About Japan
1. Geography
Japan is a nation of islands-over 3,000 small and large, lying in the North Pacific Ocean off the eastern fringe of the
Asian continent. This chain of islands stretches in a long, narrow, and irregular half moon for 3,000km (1,860 mi.)
from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the southwest.
The total land area is 377,435 square km (147,200 square mi.), which is a bit smaller than California, but slightly
larger than Italy or Great Britain. With a population of over 126 million in a land of which four fifths is not arable,
Japan is certainly one of the most densely populated nations in diversified coastlines, wooded mountainous terrain
and deeply indented valleys make Japan one of the most beautiful scenic
2. Seasonal Attractions
Japan has four distinct seasons. Each has its own beauty and charm.
SPRING is the most popular tourist season because of the country's best known feature --- cherry blossoms --- as
well as other lovely flowers. The first cherry trees bloom as early as March in warm Kyushu. The last cherry trees in
bloom may be enjoyed in northern Japan as late as May.
SUMMER is the season of festivals and the entire country is in a joyous mood. Though the weather can sometimes
be hot and humid, all western-style hotels in Japan are fully air-conditioned, as are the main transportation
systems. White sand beaches are along the coast of Japan and there are many fine mountain resorts within easy
access of urban areas.
AUTUMN in Japan is perhaps the most colorful of all the seasons. This is the time when the trees are transformed
into gold and flaming red, and parks and gardens are brightened by lovely chrysanthemums.
WINTER is not as severe as in Europe or in the northern part of the U.S., and the weather is in fact rather mild and
dry, in comparison. It rarely snows or rains in the Osaka area, but in the northern and mountainous provinces,
snow is plentiful and there are many fine ski resorts with comfortable accommodations and excellent facilities.
Whether you ski or skate, your favorite winter sport is only a few hours away from Osaka by rail.
3. Language
The most widely accepted theory holds that Japanese is fairly isolated from the other languages of the world. The
Japanese language is commonly separated, as is often the case with other languages, into written and spoken
divisions. As a rule, the difference between the two lies in the verb endings, auxiliaries and postpositions. The
written language was used chiefly in official documents and in most publications.
One of the peculiarities of spoken Japanese is that it is further divided into recording and conversational styles.
Nowadays, official documents, literary works, journals and newspapers are primarily written in the recording style.
The conversational style can be used in the abrupt, plain, polite or very polite forms, according to the situation.
Besides these distinctions in the conversational style, there is also a usage peculiar to women. Thus, the phrase "I
am a Japanese." may be rendered in more than 14 different ways in subtle yet distinct conversational Japanese. It
is indeed a complex language---but not impossible.
Coping with the Language Problem:
A. Don't spend too much time with your fellow nationals.
International students tend to get together to do things, since they feel more at ease and sometimes
more secure. If you spend all of your time with your fellow nationals, you will never learn much Japanese.
Try to speak and do things with Japanese friends or families for this will also help you get to know
them and make many friends.
B.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
Since the Japanese language is very situational, you may have some difficulties using proper
Japanese depending upon the situation. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and to ask for corrections;
this is the best way to learn the language.
C.
Ask the Japanese students to speak in Japanese.
While you are on campus, you may face this problem. Since most Japanese students here are
studying English, they tend to speak English all the time with international students. It is nice to talk
with them in English, but if you think you want to speak in Japanese, ask them to speak in Japanese.
4. Culture Shock
A. What is it?
"Culture Shock" is a name given to a feeling of disorientation or confusion that often occurs when a person
leaves a familiar place and moves to an unfamiliar one. Coming to Japan from another country, you
certainly have encountered many new things. The buildings look different and so do the landscapes. The
food is not what you are used to, and people here look, speak and act differently from people at home.
Your Japanese may not serve you as well as you expected. You may not be able to convey your full
personality in Japanese. Your family and friends are far away. As a result of all of this, you may feel
confused, unsure of yourself, and you may have doubts about the wisdom of your decision to come here.
All these things can be a part of "Culture Shock."
B. Symptoms of Culture Shock
People experience culture shock in varying degrees. Some people are more affected by it than others.
Those who do experience it tend to become nervous and usually tired. They want to sleep a lot. They
write many letters home. They may feel frustrated and hostile toward their host country. They may
become excessively angry over minor irritations. It is not unusual for them to become very dependent on
fellow nationals who are also students here. All of these feelings may make it difficult to deal with
Japanese and to feel comfortable about speaking Japanese.
C. Coping with Culture Shock
Different people react differently to culture shock but almost all foreign students must cope with it to some
degree. Here are some suggestions that may be helpful.
1. Maintain your perspective.
Try to remember that hundreds of students before you have come to Japan from other
countries and have survived.
2. Evaluate your expectations.
Your reactions to Japan and the University are products both of the way things are here and
the way you expected them to be. If you find yourself being confused or disappointed about
something, ask yourself, "What did I expect?," "Why?," "Was my expectation reasonable?" If
you determine that your expectations were unreasonable, you can do much to reduce the
amount of dissatisfaction and unhappiness that you feel.
3. Keep an open mind.
People here might do or say things that people at home would not do or say. Try to
understand that they are acting according to their own set of values, and these are born of a
culture different than yours. Avoid evaluating their behavior by the standards of your own
country.
4. Learn from the experience.
Moving to a new culture can be the most fascinating and educational experience of your life.
It is an opportunity to explore an entirely new way of living --- and to compare it to your own.
There is no better way to become aware of your own values and attitudes and to broaden
your point of view.