The Sport of Jūdō 柔道

Jūdō (柔道), literally "gentle way" is a martial art founded in Japan by Kanō Jigorō (嘉納 治五郎) in the late 19th century. It mainly involves throwing and subduing one's opponent. Striking and weapon defenses are also taught, but these aren't used in competition or sparring.

Judo has evolved much over the years and is now an Olympic sport (my aunt was once in the Olympic judo team!). A referee judges the match and makes all scoring and penalty calls. If needed, he will call "sonomama" which means "do not move" and may discuss some element of the match. He will then call "yoshi" which will restart the match.

The object of a judo match is to score one point, or ippon (一本). This can be scored immediately by throwing your opponent on his or her back, or by subduing your opponent with a choke or armlock. It can also be scored if you keep your opponent on the mat off his or her feet for 25 or more seconds.

A waza-ari counts as half a point and is awarded for a throw that does not have quite enough power or control to earn an ippon, or for keeping your opponent on the mat for 20 seconds.

A yuko is even lower than a waza-ari and is mostly used for tie-breaking. It is awarded for a hold of 15 seconds, or an even weaker throw. A waza-ari beats any number of yuko, but a waza-ari with yuko beats a waza-ari without yuko. No number of yuko can make an ippon.

The lowest score is a koka, and is only used when both players have equal waza-ari and yuko. One yuko beats any number of koka. A koka is scored for even weaker throws.

Penalties can be issued by the referee. The first is a warning, the second is a yuko for the opponent, the third is a waza-ari for the opponent, and the fourth is an automatic ippon for the opponent.

Culture Note: 芸者（げいしゃ）

芸者（げいしゃ）are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.　The word consists of two kanji, 芸 (げい) meaning "art" and 者 (しゃ) meaning "person" or "doer". The most literal translation of geisha into English would be "artist" or "performing artist". Another name for geisha used in Japan is 芸子（げいこ）, which is usually used to refer to geisha from Western Japan, including Kyoto.

Apprentice geisha are called maiko (舞子＜まいこ＞) or hangyoku (半玉＜はんぎょく＞), (meaning that they are paid half the wage as opposed to a full geisha), or by the more generic term o-shaku (御酌＜おしゃく＞), literally "one who pours (alcohol)". Maikos' white make-up and elaborate kimono and hairstyle is the popular image held of geisha. A woman entering the geisha community does not have to start out as a maiko, having the opportunity to begin her career as a full geisha. Either way, however, usually a year's training is involved before debuting either as a maiko or as a geisha. A woman above 21 is considered too old to be a maiko and becomes a full geisha upon her initiation into the geisha community. However, those who do go through the maiko stage can enjoy more prestige later in their professional lives.

Tokyo geisha are more likely to start at 18 years old for hangyoku, so on average, Tokyo hangyoku are slightly older than their Kyoto counterparts.

Throughout history, geisha often began the earliest stages of their training at a very young age, sometimes as early as at 3 or 5 years. The early shikomi (servant) and minarai (watching apprentice) stages of geisha training lasted years, which is significantly longer than in contemporary times.

It is said that geisha and courtesans inhabit a separate reality which they call the karyukai or "the flower and willow world." Modern geisha continue to use this term. The courtesans were referred to as the colorful "flowers" and the geisha were the "willows" because of their modest, strong, and resilient nature.

Wikipedia

the famous movie :the Memoirs of a Geisha 小百合＜さゆり＞
, which is acted by three famous Chinese actress and Japanese actors and actreses.

two main religions

The two main relgions of Japan are Shinto and Buddhism; with shrines basically resembling the shinto and temples representing buddhism. Shinto means way of the gods and also does involve formal structure of rules. Shinto religion involves the belief of there being gods everywhere in nature, in such places as forests, mountains, and rivers. These represent good and bad spirits.

Buddhism was inherented from china during theKamakura period in which its Nara kanji was derived from. Buddhism revolves around the path to self liberation in which the three jewels are followed. 1.)Dharma=the teachings. 2.)Sangha= the community. 3.)and the Buddha.

Culture Notes: Jump Magazine

The ジャンプ, or the“Jump” Magazine line is published by 株式会社集英社, (Shueisha Inc.), which is a major publishing company in Japan. Shueisha’s first attempt at creating a manga magazine was “おもしろブック,” (which literally means “funny book”) and a magazine for girl’s manga called “Soujo Book”. Following Soujo Book’s success, Shueisha created a “Shounen” version aimed at a boy demographic. “Shounen Book”, while it was still in publication, ran several historically famous mangas (Speed Racer, for example). In the middle of Shounen Book's publication, Shounen Jump was created, making Shounen Book a special issue. Eventually Shounen Jump became a weekly magazine and Shounen Book was discontinued. Jump’s magazine line today includes it’s weekly magazine Weekly Shounen Jump (週刊少年ジャンプ,), It’s monthly magazine Jump Square or Jump SQ (ジャンプスクエア)and V Jump (ブイジャンプ,) which is magazine all about new manga and video games based on popular manga. Jump also publishes a series of Seinen manga aimed at young adults/men. Jump’s magazines are aimed at a male demographic, but are also popular among female fans.

Moku Hanga (木版画)

Japanese woodblock printing, called moku hanga (木版画), began in the 11th century in Japan as a way for Buddhists to record sutras and mandalas. Mass production was not possible until a movable-type press was brought back from Korea in the last 1500s. The first secular and mass-produced print was the Setsuyōshū (節用集), a Chinese-Japanese dictionary.

From this, not only was literature made, but art. The first type was Sumizuri-e (墨摺り絵), or "ink-printed pictures". These pieces were made by drawing an image, laying a piece of wood over the image, and cutting the wood into the shape of the picture. This wood piece would become the print, and after applying ink, the artist could make as many copies of his art as he or she wanted.

Here is an example of sumizuri-e: http://japaneselanguageculturefood.com/graphics/culture/japanese-culture-woodblock-printing.jpg

Later, colored ink would be introduced, some orange, some red, some blue. My favorite is aizuri-e (藍摺り絵), or "indigo-printed pictures".

Here is my favorite aizuri-e piece: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/White_Falcon_in_a_pine_tree%2C_woodblock_print_by_Sawa_Sekky%C3%B4%2C_13.5_x_7.75_inches.jpg

Eventually, moku hanga began a whole new genre of visual art, called Ukiyo-e (浮世絵), which literally means "pictures of the floating world", because artists would normally depict the vivid natural landscapes of Japan. The most famous is "Kanagawa Oki Nami Ura" (神奈川沖浪裏,) or "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" by Katsushika Hokusai from his series 26 Views of Mt. Fuji.

You can probably recognize it immediately: http://math-art.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/the_great_wave_off_kanagawa-small.jpg

Japanese Population

The population of Japan is approximately 128 million people. During the 20th century- Japan experienced a high increase in population although it has been slowly declining ever since. Both birth rates and immigration have been decreasing for the last 10 years. One of the main factors of Japan's great population is their high life expectancy. The average japanese citizen lives to about 81 years of age, making it one of the highest life expectancy countries. 95 % of Japan's population live in urban areas with only 5% among the country side. Population rates have became a serious issue in Japan's future; If the population does not continue to grow then their economy may face serious threats as well as its social stability. It is estimated that 1/4 of the population of Japan will be over 65 in the year 2030.

Bullet Train (しんかんせん)

The bullet train, called shinkansen (しんかんせん) in Japanese, is one of the fastest mode of transportation in Japan. The earliest shinkansens were in use by the early 1870s and play a huge role in daily travel. These trains aren't called bullet trains for no reason. The some of the lastest models have a clocked speed of 300 km/hr or roughl 180 mph. Not only are these trains fast, but also very punctul. A shinkansen is considered to have arrived late if it arrives even 1 second after it was scheduled to be at a destination. According to amphi.com, the average lateness of a shinkansen is about 24 seconds. For most of us, we would consider that to be on time.

日本語2 Cultural Note ギャル - Yamamba

ギャル in English is translated to the word 'gals'. The word is taken from a popular jean company from the 1970s. The word can be used in many ways to describe many different types of females in all different times of their life. The particular style I am going to talk about is the Yamamba style.
Yamamba style is very... 'odd' so to say. But, if you try to compare it to how girls dressed in the 80s in the USA, it's not that much more odd. From what I have seen in pictures and have read online, the girls pretty much try to be as flashy as possible. They wear these very bright colors for makeup and often have their face painted with either white or silver color. They can also use a rub-on tan to make their skin look very, very dark. Their hair is usually dyed blonde or another bright color. Such as orange or pink. And of course, their clothes are just as bright.
So, if you are walking around Japan and happen to see a group of girls dressed in such fashion, don't run. Take a picture.

Common Japanese Food: ラーメン

ラーメン,is a Japanese noodle dish that originated in China. It is served in a meat- or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy sauce or miso, and uses toppings such as sliced pork (チャーシュー,), dried seaweed (のり,),かまぼこ, green onions and even corn. Almost every locality in Japan has its own variation of ramen, the most common two are 味噌（みそ）ラーメン and豚骨（とんこつ）ラーメン.

Shamisen （しゃみせん)

The shamisen is a traditional Japanese instrument that is similar to a guitar except that it only has three strings. This instrument is heavily used in old, traditional styles of music, but not used much for the popular music today. When popular, the shamisen was usualy played by the geisha or a kabuki band. However, the shamissen is played in various popular bands and duos like Yoshida Brothers duo.

School Life in Japan

After looking around on the internet and reading a few things about how Japan's school culture is very different from ours, here are some of the major differences that stood out:

1: American classes are more interactive, encouraging students to raise their hand and ask questions. In Japan, students would almost never interrupt a teacher to ask a question.

2: American students have a much friendlier relationship with their teacher. We chat with our teachers after classes as if they were our friends, and they call us by our given names. In Japan, students speak very politely with their teachers and students are called by their family name.

3: In Japan, material is taught through memorization; students write exactly what the teacher says and that is what they are tested on, nothing more. In America, we students are expected to not only understand what we are taught, but to be able to use that knowledge in situations we have not encountered. A Japanese student would probably not do well on an American test that would involve writing an essay that requires them to reason or give their opinions, instead of just listing facts and dates.

Culture Notes: Eating Etiquette

When going out for a meal in Japan you shouldn’t assume that the same table etiquette we have in America applies in Japan. You should always say "Itadakimasu" before eating and "Gochisosama deshita" after eating. In some Japanese restaurants you may receive a small wet cloth. Use this to wash your hands before eating, then carefully fold it and set it aside on the table. Do not use it as a napkin, or to touch any part of your face with it. When eating out with others, you shouldn’t pour your own drink. You should pour your companion’s drink, and let your companion pour yours. While eating you should NEVER skewer food with your chopsticks. Slurping noodles or making loud noises while eating is okay! In fact, slurping hot food like ramen is polite, and shows that you are enjoying it. When you’re ready to pay, you usually will have to pay your bill at the register instead of giving money to the waiter/waitress. There isn’t any tipping in Japan, and the price you see on your bill is the price you should pay. After paying, note that counting your change in the restaurant (or in a store) is considered rude.

に本後２Cultural Note - ファイナルファンタジー

Final Fantasy was created in 1987 by Japanese video game designer ひろのぶ　さかぐち。 It was developed for the Nintendo (NES) by a company called Square. The original game is a Role-playing game and was one of the first of its type. In the past 23 years, Square, now called Square-Enix, has released dozens of games based upon a world full of Magic and Heroism.
The series of games has captivated millions upon millions of people with every new exciting adventure. But, not only has there been games, there have been movies, comics, cartoons and more and more games.
Not only do these games give us a fun and exciting story to follow along, the games have been known for their enticing graphics and their CGI movies. The other great value of these games is the music. The man responsible for just about every single musical score in every single Final Fantasy game is のぶお　うえまつ。 Anybody that has played a Final Fantasy game knows the infamous prelude song. And if you do, I bet you are humming it aloud or in your head as you read this.

Culture Note: The Tale of Genji

The tale of Genji is a novel reputed to have been written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early eleventh century. It features a large cast of characters, and doesn't have a real "plot"-it is more of a slice of life that follows the lives of the characters, most of whom reside at Court. The main character, Hikaru Genji, is the son of the emporer with nice looks. A lot of focus is on his romantic exploits, one of which is on the girl Murasaki. When she is a child, he kidnaps her and raises her to be his "perfect" lady. Sometimes in manga or even outside of Japan, you might hear reference to this, someone raising a child to be their perfect lover. It is also notable because it is the first example of a novel the entire world has. A Japanese woman wrote the first novel.

The Tale of Genji has been converted into movies and operas.

Cultural Note: Not to make you hungry

Is fast food in Japan the same as the U.S.?

Fast food at places like McDonalds is actually the same as the U.S., however the experience may strongly differ. In Many of the McDonalds in Japan (especially Tokyo) the meals are actually purchased downstairs and are taken up-stairs to eat. Often times fast food chains in Japan will bring out your food to your car, making it that much more convenient. Can't imagine that ever happening in the City of Brotherly Love any time soon.

Any differences among food taste between Japan and the U.S.?

For the most part, both of these countries share alot of the same taste with food do towards cultural fusion within the last century, although a statistic was taken that about 80% of Japanese people have never tried turkey- and that Japanese people find the taste of turkey to be very strange. I honestly am not sure if the research on this next fact is true, however, i have found that japanese people like to put corn, sesame seeds, and mayonaise on their PIZZA (not all at that the same time of course). Call me crazy

2010.02.24 Japanes ⅡCulture Note「お好み焼き」

お好み焼き（おこのみやき）is a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients."おこのみ" means "what you like" or "what you want", and "やき"　means "grilled" or "cooked".おこのみやき is mainly associated with 関西（かんさい）or 広島（ひろしま）area of Japan, but both styles are widely available throughout the country. Topping(like egg, cabbage, meat, green onion, octopus, squid, shrimp, vegetables or cheese...etc) and batter(usually made by flour) tend to vary accourding to region.


Data from:
wikipedia.




Related comic and drama:
鉄板（てっばん）少女（しょじょ）アカネ　:)

ほほえむ(smiling)アメリカ人

　アメリカに初（はじ）めてきたとき、多（おお）くのカルチャーショックに会いました。その中でも“ほほえむ”というアメリカ人の行動（こうどう）はとてもふしぎに感（かん）じました。
　私がキャンパスを歩いていた時、知らない人が「ハロー」といってほほえみかけてきました。私がその男性（だんせい）を知らなかったのでとてもおどろきました。「なんでこの人は笑っているのだろう」「私のことが好きなのかしら？」と色々（いろいろ）考（かんが）えてしまいました。これはアメリカの文化（ぶんか）で、目が会った人や通（とお）りで会った人にはみなほほえむか、軽（かる）くあいさつをします。日本では誰）だれ）もわらいません。みなだまって無視（むし）するか、仏頂面（ぶっちょうづら）で通り過（す）ぎます。もし日本で知らない人にほほえみかけたら変なひとだと思われるでしょう。今はもう慣（な）れましたが、私はこのアメリカの習慣（しゅうかん）が嫌（きら）いではありません。少（すく）なくとも無視（むし）するよりはにこっとされたほうが気持（きも）ちがいいからです。

When I came to America for the first time, I faced so many cultural shocks. One of my "favorite" is smiling. I felt very strange when I see people smile at others even they do not know each other.
When I walked on the campass at IUP, a guy smiled at me and said "hello". I was so surprised because I never see him before. "Why does he smile at me?" " Is he interested in me?" Many quesitons came up in my mind. However, it is a typical America culture that people say "hi" or smile with each other when they meet their eyes or see people on the street. In Japan, nobody does so ever. Everyone walks on the street without smiling at all. If I smile at others in Japan, I might be seen "a very wired woman". Now, I am getting used to this, and in fact I like this America custom. At least, it is much better to give a smile to people rather than neglecting.