Japanese language

Cute is everywhere in Japan, from formal to casual use, from food to fashion. Kawaii or cute is defined as childlike with the celebration of sweet and vulnerable behavior and physical appearance. (Skov& Moeran, 1995) It is highly valued by Japanese, seems like a national ethos, but also the representation of Japan’s soft power. Its influence extended beyond the border of Japan and permeated into foreign countries due to consumerism, especially in the United States. Nevertheless, people seem to…

and the morals in the anime made me an official anime fan. After I discovered anime my perspective on life and ideals changed, which made me a better person, and it also became my main form of escapism. In case you've been wondering, animes are Japanese animated cartoons. As I mentioned before, Shugo Chara was the first anime that I watched. The plot is basically about a group of middle school students preventing other kids from giving up on their dreams and helping those who can't find their…

Background Info on Gagaku Gagaku is a fusion of music and dance. Instrumentalist passed down their roles from generation to generation and performed for the imperial families. Although we are not entirely sure when it began, we know it was formally organized around the Tenth Century. Gagaku has three forms songs along with chanted poetry or Kayō, instrumental or Kangen, and dances along with music or Bugaku. Today we will be exploring Kangen. The music is mainly monophonic with moments of…

All members of the faculty, our new students, good afternoon! On behalf of the faculty and students from the School of Translation Studies, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all new faces here. Now please allow me to share with you the expectation from the school faculty for all freshmen. My first point is about the genuine purpose of education in university. What’s the definition of uni? Our schoolmaster Mr. 戚万学 had talked about his own understanding of university in this year’s…

study of Japanese language and Multimedia, as well as benefiting me personally. The study tour aided my Japanese Language studies as it allowed me to properly immerse myself in the culture and ways of living, allowing me to use my language skills in a more natural environment. To this end it expanded my understanding of the Japanese way of life, and in what circumstances I should use certain aspects of their language. This allowed me to further my study into the Japanese culture and language,…

Hiromi Goto’s Chorus of Mushrooms is a novel based on three generations of Japanese Canadian women: Naoe, Keiko, and Muriel, who are experiencing an identity crisis. Naoe, an elder in the home, is an anguished woman who attempts to come to terms with her immigration to Canada, while Keiko, Naoe’s daughter, struggles to assimilate into the Canadian culture leaving her Japanese heritage behind. Muriel, (Naoe refers to her as Murasaki), is Keiko’s daughter who is born in Canada. Growing up,…

Japanese companies are making their companies learn and speak in English so that they could trade more easily with other countries. English is one of the top widely spoken languages in the world so it would make sense that the Japanese companies want a common language to speak with. Why English Matters said, “If you don 't globalize we will shrink further, using English as a common language is very key you can 't just do without it” (1:00-1:10)…

A staggering twenty percent of the Japanese population exceeds the age of 65 (Panda)! In comparison to the United States with an average age of 38, Japan’s median age surpasses that by 9 years (Find the Data). As a result, not many women give birth each year; only about 1.39 births per woman (Panda). In examining the long, distinguished history, social, and economic status of Japan, one discovers the ongoing struggle for Japan to raise its birthrate in order to save its economy. Although Japan…

I came to Japan to learn Japanese language because I thought it would be useful in the future both professionally and personally. I think learning language is linked with culture. I know that Japan is a country with ancient history and it’s very own unique culture. I really wanted to learn more about it. One of the courses that APU offers for students to learn and have first-hand experience about Japanese culture is Japanese traditional art’s class. I think this class fits me best because…

games? For some of us, that maybe all we know about the Japanese besides the fact that they speak a different language, and have dark hair and slanted eyes. So when it comes to healthcare, how do we treat them? Although many people think it is hard to give medical care to a Japanese person, I believe it is easy as long as you know about the Japanese family structure and about Japanese religion. The Structure of Japanese Family The Japanese family structure has changed since World War II,…