 2 At a Shrine 神社で ・縦の二本、横二本で立っているのは何か ・鳥居が赤いのはなぜか ・神社に行って何をするのか ・あの石のツインの動物は何か ・なぜ、手を洗うのか ・おみくじはとは何か ・お守りとは何か ・本殿で紙がついた木の棒を降っているのは何をしているのか ・神社の人が着ている服は何なのか? ・絵が描いてある小さなボードが沢山あるが、あれは何か ・なぜ、お金を箱に入れて、祈るのか ・なぜ、お正月に神社に来るのか ・神社の周りに木がたくさんあるのはなぜか ・神道では、説教とかがないのはなぜか ・神社にランクはあるのか 3 At a Temple 寺で ・祈っている時にブツブツ言っている人がいるが、あれは何か ・仏像が置いてあるのは、なぜか ・なぜ、仏像は寝ているような目をしているのか ・座禅とは何なのか ・仏教に宗派はあるのか ・坊主が頭を剃っているのはなぜか ・坊主が生活を維持できるのはどうしてか ・なぜお香をたくのか ・なぜ手を合わせて祈るのか ・坊主は結婚できるのか ・坊主の衣装は何なのか ・五重の塔は何のためにあるのか ・玉が連なって輪になって、祈る時に握っているのは何か 4 At a Shopping Place ショッピングする場所で ・現金しか使えない店があるのか ・TAX-FREE店の利用の仕方は? ・デパートでは何を売っているのか ・円以外は使えるのか ・商品を返却する方法はあるのか ・ここで買って本国に持ち帰られないものはあるのか ・刀を買いたいのだが、どこに行けばいいのか ・日本で買うお土産は何がいいのか 5 In a Restaurant 食事をする場所で ・箸を使えないが、大丈夫か ・グラスの水は必ずでてくるのか ・同時にいろいろと料理が出されたが、食べる順番があるのか ・食べる前と食べた後に、手を合わせて何かつぶやいているが、あれは何か ・各自、ビニールに入った濡れた紙が出されるが、あれは何か ・テーブルに置いてある、いくつかの瓶とか缶には何か入っているのか ・ご飯が何杯も食べられる店があると聞いたが、本当か ・チップを渡す必要があるのか ・店に入った時に、店の人から大声で何か言われたが、あれは何と言ったのか ・麺を食べる時に、音を立ててもいいのか ・一つの皿とか鍋を全員で共有して食べるのに、何の抵抗感もないのか ・ラーメンの店で行列ができているが、並んでどれくらいで食べられるのか ・ラーメンの店で、麺を食べると、また、麺だけを注文できると聞いたが、本当か ・なぜ、日本人は刺し身を食べるのか ・なぜ、刺し身を食べる時にワサビをつけるのか ・寿司屋で、日本人に人気がある魚は何か ・なぜ、寿司屋で、生姜を食べるのか ・卵を生で食べるというのは本当か ・毎回食事で米を食べるのか 6 In a Public Bathroom トイレのある場所で ・いろいろとスイッチボタンがあるが、説明してほしい ・和式トイレというのがあるが、どのように使うのか ・トイレを使用する時に、音が流れるブースが、あれは何か ・トイレが有料のところがあるのか ・トイレには必ずトイレットペーパーがあるのか ・男用、女用、の見分け方はどうするのか ・蛇口に手を近づけたら、水が流れたが、どこでもそうか 7 At a Japanese Inn 日本旅館で ・どこで靴を脱ぐのか ・温泉にはどう入るのか、マナーがあると聞いたが ・みんな着物に着替えるのか ・着物で館内をウロウロできるのか、外を着物で歩いている人を見たが ・誰がいつ布団を敷くのか ・どこで食事を食べるのか ・部屋に入ったらお菓子があったが、無料で食べられるのか ・風呂にいつ入ったらいいのか ・風呂の男用、女用はどう見分けるのか ・客には必ず女性の従業員がついて世話をするのか、挨拶されたが ・タオルはどれを使用するのか ・枕は布団の上で北方向に置かないと聞いたが、なぜか ・チップは必要か ・風呂以外にどんな施設があるのか 8 Everyday Life (I saw, I heard, I learned, I read) 普段の生活、習慣で /どこかで見た、聞いた、知った、読んだ ・なぜ日本人はお辞儀をたくさんするのか ・なぜ家に入るときに靴を脱ぐのか ・なぜ毎晩風呂に入るのか ・なぜ着物を着ていないのか ・人気のスポーツは何か ・どんな趣味が多いのか ・学制について ・年金について ・給料について ・生活費について ・家の食事の時、必ずご飯を食べるのか ・朝、体操をしている集団があったが何か ・なぜコンビニが多いのか ・独特のジェスチャーがあるのか? 〇×のような ・席を座る時に場所が決まっていると聞いたが、本当か ・レストランのウインドウのサンプルは何か ・写真を映るときの指のサインは何か ・血液型を気にするのはなぜか ・印鑑で仕事をすると聞いたが、どういうことか ・あのポーズ(土下座)は何か、礼拝ではないようだが。 ・日本人は本当に宗教を信じているのか ・ほとんどの車がバックで駐車しているのはなぜか ・治安の良さの例を教えて下さい (路上で寝る酔っ払い、電車での居眠り、バッグとかを置いたまま、子供だけの登校、後ポケットに長財布) なぜ? ・クリスマス、バレンタインデー、ハロウィーンとか外国の祭りに盛り上がるのは、しかも独特に、それはなぜ? ・日本人は韓国人と仲が悪いのか、または、中国人と。 ・町中で急にトイレに行きたくなったら、どうしたらいいのか?
2 英語の質問と英語の答です
1 While Moving
Q: Why do the cars run on the left side?
A: According to one popular belief, it is due to the custom in the Samurai period. Samurai walked on the left side in order not to avoid their swards on the left waist (this is easy to draw a sward with a right hand) touching each other in passing by on a narrow road. It might cause a fighting between them. In the Meiji period after the Samurai period, the government used this custom, which was the same in the UK, a country from which Japan learned modern things.
Q: What are used as street trees?
A: Street trees play a role of making a beautiful scenery, leading traffic smoothly as high route signs, and absorbing the gas emitted by the cars. In the order of the numbers, No. 1 is Gingko, No.2 is Cherry and No.3 is Keyaki (Zelkova). Others are Dogwood, Maple, and Camphor. The reasons why gingko trees are chosen are: (1) being easy to grow, (2) being strong against emitted gas, (3) being beautiful (4) having fire resistance (5) living long.
Q: What is the electric bird-singing heard at crossings?
A: This is for guiding blind people to go over the crossing. There are two kinds of sound: “Kakko, Kakko,”and” Piyo, Piyo.” The former is heard when a green light is on in the direction of east and west and the latter in the direction of north and south. In this way, blind people can understand which direction the green light “Walk” shows.
Q: On the walkway, there is a yellow line or straight-lined yellow tiles. What is this?
A: That is called “Tenji Burokku” meaning “Braille Block.” It guides totally blind or weak-sighted people to direct the route in walking alone.
On the platforms in stations, you will see a yellow line, and this shows the line to stay behind for the safety reason.
The center line on the road is sometimes yellow, and this shows No Passing.
Q: It seems the most common color of cars is white. Why is it so?
A: In Japan, one-third of cars are of white color. For the main reason, it seems, Japanese people don’t like to be outstanding, so they don’t use flashy colors. It is like “Do as everybody does” and typically Japanese. Other reasons are that white doesn’t look so dirty even though the body is seldom cleaned, and white is not likely to get extremely hot on summer days.
Q: Is Four-digits enough for the car number on the plate? It covers at most 10,000 cars.
A: Over the four-digit number are written a place name and a small number of two or three digits. And on the left side is one Hiragana letter. These can cover all the cars. By the way, if you pay some money, you can select the number you would like to have. The most popular is “・・・1” for bigger cars and “25-25” for smaller cars. But sometimes for some popular numbers, you have to draw a lot.
Q: Why are students wearing military clothes? Some boys are dressed like an officer, and some girls are dressed like a sailor.
A: These are school uniforms. Most of the junior or senior high school have a dress code of wearing the uniform. It may help instill the importance of unity in students. At the beginning of the modern school system, that is, in the period of modernization by adopting Western things, Western clothes looked very handsome, and schools began to choose the army-officer clothes among them for the uniform. Later, when girls were allowed to study in schools, the schools decided to use the navy-style clothes. Boys army, Girls navy. Sailor’s clothes had already been popular as the dress for children. This cuteness was probably the reason why these were chosen.
Q: Are buses or trains punctual? If so, why?
A: Buses sometimes come late due to the traffic congestion. Trains seldom come late. It they do so, some accident or disaster may have happened. Being punctual is probably due to the Japanese personality of being punctual and the advanced technology of transportation.
Q: Why are people standing on one side on the escalators?
A: They are making space for someone in a hurry to walk up or down without any hindrance. A lot of Japanese office workers tend to walk and move quickly to save time. But authorities have asked the users not to do this from a viewpoint of safety in that walking on the escalators is dangerous. But this doesn’t work well, as the old customs die hard, and still one side is often open for the walkers in a hurry.
Q: Why are very few people wearing kimono?
A: Once the modernization by adapting Western ways began in Japan, more and more people began to wear Western clothes. Now kimono is the special clothes for traditional ceremonies like wedding, funerals and visiting Shinto shrines. As for wearing kimono, most people think the demerits overweigh the merits. The demerits are as follows. They don’t know how to put it on. It is expensive. It is not easy to move in kimono. It is troublesome to put it away. They don’t know how to behave in kimono. It may be hot in summer.
Q: What is a red triangle on a glass pane of a building?
A: It is a mark showing the place where firefighters break and go through in case of a fire. So near and under this mark, nothing that can be in the way, like furniture and boxes, should be placed.
Q: What is good smell when we pass the shops like yakitori, yakiniku, unagi, ramen?
A: Whether it is good smell or not depends on individuals. It is true that it may attract people passing by, but it can cause a nuisance in the neighborhood. Anyway, yakitori, yakiniku, unagi (eel) need to be grilled, so, if smoke does not go out, it will be full of smoke inside the shops. As for ramen shops, especially Tonkotu, pork bone, soup smells so strong that we can smell it even outside the shop.
Q; What are the beautiful flowers in the garden?
A: Please, check them out in a flower encyclopedia. Below are the top five popular flowers for gardening in each season, according to the website “みんなの趣味園芸“ Gardening for Everyone.
Spring :centimes, lavender, tulip, Chinese peony (syakuyaku), amaryllis
Summer : a queen of the night(gekka-bijin), porturaca, hydrangea abbabelle, zinnia, agapanthus
Fall : tree dahlia, calluna, money tree, pansy, oxalis
Winter : Christmas rose, cyclamen, clematis, Christmas cactus, English primrose(primula plyantha)
Q: I sometimes see the word PACHINKO on a building, and what is that?
A: Pachinko is a gambling game. It is similar to a pinball game, but the board is vertical. Briefly put, it is a “Pin a tiny ball into a hole, and get more balls” game. The balls are worth money. The balls are changed for something at the counter, and then this something is changed into money in a hut outside the building. Legally, it is not a gamble, but actually it is.
Q: What is a high pole hanging some big fish of cloth in the garden?
A: It is called “Koinobori,” and the fish are carp. A black one is Papa carp, a red one is Mama carp and a small one is Son carp. A carp is a symbol of good growth or promotion in work. This came from a Chinese legend about a carp which went up a waterfall and changed into a dragon. The carp on the pole depict this carp (koi) going up (nobori) a waterfall. Koinobori functions as a lucky charm for a young boy in the family, only displayed for May the 5th, Children Day.
Q: What is the price of gas in Japan? And I happened to notice the price is ???. What is that?
A: It is about 160 yen per liter now. In calculation, to the US people, it is about 4.75 dollars per gallon. ‘???’ or ‘888’ or ‘777’ are sometimes shown on the price board. Not showing the price might be some strategy on the side of gas stations. The reasons I think of are these. 1) It gives the users a pleasure of gambling. 2) The gas is more expensive than others’. 3) It prevents the price competition with the rival stations. 4) The price changes, depending on how to pay. 5) It is troublesome to change and show the prices every day.
One or two of these may be right.
Q: Why don’t they wait at a red light, when no cars are seen coming to the crossroad at all?
A: Some cross, but most Japanese people wait. Japanese people are disciplined to obey the rules strictly. Too strictly to look stupid, maybe.
This is a story about a Japanese in America. He was surprised many people ignored the light and crossed. He asked one American about that. He answered, “It shows ‘Don’t Walk’ so I just run.”
Q: I have an impression that there are few homeless people in a big city like this. Is it right?
A: The government research shows there were 18,564 people without home in 2007 and there were 3922 in 2020. The figure shows the decrease. But a figure is a figure. Anyway, for the purpose of the tourism promotion, the people living outside in the streets or in the parks have been forced to move. Nobody know how they are after this. There are a lot of what is called Net Café, and Hamburger shops, 24 hours open, where some spend a night after earning a little money by cheap jobs.
Q: Why are cherry trees at bloom everywhere?
A: Japanese people love cherry blossoms, which is Japan’s national flower. The beauty could be the main reason, but we have a special feeling toward Sakura, cherry blossoms. It is a kind of sense of vanity and emptiness of life, deeply rooted in Buddhism. Sakura blossoms come out before leaves, so light pink color is emphasized, and they bloom in a short time, for a short time and at the same timing. And they fall off at the same timing. The beauty itself is short and transient, so it gives us an ideal image of life, “Live beautiful and Die beautiful.” Some people like me feel the fear behind the beauty in Sakura.
Q: Why did the yellow lamps on the rear of the car blink?
A: It is a “Thank you” sign. When the car is given way to get in, the driver sends a gratitude to the car behind with this flash. It is actually a sign for parking.
Q: How many convenience stores are there in Japan? So many!
A: As of 2020, the number of convenience stores is more than 58 thousand. The top, accounting for more than one-third, is Seven Eleven. It is followed by Family Mart and Lawson.
For your information, the number of dentist offices is more than that of convenience stores. So many! It seems convenience stores sell sweets; a lot get a cavity and go see a dentist. A scheme behind!
Q: How much is the rent of an apartment house?
A: It depends on where you live. In a big city like Tokyo, the rent of the apartment with one room is at least seventy thousand yen. About three rooms, it is one hundred- fifty thousand yen. In Fukuoka City, one room is about fifty thousand yen and three rooms is sixty thousand yen. Naturally, in a rural area, it is much lower.
Q: What is a rectangle cloth hanging in front of the door of shops?
A: It is called “Noren.” The name of the shop is written on the cloth. It is a kind of signboard. Also, it shows the shop is open when it is hanging outside the door.
The phrase “Noren-Wake,” meaning “Give the same Noren” is used when a person working for a long time at the shop begin to have his/her own shop of the same kind.
Q: I saw a small pile of salt on the ground in front of a shop. What is it?
A: It is salt, indeed, placed as a lucky charm to attract customers. Salt is a symbol of purification or something to drive the evil away. But there is an interesting story about the origin of the custom. An Emperor in ancient China had a lot of love ladies. He spent every night at a different house of a lady and got there by a cart driven by a sheep. One lady put a pile of salt at the gate to make the sheep stop and lick it. When the sheep stopped. the emperor had to spend the night with her. It got to be a symbol of attracting people.
Q: Why do Japanese people have a party under Sakura trees at bloom?
A: It originated as a ritual at the time of planting rice, which is the same season as the blooming of Sakura. Later, the ritual turned into a party in the imperial court and this custom spread among the ordinary people. At least, it seems people have found a good reason to drink alcohol.
Q: There are a lot of automatic vending machines in Japan and most of them are placed outdoors. Are they Ok about the money being stolen?
A: No troubles about them are heard. So it is OK, maybe. Japan is really a safe country. Or, as Japan is safe, we can place them outside.
2 At a Shrine
Q: What is a thing standing with two pillars and two sidebars?
A: It is a gate to the shrine called “Torii,” meaning “Where a bird stops.” It is not certain why it is called so, but I guess the God may be a bird lover and make a place for birds to rest. Religiously, it means a border between the sacred place and the secular world. People bow with a respect for the God before they go through it. On the way back from the shrine, after they go through it, they turn around and bow.
Q: Why is the Torii red?
A: Not all the Torii gates are red, and a lot are not painted any colors. Other colors are seldom used, but if used, it should be white or black, not flashy ones. The red color, exactly put, the scarlet color is used for many Torii in the Shinto shrines. The scarlet color is thought to be a symbol of animation of the living. It might come from the red of blood or that of the sun. This led to the belief that it has the function to drive the evil away. In addition, the red of the Torii is the eye-catch color, so it is a good sign pole telling “There is one here.”
Q: Why do people visit shrines?
A: The visitors have their own purposes. To some, it is a ceremonious act like visiting it on New Year or having a wedding. Others come to pray for something such as marriage success, commercial success or longevity, maybe anything. There is a Japanese saying “When you are in a trouble, ask a god.” (困ったときの神頼み). Nowadays, in Japan, visiting what is called “Power Spot” is popular. This means a place to bring the visitors a good luck, not the spot to generate electricity. The Shinto Shrine is ones of them.
Q: What are the two stone animals on the path?
A: They are Komainu. The figure is like a lion and the name is like a dog, in Japanese “inu.” It could be an imaginary animal coming from the mixture of both. Always, two are placed across the path to the shrine or temple. They are guardian animals for the holy place. Look closely, and you will see the mouth of one is open and that of the other is closed. The former is called “A” and the latter is called “Un.” Humans are born, saying “Aaaa.” and die “Unnn.” “A and Un” together means “Everything in Life.”
Q: Why do people wash their hands before praying at a shrine?
A: When people visit a holy place, they have to clean their body to pray for gods in a purified body. In ancient time, it was customary to bathe in the sea or in the river for this purpose and now this custom is simplified into washing their hands and mouth at a place called Cyozuya, where water is flowing. There are manners for washing at a Cyozuya:
1 Hold a dipper in the right hand and wash the left hand. 2 Change it into the left hand and wash the right hand. 3 Change it into the left hand and pour water on the left palm and rinse the mouth with this water.
Q: What is Omikuji?
A: Omikuji is a strip of paper telling your fortune. It is sold at a shrine or temple. It shows one or two big Kanji letters, telling the level of your future luck. Kanji used for this oracle are 吉 or 凶 with 大、中、小、末. The meaning of each Kanji letter is as follows. 吉 good luck 凶 bad luck 大 big中 middle 小 small末 end.
And there are some words explaining the luck in detail. It is customary, if you draw a 大吉 sign, to keep it, and, otherwise, to tie it around a twig or a string set nearby for this purpose.
Q: What is Omamori?
A: Omamori is a lucky charm sold at a shrine or temple. It is usually small, about half smaller than a cellphone. It is made of a colorful cloth with some praying words and typically Japanese patterns on it. Each Omamori has its specific effect like getting fortune, living longer or being healthy, which is shown by the words. It is said that the effect lasts only one year, so people should return it in one year to the designated place where they have bought it and buy another new one. But in reality a lot ignore this custom.
Q: What is the person in the Main Hall doing? He is shaking a wooden stick with some white pieces of paper.
A: He is doing “Oharai” with a stick called “Oonusa.” It is for purifying, that is, driving the evil away by shaking it sideways (Oharai) like using a duster when you are cleaning.
Q: What is the flashy dress the shrine priest is wearing?
A: The dress is the same as the emperors and aristocrats wore in formal situations in the Heian Period (from the 10th century to the 12th century). Nowadays, nobody but Shinto priests wears this type of clothes. Even cosplayers never.
Q: What are the boards hanging over there with a picture on it?
A: They are Ema, praying boards. Ema means Picture Horse, but a picture is not always a horse, and it depends on shrines. People write something they want to come true and hang it at the designated place as a prayer. These praying words show you what kind of effect the shrine particularly has. For example, Dazaifu Shrine is the shrine of learning, so almost all of the praying words are related with the academic success, usually success in passing entrance examinations.
Q: Why do people throw coins into the box and pray?
A: So that people show their gratitude and wish to the God. Maybe even gods love money. Or priests. A lot choose a 5 yen coin to offer. 5 yen is pronounced “Go En” in Japanese and it is the same sound as the word of Good Relation.” Like “May I have a good relation to you!”
Q: Why do people visit a shrine on New Year?
A: It is somewhat related with the old custom of meeting a god at home on that day. But it might be good to say “Because everybody does so.” Very Japanese! The Shinto is a religion not to tell the philosophical teachings but to regulate the manners for living in many respects. The New Year visit is one of them.
Q: Why are shrines surrounded by a lot of trees?
A: The Shinto originated from animism, a belief that everything in nature has a spirit inside. Especially, big things like a mountain, a big rock and a tall tree were the objects for praying. Therefore, those places were thought to be very holy and a monument or an alter was built. These developed into shinto shrines. It is natural that Shinto Shrines should be in the woods or be in a situation surrounded by trees. Every shrine has one or more big trees, which are worshiped as being sacred.
Q: Why doesn’t Shinto do the teaching secessions or something like that?
A: For Shinto, there is no founder nor teaching scripts, because it developed under the respect for nature things, mixed with the myth of the respect for the Tenno imperial family. It requires only respects from the ordinary people. We feel it right to lead a life based on the manners given or taught by Shinto.
Q; Is there a ranking system for the Shinto Religion?
A: Yes, there is. It began in ancient times, and it was regulated by the national law. Now it is under the regulation set in the Meiji Period (the 19th century). The shrines with the name of Jingu or Taisha are high ranked. The top is Ise Shrine, followed by Izumo Shrine.
3 At a Temple
Q: A praying person is mumbling something, and what is that?
A: It is a set praying phrase, called “Okyo.” Okyo, a Sutra itself is a long writing, but every Buddhism sect has its short version of Okyo designated for praying in front of the altar. For example, “Nan-myo-ho-ren-gei-kyo,” or “Namu-ami-dabutu.” Most Japanese keep these Okyo in mind, but as for the meanings of these, nobody but the monks knows them.
Q: Why are statues placed in temples?
A: The oldest statue is about 1400 years old, and since that time, statues have represented Buddha and his dignity. Probably, they give us a good and peaceful impression about the Buddhism world. However, it is interesting that Buddha is said to have banned making icons. Some theories say that making statues was influenced by Ancient Greek Cultures.
Q: Why are Buddha’s eyes sleeping eyes?
A: These eyes are called “Han-gan.” It means the eyes not fully open nor fully closed, half opened. He is meditating. If the eyes are open, the views disturb his mind. If the eyes are closed, he falls into sleep. Han-gan is the best for meditation.
Q: What is Zazen for?
A: The people doing Zazen are mocking the Buddha’s way to reach the enlightenment. It was one of the monks’ trainings, but nowadays, ordinary people visit Zen temples for meditation. Mindfulness effects? Probably so, but I have never done it.
Q: Are there any denominations in Buddhism?
A: Many. Too many to tell. Every sect has its doctrines. Most of the Japanese are supposed to belong to one sect, but many people like me are not aware of it. This is because in the Edo period the samurai government ordered every family to belong to one temple to stop Christianity from spreading in Japan. So now the situation is some hundred years after like, “Yes, I belong to one sect, but, well, I even don’t remember which.”
Q: Why do the monks shave their heads?
A: Not all monks do so, actually. The reason for shaving is that the aim of belief in Buddhism is to get rid of all the worldly desires, Bon-no. Hair styles are what ordinary people care about very much. This is the Bon-no! When you become a monk, you must shave your head. This may symbolize their decision to say good-bye to the secular world.
Q: How do the monks earn a living?
A: The temples pay them. The temples get most of the money from the donations of the Danka, supporters of the temples. Some temples run a nursery school or a parking lot. Temples, in a sense, are corporations. But the truth is that they don’t have to pay corporation taxes. So we envy them and accusingly say “Bozu, Marumouke.” It means “the monks get all the money and pay none.”
Q: What are incenses for?
A: They are an offering to the altar to make the gods and ancestors enjoy the good smell. Or they give us a sense of being purified. But it is just one of the Japanese customs. Nobody lights an incense with these purposes on mind. And, in some cases, the smell of incenses has negative meanings. Incense smells, funerals, death, bad luck in this chain of associations.
Q: Why do people put their hands together in praying?
A: Just a custom. According to a Website of a temple, this came from ancient Indian customs. In India, even now, the right hand is clean while the left hand dirty, and putting both hands together means the unification of the two. So what? I’d like to say, but this could be the answer.
Q: Can a monk get married?
A: Yes. At least if the monk finds the partner who says OK about the marriage.
Q: What are monks wearing?
A: The special dress “Houe” and its overcoat “Kesa.” We normally use the word “Kesa” for the dress, flashy one It doesn’t cover his right shoulder. There is one saying about this Kesa, “Bozu nikukerya Kesa made Nikui.” If you hate a monk, you hate even his Kesa. If you hate somebody, you hate everything related with him.
Q: What is the five-storied pagoda for?
A: It is said to function as a place to house a piece of bone of Buddha. Not a ritual hall, nor a resident house, nor a clerk room. But it is good for tourism.
Q: What is the beans-thing held in hands while praying?
A: It is a juzu, a praying tool, the same thing as a rosary in Christianity. It is supposed to have 108 beans, but no matter how many times I count them, definitely it is not 108.
4 At a Shopping Place
Q: Are there any shops where you can pay only cash?
A: Yes. The government says the rate of paying non-cash should be 40 % by the year of 2027. This might be the answer. Especially, small shops run by individuals hate cashless payments. One of the reasons is that the shops pay the handling money for cashless payments. You should carry cash money.
Moreover, when you visit a shrine or temple, in praying in front of the altar, you are supposed to throw coins into the box.
Q: Let me have a brief explanation about how to use Tax-Free shops.
A: When you go to Tax-Free shops, you don’t have to pay the Japanese consumption tax of 10 percent. There are some conditions. 1) You have to be a foreign visitor. 2) You have to show your passport at the shop. 3) You have to pay 5000 yen or more at one shop. 4) You cannot use the goods you buy while staying in Japan. Never open the boxes or wrappings.
Q: What do the department stores sell in Japan?
A: Probably the same things as those in your country. But one different thing I can say is that you can buy things traditionally Japanese like potteries or lacquerwares.
Q: Can we use our currency at shops?
A: No. You have to exchange your currencies into Japanese yen. But I checked it on the net, and I found the discount chain store Donki Hote (Don Quijote), Tax-Free, can accept several foreign currencies including Us dollar, Euro, Chinese Yuan, and Korean Won.
Q: Can we return the goods we buy at shops?
A: In principle, no. There is no law to regulate about returning goods. Of course, if it is found broken, or the shop tells you something not true, you can. But in the case you regret buying the goods later and want to change it, you can’t. But some shops will be kind enough to change, maybe. Just try.
Q: Let us know the things we can buy in Japan and but that we can’t bring into our country.
A: Be careful about plants such fresh fruits and vegetables and flowers. You have to check them out at the website of the quarantine in your country.
Q: I want to buy a Japanese sword Katana. Where should I go?
A: Talking about a real Japanese katana, you have to take some designated procedures to get the special certification to take a katana out of Japan. If you want to buy just an imitation katana made of wood, you can find a katana shop on the Net or a normal souvenir sho p in sightseeing spots.
Q: What souvenirs in Japan do you recommend?
A: Always, there are some souvenir shops selling traditional Japanese things in popular sightseeing spots, so you go there and decide. If I were you, I would buy chopsticks, Sensu fans, Tenugui towels, Japanese toys or Ninjya goods. If you want to give one to a child, it should be something related to Japanese manga or anime such as Pokémon-Go.
5. In a Restaurant
Q: I can’t use chopsticks. I just wonder if I can eat in a restaurant.
A: You don’t have to be worried about it. If you ask a clerk, a spoon or a fork or a knife will be brought to you.
Q: Is a glass of water always brought on the table?
A: Unless in a fast-food restaurant or a food court, yes. A glass of cold water, or a cup of hot green tea is served to you free of charge. And you can ask another. Besides these free drinks, a small hot wet towel called “Oshibori” is placed on the table. You can use it to wash your hands. Some use it to wipe their faces.
Q: A lot of dishes are served and placed at one time. Is there any proper order to eat them?
A: None that I have ever heard, speaking of Japanese customs. But those who care about their weight eat vegetables first. I hear vegetables help the eater absorb less fat, but I am not sure.
Q: People say something before and after eating while putting their hands together. What do they say?
A: “Itadaki-masu” before eating and “Gochiso-sama” after eating. We don’t know the true meanings of these, and we just use them without thinking. Roughly translated, they are “I’ll take,” and “It was a good meal.” I’ll take what? A kind, considerate, pious, polite, sincere person would think he will take the lives of living things. But I don’t.
Q: What is a wet piece of paper in a small, long plastic bag?
A: It is for washing your hands. It is a kind of substitute for a hot towel called “Oshibori.”
Q: Give me a brief explanation about the small bottles and cans on each table.
A: The cans are salt and pepper. A small bottle with a red cap is hot chill pepper. The bottles are soybean sauce and what we call “Sousu.” “Sousu” comes from the English word “sauce.” It is one kind of seasoning sauce named “Worcester Sauce.” But in Japan when we say sauce, that is it.
Q: I heard in some shops we can order another helping of rice for free. Is it so?
A: Yes. When rice is served, a clerk says “Okawari-jiyuu-desu, another helping of rice is free.” This is the shop.
Q: How about tipping?
A: You don’t have to tip in Japanese restaurants. A tipping fee is included in the bill, already. If you insist, please do so. Nobody will stop you.
Q: When I entered the shop, I was given some words in a big voice. What did they say?
A: It was “Irassyai.” It may sound like “Rasshaa!” or like just an order for a soldier. It is the shop’s greeting. It means “Thank you for coming.”
Q: I noticed you Japanese make a sound when eating noodles. It is bad manners in my country.
A: Nobody cares. On the contrary, we often think it is strange to eat noodles without slurping. If I happen to see it, I always think he or she is sick.
Q: I heard people in Japan share the same dish or the same pot food. Is it OK?
A: Yes, before the Covid-19. No, now.
Q: This is a line of ten people at this ramen shop. How long do I have to wait here?
A: When ten people are waiting at a ramen shop, it may be at most 30 minutes before you enter the shop.
Q: At a ramen shop, we can order only noodles again, I heard. Is it right?
A: In most ramen shops, yes. It is called “Kaedama.” Most of the people have decided whether they will do Kaedama before they enter the ramen shop.
Q: Why do Japanese people eat fish raw?
A: Because it is good. On the contrary, I’d like to ask you, Why don’t you eat fish raw?
Q: Why do Japanese people eat sashimi with wasabi?
A: Because it is good. On the contrary, I’d like to ask you, Why don’t you eat fish with wasabi?
Q: What are popular fish in a sushi shop?
A: According to a survey web site, these are the top five. Just try them. 1) tune, 2) tuna 3) yellowtail 4) fatty tuna 5) shrimp. But in every area, they have one specialty fish or two. So, it is good to ask a shop clerk what fish is good. In Fukuoka, in my opinion, definitely saba, mackerel.
Q: Is vinegared ginger common in sushi restaurants?
A: Yes, it is. Often pink colored. It is said to be good to eat this ginger between each piece of sushi, because it can remove the taste and get the tongue fresh for another sushi. Not thinking so, I eat sushi and ginger. Just a habit.
Q: Is it true Japanese people eat eggs raw?
A: Yes, it is. Eggs are always fresh enough to eat in Japan. Put a fresh egg on steamed hot rice in a bowl, pour soybean sauce and stir it, and you will get one super Japanese food.
Q: Do Japanese people eat rice at every meal?A: Not at all meals. When we eat bread, very few eat rice. When we eat noodles, not a few eat rice. When we eat in a French or Italian or Western restaurant, nobody does so. But in general, fewer and fewer Japanese people eat rice, nowadays, due to the spread of Western style cuisines and the trend to avoid carbohydrates.
6 In a Public Bathroom
Q: There are a lot of switch buttons on a bidet toilet. Please, explain them.
A: In most cases, English words are written alongside. Don’t worry. But what is often difficult even for a Japanese to find is the flush button. If you cannot find a lever, you have to find it out. Sometimes it is a button somewhere, sometimes it is a sensor.
Q: How do you use a Japanese style toilet?
A: Squat over the toilet, facing the front curved round cover-like thing. Don’t sit on the toilet. When you are done, push the button or the lever to flush.
Q: In the bathroom, I hear the sound played. What is that?
A: It is the flush sound (in other cases it is music) as a jamming device for the peeing sound. Japanese people are too sensitive about that?
Q: Are there public pay bathrooms?
A: None that I heard of. All free. But I heard the ones on Mt. Fuji are charged. When we go overseas, we are surprised at pay bathrooms.
Q: Always toilet paper there?
A: Yes.
Q: How do you tell a men’s room from a ladies’ room?
A: They show the pictograms. The one for a men’s room is a blue or black silhouette of a person while the one for a ladies’ room is a red silhouette of a person in a skirt. In some cases, one circle and one triangle. Blue and red is the same and the triangles are different. The men’s triangle points downward, while ladies’ upward.
Q: When you got my hands close to the tap, it began to flow water automatically. Is this so in every public bathroom in Japan.
A: Most of them so, but there are some not so.
7 At a Japanese Inn
Q: When do we have to take off our shoes?
A: It depends. When you stay at a hotel in Western styles, whose name has the Japanese word “ホテル,” or “Hotel” in English, you can do it in the same manner. The rooms of this kind have no tatami mats. But you should be careful when you visit a Japanese style inn, which is called “Ryokan(旅館)” in Japanese. Most of the rooms there are floored with tatami mats, on which you must not wear your shoes. When you enter the room, you will find yourself in a small space before going up to the tatami mat room. The space is installed with a shoe locker, or/and a couple of indoor slippers are placed on the floor. That is where you have to take off your shoes. In some small traditional inns, however, the entrance is where you should take off your shoes. In this case, there are several indoor slippers placed on the higher step or on the threshold of the hallway. In short, when you see indoor slippers placed under, that is probably where you have to take off your shoes. Anyway, you can ask a clerk.
Q: I heard there are some manners when taking a public Onsen bath. Let me hear them.
A: Yes, there are some manners you should keep. These are as follows.
(1) You must not wear bathing suits or a towel. You must be totally naked when you use a public bath.
(2) You must make everything tidy and in order. You must fold your clothes neatly in a locker or in a basket. You must return the soap, shampoo bottles and small tub to where they should be after using them. If you have long hairs, you must tie them up or wear a bathing cap. Don’t run around or make a fuss.
(3) You must keep the water of the bathtubs clean. So you must wash your body before entering them. You must never put your towel into the water. A lot of users put their towel on the edge of the tub. Some put theirs on their head.
(4) If you have tattoos on your body, be careful. You have to ask the hotel staff if you can take the public bath. There are a lot of public baths which don’t allow the tattooed people to use them.
Q: Do we have to change our clothes into yukata kimono?
A: No. You can wear any clothes. But a lot of Japanese change into kimono. So, if you want to feel the touch of a Japanese dress, do so.
Q: Can we walk around the inn wearing kimono? I saw some walking in kimono in the street outside.
A: Yes, you can. In Onsen districts, you can walk around wearing kimono and geta shoes.
Q: In the room, futon is placed in the closet. Do I have to put futon on the tatami floor for myself?
A: No, you don’t have to. You don’ t have to return it to the closet next morning, either. One hotel clerk, mostly female, for every room takes care of your futon. Unless you are asked to have a meal in a place outside the room, she takes care of your meals in the room.
Q: When we entered the room. we found some sweets placed on the table. Are they free of charge?
A: They are complimentary. When you take a bath and you are hungry, you may feel sick. To prevent this, you should eat them. On the side of the inn, it is a kind of sale promotion. If you get to like them, you surely will buy some at the souvenir shop in the inn.
Q: When do we take a public bath?
A: Its open hours is written on the manual on the table, or on the sign board at the door of the bath. Usually, not in the middle of the night. But you can use it early in the morning. Taking as open-air bath at a sunrise is excellent.
Q: How can we tell the men’s bath from the lady’s bath?
A: Check the kanji Chinese characters on the Noren cloth hanging at the door. “男” is man and “女” is lady. But in some cases, there are no kanji at all on the Noren. In this case, the blue Noren is for men’s and the red Noren is for lady’s. If there is no Kanji or the colors, there is no way but ask the staff.
Q: Is there always one female clerk taking care of the room? She greeted us.
A: Always, one female clerk takes care of the guests in one room. She plays a role of a representative of our guests-oriented hospitality “Omotenashi.”
Q: Which towel is used?
A: In hot spring inn, you can use one towel usually with the name of the inn on for the open hot bath. This kind of towel is placed in your room or in the changing room in the public bath.
Q: I heard the pillow is never placed in the north side of the futon bed. Why?
A: Because it associates us with death. This custom came from the legend that Buddha died with his head facing north. So, it is customary to put the pillow for the dead in this direction, not for the living.
Q: Do we have to tip inn clerks?
A: No, you don’t have to. But if you insist, please do so. They will take it with pleasure.
Q: What kind of public facilities other than the public baths can we use?
A: A typical Onsen hotel has a small playing arcade and a souvenir shop. In rather bigger inns, there may be a swimming pool, a gym, a bar, a karaoke room, a massage parlor and others.
8 Everyday Life (I saw, I heard, I learned, I read)
Q: Why do Japanese people often bow?
A: We make a bow when we greet, when we appreciate, when we meet, and when we apologize. In short, making a bow is the way to show our respect to others. It is our customary way to get well along with others. Very Japanese! It is said that the behavior of making a bow was introduced to Japan with Buddhism in ancient times. It was first the way to show no hostility by holding out the top of the head, which is a weak part of the body. Later, it developed into our important gesture in everyday life.
Q: Why do Japanese people take off their shoes when they enter the houses?
A: Japan is a very humid and wet country. Our ancestors had to take off their shoes after walking on the muddy ground, so that the house could be kept clean inside. The floors of the house had to be lift from the ground to prevent them from getting wet and rotten. So, when they entered the house, they had to stop and step up onto the floors. This short stop led them to feel the border between the outside and inside, the dirty space and the clean space at the entrance. This is also the reason for taking off shoes when we enter the house.
Q: Why do Japanese people soak in a bath tub every day?
A: This custom began to spread about two hundred years ago. It was about fifty years ago that every house came to have a bathtub room. There may be several reasons for this. The first reason might be the tradition to purify the body by bathing or washing before the Shinto or Buddhism rituals. Bathing was considered religiously important. Secondly, Japan is hot and humid, so it makes us feel clean and refreshed. Thirdly, there are a lot of hot springs in Japan, so since ancient times, Japanese people have known taking a bath is good for keeping healthy or healing the diseases.
Q: Why don’t Japanese people wear kimono every day?
A: In the Meiji period, Japan was heading for its modernization by taking in a lot of Western ways. One of them was wearing Western clothes. Wearing them got to be the trend among the people. Later, more and more Western clothes were worn, while less and less kimono was worn. Kimono has become old-fashioned. Nowadays, we wear kimono only in special occasions like a religious ritual or ceremony.
Q: What sports are popular in Japan?
A: This is the result of one questionnaire about the favorite sports.
Girls like watching (#1) volleyball (#2) figure skate (#3) baseball (#4) basketball (#5) soccer.
Boys like watching (#1) baseball (#2) soccer (#3) volleyball (#4) basketball (#5) table tennis.
Girls like playing (#1) badminton (#2) volleyball (#3) table tennis (#4) basketball (#5) swimming.
Boys like playing (#1) badminton (#2) table tennis (#3) basketball (#4) soccer (#5) baseball
Q: What hobbies are popular in Japan?
A: This is the result of one questionnaire about the hobbies.
Men: (1) playing sports (2) reading books (3)using computers (4) travelling (5) Listening to music
Women: (1) reading books (2) travelling (3) listening to music (4) cooking (5) shopping
Q: What is the Japanese system of school education?
A: preschool before the age of 6. 6 years elementary school. 3 years junior high school. 3 years senior high school. After high school, 4-6 years university or 2-3 years college. After university, 2-3 years graduate school.
Q: How much is Japan’s pension?
A: Roughly speaking, on average, about 145 thousand yen a month.
Q: What about living costs?
A: According to the survey done by Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in 2020, the average living cost of the family with more than one money earners was 306 thousand yen. 79 thousand yen was food cost and 49 thousand yen was telephone cost.
Q: Do Japanese people eat rice for every meal?
A: Not for every meal. Recently less and less people has eaten rice for meals. Eating too much may cause diabetes. Besides, there are a lot of foreign dishes coming into Japan, which attract a lot of appetites of the Japanese.
Q: I happened to see a group of people doing exercise in the morning. What is that?
A: They were doing radio calisthenics. Without playing the radio, we can do the routine. Every morning the radio program plays the music for the exercise.
Q: Why are there so many convenience stores in Japan?
A: They are open 24/7. You can get soon what you want to buy. They are everywhere. You can get soon what you want to buy. They sell a variety of commodities, most of which make you want to buy. You can get soon what you want to buy. That’s why there are many convenience stores in Japan.
Q: Let me know unique Japanese gestures.
A: These are unique in Japan. You should keep them in mind.
1 A finger pointing to the face means “Me?”
2 A hand waving up and down with the palm downside means “Come here.”
3 A hand fanning sideways in front of the face means “No.”
4 A thumb and a pointing finger making a circle means “Money.”
5 Lifted arms making a circle over the head means “Good.”
6 Crossed arms making a X shape in front of the chest means “Bad.”
7 Only a pinky finger lifted means “Female Lover, or Girl”
Q: I heard there is a rule about where one should sit at the dining table or in the taxi.
A: Not every Japanese knows the strict rules, but there ARE the rules. It is customary to seat a guest or an honored person at the place which is considered the best position. It is called “Kamiza” meaning “superior seat.” It is always the farthest seat from the door. In a typical Japanese room, it is the seat in front of Tokonoma, the alcove. In a party in the tatami mat room, a kind of nuisance happens. Always, like “You should sit here,” “I can’t sit here and you do,” “The president should be over there,” or “Where should the guests sit?” this kind of conversation often happens. Sitting at the wrong place may cause a trouble. You should obey what a Japanese will ask about where you should sit.
Q: In the restaurant show window, a lot of food are on display. Are they real?
A: They are not real. They are models, what we call “Sampuru” meaning “sample.” They are made of synthetic resin It is excellent craftmanship. If you go to Gunjo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture, you can have its handmaking experience.
Q: Why do Japanese people make a gesture of V-shape finger sign when they have their pictures taken?
A: Nobody knows the reason and we just do that. According to the Net, a TV celebrity Jun Inoue made a V sign in the TV commercial message of a camera product fifty years ago and after this this gesture spread in Japan. This V sign mocked the V sings by the peacemakers against the Vietnam War.
Q: Why do Japanese people care about blood types?
A: Nobody knows the reason and we just do that. Blood type fortune telling is very popular in Japan, whether it works or not. In spite of no scientific data, it shows the fixed characteristics about each blood type. Type A is methodical. Type B is curious about everything. Type O is big-hearted. Type AB is two-faced. At least, in Japan, it is a good topic to begin and keep on with the conversation.
Q: I heard every worker in Japan has his own name stamp. Is that so?
A: Yes. We call it “Inkan.” It functions as the signature in Western countries. When you work or study in Japan, you must have one inkan of yours. I have never seen the name written in alphabets. The letters should be katakana, but it might to be cool to make the Kanji letters for your name. Which Kanji letters would be good, you could ask a Japanese, and he or she will be happy to suggest them.
Q: What is the posture of kneeling on the knees and hands and bowing the head? He doesn’t seem to be praying.
A: He is apologizing. That pause is called “Dogeza,” and it shows the utmost apology.
Q: I feel Japanese people actually have no religion, considering their way of living.
A: We have a funeral in the Buddhist way, we have a wish for child growth in the Shinto shrine, and we have Christmas celebration and Valentine Day gift. Your viewpoint may be right. There are some pious believers in Japan, but religiously speaking, most of us have nothing to believe or to regulate our behaviors. Dos or Not Dos are not based on the teachings of Buddhism or Shinto. Shinto itself has no teachings. Buddhism teaches only the importance of praying like “praying is the only way to go to heaven.” We just learn the right behaviors from the people around. However, our unconscious acts or customs are based on the two religions like politeness, discipline or punctuality. It will be very interesting to study out religiousness.
Q: Almost all of the cars are parked in reverse. Why?
A: Because Japan is a small country. And a parking lot is small. And a parking sect for one car is small. And what happens? Getting out of the parking sect if parked in reverse is much easier. Often, it seems almost impossible to go back out of the sect in Japan.
Q: Give me some examples about the good security in Japan.
A: Drunkards sleep on the walkway or on the bench. A lot take a nap on the train. Some baggage is left behind. Children alone go to school. There are a lot of vending machines. Some men put a long wallet in the back pocket of the trousers. If you leave something behind, often it returns to you as it is, even if it is a wallet. And, most importantly, nobody carries a gun.
Q: Why do Japanese people have foreign events like Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Halloween, and that in unique ways?
A: Oh, yes! For us, Christmas is a day for cake and fried chicken. Valentine’s Day is a day for chocolate gifts. Halloween is a day for cosplay parades. We probably need some cheerful moods of festivity in any kind as a counter reaction to being reserved. And in my opinion, these have been schemed by some commercial masterminds in the makers like cake, fried chicken, chocolate and cosplay.
Q: Are Japanese people on bad terms with Koreans or Chinese?
A: Politically speaking, probably so, but at the nongovernmental individual level, no. Welcome to Japan. Something Korean is very popular in Japan such as pops, dramas, and cosmetics among the young. We don’t have any bad feelings toward Chinese people, either. Welcome to Japan!
Q: When I am taken short in the street, what should I do?A: Find a convenience store. In every corner in the street, there is one. But if you use the room in the store, it might be good to buy something there. Or a department store, a station and a hotel lobby might be used.