☆yoko☆

SEXUALITY

2007-01-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

These days, having sex is a big concern all over the world. People have to think about sexuality because it might cause serious matters such as infectious disease, HIV and of course having baby. It must be true that the attitudes towards sexuality have changed a lot. For example, my parents did not have sex before they got married. My aunt and uncle did not have sex, too. However, these cases rarely happen in Japan now. In my opinion, having sex is not a bad thing and people have to talk about sexuality with people.
First, I do not think that people should not have sex before they get married because people can make sure they love each other and feel happy by having sex. However, they have to use condoms and think about the case of having baby. One of my friends got pregnant two years ago. She could not have her baby because her family did not agree saying that she is still to young. It was a very sad story. The life is very important and abortion is bad for mother’s health. It happened to her last year too and maybe it is difficult to her to have a baby. Again, people have to think about having baby and talking with parents is useful because they can know the feeling of being mother.
Secondly, young people tend to talk about sexuality with only their friend in Japan. I feel embarrassed talking about it and even watching kiss scene on the TV with my parents. On the other hand, my sister talks about her love and other things openly. I cannot believe it though it must be useful. She knows about mother’s feeling. Her body was difficult to have a baby and she had a hormone therapy, so my sister and I were born miraculously and when my mother had a miscarriage before my sister was born, she depressed so much. I knew this story from my sister and I was surprised. Thanks to this, I realize that having baby is very serious matter again and people should think about it a lot.
Thus, the attitude to sexuality is different between generations, having baby is precious and important. When young people have sex, they think about the future and talking with their family must broaden their horizon.

Japanese group

2006-12-10T06:33:00.000-08:00

Friends are very important for everyone and the relation is a big concern. In case of Japan, the relation of girls and that of boys are different. For example, many girls always want to be together and talk a lot. On the other hand, boys do not care about being alone and the groups of boy do some activity together.
First of all, girls would more often make a group and always be together than boys. For instance, they eat lunch together, go to washroom together, and move to another class. They always talk to each other with walking. However, boys go to washroom alone and less talkative. They tend to act together. In my club, boys often play mah-jongg or play football games. Thus, girls and boys have different tendency.
Also, Japanese people rarely are with their boy friends or girlfriends when they are with their friends. I sometimes watch English TV like kissing with their boy friends in front of their friends or do not care about being seen by their friends. It rarely happens in Japan and if the girl always be with her boy friends, her relation with other friends might be broken.
Lastly in case of Japanese people, the members of same group wear similar outfits. In my opinion, people who have common hobby or have same taste will make friends. So, it is natural. In my high school, this happened actually and their plain cloths are similar.
It must be true that everyone is influenced each other and Japanese tend to accept what others accept. So, friends make our life and it is the case that birds of a feather flock together.

Japanese fashion

2006-11-30T05:21:00.000-08:00

How do you choose your outfit? Someone may think trends and fads are important. Others may care about only their liking. Most of Japanese people think about trends and fads and how Japanese people choose their outfits are categorized into several types. For example, those who wear used clothes casually are called ‘urahara-kei’ and those who put on loose jeans or look like dancers are called ‘B-kei’. In case of women, there are more types such as ojo-kei (Ojo is an abbreviation of ojousama.), onee-kei (Onee is an abbreviation of oneesan.) and gal-kei. Men’s fashion is divided into several types like onii-kei (Onii is an abbreviation of oniisan.). The reason why Japanese people can divided into some category is because they tend to like what others think nice and because of media.
Japanese people are influenced by media especially by magazines because magazines are categorized into some patterns too like fashion. Though Japanese teens wear similarly and can be divided several pattern, teens in America do not look like same because the teen generation is not related to the style. Urban/suburban, regional, ethnic, racial, and class distinction are important factors. Moreover, the popular style does not continue for a long time. On the other hand, Japanese care much others and they are apt to like what others regard good. Like White says, what others see people is very important for Japanese teens though Japanese people do not think that people who wear independently make others uncomfortable and they are selfish.
Thus, Japanese teens care about others and want to be the same. Media understand this feeling and they can control teens easily. If they use popular model, the influence will become bigger and bigger. Japanese teens are attracted by them and want to be like them. Kawaii culture must be due to this feeling.

Japanese relation at school

2006-11-11T20:59:00.000-08:00

There are some differences between Japan and America about school. I thought about the relation between senior and junior. Japanese students have many rules to their senior and this is attributed to Japanese customs. They are a society with a vertical structure and a seniority system.
First of all, Japanese care about their attitudes towards their senior. For example, they have to use polite expression and greet as soon as they meet their senior. It is the same with the case of the relation between students and teachers, too. In my opinion, this is because Japan is a vertically-structured society. Being polite to people who have high status than them is a long established custom in Japan. On the other hand, I think people in America have more frank relation because my seniors who studied abroad do not care about the politeness so much and said that you do not need to do polite attitudes. Thus, Japanese differ from American in terms of the attitudes to their senior since Japanese society is structured vertically.
Secondly, Japanese must respect elderly people from ancient time. Especially old people are strict about it. So, we respect our teachers. There is a sense of distance between students and teachers because of it. We do not converse with teachers using the same expression with our friends. It is natural that teaches and students are not on common ground. Students in Japan rarely ask their teacher for his advice on their private things. Though students have to more open their minds to their teachers, it is important to keep polite manner. In Japan, as the proverb says, there should be courtesy even between close friends.
To sum up, the relation in school is related to the convention. Though some people do not care about the polite attitudes so much compared with the old people, it will not disappear.

2006-10-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hi!!
My name is Yoko Maeda. I am a first year of Waseda University.
I join dance club at university and practice hip hop dance.
I'm happy to communicate with Colorado student.