Japanese Jungle

 The Origin of Sushi: From Fermented Fish to Modern Delicacy Sushi has a long history that traces back to a fermented food called "narezushi." People in Southeast Asia used this method around the 2nd century AD. Eventually, it reached Japan in the 8th century, and written records about it appeared in the 10th century. In the Lake Biwa area, "narezushi" became a staple family dish and an important source of protein. Families used rice and salt to ferment fish, preserving them in barrels for months or even years. The most common fish used in this area is the mudfish, known as “nigoribuna.” First, the fish scales are removed, and the entrails are taken out. Then it is salted and left to ferment for several months. Afterwards, it is mixed with rice to continue the fermentation process. The fermented fish can be preserved for months or even decades. In the past, people used to eat only fish and discard the fermented "smelly rice." But around the 1500s, they s...

  How Temperature Affects Our Feelings: A Simple Experiment Did you know that the temperature of what you hold in your hand can actually influence your feelings? Researchers at Yale University conducted an interesting experiment to explore this phenomenon. In the experiment, participants were asked to hold either a hot or iced coffee cup while riding an escalator to a lab. Once there, they were asked to read about a fictional character and share their impressions of them. Surprisingly, those who held the hot drink perceived the characters as warmer and friendlier. The researchers also investigated whether temperature affects people's behaviour towards others. They had participants hold either a frozen or heated therapeutic pad for a few minutes, and then offered them a drink for themselves or a voucher to give to a friend. Interestingly, those who held the warm pads were more likely to choose the voucher to give to a friend. These experiments suggest that people tend to be ki...

  Living as a foreigner in Japan offers several distinct advantages. Let's explore these advantages: Lucrative English Teaching Opportunities: If you are an English speaker, Japan presents numerous opportunities to earn money by teaching English. In fact, English speakers often have the potential to earn more than local Japanese individuals in this field because not many people can speak English. Freedom from Societal Norms: As a foreigner, you are not bound by all the societal expectations and standards that Japanese people typically follow. This grants you the freedom to express yourself more authentically and embrace your individuality. Flexibility in Hierarchy: The hierarchical structure deeply ingrained in Japanese society may hold less influence over foreigners, especially if you are not fluent in Japanese. This means you can navigate social interactions and workplace dynamics with greater flexibility and independence. Better Work-Life Balance: Unlike many Japanese worke...

My Small Land portrays the changes and challenges in Japanese Society ©2022"My Small Land" Production Committee Japan is changing as more foreigners come to live in the country. This brings opportunities and challenges as different cultures mix and communities become more diverse. This article explores these changes and examines the issues portrayed in the movie "My Small Land." The film follows Sarya, a young girl from a Kurdish family who moved to Japan when she was little. By understanding these challenges, we can work towards building a more inclusive and open society for the future. Sarya, a 17-year-old high school student, has a unique background. Her Kurdish family sought refuge in Japan, and she grew up like any other Japanese student. Sarya dreams of becoming a teacher and works part-time at a convenience store to save money for university. She meets Shota, a male high school student, and they become close friends there. However, their lives suddenly turn...

Religion in Japan: Coexistence and Influence When foreigners ask Japanese people about their religious beliefs, they may receive unclear answers or find that many Japanese individuals have little interest in religion. While most Japanese people don't identify with a specific religion, they still practice various religious customs. For example, they celebrate the New Year in the traditional Shintō way. They also attend seasonal festivals at Shintō shrines, visit cemeteries on spring and autumn equinoxes, and pray for their ancestors during the midsummer festival called "obon," which has Buddhist origins. Additionally, it is common for Japanese people to obtain amulets from Shintō shrines or Buddhist temples for various purposes, such as passing school exams or preventing accidents. Weddings are often conducted in either the Shintō or Christian style, while funerals follow Buddhist traditions. One may wonder how the Japanese can embrace Shintō, Christianity, and Buddhism ...

Is Japan Still a Male-Dominated Society? Japan is known for its male-dominated society, where men hold most of the positions of power in workplaces. Unfortunately, Japan's record on gender equality is not impressive, ranking 120 out of 156 nations in the Global Gender Gap Report 2021. One of the reasons behind this gender gap, as mentioned by Selleri (2019), is the lack of women in leadership positions, including politics. While the gender gap remains an issue in Japan, there are certain services that seem to favour women. For example, women are charged a fee of 1,000 yen at some international parties, while men have to pay 3,000 yen.  Similarly, many dating apps in Japan only charge men for their services, such as the dating app Omiai (Omiai, n.d.).  Therefore, there is a reverse gender difference in certain services in Japan, where women enjoy an advantage over men. However, striving for a society where men and women receive equal earnings and pay the same prices for...

  30. Expressing Quantity: "Shika" and "Mo" In Japanese, "shika" and "mo" are used to emphasize the quantity of something. "Shika" is used when the amount is considered too small, while "mo" is used when the amount is considered large. Examples: しか (shika) コピーの紙が 5 枚 しか ありません。 (Kopī no kami ga gomai shika arimasen.) There are only five sheets of photocopying paper. 教室に学生が三人 しか いません。 (Kyōshitsu ni gakusē ga sannin shika imasen.) There are only three students in the classroom. この池に魚が少し しか いません。 Kono ike ni sakana ga sukoshi shika imasen. There are only a few numbers of fish in this pond. も (Mo) リーさんの机の上に教科書が 4 冊 も あります。 Rī-san no tsukue no ue ni kyōkasho ga yonsatsu mo arimasu. There are as many as four textbooks on Lee's desk. 教室に学生が二十人 も います。 Kyōshitsu ni gakusē ga nijūnin mo imasu. There are as many as twenty students in a classroom. It's important to remember that the perception of what is considered l...

   29.  Expressing Total Prices: (Number)+Counter で Yen In this guide, we will explore the structure pattern of using "(Number)+Counter で Yen" to convey the total cost of items. Whether you're shopping, negotiating prices, or simply discussing expenses, mastering this language pattern will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Japanese.  オレンジは 5 つで 400 円 です。 Orenji wa itsutsu de yonhyaku en desu.  The oranges are 400 yen for 5. このノートは 1 冊 150 円です。 3 冊で 450 円 です。 Kono nōto wa issatsu hyakugojūen desu. sansatsu de yonhyakugojūen desu. These notebooks are 150 yen for each, and 450 yen for three. 本は 全部で 1 万円 です。 Hon wa zenbu de ichiman-en desu. These books are 10000 yen for all. "zenbu de( 全部で )” means "in total", and it is often used with this sentence structure. Note that you must use the particle " で " (de) when mentioning multiple objects of a single kind.  Example: このノートは 3 冊 で 450 円です。 (kono nōto wa sansatsu de yo...