There is now such an abundance of online Japanese lessons, that you can learn the basics of the Japanese language for free. Just spend a few hours on Youtube learning Japanese and you’ll have basic Japanese down in less then a few months.
Here is one of our online Japanese lessons on common questions. These are the top ten questions Japanese ask foreigners in Japan. The first question might surprise you, but it was definitelty the question I was most asked by Japanese. Japanese generally think that most foreigners are American. It can be a little frustrating or annoying if you are not American, when the people around you assume you are American all the time. So, if you go to Japan expect to be asked this question all the time.
Youtube Online Japanese Lessons
My Japanese uncle in-law even gave a speech about his idea of American lifestyle how it related to my wife and I on an important family occasion. He thought he was doing me a great favor with his speech. I was somewhat frustrated and wanted to tell him how ignorant he was. Even though he knew my nationality, Australian, he just amsumed we shared the same culture. I certainly don’t have anything against Americans. I have many good friends who are American. I just got sick are being asked if I were American by almost every Japanese I met for ten years.
Japanese will also speak to you as if you are new to the country. This can be a little annoying, too, if you are a long term resident. You end up having the same conversations all the time. I would occassionally avoid conversations with the locals just to have a break from the top ten questions you will hopefully memorize. Search this site for more free Japanese lessons.
Watching when Japanese meet Japanese for the first time in Japan appears to be an uncomfortable experience for all involved. It can be most certainly uncomfortable for Japanese when meeting foreigners for the first time. Westerners being frank and sometimes a little aggressive can scare or intimidate Japanese. For me, meeting Japanese who have had little experience with foreigners can be an funny interaction. It is something similar to meeting a very shy child. There is usually no eye contact and not much is said. In Japanese this is called “Enryo” – Holding back.
Japanese Culture – Enryo
Enryo is a form of politeness, a device for maintaining a certain distance from those one does not know well or one considers as one’s superiors. When Japanese meet someone for the first time, they tend to avoid close contact, such as a hand shake or embrace. A polite bow is the usual greeting. The distance does not necessarily mean unfriendliness, but it can certainly come across that way to new comers to Japan.
Enryo can be a somewhat time wasting and confusing social custom to foreigners. In the Westerners mindset it is Japanese being unnecessarily polite. For example, when offered a drink or food, it is courteous for Japanese to refuse what is offered at least once in order to show that they are holding back. This is being polite in Japan. What is important is show that you are not really declining the the offer, but just trying to show that you are being polite. So rather than saying a flat “no”, Japanese say something like “that would be troubling you to much”. The person making the offer will not take the response at face value . He or she will repeat the offer, saying, “please don’t hold back” with the result of the offer finally being accepted.
Most young Japanese would agree that the logic behind “enryo” at times doesn’t really add up. More and more Japanese are finding the subtle exchanges of courtesy, the art of holding back, too difficult to perform perfectly . However, enryo is still a integral part of social behavior in which Japanese take extreme pride. In casual social encounters, holding back, is highly prized and praised.
Enryo can cause a multitude of problems in the world of international relations and business. Japanese business men are acutely aware that their custom of holding back is the exactly opposed to the Western way of “holding forth”. Depending on where and how business is being done “enryo” can benefit or handicap Japanese. What Westerners should know that if they are playing by Japanese rules, then being too forward and forthright is putting yourself at a disadvantage. Japanese are more impressed with people who talk the least and who make their point by manner rather than their mouth.
Japanese Weather
One of the challeneing apsects I found while in Japan was the Japanese weather. Japan has four distinct seasons – you guessed it, summer, Autumn, winter and spring. The summers are hot and humid, Autumn is cool, winter is cold and dry, and spring is just beautiful.
Japanese summers are tough going if you live in major cities like tokyo or Osaka. The humidity is very high and you’ll notice that you body oils rather than sweets. Copying with sticky hands and
The Japanese autumn would have to be my favorite season in Japan. The weather is perfect taking walking trips. The koyo season, Autumn leave is truly magical in Japan. One of my favorite things to do was to take walks with my family at national parks and see the brightly colored Autumn leaves.
Japanese winters are very cold. Thankfully, I didn’t like in Hokkaido which has the coldest tempertures in Japan.
Spring in Japanese is indeed a lovey time with the Sakura tress in bloom.
Japanese Lesson on the Weather
In this post we have a short video lesson on “commenting on the weather”.