JAPAN

TRADITION
BOWING
In Japan, people greet by bowing to
one another. A bow can range from a
small nod of the head to a deep bend
at the waist. A deeper, longer bow
indicates sincere respect while a small
nod is more casual and informal.
Additionally, bowing with your palms
together at chest level is not customary
in Japan.
If the greeting takes place on tatami floor
(a type of mat), people get on their knees
to bow. Bowing is not only used to greet,
but also to thank, apologize, make a
request, or ask someone a favour. Most
Japanese do not expect foreigners to know
the proper bowing etiquette. A
combination of a bow and shaking hands
is usually expected from foreigners.
Gift-giving
Gift giving is a conventional part
of Japanese culture. Different
types of gifts are given on
depending on the occasion. How
the present is wrapped is essential.
If not nicely packed, the present
should at least given in a bag,
preferably in a bag by the shop the
gift was purchased at.
Gifts in sets of four are usually
avoided because it is considered an
unlucky number in Japanese
superstition. To clarify, the
Japanese word for “four” is
pronounced the same as the word
"death”. When handing over a
present, both the gift giver and
recipient use both hands.
Table Manners
The most important table etiquette
in Japan is saying customary
phrases before and after a meal. It
is traditional for Japanese people
to say "itadaki-masu" (meaning “I
humbly receive” or “let’s eat”)
before a meal and "gochisou-
sama" after a meal.
These phrases not only mean
thanks for the food, but also
indicate the beginning and the
ending of a meal. If you are
eating with Japanese people, try
to say these phrases as it is
impolite if you don’t.
One of the fundamental chopsticks Two people should never pick up the
etiquettes is not to directly pass food
same food with their chopsticks (i.e.
from your chopsticks to somebody
if someone is struggling to pick
else's chopsticks or vice versa. It's also
important not to vertically stick something up you can't help them).
chopstick into food, especially into a This reminds the Japanese of a
bowl of rice. Additionally, it is not
funeral ritual in Japan, it’s utterly
polite to wave your chopsticks above
morbid.
food dishes or to use your chopsticks
to point at somebody.
It is mannerly to lift small bowls
of rice or soup when you eat to
prevent dropping food. If you
do not receive a soup spoon, it is
acceptable to sip soup out of the
bowl and eat the solid food with
chopsticks.
It is usual in Japan to make some
slurping noises while eating
noodles, such as ramen and
soba. It is believed to taste better
when making slurping noises.
Shoes
Shoes are never worn in someone's
home or on Japanese tatami
flooring (mats). It is expected to
take off your shoes in a restaurant,
hotel, hot spring resort etc. There
will always be a place to put your
shoes. In addition, you will be
given slippers to wear.
There are often different slippers
for the bathroom. You should
never wear the normal slippers
into the bathroom (if bathroom
slippers are provided) and vice
versa.
Names
-CHAN

"-chan" is often attached to

children's names when calling
them by their given names. It can
also be used regarding kinship
terms in a childish language.
-KUN

"-kun" is used to address men who are

younger or the same age as the speaker.
Usually in schools or companies, a male
might address female inferiors by "-
kun”. It can also be attached to both
surnames and given names. It is less
polite than "-san" and isn’t used
between women or when addressing
one's superiors
-SAN

The suffix "-san " is a title of

respect added to a name. It can
be used with both male and
female names, as well as with
either surnames or given names.
It can also be attached to the
name of titles and occupations.
FESTIVALS
Y U K I M A T S U R I I N S A P P O RO

The snow festival or ‘Yuki

Matsuri’ takes place in Sapporo
in February. Started in 1950 by
local students who built a series
of six statues out of snow, the
festival is now characterised by
its giant snow sculptures.
H A K A TA D O N TA K U M A T S U R I I N
FUKUOKA CITY

On the 3rd and 4th May, thousands of

people dance and parade through the
streets of Fukuoka City to take part in
Hakata Dontaku Matsuri. As they
parade they carry a traditional wooden
‘Shamoji’ or rice serving utensil. The
festival is also known as the Hakata
Dontaku Port Festival as many of the
events take place around the port area.
TENJIN MATSURI IN OSAKA

Osaka has its own festival in July

which is connected with the
Tenmangu Shrine. Held on the
24th and 25th of the month, it
boasts both a land procession and
a river procession with illuminated
boats and fireworks on the second
day.
LANGUAGE
Japanese
Kanji
It is the adopted logographic Chinese characters that are used in
the Japanese writing system. They are used alongside
the Japanese syllabic scripts hiragana and katakana. The Japanese
term kanji for the Chinese characters literally means
"Han characters". It is written with the same characters in the Chinese
language to refer to the character writing system, hànzì (漢字).
Hiragana
It is used to write okurigana (kana suffixes following a kanji root, for
example to inflect verbs and adjectives), various grammatical and function
words including particles, as well as miscellaneous other native words for
which there are no kanji or whose kanji form is obscure or too formal for
the writing purpose.Words that do have common kanji renditions may
also sometimes be written instead in hiragana, according to an individual
author's preference, for example to impart an informal feel. Hiragana is
also used to write furigana, a reading aid that shows the pronunciation of
kanji characters.
Katakana
In contrast to the hiragana syllabary, which is used for Japanese words
not covered by kanji and for grammatical inflections, the katakana
syllabary usage is quite similar to italics in English; specifically, it is
used for transcription of foreign language words into Japanese and
the writing of loan words (collectively gairaigo); for emphasis; to
represent onomatopoeia; for technical and scientific terms; and for
names of plants, animals, minerals, and often Japanese companies.
KAMERA
English
MIZU
Japanese
HANABI
Japanese
TOWERU
English
SASHIMI
Japanese
CLOTHING
KIMONO
 Kimono was once worn on a daily basis by most Japanese people.
In modern times, it's formal wear that's appropriate for a wide
range of occasions.
HAKAMA
 A garment that's worn over kimono that's similar to wide pleated
pants or a skirt depending on the style.

 Hakama are traditionally men's clothing. At one time, craftsmen,

farmers, academics and samurai all wore different styles of
hakama. In modern times, women wear hakama too. Hakama are
either worn for martial arts or as formal wear.
YUKATA
 An inexpensive, informal summer robe for summer that's popular
for cherry blossom viewing parties, festivals and fireworks. It's not
quite a kimono but it has much the same feel.
FUNDOSHI
 A traditional Japanese loincloth that was historically the primary
undergarment for men. Fundoshi were also historically worn as
shorts by laborers and rickshaw drivers.

 In modern times, fundoshi are often worn to festivals involving

feats of strength and endurance.
FOOD
SUSHI
 Sushi is known all over the world. It is called sushi to every piece
of rice seasoned with a rice vinegar mix (made with sugar and salt)
mixed with different ingredients: variety of fishes, vegetables, nori
(seaweed), etc.. You grab the pieces of sushi with the chopsticks and
dip them into soy sauce or wasabi, or both. It is a mixed of flavors in
your mouth! Sushi can be: Nigiri sushi, Maki sushi , Oshi sushi ,
Temaki sushi, etc.
RAMEN
 Ramen is one of the most popular options at the moment of
choosing a place to eat. It is a wheat noodles bowl served in a soy
sauce or miso soup mixed with many kinds of ingredients. The
most typical ones are slices of pork, green onion, seaweed and
egg. I can´t compare the flavour of this dish with anything I have
tasted before.
 The most important part of this dish is the soup. It is the most
tasty flavor a ever tried, also strong according on where do you order
it. The way the pork is cooked, makes it so soft that sometimes it
breaks into pieces as son as you catch it with your chopsticks. With
one order of ramen and a side dish of rice, you can be sure that you
will be satisfied when you finish your meal
TEMPURA
 Tempura is a Japanese fried snack made mostly from seafood and
vegetables but we can find tempura made also from fowl and fish,
seasoned with a sauce made with soy sauce, ginger and sugar previously.
As vegetables, it can be made by almost every vegetables. The size of the
piece has to be able to be eaten in one bite and even when it is fried, it is
carefully looked after not to be oily. Tempura is served with Tetsuyu sauce
that it is a mix of consomme, sweet sake, soy sauce, ginger, radish and
spices.
KARE RAISU
 Kare raisu is just rice with curry but the taste is different from the
To make the japanese curry, it is used a variety of meats and
vegetables. The basics vegetables are onions, carrots and sweet
potatos, and the meats used are chicken, pork, beef and sometimes
duck. There are different levels of hot spicy: soft, regular and hot are
the most common.
OKONOMIYAKI
 It is a mixed made with flour, yam and egg, but you can add also
anything you like. The most commons are green onion, beef, shrimp,
squid, vegetables, mochi and cheese. It is cooked in a griddle. In some
restaurants, the chef goes to the table and make it there with the
customers who also help in the process adding the ingredients. Because
the preparation has to be cooked from both sides, by the time it has to be
turned, it is a stressful and also funny moment, specially when it is your
first time doing it!
EDUCATION
 Children who have their 6th birthday on or before April 1 enter the
first grade of elementary school of that year.
 School year starts in April and ends in March.
 For Japanese nationals, six years at elementary school and three years
at junior high school (total nine years) are compulsory.
 Although foreign nationals are not subject to Japanese compulsory
education, they may enter local elementary/junior high schools if they
wish.
 Some public elementary, junior high or high schools have developed an
environment to accept foreign nationals and/or Japanese children
returning from abroad. Contact the municipal office in the ward (or city,
town or village) where you reside for more information.

 After graduating from junior high school, children may choose to

continue their education to high school and then to university or to find
employment.
 Elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, technology
colleges, junior colleges, universities and graduate schools in Japan are
national, public or private institutes.

 Special schools are available for physically/mentally-challenged

children who may have difficulty in studying at general schools.
PLACES
MT. FUJI
 is an active volcano about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo.
Commonly called “Fuji-san,” it’s the country’s tallest peak, at 3,776
meters. A pilgrimage site for centuries, it’s considered one of Japan’s 3
sacred mountains, and summit hikes remain a popular activity. Its
iconic profile is the subject of numerous works of art, notably Edo
Period prints by Hokusai and Hiroshige.
KIYOZUMI-DERA
 Kiyomizu-dera, officially Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera, is an
independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is part of
the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage
site.